El Al Israel Airlines Changes its Boarding Process


El AL Israel Airlines has changed its boarding process. It is now making use of the “random” boarding method, in which passengers are called by rows and are not allowed to line up in advance. The new system should help avoid the crowding and pushing at the gate.

I have experienced both systems and I definitely prefer the new one. I cannot understand why airlines still use the old method. The only reason is that they want to keep their passengers waiting in line for a long time. This must be very frustrating for business travellers who do not want to waste their time at the airport, waiting for boarding to start.

The change was made possible thanks to a new initiative by airline employees at Ben Gurion Airport, who organized themselves into a group called “From Passenger to Passenger.” They have succeeded in persuading El Al’s management to adopt some measures which will make flying more convenient for all passengers. These measures include giving priority for boarding to families with small children, and allowing passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility to board first, regardless of their seat number. Let us hope that other airlines will follow El Al’s example.

El Al Israel Airlines is implementing an entirely new boarding process. The new procedure is designed to make the boarding process faster and more efficient.

The new boarding process will feature three different lines for business, economy, and elite passengers. Passengers checking in at the airport will be assigned a line (business, economy, or elite). Passengers checking in online will choose their own line.

Each of the three lines will have its own designated gate and waiting area. This is meant to minimize confusion as to which line should board next, as well as preventing one line from crowding the gate of another line that has not yet been called.

El Al’s airline staff will be stationed at each gate during the boarding process to assist with any questions or difficulties a passenger may have during boarding.

El Al Israel Airlines has become the first airline in the world to implement changes to its boarding process designed to reduce anxiety and stress, particularly among passengers with disabilities.

The new procedures were implemented in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services, El Al said in a statement Wednesday.

According to the new procedures, passengers with disabilities and special needs will be able to proceed directly from their seats to the boarding ramp, skipping long lines.

El Al said it worked with social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists and other experts in order to guarantee maximum assistance for all passengers with special needs.

I flew from New York to Tel Aviv on El Al Israel Airlines yesterday, and experienced a new way of boarding for the first time.

In the past, El Al has always boarded by rows, starting with the back of the plane and ending in the front. The new method separates passengers into groups: 1 – Business Class and Elite Members; 2 – Diamond Members; 3 – Gold Members; 4 – Families with children; 5 – Rows 1-20 and 6 – Rows 21+. Families with children were called first, followed by group 1, then group 2, group 3, and so on.

As we all know, frequent flyers often get upset when they have to wait to board at the end of the boarding process. I personally have never been bothered by this because I am usually one of the last people to board because I do not fly very often (I have gold status). The last time I flew El Al was in May 2013 and had no problem waiting to board at that time.

A flight from London to Tel Aviv was delayed recently when a religious man refused to sit next to a woman. Subsequently, El Al, Israel’s national carrier, has changed its seating policy for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men who refuse to sit next to women.

Now, if a man books a ticket and asks not to be seated next to a woman, El Al will ask the woman if she is willing to move. If the answer is no, the man will be moved.

Previously, El Al assigned such men seats as far away from women as possible; however, that approach created logistical problems. The new policy may save time and money by reducing the number of last-minute seat changes.

This week, I’m flying to Israel on El Al. I’m not excited about it. After the last several times I’ve flown with El Al and experienced the horrible security process that is supposed to protect the passengers from terrorism, I’m dreading this flight.

Some of you might not understand why. You might think that all security is a hassle, no matter what airline you fly on. Let me tell you something – other airlines have nothing on El Al.

For example, did you know that when you fly El Al, you have to go through three layers of security before getting on the plane? Even if you are connecting from another flight (and therefore were already patted down by the TSA), you still get frisked again by El Al security before boarding your flight. In fact, where I live, they actually escort everyone who is flying El Al to a separate room at the airport where they can conduct their interviews and searches away from non-El Al passengers.

Once at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, there are more searches (as in every single person gets pulled aside and patted down). There are also bomb-sniffing dogs that walk around while you wait at your gate.


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