Flying from Tel Aviv

[SkystheLimit]

We are considering a cruise next Spring that ends in Haifa. Many of the flights from Tel Aviv seem to leave in the middle of the night especially flying to the US. This really doesn't appeal to us for a variety of reasons. Does anyone have experience with this airport that can make some suggestions for alternates? We are not opposed to a overnight stop on our return flight. Would rather arrive home in the afternoon versus early AM after an all nighter. Thanks for any thoughts.

[Gardyloo]

We are considering a cruise next Spring that ends in Haifa. Many of the flights from Tel Aviv seem to leave in the middle of the night especially flying to the US. This really doesn't appeal to us for a variety of reasons. Does anyone have experience with this airport that can make some suggestions for alternates? We are not opposed to a overnight stop on our return flight. Would rather arrive home in the afternoon versus early AM after an all nighter. Thanks for any thoughts.

British Airways have two daily London flights, one leaving around 8 AM or so (moves around a little) and the other in late afternoon (5 PM or so). They're 5 1/2 hour flights to London, minus a 2 hour time change, so they arrive around 11:30 AM and 8:30 PM respectively. The early flight connects to numerous flights to the USA; the late flight doesn't. We like the late flight and usually just get a Priceline hotel at Heathrow for the overnight. Helps on the transatlantic flight the next day by breaking up the trip.

 

Iberia also has two flights a day to Madrid, same idea (early morning, late afternoon.) Same story connecting out of MAD.

[maxamuus]

Look at Continental. They have a 11am departure that connects in Newark and should get you back all in the same day.

[Globaliser]

We are not opposed to a overnight stop on our return flight. Would rather arrive home in the afternoon versus early AM after an all nighter.

If you are worried about being tired, the straight-through connections could be just as bad. You'd have to get up at the crack of dawn (or before, if you're aiming for the 5 am flight to Frankfurt), and you still won't get home until after midnight according to your body clock.

 

If you are prepared to take an overnight stop, then your best bet is probably to get one of the late afternoon flights to the connecting point (Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, London and Paris being the chief suspects here), stay at the airport and then fly on to Atlanta the following day.

 

You don't tell us which date, so it's difficult to give any more specific advice.

[Globaliser]

Look at Continental. They have a 11am departure that connects in Newark and should get you back all in the same day.

Although that is correct by a strict calendar day approach, the sensible connection (for a random date in May) doesn't have you arriving in Atlanta until 10.42 pm. By your body clock, that is 5.42 am the next day - ie you will feel like you have been up all night, yet it will be difficult to sleep when you get home because your body thinks it's the start of a new day.

 

If you're going to put yourself through that, you might as well take the non-stop, which is faster and cuts out the stress and hassle of having to deal with US immigration and customs at the connection point.

[Globaliser]

British Airways have two daily London flights, one leaving around 8 AM or so (moves around a little) and the other in late afternoon (5 PM or so). They're 5 1/2 hour flights to London, minus a 2 hour time change, so they arrive around 11:30 AM and 8:30 PM respectively. The early flight connects to numerous flights to the USA; the late flight doesn't. We like the late flight and usually just get a Priceline hotel at Heathrow for the overnight.

If the OP can get a good rate at the Sofitel at Terminal 5, this would be even better because the Sofitel is attached to Terminal 5, where BA's Tel Aviv flights arrive and where BA's trans-Atlantic flights depart. It would make the overnight stay virtually zero hassle.

[SkystheLimit]

Thank you to everyone for your help and insight. Neither of us sleep well on aircraft so I think we will opt for a overnight stopover in Munich or Frankfurt. London suggestions are good also--will just have to price the options. Anyone flown or have thoughts on Aegean Airlines? Saw on another post that have a flight to Athens from Dubai. Our cruise begins in Athens and a round trip ATL-ATH might be more economical than an multi city fare.

[SkystheLimit]

Sorry, forgot to mention the date. The arrives in Haifa on May 16.

[Globaliser]

Assuming you don't actually mean Dubai, do you mean something like this (for about $1325)?

 

04 MAY DL 138 ATL-ATH 1630-1035+1

---

16 MAY A3 929 TLV-ATH 0700-0900

16 MAY DL 139 ATH-ATL 1230-1725

 

It looks like you can buy that on a single ticket, with TLV-ATL priced as a through fare. That gives you misconnection protection at ATH if something goes wrong. That open-jaw itinerary would be better than buying two separate tickets, even though it costs about $40 more.

 

The only question is whether you could make that 0700 flight, or whether you'd have to stay overnight in Haifa or Tel Aviv first.

 

On a quick and dirty search, some other open jaw itineraries come out to about the same, eg this one for almost exactly the same price (although it's effectively one-stop in both directions, whereas the DL is non-stop outbound):-

 

04 MAY BA 226 ATL-LHR 2115-1015+1

05 MAY BA 632 LHR-ATH 1150-1735

---

16 MAY BA 164 TLV-LHR 1705-2020

17 MAY BA 227 LHR-ATL 1500-1905

 

The return half of that is also priced as a through-fare even though the connection is overnight.

[SkystheLimit]

Thank you for the info. I did not mean Dubai. Been watching too much college football today and a little distracted. You are so kind to take the time to look up this for us.