King David Lounge at Ben Gurion Air Port - The Departure Gateway for El Al Passengers

Ben Gurion Airport at Tel Aviv has plenty of familiar landmarks – the departures hall, the duty free stores, the endless security lines. But for frequent El Al flyers, there is one more landmark that really marks the point where “routine ends and the trip begins”: the King David Lounge.

This is where the average Israeli switches from “work – kids – WhatsApp” mode into “international traveler” mode – even if it’s just another business hop to London.

So where is the lounge? Concourse D… and now also E

El Al’s main lounge is located in Terminal 3, in the duty free area, at the entrance to Concourse D – a large balcony-style space overlooking the taxiways and aircraft stands.

In recent years, especially during renovations and peak periods, El Al has also been using the Dan Lounge in Concourse E, which has been rebranded and now effectively serves as an additional/alternative King David Lounge – mainly during busy hours and for certain Matmid frequent flyer tiers.

For the passenger, this means something simple: sometimes you’ll be directed to the “classic” King David Lounge in D, and sometimes to the version in E – which looks a bit different, but overall feels quite similar in terms of experience.

What’s on the menu? Cold salads, pizza, soup – don’t expect a chef restaurant or real hot dishes.

If we strip away the marketing layer, the food at the King David Lounge is basic plus – definitely not a fine-dining experience:

• Cold salads in various combinations – vegetables, Tuna, tahini, some antipasti here and there.

• Pizza, which is almost always available – a nice solution for kids and for adults arriving hungry.

• Industrial soup (mainly in winter) – comforting and very Israeli, but not something a food critic would come to review.

The latest renovation, completed in 2025, focused mainly on design, furniture and infrastructure that had become very worn and dated – more charging points, bar elements, and a new layout that allows more seating and, at least in theory, reduces some of the crowding. In addition, the bar area on the second floor has been expanded and refreshed.

On the other hand, the showers and massage services that were once part of the lounge experience have not yet returned to service. In practice, the lounge that brands itself as El Al’s “home lounge” is still lagging quite a bit behind almost every major airline’s flagship lounge.

Anyone familiar with leading international airline lounges will recognize immediately: There is no real menu here, and essentially no true hot dishes (and no, a hot slice of pizza or a bowl of couscous soup do not count as a proper hot food offering by global standards). There is no à la carte service, no chef preparing made-to-order dishes, and no “restaurant-like” feeling. It’s mostly a basic buffet meant to help pass the time and bring your hunger level down before the flight.

So what exactly is “new” there?

El Al markets the lounge as “renovated”, “redesigned”, “a new hospitality experience” – and to some extent that’s true: There has been a renovation; worn-out sofas have been replaced, the lighting tones have been updated, a more substantial bar area has opened, and many power and USB outlets have been added throughout the space.

But for passengers who spend a lot of time there, the feeling is less “wow, a completely different lounge” and more: “The same lounge, just after a mini facelift and new furniture” – which, somewhat disappointingly, already starts looking tired in places less than six months after reopening.

At the end of the day, it’s the same bright space with windows to the apron, the same division into seating areas, and the same feeling of a “large, professional waiting room” – just with updated finishes.

The closed area for TOP Platinum customers

One of the more prominent features of the King David Lounge is the separate area for TOP Platinum passengers – El Al’s highest status tier. Next to the main lounge there is a separate, quieter zone with controlled access, which remained open even during the renovation works.

The experience there is different:

• Less noise and less foot traffic,

• Slightly more privacy,

• Less of that “central station at rush hour” feeling.

However, as of 2025 this area has not yet been renovated and still looks and feels like something straight out of the 1990s – old design, old furniture. In terms of food, you’ll find pretty much the same offerings as in the main lounge; the main differences are atmosphere and crowding, not what’s on your plate.

The crowding – the blessing of Fly Card and the curse of the frequent flyer

One of the most noticeable issues at the King David Lounge over the last few years is crowding.

Expanded access via credit cards – especially El Al’s Fly Card, which grants multiple entries and create many high status passengers that can enter the lounge – has turned the lounge from a relatively quiet space into something that often feels like a huge café at peak hour.

During the morning wave of flights to Europe, and the evening/night wave of flights to North America, you can expect:

• Lines at the entrance,

• A small battle over every available armchair,

• A buffet that is constantly replenished – but also constantly emptied.

For a business traveler looking for a bit of peace and quiet to work, finish a presentation or just rest before a night flight, it can sometimes feel less like a premium lounge and more like a tech campus cafeteria at lunchtime.

Comparing to other airlines’ “home” lounges – where does King David stand?

To understand the true level of the King David Lounge, you have to compare it to flagship lounges of other full-service airlines at their home hubs.

United, British Airways, Delta – the old and new worlds

• United Polaris Lounges – at hubs like Newark, Chicago or San Francisco, you’ll find lounges with high-quality hot food, quiet work areas, proper showers, and in many locations even nap rooms. In San Francisco, for example, United also operates an Arrivals Lounge, where you can shower, refresh and grab a light bite after landing from a long flight.

• British Airways (Galleries / Club / First / Concorde Room) – at Heathrow, you’ll find separate dining areas, fully stocked bars, high-standard showers, an impressive alcohol selection and a genuine “premium club” vibe.

• Delta Sky Club / Delta One – across the U.S., the emphasis is on large bars, comfortable seating, showers, and in many locations, stations serving hot food cooked on site.

In all these cases, the impression is of a strong, unified premium product – flagship lounges that visibly embody the airline’s brand and its premium cabins.

Emirates and Etihad – a different league

When you move to Gulf carriers like Emirates in Dubai and Etihad in Abu Dhabi, the gap grows even further:

• Seating areas that feel like the lobby of a 5-star hotel,

• Full à la carte restaurants with complete menus,

• Spacious showers and often even spa services,

• Quiet rooms, business areas, prayer rooms, and kids’ play zones,

• Lavish bars with bartenders mixing cocktails at the level of a high-end restaurant.

In these lounges, the space is an integral part of the brand – a direct extension of the business or first class experience onboard.

So where does King David fit in?

The King David Lounge at Ben Gurion, even after its renovation, still feels more like a basic, efficient lounge and less like a truly luxurious flagship product:

• There is food, there are seating areas, there is a bar – but not at a “wow” level.

• There is no personal restaurant-style menu or premium - luxury experience.

• The atmosphere is less intimate and more “we’re all in one big room waiting for a flight”.

Anyone familiar with Emirates or Etihad lounges will immediately feel that the gap in service level, quiet, food variety and overall premium feel is still very significant.

And what about the other lounges at Ben Gurion?

Here’s another painful point: The general standard of the other lounges at Ben Gurion, especially the Dan Lounges, is so basic that sometimes even the word “lounge” feels overly generous.

Dan Lounges usually resemble more of an extended office coffee corner:

• Relatively small spaces,

• Very very very basic food,

• Heavy crowding at peak times –All of this is a far cry from what many international travelers expect from an airline or priority lounge.

Against this backdrop, the King David Lounge definitely looks and feels like “a different league” within Ben Gurion – but it’s still very much a local league, not necessarily an international one.

Verdict

On the one hand, the King David Lounge is still very much the core of the El Al passenger experience at Ben Gurion: The location is convenient, the food is acceptable, there’s a view of the runway, and there’s that sense of “we’re on home turf before we head out”.

On the other hand, the crowding, the food level, and the fact that the renovation focused mainly on furniture and decor rather than redefining the entire concept – all of these keep it well behind many of the world’s more impressive flagship lounges.

As someone who spends quite a bit of time there, I can say honestly: I’m glad the King David Lounge exists, and I do enjoy sitting there before a flight – but I’m also very aware of the gap between what we get at Ben Gurion and what a passenger receives in a flagship lounge in London, New York, Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Until that gap is narrowed, we’ll keep enjoying the pizza, salads and soup, and hope that the next upgrade will be more than cosmetic – and finally push the King David Lounge a step closer to a truly premium experience.