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Should You Pay More to Make Sure You Actually Get to Israel?

  • Writer: Suzanne Lieberman
    Suzanne Lieberman
  • Aug 12
  • 4 min read

Updated: Aug 18

I recently watched a video about El Al that made me stop and think.


The video looks at the airline from a very different perspective, including the way its aircraft are designed and tested and the extraordinary attention given to security.


It was fascinating.


But it also got me thinking about something much more practical.


When you're planning a trip to Israel, how much should you be willing to pay to make sure you actually get here?


Because sometimes, that's the part of the journey we don't think about enough.


A few years ago, I was helping a family - I'll call them Baruch and Liora - plan their trip to Israel.


They booked their flights.

They made their plans.


And then their flights were cancelled.


So they postponed the trip and decided to try again the following year. They booked again.


And then, once again, their flights were cancelled.


By this point, the family was determined to get to Israel on the third attempt. They had waited long enough. So this time, they changed their strategy.


Instead of flying all the way to Israel on their original carrier, they flew to Europe, stayed overnight, and then continued to Israel on El Al.


Yes, it cost them a little more. But after everything they had been through, they all agreed it was worth it.


And there was another reason this particular arrangement mattered. Liora was very nervous about security. Knowing that the final flight into Israel was on El Al gave her an additional sense of reassurance.


After two cancelled attempts, simply knowing that they had a travel plan they felt comfortable with, made a difference.


And this time? They finally got here.


Sometimes the cheapest flight isn't the cheapest option.


This is something I find myself discussing with clients more and more. Of course I understand wanting to find the best airfare.


Flights to Israel can be expensive, and nobody wants to spend more money than they need to. But when I'm helping a family plan an Israel trip, I'm not just looking at the price of the ticket. I'm thinking about the whole journey.


That's why, for some of my clients, I recommend considering a slightly different strategy.


It doesn't necessarily mean flying El Al from the moment you leave home.

Sometimes it makes sense to fly from the US, UK or elsewhere to a European hub on the airline offering the best combination of price and schedule, even possibly staying overnight, and then take El Al for the final leg into Israel.


It's not the right answer for everyone.


But sometimes getting to Israel reliably is worth paying a little extra for.


And then there's El Al itself. Watching that video also reminded me that there are aspects of El Al that people sometimes overlook.


Yes, El Al can be expensive.


But for someone who is particularly concerned about security, the airline's focus on security can provide an additional sense of reassurance. And for some travelers, that peace of mind has real value.


And then there's the feeling that you're already beginning your Israel experience before you land.


I'm certainly not going to tell you that El Al is automatically the best choice for every trip. There are plenty of circumstances where another airline makes perfect sense.

But when I'm helping someone plan a trip to Israel, I'm interested in more than the client finding the lowest airfare.


I'm interested in helping them get here.


By the way…

If you're interested in the video that got me thinking about all of this, I've linked to it here. It's an interesting look at El Al and the way the airline approaches its aircraft and security.


Baruch and Liora eventually arrived in Israel with their family after two cancelled attempts. And that, ultimately, was what mattered.


Baruch was kind enough to leave me a wonderful review afterwards, which meant a lot to me, particularly because I knew how much this family had gone through to finally make the trip happen.


They had tried. They had been disappointed. They had tried again. And finally, they changed the plan.


Sometimes that's what good travel planning is about.

Not necessarily finding the cheapest route.

Not necessarily finding the most obvious route.


But looking at the whole picture and asking: What will give this family the best chance of actually having the Israel trip they've been dreaming about?


Because after all the planning, saving, anticipation and excitement…

the most important flight is the one that actually gets you here.


If you're planning an Israel trip and want help deciding where to invest your time, your budget and your energy, I'd love to help you create an itinerary that's right for your family. You can reach out via my contact form


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