El Al says that due to increasing no-shows and last-minute cancelations, it is changing its policies. The airline says the changes will allow it to clear waitlisted passengers so that seats don’t go empty. That seems like a sensible policy, especially with seats between the US and Israel being so scarce these days, but it also means that last-minute changes will be pricey.
- Effective for tickets bought as of 11/5, changes on flights to/from the US made within 24 hours of the flight departure time will cost $170 and cancelations will cost $400. Previously changes were free up until the time of departure. There is no fee for changes or cancellations on US flights made more than 24 hours before departure. Tickets bought before 11/5 can still be canceled until the time of departure.
- Effective for tickets bought as of 10/28, if you buy El Al Protect so that you can convert tickets into flexible vouchers useable by anyone, you have to convert your ticket into a voucher at least 48 hours before departure. That’s up from a 24 hour requirement for tickets bought before 10/28. Tickets bought before 10/28 can still be converted to a voucher until 24 hours before departure.
What do you think of these changes?
HT: chff
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29 Comments On "El Al Increases Cancellation Deadline Requirements"
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Seems unfair they change terms after you’ve bought.
I always pay for protect. Its better than nothing but managing vouchers is hard.
El Al needs more planes…
There’s no change for tickets bought previously.
More planes would only help for as long as their are gate slots available due to those airlines that are not flying. However, when other airlines do eventually return, then what?
As he wrote explicitly, the changes are for purchases made after 10/28 or 11/05
I bought my tickets before October 28. Legally, can El Al change the terms of the ticket this way? The terms are no longer what they were when I bought the tickets. Thanks
He wrote the changes apply for tickets bought after 10/28 or 11/05 and the rules for tickets bought before those dates are unchanged. Not sure what you are asking.
Can el al protect be purchased when using amex points via amex portal?
Unfortunately not. Protect only available when booked with ElAl directly.
You can try calling El Al and asking. Most agents won’t able to, but some will.
Your saying el al would need to add it on?
You can book the ticket on amex and generally call in and they add it for you, it will be the same $29 per passenger
Yes. I have done it. But el al only lets u add it on the day that you purchase the ticket. If u buy it the ticket at 4:30pm ET and call half hour later, there is a good chance that they won’t let u buy, because in Israel it’s already the following date.
הכי בבית בעולם
So can always get 35% back and use towards voucher for $29.. as @dan sometimes posts when they allow it but if it seems always can so then no need to book at that time only when they allow it
“There is no fee for changes or cancellations on US flights made more than 24 hours before departure.”
So the TA that sold me El Al Protect (NYC-TLV-NYC) the other day wasted my money?
Protect allows you to convert to a voucher usable by anyone.
I thought protect was cash back ,not a voucher. How long is voucher good for ?
https://www.elal.com/en/PassengersInfo/Pages/CreditSteps.aspx
So with the new policy, if you canvel more than 24 hours before do you get your money back or still a voucher?
Neither, you get a credit unless you paid for a flex fare or Protect.
I have such a credit. Issue is elal insist on using it one year from dep , not one year from original return, which would not allow to use for after yom tov as the original was. Regular cs can’t help. Chase can’t help. Dan , any ceo email that can resolve ?
That’s the policy. Maybe rebook with El Al protect and convert to a voucher?
How does this affect tickets to or from Europe? No change to current policy?
Smart! Finally! Way too many people were holding out on cancellation just because they could.
100%
hmm. struggling with just such an issue.
I booked flight several weeks ago to israel over thanksgiving use chase travel. I now want to cancel the tickets or postpone for a yr) but chase travel told me that ELAL would charge me $400 per change. That doesnt seem to jive with what im reading here.
Can someone with knowledge advise ?
+1
is it accurate that within 14 days of booking your ticket (as long as its more then 7 days to the flight) that you are entitled to a complete refund
Dan, what do you think of this?
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-foreign-airlines-seek-legal-changes-before-returning-to-israel-1001493241
I assume this new rule doesn’t apply to partner award bookings. Can you confirm Dan? I had booked a few El Al flights using Alaska miles in the spring.