Israir Flight to NY

A few weeks ago the Israeli court has made its final rule in the case of El-Al versus Israir and has determined that the Open skies policy of the ministry of transportation is valid, thus opening the Israeli skies for carrier competition on the Tel Aviv (TLV) New-York line which has so far been exclusive for El-Al flights.

Just after the court verdict, Sabina Biran Israir C.E.O spoke about this change on several interviews and promised that the new opportunities for Israir will result in lower prices and better service for all passengers.

In the following weeks, Israir did introduce lower priced tickets for as low as 550$ for a ticket from Tel-Aviv to New York which used to cost 590$ at its lowest price points. Like many other Israelis, I decided to grab the opportunity and try out the newly launched flight, and following are my impressions of that flight.

In general I would like to note that I personally have flown to NY about 35 times already, and have grown accustomed to this difficult 12 hour flight. However, the Israir flight has not been a good experience for me, and was in fact the most difficult TLV-NY flight I have experienced.

It all started from the easy-going atmosphere on the airplane like some North American airlines Israir crews try and lighten the flight burden with comic relieves which in my opinion result in a disrespectful manner. Jokes like This flight is a non-smoking flight, smokers may go directly to the airplane wings where the fuel tanks are for a quick and efficient blow, or If youre not enjoying this flight you may use one of the 8 emergency exits on this airplane have great contribution to the disrespectful atmosphere.

Another weak point for Israir was the food all food was Glatt Kosher, which does not necessarily mean bad food, but on Israir case meant extremely bad food. I dont expect flights to be a culinary experience, but this was non edible food at the least.

The third and most annoying thing was the number of seats the airplane has for years Israeli travelers have complained that El-Al crowds the airplanes to the extreme, and well, on this Israir flight all I could wish for is El-Als relative comfortable seating.

In conclusion, I do wish that the open skies policy will result in greater competition and better service as Israir CEO promised, but to say the least - I did not see that happening.

Michal Moreno is a former flight attendant for El-Al Israeli airlines and the content editor for Israel Travel Tips- a travel guide all written by a native Israeli from the insider's point of view.

Private Pilot Test
Taking the TestPilots are a rare kind of human. They leave the ordinary surface of the word, to purify their soul in the sky, and they come down to ea...

How To Select The Best Flight Instructor
One of the most important aspects of your flight training is your flight instructor. Before you start your flight training you need to make sure that ...

Last Minute Airline Flights
Sometimes one has no choice but to get a last-minute flight booking. Getting a last-minute booking for an airline flight is the biggest hassle to face...

Choosing Helicopter Flight School
If you have decided to enroll in a helicopter flight school, many things come into play. Since it is not enough to just enroll at a school that charge...

Airline Flight Attendants
Flight attendants are mainly appointed to accommodate and ensure the safety of people traveling on a flight. Comfort and entertainment are secondary t...

How To Get A Cheap Florida Flight
Florida is a great place to go to with all of the theme parks and the sun and the sea. But the cost of getting there just seems to be rising all of th...

Cheap Return Flight To Amsterdam - Where To Find Them?
Where can one find a cheap return flight to Amsterdam? This is the question begging of many travellers and tourists alike, especially those seeking a...

Tip On Upgrading To First Class On Charter Flights
You are ready to do some traveling, but the old bank account is a bit of a problem. Welcome to charter flights, one of the cheaper ways to see the wor...

How To Get The Cheapest Prices For Airfare
First, go through discount airfare brokers such as Economy Travel. If you find a cheap flight price and doubt that you can get any lower, end your sea...

Aircraft Flight Instruction
Many people dream of being able to fly a plane but don't know how affordable or accessible getting instruction for becoming an aircraft pilot can real...

Cheap Airline Ticket - Top 10 Tips on Finding Dirt Cheap Flight Tickets
Everyone who travels wants to save as much as possible when flying. Why would you want to pay the regular going cost when you can get flight tickets c...

How Do You Look for a Cheap Flight to Fort Myers?
Fort Myers: the Land of The winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, which are both primary tourist attractions in the region, are located on McG...

Having a Positive Attitude in the Midst of Flight Delays and Cancellations
Sorry but your flight has been cancelled. I recommend you call our 1-800 number to reschedule your flight.These statements and more were the questions...

How to Get the Best Rates on Flight Bookings
Need to book yourself a flight but not sure where to start? Then perhaps this article is for you. What Im discussing here is the simple principles abo...

Educate Yourself In Aviation And Fly With The Birds!
Humans have been gazing at the skies, dreaming of leaving behind their earth-bound existences and joining the birds in a world which was, for most of ...