FROM A DISTANCE: Sue me: I like El Al
By Naomi Ragen

(February 24) Thirty years ago, when I first landed in
Israel on an El Al flight from New York City, there was
no more vilified or ridiculed airline than Israel's. 

Some of the criticism was certainly justified.
Stewardesses were known to be prickly sabras who
ignored you if you were lucky, and told you off if you
were not. They didn't like foreigners, and they certainly
didn't see any reason to smile when forced to serve food
and beverages to spoiled Americans (who had never
served in the IDF, had more money than they deserved,
and arrived in Israel with the nerve to expect a vacation!).

People were constantly cursing El Al for unannounced
schedule changes, unbearable security checks, sardine
seating, overbooking... If you told anyone you were flying
El Al, the usual reaction was an eye-roll and condolences.

Well, times have changed. Not only has Israel's national
airline corrected most of its growing pains, but it's
become, in my opinion, one of the best airlines in the
world. 

I know. I've traveled with almost every one of them,
almost everywhere. 

I GUESS I should admit that one of the greatest charms
of traveling El Al for an observant Jew is getting fresh,
delicious kosher food. Although you can order kosher
meals on all airlines, I will never forget once being served
an impenetrable cardboard box which contained cold
food about six months old. When I finally managed to
open it, the contents proved unappealing in taste and
texture. All this while viewing my fellow passengers savor
fresh fish and pasta on china plates... 

If you haven't flown El Al recently, the food has become
really something to look forward to. And I liked being
given a menu, even though I was flying tourist class. 

Gone, too, are the surly flight attendants. In the last 10
flights I've made with El Al, the attendants have been
uniformly helpful, gracious and friendly. 

I also have to admit when I'm returning from a stay
abroad, I enjoy hearing Hebrew the minute I step inside
an El Al plane, and getting an Israeli newspaper to catch
up on what I've missed. Let's face it, those stuffy British
papers and the Wall Street Journal just can't compete
with Israeli papers when it comes to providing you with
really important news (the water level in the Kinneret, the
cost of living index, the latest government scandal). 

As for nasty flight attendants, I remember the stewardess
on a Delta flight who told me off in no uncertain terms for
politely asking her to hang up my coat. 

And when the loudspeaker goes on in an El Al flight and I
hear the voice of the captain speaking terrible English with
that heavy sabra inflection, I just feel, well, so safe. I
know that in the cockpit is a veteran of the Israel Air
Force who has flown dangerous missions over hostile
territory during numerous wars, managing to bring himself
and his soldiers home safely. I just close my eyes and
relax. After all, for such a person, what's a little
turbulence in a simple run between Tel Aviv and New
York? 

ANOTHER distinct advantage of flying with a Jewish
airline is the fact that your check-in people are used to
dealing with Jews. 

My daughter, returning from France with Air France, was
devastated when they told her that she'd exceeded her
baggage allowance. Worse, they said that the plane had
no more room even if she agreed to pay for the
overweight. 

This has never happened to me on El Al. 

I am always amazed at the cool of El Al's check-in
people when faced with monster Pullmans, bags, boxes,
and other pekilach that are so dear to the heart of people
flying to and from the Jewish state. Their kindly
indulgence is so... so... haimish. 

I suppose delays and breakdowns are just a matter of
luck, and I've been lucky when I travel El Al. My worst
experiences with delays were with TWA, which had me
sitting for eight hours as staffers went to "borrow a part,"
to get one of their planes moving in a flight between Tel
Aviv and Newark, New Jersey. 

And then there's security. 

Yes, it certainly is a pain. But when I see all those
suspicious characters lined up sweating buckets to explain
who they are and where they're going to some tough El
Al security person, I just know there is somebody out
there protecting me and mine from airborne piracy and
mayhem. 

Let them go through my suitcases, ask me if and when
and how I've packed. It's worth it. Especially when
you've got children and grandchildren with you. 

I also like the well-done magazine, the interesting
entertainment, and the free headsets 

El Al, hats off. I can't wait for my next flight.