Flying to Israel

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  • #2175374
    ☕️coffee addict
    Participant

    My son wants to take a trip to Israel this year with me for a week, I haven’t been there for close to 20 years and I only flew El Al and israir does anyone have any tips if we don’t fly el al? Will delta have a minyan or n the plane? How do kosher meals work on those flights? Any other tips that I need to know?

    #2175471
    YW Moderator-33
    Moderator

    Bump

    #2175511
    jdb
    Participant

    Most airlines will not have a minyan. Many rabbanim will tell you not to daven with plane minyanim for a number of reasons. Ask a Shayla before making this a reason to choose the airline.

    Welcome home.

    #2175514
    mentsch1
    Participant

    Not a huge flyer but I went twice this year
    El Al had a minyan delta didn’t
    FYI
    You can’t daven facing a not tznius woman. Which was definitely a problem even on el Al. So it would be better to daven not with a minyan than in a minyan where you need to face women
    Go to MyZmanim . They will give you the exact sunrise times for your flight, so that if need be you can daven in your seat at netz. Which on the nighttime flights are usually around 3 1/2 to 4 hours after takeoff..

    #2175516
    n0mesorah
    Participant

    Chashuv! Bumped by a Mod!

    #2175518
    ☕️coffee addict
    Participant

    Thanks 33

    #2175520
    Todros Gimpel
    Participant

    Other airlines are very similar in terms of Kosher meals etc. (you need to reserve them in advance.
    Otherwise on other airlines such as United and Delta, you often will have extra leg room and nicer staff.
    One note, Delta has been known to be very “square” about everything.

    #2175524
    commonsaychel
    Participant

    Fly Play to Iceland then Wizz to Krakow then Ryanair to Tel Aviv

    #2175526
    refoelzeev
    Participant

    I’m not sure I understand the question. You don’t fly El Al, when it’s been 20 years since you last did? Where’d that policy come from? Kosher meals are like on any other flight, why would it be different?

    #2175558
    ujm
    Participant

    CA, how old is your son?

    #2175581
    ☕️coffee addict
    Participant

    Yeah the delta flights are during the day so really the only problem is maariv and the next shachris (would get in at 9:15 in the morning

    #2175584
    ☕️coffee addict
    Participant

    Joe,

    You should know from previous posts

    #2175591
    takahmamash
    Participant

    “Fly Play to Iceland then Wizz to Krakow then Ryanair to Tel Aviv”

    Why on earth would you fly with two stops? The OP says the trip is for a week; why would you waste all that time travelling?

    #2175625
    ☕️coffee addict
    Participant

    Refoel,

    There is this little thing called money/price

    When I flew el al I didn’t pay for it now I have to (and try to keep the trip at minimum cost

    #2175619

    Mentch1: I think the aruch hashilchon has a heter on your issue

    #2175643
    Shimon Nodel
    Participant

    You think wrong

    #2175644
    Shimon Nodel
    Participant

    Royal Jordanian is very good. It is completely safe. Jordan is the most stable country in the middle east. It is very professional and comfortable. The stopover in Amman airport is a real pleasure. The flight to Ben Gurion is 20 minutes, and you get to view the entire Eretz Yisrael in full observation

    #2175645
    Shimon Nodel
    Participant

    Swiss airlines is also very good. Free beer as much as you want

    #2175652
    commonsaychel
    Participant

    cheap flights

    #2175650
    mentsch1
    Participant

    Desperate
    I am not aware of a heter to daven facing an ervah
    I’m pretty sure it’s a bracha levatala
    Even the flight attendants can be an issue (skirt length)
    The eitzah is daven facing the wall.

    El Al is more understanding . But the will isn’t always there . Not everyone wants to wake up 4 hours after takeoff.
    I am the proactive type. So I put on my talis and walk over to the bulkhead doors and start davening. It’s usually enough to get others moving and join me. But I will always daven netz rather than assume a minyan will form later.

    #2175662
    ujm
    Participant

    I hear that Turkish Airlines is quite popular.

    #2175665
    BaltimoreMaven
    Participant

    United United United!!! Their fresco kosher meals are amazing. They are the only airline that never stopped flying during covid. They fly 2 daily nonstop from Newark and allow minyan.

    #2175674
    amiricanyeshivish
    Participant

    I am planning on going in july with 2 teenage sons. Looking for cheap flights, Any ideas?
    Also want to stay in Meah Shearim area for cheap. Any ideas?

    #2175684
    SQUARE_ROOT
    Participant

    Rabbi Shlomoh Zalman Auerbach said this in Halichos Shlomoh, 1:95-96:

    “It is better to pray Shemoneh Esrai sitting down than to stand in the aisle of an airplane, both because of concentration and consideration of others.”

    FOUND IN: Relevance Pirkei Avot (page 107) by Rabbi Dan Roth, year 2007 CE, Feldheim Publishers

    #2175693
    Shimon Nodel
    Participant

    @ujm Turkish airlines is very good, but Istanbul airport is a complete wreck. It is the worst airport I’ve been to, and it’s extremely chaotic. There’s absolutely no order. And Turkey is not a good country to spend time in jail. They can arrest anyone on a whim

    #2175694
    Shimon Nodel
    Participant

    I don’t remember which airline that let me daven by myself in privacy. It definitely wasn’t el al. Also, never ever fly Iberian airlines

    #2175761
    Gadolhadorah
    Participant

    Ditto for United. I flew over last week with my grandson who was running in the Jerusalem marathon and came back on Sunday. Seats in the Premium economy were comfortable but still affordable. (You need to take a second mortgage for first class and upgrades never seem to be available) United staff were courteous but firm on enforcing the carryon rules (especially with regard to the usual nutcases trying to squeeze a steamer trunk in the overhead bins). Food was actually good for airline food. Most importantly, flights left nearly on time.

    #2175825
    amiricanyeshivish
    Participant

    Any ideas for a place to stay for father and 2 bachurim for 2 weeks in chodesh av. Looking for Meah Shearim/Mir area. The cheaper the better. No frills needed.

    #2175899
    mentsch1
    Participant

    Amirican
    I don’t know about cheap but it depends on your needs
    Personally I prefer apartments (and I eat out)
    Try
    reservekosher.com the kitchen is kosher. They have a great apartment above kikar shabbos but I think only 1 bedroom (there are others to choose from)
    I’ve stayed at isrentals on Monbaz street. It’s an apartment building with 1 and 2 bedroom apartments (and parking) it’s right off haneviim and a 7 minute walk to meah shaarim. (You can book on Expedia)
    I’ve also stayed at other buildings in that area booked through Airbnb

    #2175898
    commonsaychel
    Participant

    @ amer, a tent is the cheapest, shower at the local mikva.

    #2176070
    ☕️coffee addict
    Participant

    Commonsaychel,

    Why are you joking? I’m looking for a low cost trip too

    If money isn’t a problem for you you can send it to me

    #2176115
    ujm
    Participant

    Having never flown first class (and not missing it either) I am curious what justifies such a significant cost to spend several hours in? Anyone have thoughts?

    #2176122
    ☕️coffee addict
    Participant

    Status

    #2176123
    Gadolhadorah
    Participant

    In rare agreement with R’ Yosef. I’ve flown up front on several 12/13 hr flights to Japan and Dubai and the obscene prices (which clients paid) were not worth it if I had to pay out of pocket. I don’t drink alcohol on long flights and have a hard time sleeping on the “flat beds” which they promote as a key feature. You also get the same “kosher” meals wrapped in plastic while watching the sushi and filet mignon served to the guy sitting next to you. The ONLY real advantage for me is that its a bit quieter in First, less likely to have a screaming baby sitting next you, and shorter lines (if any) for the Lav. I’m a big fan of the premium economy, where I purchase regular economy and use my upgrades to get a wider seat on the aisle. Sometimes, when flying off-season you can get upgraded to business but those upgrades seem very rare these days.

    #2176128
    GadolHadofi
    Participant

    Joseph,

    How do you usually travel to Israel?

    #2176131
    amiricanyeshivish
    Participant

    Mentch1

    Thank you.

    #2176133
    mentsch1
    Participant

    Ujm
    You are looking at this the wrong way
    There are many tzaddikim willing to part with their hard earned money so they can do mitzvos
    It is much easier to learn and concentrate on tefilla sitting in the isolated pods of business class
    Not to mention no issue of sitting next to a woman
    I envy their olam haba for making this financial sacrifice

    #2176147
    ujm
    Participant

    Dofi: Generally by Ocean Liners.

    #2176148
    ujm
    Participant

    Reb Dorah:

    That’s the second “rare agreement” you’ve had with me in two days.

    I’m starting to detect a trend. I always knew that with enough effort on my part even you’d start coming around.

    Winning one heart at a time…

    #2176161

    some companies allow first class if the exec goes directly to a meeting. So, those cheating VPs make sure they have a meeting on the day of arrival …

    I never had yetzer hara to follow on that. I just sit in my armchair at home with a cup of wine and contemplate that people are paying huge money for several hours to sit like that.

    #2176279
    CTLAWYER
    Participant

    @ujm

    I generally fly first class and have done so for more than 60 years.
    I don’t do it for the wines and foods I cannot consume. I have done so for the comfort and quiet and ability to get work done.
    In the 80s I flew about a half million miles per year with bi-weekly trips to Europe. I would leave my office here at 5pm, make a 8 pm TWA flight to London or Paris. I would work most of the night preparing for meetings that began at 9am soon after my arrival. I also made a half dozen flights each year to EY, South Africa and Brazil plus an annual flight to Australia.
    By the 90s I was flying to China each month. My clients paid these costs but it was important to arrive fresh and ready for business.
    That said, I do not like the modern pods that isolate First Class (and business class) travelers from each other. The pods defeat the ability for two of us to work together on a long flight. I really miss the days of an upstairs lounge in early B747s where we could spread papers out on a table and sit facing each other and plan strategies.
    Nowadays, if three or more of us from the CTL law firm are flying together on business, we are likely to fly private. It is not much more expensive than first (for our clients) and they are not paying for us yk have to arrive at the airport hours early and pay X hundreds of dollars per hour for non-productive time. It also allows us to fly into smaller airports that may be closer to our destination and that also saves time and money.

    If I am working on a 14 hour flight I do not want to be disturbed by children or bumped by people trying to get through the aisle to reach a lavatory or food service carts. Lastly, I need to protect the privacy of my work.

    BTW, when I went to Budapest this month for my dental work, I flew premium economy (using miles). I was not doing any work and didn’t need the privacy and space. I flew home in a private jet that belongs to a client. His wife and children had been dropped off in Vienna and it was returning to Teterboro empty.

    #2176316
    commonsaychel
    Participant

    @coffee addict, there is a difference wanting to cut costs and being unrealistic, if you want to cut costs figure out a cheap way to Europe then fly an ULCC carrier to Israel [ryan, wizz, ez etc.] stay chutz lemachneh and use Egged, to expect a cheap place during high season in the center Jslm. is being very very unrealistic.

    #2176290
    GadolHadofi
    Participant

    Joseph,

    The immodesty issues are probably much worse on an ocean liner than an airplane. Do you embark and disembark with blinders on, and stay in your cabin the entire time? Do you travel with a minyan and a Sefer Torah or do you forgo those for several weeks?

    #2176375
    ☕️coffee addict
    Participant

    Commonsaychel,

    I guess we’re not being clear in what cheap is

    No one is saying they want to pay $500 for a round trip ticket that has 3 stops and takes two days to get to Israel then wants a place in a sleazy part of town

    Cheap means affordable while only having minor inconvenience

    #2176395
    mentsch1
    Participant

    Coffee
    Affordable is always defined by how much money you’ve got in the bank. For many people going back-and-forth business every time is affordable.
    Anyway, in terms of my post, you will always find renting an apartment more affordable than two hotel rooms
    Depending upon the area you want the typical price for an apartment is usually below even one hotel room
    Not to mention, you will have a lot more room and depending on the building parking
    But like everything else prices have gone up
    Before Covid you can probably rent a car in Israel for $25 a day and now it’s more like 75+
    But at least the price of gas still stable at about eight dollars a gallon

    #2176438
    commonsaychel
    Participant

    @CA, If anyone thinks the can get cheap accommodations in Geula/ Bais Yisrael area at the height of tourist season should stay home and buy the Brooklyn bridge instead

    #2176453
    n0mesorah
    Participant

    Dear Common,

    I tried to buy the CR bridge, but I couldn’t get the deal done. Who would sell me the Brooklyn Bridge?

    #2176508
    ☕️coffee addict
    Participant

    Commonsaychel,

    Did you read my post?

    You used the word cheap, what do you call cheap?

    #2177400
    Gadolhadorah
    Participant

    This time of year and probably through the summer, the “cheapest” RT El Al flights from JFK/Newark to Tel Aviv will run about $800 to $1,000. You can save about $100-$200 by taking some flights on other carriers with a connection but you have to be crazy to incur the additional time/flight delay risk by making an unnecessary stop.

    #2177422
    ujm
    Participant

    Assuming the anarchists in Israel end their shutdown of Ben Gurion airport; as of now their are no flights into or out of the State of Israel.

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