Cheap Flights to Tel Aviv
How to Find the Best Deals

It’s not easy to find cheap flights to Tel Aviv, but it is doable, if you research and compare.

Here are 7 tips on finding good deals and cheap flights to Israel:

1. Save by Flying on Flights with Stopovers

Sure, direct, non-stop flights to Israel are much more convenient, but they are usually 10 to 30% more expensive.

During the peak season, the price for an economy, round-trip ticket for a direct flight from JFK New York to Tel Aviv is about $1,700 - $2,000.

An indirect flight with a stopover on the way in Europe is around $1500.

And if you are willing to fly with a less well-known airline and spend 8 or 10 hours at a single stopover, the ticket can run as low as $1,000.

You will need to decide on the right balance for you and your family between cheaper flights and the hassle of long stopovers.

Last summer, I flew with my family from Tel Aviv to Orlando and back for my son’s bar-mitzva trip. I always prefer to fly direct, but by stopping over in Rome each way, we saved $260 for each ticket! We’re a family of 4 so saving over $1,000 was worth the few hours of inconvenience.

2. Want Cheap Flights to Tel Aviv -
Choose the Right Day and Time of Day

You stand a much better chance of catching a cheaper ticket by flying:

In the middle of the week and not on weekends

Short night flights are cheaper than short day flights.

Longer flights are cheaper during the day, since most people prefer to spend the night flying.

Especially during the off season, you may find special deals and sales with the airlines themselves.

3. Avoid Traveling During High Season

If possible, avoid the high-season for traveling to Israel, when airfare can be 50% higher than during the off season!

Airfare to Israel is considerably cheaper between November and early March.

So when is peak season to Israel? During the summer months of June to August, and around the major Jewish holidays of

Pesach (Passover) which takes place between mid-March to mid- April
The Jewish New Year season - including Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) and Sukkot (Tabernacles). These 3 holidays occur between mid-September until mid-October.

To find out the exact dates of these holidays each year, surf to our page on National Israel Holidays.

4. Incredibly Cheap Flights to Tel Aviv on Discount Airlines and Charters

Discount airlines offer dramatically cheaper prices to Tel Aviv! Most of the flights are from Europe, and in particular from the UK, Germany and Switzerland and others.The main discount carriers in Israel are currently offering direct flights as follows (updated 2019):

EasyJet - from London, Rome, Paris, Nice, Bordeaux

RyanAir - from Rome and Paphos, and it is expected to expand to many more cities

Jet2 - from Manchester (only in tourist season)

WizAir - from their home base of Hungary, Bulgaria and Austria (Vienna)

Just be aware of EXTRAS that can double your price ticket!

A few pounts of extra weight can cost a lot.
Bring your own food and drink since you pay for all on-board food and drink, even water.
There is no in-flight entertainment.

A notch or two above these discount airlines are charters from carriers such as: IsraAir and Arkia.

I've flown often with IsrAir and Arkia - they give good value for a relatively lower cost.

5. Try Flying with Reputable, but Less Well-Known Airlines

You can ogyrn find cheap flights to Israel if you consider flying with less popular carriers.

There are lots of reputable airlines that you are less familiar with that often offer lower airfares.

Research or ask your travel agent to check prices on airlines flying to Israel such as Turkish Airlines, Royal Jordan Airlines or some of the others listed below. You'll be surprised how much you can save.

Use the list of airlines below below to compare airfare options for your cheap flights to Tel Aviv.

Aeroflot, Russia

Aerosvit Air, Ukraine

Air Canada, Canada

Air France, France

Alitalia, Italy

Austrian Airlines, Austria

British Airways, UK

Brussels Air

Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong

Continental Airlines, USA

Delta Airlines, USA

Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia

El Al Airlines, Israel

Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia

Iberia Air, Spain

KLM, Netherlands

Korean Air, Korea

LOT Airlines, Poland

Lufthansa, Germany

Olympic Airlines, Greece

Royal Jordanian, Jordan

Malev Hungarian Airlines, Hungary

South African Airways, South Africa

Swiss Air, Switzerland

Tarom Airlines, Romania

Thai Air, Thailand

Turkish Airlines, Turkey

Ukraine International Airlines, Ukraine

United Airlines, USA

6. Student Fares for Cheap Tickets to Tel Aviv

Many students aren't aware that lots of airlines offer student fares. If you are a college or university student, do ask the airlines about student rates before booking your flight.

7. Fully Paid Tours to Israel...
with Taglit-Birthright

If you are between the ages of 18-26, you may be eligible to a fully paid, 10 day tour of Israel for free!

Birthright has sponsored this free tour to over 300,000 people from over 50 countries.

What’s the catch? There really is none… Birthright trips receive extremely positive reviews from participants. There are general travel tours and and special focus tours on topics like: Israel nature, foodies, fashion, gay tours and more.

To find out if you are eligible, press here: Birthright Eligibility