El Al is not much loved by the Israeli public, though it's popular with people who want a 100% Kosher plane, or added security when flying. Their food, customer service, and entertainment options are pretty poor, and security is very very strict. Expect to get to the airport very early (both in Israel and wherever it is you're flying from) to pass the extra security checks. You can actually miss your flight to Israel if you are late to the airport, as the dedicated El Al security staff leave at some point, and without them you won't be allowed on the plane. Israel, and especially El Al, use profiling for security. If you match a profile that may be a higher security risk (Middle Eastern or Muslim, backpacker, someone who has visited a country that's hostile to Israel, etc.), then you will most likely not enjoy the security checks. On top of this, El Al flights are usually not the cheapest, and are usually comparable with much nicer airlines. If you can get a better flight, I recommend you do.