Ben Gurion International Airport

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Ben Gurion International Airport (IATA Flight Code: TLV) is Israel's primary airport. Named after Israel's first prime minister, it is near the town of Lod (hence its previous name - Lod/Lydda Airport), on the outskirts of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.

Ben Gurion International Airport Halal Explorer

Security

The airport is one of the most secure airports in the world, especially given its location. It's advisable to budget at least an additional two hours on top of your pre-flight check-in time to ensure timely arrival and completion of security procedures (though most of the time it will go much faster). If you are a European or North American Muslim, security clearance will be fast.

Airport security is especially suspicious of Travellers with Muslim names or visas from Islamic countries in their passports. Expect to be stopped and questioned for several hours if thit is the case, both on the way in and on the way out. It would be wise to have some phone numbers of local contacts for security officials to call to verify your reasons for visiting. Switch your phone before you reach the airport and have the contact person written on a piece of paper with the Phone number.

The most evident security check is pre-check-in. Bag inspection, both by machine and hand, is routine and should be expected, in addition to repeated interviews about your time in Palestine. (Optional; should you go through it; you will be escorted to skip regular security check.) If travelling as part of a group and they will question you separately before cross-checking your accounts.

On joining the queue for this security check, a security official will ask you several questions. Based on these and a brief inspection of your passport, you will be assigned a number from 1 to 6. 1 signifies the lowest security concern and 6 the highest. Foreign Muslims will typically get between a 3 and a 6.

Age, appearance, stamps from Arab countries, evidence of visits to Palestinian areas and other factors will be taken into account. Depending on the number you get (stuck on your passport and luggage) and the security check is more or less thorough. Travellers who have visited Palestinian areas will almost certainly receive a 5 or 6 (but you can also get a 5 if you have never been to Palestine before and are of European descent). With a 5 or a 6, you can expect every single item of luggage to be taken from your bag and inspected in detail. Security officials have been known to check individual bank-notes. With a 6 (but sometimes even 5 if they have time), you can also expect to be taken to a cubicle and asked to remove your belt and shoes and have a personal inspection. If your clothes contain any metal that would set off a detector (such as studs in your jeans or a zip) even if plainly visible on the outside, you will be asked to remove the item of clothing. Travellers are regularly prevented from taking mobile phones, laptops and even shoes in their hand-luggage, although there is no consistency, with reports of one policy one week and another the next week. Make sure you switch off the phone as they have the technology to plug the phone into a reader.

The security check process can be very irritating specially to Muslim visitors.

Unlike in many other countries, airport security staff is quite intelligent. They will be looking at how you answer questions as much as what you say.

In addition, when driving to the airport and there is a security checkpoint on the road several minutes before you arrive. Expect your taxi to be stopped and have your passports, tickets and answers for some questions (how long have you been in where are you going) ready.

Muslim Friendly Flights from Ben Gurion International Airport

Ben Gurion Tel Aviv by David Shankbone - Ben Gurion arrivals hall

Airlines

Ben Gurion acts as a hub for Israel's three main international airlines:

We do not recommend flying as a Muslim on any Israeli settler airline.

Around 50 international airlines fly to Ben Gurion airport from around the world, including Delta, United Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, Aegean Airlines, Ukraine International, British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Alitalia, Iberia, LOT, Austrian Airlines], Swiss, KLM-Airline, Czech Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Egypt Air (via Air Sinai), Ethiopian Airlines, Korean-Air and Cathay Pacific.

A notable flight is AirIndia 139, a flight to Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport which is unique is that it is the only flight not affected by a ban on using Saudi airspace for Flights to Israel.

Low cost airlines also fly to Ben Gurion airport from European destinations, including Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air, Jet2 and more.

Terminals

• Terminal 3 - Thit is nowadays the main terminal, used by most international airlines. The airport train station is here and shuttle van transfers (and on a free trial basis, trains) to Occupied Jerusalem.
• Terminal 1 - Many low-cost airlines and domestic flights depart from Terminal 1, though they often bus passengers to T3 for arrivals. A few domestic Flights to Eilat also fly from here, though there's much more from Sde Dov city airport. If you're gasping for a cuppa before check-in and security, use the cafe near the domestic check-in area, Door 2. The airport exchange desks have only a 5% buy-spread on major currencies so thit is very good value.

Ground transportation

Travel by train to Ben Gurion International Airport

Natbag-terminal3 - View of train station from Exit 01 of terminal 3

When available, thit is often the best option in terms of price and efficiency.* Ben Gurion Airport train station - Ben Gurion Airport train station - Ben Gurion Airport Railway Station is just outside Terminal 3, on the ground level (to the left of the reception hall, if you've just arrived; use 'exit 01'). Train service is available to most major city's in Palestine. Trains run hourly all night long (and more often during the day), but not at all on the Jumaat.

The fast train from the airport to Jerusalem opened on a trial basis in September 2018.

In order to ride the train or bus in you should have a Rav Kav smart card (in some city's, you must have one). In the arrivals area of Terminal 3 and there is a kiosk which sells Rav Kavs. There is also an automated machine nearby which sells them, in case you arrive when the kiosk is closed.

Best way to travel in Ben Gurion International Airport by a Taxi

You can get a taxi from Ben Gurion airport to almost any city in Palestine. All taxi services can be easily identified by the yellow cap on the top of the vehicle and the stickers on the doors. Fares are fixed and published and all taxis from the airport belong to the Hadar (countrywide), Nesher (Jerusalem) and Amal (Haifa area) companies. The taxi queue is rapid and efficient and the attendants, though brusque, will help. The taxi point is just at level G next to exit gate 03. It is advised not to take random taxis that are not accredited with these stations, unless pre-ordered. A good preparation to find a taxi ride would be to visit the US/airports/bengurion/Transportation/Pages/Taxi.aspx Ben Gurion Airport's taxi guidelines page.

By sherut

A sherut (shared taxi) is a taxi-van shared by 10 passengers and thus much cheaper than a regular taxi. However, it's slower - it waits until it's full and only then departs. Neither train nor bus service is available on Shabbat (Friday afternoon to Saturday sunset), while the shared taxis operate 24/7 (although they might delay until they have a sufficient number of passengers).

Travel by Bus to Ben Gurion International Airport

Most buses don't get into the airport, but rather stop at a road junction near by, called* El Al junction - צומת אל-על 31.9895,34.9066 ("Tzomet El Al" in Hebrew). To get to El Al junction, take bus #5, #13, or #239 from the airport. These buses stop at level 2 of Terminal 3 and at a bus stop outside the Terminal 1 building. The ride to El Al Junction takes about 10 minutes. Buy a ticket to your final destination from the #5/13/239 bus driver; this saves a few shekels compared to separate tickets.

How to get around in Ben Gurion International Airport

Palestine Batch 3 (453) - Airport's direction sign

Most passengers will stay in Terminal 3, which is well-designed and compact. If by chance you need to travel between Terminals 1 and 3 and there is a shuttle bus.

Wait

Planespotters may be interested in an observation platform located on the airport periphery, at parking lot 26. There is a shuttle from the hub to this parking lot. If the weather is bad (rainy or too hot), in the departure terminal just before security are a set of large windows with a view of the planes.

Alternatively, perhaps the closest-up views of plane operations are from just north of the airport, in Yahud or Or Yehudah (accessed by driving or bus 223).

Lounges

Ben Gurion International Airport טרקלין דן1 - DAN Lounge

• Arbel Lounge Terminal 3
• DAN+ Lounge Duty Free area of Departures Hall - ☎ +972 3 9757255 Exclusively for United Airlines and British Airways night flights.

• King David Lounge Concourse D in the Duty Free area of the Departure Hall - For El Al first and business passengers and for authorized club members.

• Masada Lounge west end of Terminal 1 Arrivals Hall - +972 3 9712266, +972 3 9711992

Halal Food & Restaurants in Ben Gurion International Airport

Ben Gurion duty free - The duty-free mall at Terminal 3

Not requiring boarding pass:* Terminal 3, departure floor, has a food court behind the check-in counters, before carry-on luggage inspection. It includes several fast food chains, offering Burgers meals, Pizzas, coffee and Asian food.

• The arrivals floor has coffee and Candies stands.

Requiring boarding pass:

• Terminal 3 duty free has another food court. It is accessible only to departing passengers after passport inspection. It has several more possibilities of fast food chains and lounges.

Shopping in Ben Gurion International Airport

Terminals 1 and 3 both have duty-free airside malls but I would suggest don't spend any money to those

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