EL AL, along with many other airlines, took away the ability for travel agents to process refunds on cancelled flights in March of 2020.
But while other airlines issued direct refunds or reenabled travel agent’s refund option soon thereafter, EL AL closed their call center and said that it didn’t have the liquidity to provide refunds. That’s despite the DOT stating that airlines had to provide refunds within 7 days or face potential enforcement actions.
But the airline has received a lifeline in the form of prepaid tickets purchased by the Israeli government and additional funding from the airline’s newly controlling Rozenberg family.
Yesterday, new EL AL CEO Avigal Soreq wrote this to travel agents, stating that travel agents can once again process refunds:
EL AL still has not reopened their US call center, though they have reopened their Israeli call center.
The airline is facing more competition than ever, with all of the big 3 US airlines now flying to Israel.
Will you go back to flying EL AL?
HT: chff
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8 Comments On "EL AL Finally Allowing Travel Agents To Process Refunds For Cancelled Flights"
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I have a flight with American on July 28 to TLV. Bought tix with Chase points.
Chase rep said only credit with AA, no refund of points.
Is that right?
And anyone know when tourists are allowed to travel to Israel?
If its August 1, am I totally messed up?
If the airline is operating the flight, that’s correct. Refunds are just if you used miles or if the airline cancels or changes the flight.
You can always wait up until the time of departure to see if the flight gets cancelled or delayed and then ask for a refund or cancel your flight.
Nobody knows when Israel will reopen, but odds are not anytime soon.
Thanks Dan!!!!
if i used a outbound elal ticket and they cancelled the return are they obligated to give a partial refund ?
Yes
NOPE!!!
Will EL AL also help find luggage that’s been missing from a flight of a Yeshiva student that had return to the States back in March 2020?
We waited a long time for a refund on our tickets to Israel in March of 2020. It will take a long time before we book anything with EL -AL again. Even the change of ownership has not convinced us to try them again.