Update, 1/4/23: United has extended their 4th weekly Chicago-Tel Aviv flight from March through end of scheduling, indicating that the route is exceeding expectations. Hopefully we’ll see daily service in the coming years!
Additionally, San Francisco-Tel Aviv will be upgauged from a 777-200 to United’s flagship 77W (Boeing 777-300ER) from 3/25-10/26 for the peak summer travel season. That plane has a whopping 60 Polaris business class seats, 24 Premium Economy seats, 62 Economy Plus seats, and 204 Economy Minus seats, for a total of 350 seats.
Update, 9/1/22: In response to numerous requests from Orthodox Jews, United has changed the Chicago to Tel Aviv departure time from 6:35pm to a floating time from 9:15pm-10:05pm. This allows people to take the flight after Shabbos ends from October-April.
The flight now arrives into Tel Aviv at 4:40pm-5:20pm the following day. The return flight departure time from Tel Aviv remains at 12:50am.
It’s not the first time United has listened to feedback, as covered by the Wall Street Journal, the airline has previously adjusted Tel Aviv flight times based on DansDeals reader suggestions.
HT: chucksterace and Shimmy Meystel
Originally posted on 8/23/22:
United inherited a strong position in the North America-Israel market when it merged with Continental, while other US carriers have been playing catch-up in the lucrative market.
While Delta is suspending service for a couple months on its new Boston-Tel Aviv route this winter, United is forecasting increased demand as it will operate a new record high number of flights this winter.
That’s thanks to a 4th weekly flight which will operate on Tuesdays between Chicago and Tel Aviv starting on 11/1. That 4th weekly flight is on United’s schedule through 3/21/23.
I reached out to United for comment on the new frequency and asked if it will be extended through the summer, to which they responded,
“We’re excited to build on our existing service between Chicago and Tel Aviv with an additional frequency in November – bringing us to four weekly flights. We don’t have any additional details to share at this time, but as always, we will closely monitor the route to ensure we are providing the right level of service.”
That means this winter, United will fly the 787-8 Dreamliner on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from Chicago to Tel Aviv, departing at 6:35pm and arriving at 2pm the next day.
United will fly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from Tel Aviv to Chicago, departing at 12:50am and arriving at 5:35am the same day.
I love those flight times, which are much better than what Delta is offering out of Atlanta and Boston. The outbound flight time means you can enjoy dinner on the flight and attempt to get a full night’s sleep on the plane before having breakfast on the 11.5 hour flight. Plus you arrive at a time when you can checkin to your hotel room, have dinner, and head to sleep.
The return flight time gives you a full day in Israel with enough time to enjoy dinner before heading to the airport and then get a full night’s sleep on the 12.5 hour flight before landing in Chicago in the morning.
Hopefully Chicago will be able to support the increased service and we’ll see daily service on the route in the future.
United will fly the 787-8 Dreamliner from Washington DC to Tel Aviv on the other 3 days of the week, with flights on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10:45pm, arriving into Tel Aviv at 4:30pm the next day.
The return from Tel Aviv to DC will operate on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays at 12:20am, arriving at 6:05am.
For passengers not originating in NYC, that means you can now fly to Israel on any day of the week and avoid the endless delays and subpar customer service that plague the NYC aviation market by connecting in Chicago or DC. The only downside is that you’ll miss out on the superior Fresko kosher meals, which United only offers on flights departing Newark.
United will continue flying daily 777-200 service between San Francisco and Tel Aviv as well as twice daily 787-10 Dreamliner service between Newark and Tel Aviv.
In all, that’s 28 weekly flights on United in each direction between North America and Israel, a new record high.
For those keeping score at home, here are the 109 weekly flights being offering by airlines between North America and Israel at peak times:
- Atlanta: 3 weekly flights on Delta (A350-900L, route begins 3/26/23)
- Boston: 3 weekly flights on Delta (A330-900neo, suspended 1/8/23-3/8/23) and 3 weekly flights on El Al (787-8, 3rd weekly begins 10/30/22)
- Chicago: 4 weekly flights on United (787-8, 4th weekly flight runs 11/1/22-3/21/23).
- JFK: 7 weekly flights on American (777-200), 7 weekly flights on Delta (A330-900neo), 16 weekly flights on El Al (787-9)
- Los Angeles: 6 weekly flights on El Al (787-9).
- Miami: 7 weekly flights on American (777-200 through 10/28, then 787-8 starting 10/30 when flight moves to daily), 5 weekly flights on El Al (787-9).
- Montreal: 3 weekly flights on Air Canada (787-8)
- Newark: 14 weekly flights on United (787-10), 11 weekly flights on El Al (787-9)
- San Francisco: 7 weekly flights on United (777-200)
- Toronto: 7 weekly flights on Air Canada (787-9), 3 weekly flights on El Al (787-8, route ending after 10/27).
- Washington DC: 3 weekly flights on United (787-8)
What is your preferred airline and route to fly to Israel?
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59 Comments On "[United’s 4th Weekly Chicago-Tel Aviv Flight Will Operate Year-Round, San Francisco-Tel Aviv Upgauged To 77W ] United Will Fly A Record Number Of Weekly Flights To Israel This Winter; Roundup Of 109 North America-Israel Flights"
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Predict which North American cities are next. Baltimore? Detroit? Philadelphia? Mexico City?
American would be Charlotte, Dallas, or Philadelphia, but all 3 seem like long shots.
Delta would be Detroit, LA, or Seattle, which also seem like long shots.
United would be Denver, Houston, or LA. Not very likely, but given their expansion it’s a possibility.
El Al I could see Baltimore, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Orlando, Philadelphia, or San Francisco, but they would need more planes.
El Al out of FLL? They already fly out of MIA 30mi to the south…
There are a lot of Jews in Florida. They’ll probably use whichever airports they need.
Everywhere there is a major Jewish community. But only for a limited amount of time.
I wish united can make the night flight later from 11:10 to more like 1 am would give more time in Israel. And waiting for a phl-tlv route or even fll- tlv
Yup, the Chicago flight time is great.
I just booked United’s new Tuesday ORD–>TLV non-stop. 35% cheaper(in all classes) than Monday night flight!! Older equipment , however….
Just thoroughly enjoyed United from DC on Wednesday and returned on Tuesday(two weeks later). Had a delay on the way out that was estimated at three hours and wound up just over two hours. United was really sweet and giving in that flight but could have been more flexible with the Club hours during the delay.
I just flew United flight 84 from Newark on Sunday, business class. I am a 1K member. Even though my profile says kosher, I was told it didn’t show on the manifest and that they didn’t have kosher food for me! Six weeks ago, I flew to Israel with no problem! Emailed them and waiting for response. Not right! Paid 5K for the round trip flight. Not a good way to start a vacation!
Always need to request kosher, profile is usually not enough.
United should carry a surplus of kosher meals on all flights to/from TLV!
That would be nice, but no airline does that.
We did suggest that to El Al though.
Is the new flight available for booking?
Yes. I even some saver business space if you have Plat/1K status.
How do we tell United the Saturday night flight from ORD to TLV in winter should be 9:45pm (like it is in winter) not 6:45pm, so Orthodox Jews can actually fly it? Would increase demand and thus their prices…
And also the Thursday night flight to tlv to leave just a cpl hrs earlier so it doesn’t get into tlv late Friday afternoon
And would mess up the schedules
2:45 hours after sunset would be a good time. LX has 7:10, AA has 7:17 (via JFK). I’ve taken the Swiss a few times in November (w luggage) and it was not difficult to make
I do not understand what time they will be flying in the winter.
Hey, Dan, how about updating the Israel mileage guide that was last updated in 2015?
Did someone say United Club TLV??
Dan please start a petition so we can get fresko on all there routes finally good airline food
Petitions are a waste of time. Email them directly, they read those.
Never bothered to order kosher on United flights to Israel. Never touched the food. So every meal is Fresko now?
From EWR, yes.
Is there any difference in biz class between the 787-9 and 787-10 ?
@Dan, any chance of them allocating any of the new boom aircraft on EWR-TLV?
It’s mainly over water
There is a possibility if two conditions can be met;
1, The distance has to be made shorter to within the Boom parameters.
2, Move Europe out of the way so the flight would really be over water.
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=EWR-GIB-TLV
Something along this routing should be able to fix your 2nd issue (The fact that it may add 200 miles, keep in mind that even flights going direct add 100+ miles usually on this route because of the winds aloft)
Does anyone know how short of a layover would be safe if connecting through Dulles (IAD) to Tel Aviv on United? They offer a 1hr 45 min layover, and I need to be sure that would be enough time. Thanks!!
That’s fine.
@dan would u reach out to UA asking if they would move the Oct 6 UA 90 Back a couple of hours and move up UA 84 on Oct 5th?
While there are more flights do you know how it compares to pre covid levels regarding the actual number of seats. Most airlines used larger planes than the dreamliners. Although the smaller the plane the faster boarding and deplaning are I’d assume, right Dan?
i fly regularly lax-tlv and united connecting flights in the usa are so expensive not sure who actually does it
is cheaper for me to fly el al direct
any idea when or why they wont upguage the EWR-TLV legs back to the 777-300er..i know they had the 777-200 grounding issues which are just about all back up in the air. obviously the 787-10 is a great flight (a drop cramped in polaris’s leg wells) but the increase in Polaris seats on the 77W make upgrading and overall availability so much better. 84/85 and 90/91 flights are averaging way above 95% capacity for months now…
More news roundups Dan please!!!
Which flight did they update the time for?
ORD-TLV
Kudos United!
Next up: UA90 on Sat nts should be adjusted later during the the summer months
@Dan what’s the United email to send this request to?
https://www.united.com/en/us/customercare/
Did United reach out to you and let you know it’s because of Shabbat? They already had the schedule changed for the summer, presumably to shorten the amount of wasted time the plane spends in Israel. This change just keeps the summer schedule in place permanently. While i really like the change for shabbat reasons, this schedule is also more convenient for United.
I don’t feel that all United flights need to leave so late from Chicago to Tel Aviv especially in winter when Shabbos ends earlier. Many people don’t want to leave so late at night during the week and the original time was perfect. Perhaps they could consider moving just the Saturday flight to a later time.
Airlines generally operate flights at roughly the same time.
I am still uncertain how changing the Tuesday ORD–>TLV helps the frum traveler? It adds an additional tefillah b’tzibbur missed!!
Women and children don’t have a requirement to daven with a minyan.
Delta used to have 2-3 JFK-TLV daily flights. Any word when that might return?
Why are United direct flights TLV-IAD so much more expensive than TLV-EWR?
why won’t united upgage the NY flights to the 777-300. it would add on another 24 Business class seats
We need a IAH TLV flight. As United’s second busiest hub, a major Southwest airport, and a gateway to Central and South America. There should be enough of a need for two or three weekly flights.
Will these flights (or any) go back to 42.5 ? There used to be before covid so many 42.5 options go and from. Now there are almost none and the ones there are have 2 stops and 30+ hours.
Is there a trick to finding those coveted nonstop from ewr/iad/ord etc for 42.5?
Do you have a United card?
Yes! But I still can’t find them. I used to be able to find them without a problem.
This year will see a record number of flights from North America to Israel period. In a record amount of time. Like the Rebbe predicted, it will happen b’Chipazon. Why noone is paying attention, I’ll never understand. Especially Chabadniks. Who study the Rebbe’s writings. And here I thought DansDeals had a contract with Mashiach!
Reports are AA is discontinuing MIA-TLV
1st world problems for sure but the price of tickets on hat flight in any class other than economy are insane. Roughly 4k round trip in prremium economy and 8-12 k in biz.
Any chance united will change the EWR-TLV flight to a 777-300ER?
Its just so crowded on the current 787-10’s and almost impossible to get an upgrade to business
delta announced daily service from ATL
United Thursday night ORD-TLV and motzei shabbos are too late! Why dont they adjust the schedule for frum passengers?