Flight Review: Tel Aviv to Athens on El Al Boeing 737-900

I recently flew from Tel Aviv to Athens on El Al aboard a Boeing 737-900 and felt this flight was worth reviewing from an aviation enthusiast’s perspective. Operationally, the flight was solid. From a product and service standpoint, however, it highlights several structural challenges El Al is currently facing, particularly on short-haul routes.

Security and Check-in: Premium Growth Without Matching Infrastructure

There is nothing inherently negative about an airline having a large premium customer base. In fact, it usually reflects strong loyalty and frequent travel, something every airline aims for.

The problem emerges when premium demand grows faster than the supporting infrastructure. Security lanes, check-in counters, waiting areas, and lounges must scale accordingly.

On this flight, they clearly did not. The dedicated security line for business and premium passengers extended to roughly 50 meters. The situation was further complicated when premium travelers arrived with accompanying guests who were not necessarily immediate family members.

Over recent years, credit card partnerships and status benefits have significantly expanded access to premium services, yet the physical and operational setup has not evolved at the same pace.

Premium should be more than a label on a boarding pass. It must also be reflected in efficient crowd management and a consistently superior experience.

Check-in itself was slow and inefficient, falling short of expectations for a flag carrier.

Lounge Experience: Overcapacity During Peak Hours

This was a morning departure to Athens, a short and popular regional route. The lounge was operating beyond comfortable capacity. Seating was scarce, noise levels were high, and the environment lacked the calm and functionality expected from a premium ground product.

For short-haul operations, a lounge should reduce friction and improve passenger flow. In this case, it added stress rather than value.

Aircraft and Cabin: Aging Narrowbody Product

The flight was operated by a Boeing 737-900, and its age is immediately noticeable. There is no onboard Wi-Fi, the cabin systems feel dated, and the overall experience lags behind current European short-haul standards.

El Al has placed orders for Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, but fleet renewal will take several years. Until then, the airline continues to rely on an aging narrowbody fleet for many regional services.

Aircraft Configuration and Cabin Layout

El Al’s Boeing 737-900 is configured in a two-class layout consisting of business class and economy class.

Business class is arranged in a 2–2 configuration, with two seats per row. These are standard short-haul recliner seats rather than lie-flat products, which is expected for narrowbody regional operations. The cabin offers additional space and service differentiation but remains a conventional European-style business product.

Economy class is configured in a 3–3 layout throughout the cabin. Seat pitch and width are on the tighter end of the narrowbody range, especially noticeable on fully booked flights.

Row 22 is the first economy row immediately behind business class, separated by the lavatories. It is sold as a preferred seat due to slightly increased legroom and a perceived sense of separation from the main economy cabin. In practice, the added comfort is limited.

The lavatories create a physical divider between cabins but also introduce constant foot traffic and noise, which reduces any sense of exclusivity. Fixed armrests further limit flexibility, particularly for larger passengers or when the row is full.

From a configuration standpoint, the aircraft reflects an older narrowbody philosophy focused on maximizing capacity rather than optimizing passenger comfort. While fully functional, the layout feels dated compared to newer short-haul configurations used by many European carriers today.

Cabin Layout Overview

Business Class: 2–2 seating Economy Class: 3–3 seating Lavatories located between business and economy cabins No onboard Wi-Fi Bring-your-own-device inflight entertainment

Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity

El Al relies on a streaming system accessed via passengers’ personal devices. The content selection is limited, generic, and appears largely unchanged for some time.

While acceptable for short flights, the system feels outdated compared to competitors offering refreshed libraries and onboard connectivity.

Upgrade Availability

Several days before departure, upgrade attempts were made using both cash and loyalty points. As expected, no availability was found. Premium cabins appear consistently full, reinforcing the earlier observation regarding demand outpacing infrastructure.

Economy Class Service Delivery

From a service perspective, economy class remains El Al’s weakest area.

During meal service, which consisted of a basic sandwich, I fell asleep. After waking approximately thirty minutes later and requesting food, the sandwich was delivered only during final approach. The final bite coincided with touchdown.

Beyond timing, the catering itself was neither flavorful nor of notable quality, even by short-haul standards. It felt like a minimal offering with little attention to product value.

Cabin crew presence in the economy cabin was limited, with visible focus on duty-free sales rather than proactive passenger service. For aviation enthusiasts, this highlights a clear imbalance in service priorities.

Overall Assessment

From an operational standpoint, the flight performed well. Departure and arrival were on time, and the flight itself was smooth.

However, the broader experience tells a different story. Ground processes are strained by premium overcapacity. Lounge conditions suffer during peak hours. The aircraft and cabin product are dated. Catering is weak. Economy class service requires meaningful improvement.

El Al cannot afford to emphasize premium branding while neglecting the majority of passengers traveling in economy, particularly on short-haul regional routes.

Final Scores

Aircraft: 6 Seat comfort: 7 Catering: 6 Cabin crew service: 7 Lounge: 7

For aviation enthusiasts, this flight serves as a clear case study of strong demand, loyal customers, and operational reliability combined with a product that is struggling to keep pace with modern expectations.