Choice of Airlines to Israel
 

Considering choice of airlines to Israel. Would be flying ff tickets coach on American or its partners which include British, Swiss or El Al. We would be two so prefer the 2-5-2 seat configuration. From Chicago choices appear to be AA and El Al through Newark, AA and BA through London or AA and Swiss through Zurich. Anyone know what the configuration is on El Al from Newark? I like that schedule best. It is 777, which I know can be 3-3-3 or 2-5-2. I know AA to London can be 2-5-2 because I have flown it. www.seatguru.com covers many airlines, but not El. Any other comments on service, comfort, etc. in coach to Israel would be most helpful. Thanks.

Call El Al and find out directly fromm them what configuration on their equipment. But realize that any airline might change equipment at any time for any flight.

As to comfort, coach is coach, though we've never been uncomfortable as long as we've been in aisle seats. Unless you're lucky enough to get the 2-seats in a 2-on-each-window-side of the plane.

Call the airline.

There is a website to show the seats with a description if some rows are less comfortable then others... is it "seatguru"? Check the airline forum, you should be able to find it there.

Seat maps for a number of airlines, including many notlisted on seatguru.com, like El Al, can be found here: http://www.frequentflyer.oag.com/air...ts/seating.asp

Meant to add, some of the diagrams are quite out of date.

Myself, I'd take AA ORD-LHR, the morning flight (trying to sleep in today's coach seats is, IMO, a joke.) Then I'd overnight in a hotel near Heathrow (several okay places turn up for $75 or less on Priceline) then take one of the BA flights to TLV the next day (morning or evening). BA is upgrading their LHR-TLV planes to include World Traveler Plus (premium economy) with lots of legroom. If you have the miles, then BA WT+ ORD-LHR-TLV would be the best choice.

EL AL has 333 configuration in 777.
Check out this: http://www.columbia.edu/~mea2015/lyseatmaps/

I wouldn't go through Europe because you dont get a flight segment long enough to sleep on. If you fly via NY, straight to TLV on an eleven hour flight , you'll have atleat 8 hours to sleep.