Delta, United, And USAirways Flights To Israel Cancelled Indefinitely?

OH NO!!!!!!!!!
not this

How I now to get to Tel Aviv? They dumped me in Paris and say goodbye and good luck. How I get refund?

Haaretz blog says United is operating as usual.

Dan- it says that United is still flying to Israel: 5:57 P.M. Delta Airlines and U.S. Air suspend flights to and from Israel on Tuesday. This follows a warning from the Federal Aviation Authority given after a rocket fell earlier Tuesday in Yehud, near Ben-Gurion International Airport. United Airlines announced it will continue operating as usual.

And did they suspend flights to russia or ukraine??? doubt it….looking for a cheap ticket to Israel. Help!!

So all us airlines are giving in to hamas!!??

praying.

So I postponed my trip to Israel (please no flaming comments), and I was booked with an El Al refundable ticket that has a $300 cancellation penalty.

Do you think this news gives me ammunition to fight them for the cancellation fees?

They don’t want to hear my voice on the phone, as soon as I start my shpeal they tell me there is nothing they can do for me and hang up the phone.

Suggestions?!?

First they will “legally” get rid of some glitch tickets…

@kitchens – dont fly elal

@kitchens:
If el Al is still flying why should they refund your 300

Official notice from Delta’s website stating all Tel-Aviv flights canceled.

http://news.delta.com/index.php?s=20295&item=124548

Jul 22, 2014

Delta has suspended service until further notice to and from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv and its New York-JFK hub. Delta, in coordination with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, is doing so to ensure the safety and security of our customers and employees.

Delta flight 468, a Boeing 747 from JFK with 273 passengers and 17 crew, diverted to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Tuesday after reports of a rocket or associated debris near the airport in Tel Aviv. Delta is working to reaccommodate these customers.

Delta continues to work closely with U.S. and other government resources to monitor the situation. A customer waiver for travel to Tel Aviv is in effect and published on delta.com.

White house is saying that FAA didn’t issue any statement and that the airlines are making their own decisions.

is it really for security reasons or because they were empty flights last few days?

Need advise: I have a ba award ticket on tomorrow’s Philly flight to tlv &
United return for tue from tlv-Newark. Due to the conditions what will ba/us air policy be if I don’t cancel before 24hrs before? Booked united yesterday afternoon. If I don’t cancel within 24hrs will they charge change fee or will they allow due to sitch?

Did United or USAir make any statement yet? Or this is all just assumptions?

I was scheduled to fly out on Delta tonight on Flight 468, the same one as was diverted last night. They cancelled me and rebooked me on tomorrow night’s flight.

As of now, they haven’t cancelled that flight and had no problem rebooking me. The website says I could switch to flying through Amsterdam (with an over 8 hour layover!) on KLM.

What do you all think of that idea? Is KLM more likely to keep flying?

United has cancelled todays flights…

FAA has NOTHING announced on their website regarding Israel. Blame the carriers, not the FAA.

@TST – Believe it or not, everyone in the world is not always conspiring against you. FAA DID issue a flying ban “prohibiting U.S. flight operations until further notice in the airspace over the Crimean region of Ukraine, and portions adjacent to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.”

http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=16654

it allows you to book flights to tlv on delta for later this week.

Are they premitting cancellations on United without charge?
How far out? I have ticket in three weeks.

Elal flights flying today??

I have 2 hrs to decide to cancel united return otherwise I will be stuck with ticket to use within yr

Last refreshed Tue., Jul. 22, 2014 11:24 a.m.
United Flight 84
Status: Canceled due to aircraft availability
United Flight 90
Status: Canceled due to aircraft availability

Tomorrow’s flights:
Last refreshed Tue., Jul. 22, 2014 11:30 a.m.
United Flight 84
Status: On Schedule
United Flight 90
Status: On Schedule

Diverting TLV to Paris? If that isn’t irony…

I am at EWR Terminal C now. UA`S TLV flights are canceled.

FAA Grounds Flights to Israel

Jul 22, 2014 12:46 PM

The Federal Aviation Administration has grounded all United States flights to Tel Aviv for the next 24 hours in response to a rocket strike near the main airport.

It’s a ploy to add to the pressure against Israel to ceasefire – no flights = people stuck in Israel + hurts tourism industry….

@kitchens. Cnn reported that ElAl is allowing no fee rescheduling for up to 6 months.

This doesn’t apply to Delta partners like KLM does it?

FAA grounds all flights to Tel Aviv airport for 24 hours

After just about 300 people were blown out of the sky by rebels it’s not really surprising that other airlines will take precautions in Israel. A Hamas rocket landed 5km from Ben Gurion so what choice do they really have?

@News: this was published on the faa website
http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=16694

@HB Just spoke to ElAl via orbitz, no changes allowed for my August flight

This is were the rocket landed
http://goo.gl/maps/5cJZW

notice how close it to TLV

Lufthansa,Swiss,Austrian,Air France, Klm also cancelled
all flights to/from tlv

Who is still flying to Tel Aviv? Need to get to Israel before Tisha B’Av.

I just got this message from my father who lives in Jerusalem: The Goldberg ‘ flight just got canceled. All flights to and from Israel have been suspended for at least 24 hours! The main event is getting closer and closer

@Moshe, I love the Goldbergs too! Hadn’t heard they were shooting an episode in Jerusalem. Hope they get their flight sorted out, safe travels to cast and crew.

Will there be cheap tickets because of this ongoing situation?

FAA has told US airlines that they are prohibited from flying to and from BG for up to 24 hrs

Time to stop the ground operation and execute relentless air attack. Any place in Gaza where a rocket it shot from a 5 block radius needs to be taken out. This will end the rocket fire within 24 hours. Any known rocket storage facilities must be taken out regardless of schools, house, hospitals. After that is over Air attacks within a 1/2 mile radius of all tunnels. Yes many will dies but it’s Hamas’ fault not Israel’s.

delta as of now does not sell any flight leaving jfk untill july 285

Does anyone know if elal is also canceled. still waiting on phone to ask. Im supposed to fly tomorrow night and friends on Thursday morning? any info will be appreciated

Russian airlines are still flying

@dovid:
The NOTAM applies to US airlines only. Elal is

@El Al Flier: Buy an El Al ticket to Tel Aviv and ask them to cover that expense, they will probably do

El Al won’t cancel! They have radar on the plane that supposedly screws up missile from hitting it!

@Alexander: not for rockets!!!!!!! it’s special for missiles that are launched from the ground to airplanes!

@Alexander: Are you going to put your life in danger because “supposedly” El Al has superRadar ? All types out there.

@Alexander: @Alexander: So your ready to put your life in harms way because some outrageous rumor about El Al’s “screw up radar” ?

I just checked in for tomorrows united flight from Newark to Tel Aviv… United reps told me there were no cancellations showing.

@kitchens: El Al has a no fee cancellation policy for flights thru 7/25. Only charge is difference in price of ticket if new reservation costs more than old one. Just rescheduled from tomorrow to next week. No change fee. Spoke to an agent. Very courteous. Done in 5 mins.

@Cowardly pressure:

I believe that this is Obama’s idea of “pressure” on Israel, without being seen as the mamzer he is.

@dovid: El Al still flying. according to my brother in Tel Aviv, they are adding extra planes to try to accommodate other airlines cancelled passengers. EU airlines also cancelled. I reached ElAl after being on hold forever and was told, yes we are flying.

Israel may redirect flights to Negev airport
An Army Radio report says that Israel may open its minor international airport at Ovda, located 60 kilometers north of Eilat in the Negev Desert and at least 150 km from the Gaza Strip, as an alternative point of entry for international flights to Israel.

A rocket hit near Ben Gurion International Airport earlier on Wednesday, prompting many international carriers to cease flights to Israel for the next 24 hours, and for the FAA to bar US flights to Israel as well.

Here’s a post someone just put up on Facebook as they flew out of TLV; pretty strong evidence that the FAA is acting responsibly and not politically:

As my sherut pulled up to Terminal 3 at Ben Gurion, siren went off. Nesher driver told us to grab our bags quickly and run inside. As I approached terminal doors, I saw security personnel pointing over my head. I turned around and saw two Iron Dome missiles streak up the sky to intercept the Hamas rockets. Entering the terminal, security was moving the entire departure lounge downstairs to the arrivals area which is more secure. Seeing a terminal full of people running all in one direction seemed like a scene out of a movie. Getting to the stairs, security told us to leave our bags and just get downstairs. I asked do they really want us to leave luggage unattended (usually a No-No at any airport and especially Ben Gurion) — he yelled “yes, nothing will happen to it — just get downstairs.” 10 minutes later all cleared. Thank you Hamas for the farewell send off.

KLM, Air France and Delta also have a re-book policy allowing changes and cancellations free of charge. It has been in place since July 9. It says: Due to the unclear situation KLM, AIR FRANCE and Delta Air Lines have cancelled some flights to Tel Aviv. Therefore, we offer you the following re-book options for customers ticketed to/from Tel Aviv between Wednesday, 09 July 2014 up to and including Friday, 15 August 2014. The policy even applies to Promo Award tickets with Flying Blue. I cancelled a Promo Award ticket last week and received a full refund of points and money paid. See full details at: https://www.klm.com/travel/US_en/prepare_for_travel/up_to_date/flight_update/index.htm#p2

The Lufthansa group has similar policies in force:

Passengers holding a Lufthansa/SWISS/Austrian Airlines or Brussels Ticket for flights until July, 31st to/from Tel Aviv can re-book their tickets once free of charge online via My Bookings. The following conditions apply:

– Tickets must be issue on/before July 9th, 2014
– New date of travel must be latest on October 31st
– Change of origin/destination and class of service/compartment is not permitted
– All other ticket conditions must be observed as per original ticket

I just got back from Ben Gurion airport, where I should have flown on tonight’s UA flight to EWR. THat was cancelled, I was re-booked with Turkish through Istanbul…wasn’t too happy about going through Turkey now, but getting to NY was first priority, until that was cancelled too. So the other option, far-fetched as it is, is Ethiopian Airlines (which is leaving at 1:00 AM) to Addis (also a member of Star Alliance) and then Addis-Washington, from which point there are many options back to NY. Only there was no availability from Addis to Washington. United agents were really working hard to reschedule people, but El Al wouldn’t take any other airlines overflow, as they have plenty of their own to deal with. So the airport is a zoo, and even the fellow next to me at the United counter, who is Global Services, was not re-booked with anyone. Hopefully this mass hysteria will play itself out by tomorrow evening and things will resume normally soon.

omg just read trevors post. my son is flying out of Israel on elal tomorrow(scheduled for a while not cause of situation) and now i am davening even harder that he and everyone else is safe and sound at airport and the rest of country.

My wife was scheduled to fly from TLV to AMS on KLM Wednesday morning. KLM rebooked her for Thursday morning.

I have 3 family member that were on the delta flight which was diverted to CDG. Any advice on which airlines and mileage program can get them to TLV on minimum miles and fees?

Thanks in advance.

@Advice needed: my son was on that flight and was rebooked on elal free of charge! he was offered also to return to the us also free of charge and was flying on a 25k reward from flying blue; he got free lodging at one of the hotels airport and free meals and calling card the people were extremly helpful although he did not feel safe as france is preparing for a major pro palestinians demonstration tomorrow in Paris and the one of last weekend ended very badly

@Anonymous:

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. I hear Paris is not the best place to be right now…

I am so happy I choose to buy an EL AL ticket to Israel
I am scheduled to fly out of JFK tomorrow night, called EL AL reservation that told me that all flights
Are planned to go out as scheduled.
At the end if the day, EL AL is the best option to fly to Israel

@kitchens

This is from ElAl’s Facebook page:

Due to the current situation, anyone traveling to Israel on EL AL now through Friday, July 25th can reschedule their flights for up to 6 months without penalty by contacting their travel agent or calling EL AL at 1-800-223-6700. However, if there is fare difference on the rescheduled flights, that amount will be charged.

EL AL continues to maintain its regular flight schedule: Up to 5 daily nonstop flights from the USA (except for Shabbat).

Your support for Israel and EL AL is important and deeply appreciated.

Thank you.

I guess it doesn’t apply to you (yet) because your flight is in August. I would try calling that number anyway.

Just remember later that El Al was the carrier who flew people during this event. Although other US/European carriers compete on product and price, El Al has a dedication for Eretz Yisroel that we should all support.

@yy: KLM canceled Thursday’s flight as well.

There’s one positive aspect of this. AFAIK only El Al is flying. Since El Al doesn’t fly on Shabbos, the airport won’t have any Shabbos flights.

I tried to have an American Award on Us Airways that was cancelled rebooked on an El Al flight but the agent came back and said that El Al is refusing to accept it under the circumstances and wants to keep the seats open for their own bookings. If this is true, does anyone agree that it’s wrong. I mean what does a partner airline mean if not to accept cancelled award bookings on a partner airline ?

My son’s Delta flight (TLV-JFK) has been cancelled, yet they are only offering to reschedule; they said that they are not offering refunds. Is this legal? Yes, I know that our ticket was “nonrefundable” but that should only come into play if *we* initiate the cancellation. If *they* cancel the flight, shouldn’t they be required to offer a refund so that he can try to fly on another airline?

You guys are the best travel geniuses anywhere. Any suggestions on how to proceed?

@yy: I hardly see how that’s a positive for the hundreds, if not thousands, of employees that work at Ben Gurion that rely on the income they would have earned. We shouldn’t celebrate a reduction in someone’s parnasa, not to mention the untold harm this will do to the economy overall.

@Pinny Talk to your credit card company; seems like if they can’t provide the service you paid for, you’re entitled to a chargeback.

Are any turkish flights being canceled? Is it safe to stop over in turkey now?

Pinny: 99% sure that that is absolutely against the law. But I recommend looking up the law and citing it next time you talk to a representative.

zolty: Turkish is no longer flying to Israel. Get in touch with them. El Al and British Airways are still flying in/out.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2014/07/23/faa-u-s-flights-banned-from-flying-to-and-from-israel-for-another-day/