Parnes, an Israeli travel specialist, recommends flying on airlines such as Lufthansa, Air France or British Airways, which stop in Europe before landing in Tel Aviv. Most European airlines use consolidators. Because El Al doesn't use a consolidator, it can't compete with other airline fares. Despite its costlier and longer flights, however, El Al still has an allure for many travelers, especially large tour groups. Jeremy Barcon, of Piedmont Travel Service, says he books about half of his flights to Israel on El Al and the rest on European or American carriers.
People fly for the pride of flying a Jewish airline, for patriotism, for great service.
Along with paying a higher fare, travelers flying El Al will lose out on frequent flier miles, notes Barcon. If a family of four flies to Israel, for example, they would rack up a significant number of miles on a European or American carrier. El Al's plan, however, is specifically geared toward business travelers. Adding another layer of confusion to the process of choosing an airline, Barcon warns clients not to buy tickets through a consolidator. Barcon prefers to buy tickets directly from the airline.