Flight Number LY 974
Seat 7G
Departing from Dubai at 21:30
Flight Duration: 04h 00m
ELAL only recently resumed commercial flights to a handful of cities after several months of no passenger service. Dubai is among ELAL’s newest routes, operating 14 flights per week, 6 of which are operated by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner featuring lie flat business class seats.
The flights currently operated by the Dreamliner are LY 973 (Tel Aviv to Dubai) and 974 (Dubai to Tel Aviv).
Schedule Update (24/12/20): With the new Israeli entry restrictions in place, ELAL has temporarily reduced it’s schedule to Dubai with fewer Dreamliner flights.
Check In
ELAL and all other airlines currently operating to Dubai use terminal 3 which is normally only used by Emirates. I arrived at the airport about 1h 30m before departure, a bit nervous expecting a lengthy security screening for this flight. To my surprise, the pre check in security was handled quickly given the large number of staff working for ELAL. I was only waiting in the line for about 5 minutes before beginning the screened. The security screening itself however must have been the longest I’ve ever been questioned of all my trips to and from Israel.
Check in was quick and I was handed my boarding pass in moments. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to check out the lounge as it was located at the opposite end of this massive terminal, and boarding had already begun.
Boarding
Boarding was called by row, with the passengers seated at the back of the plane being the first to board.
When it was finally my time to board, I had to pass one additional security check on the jetbridge before being allowed to board the plane.
This process was quick, and I was in my seat within a couple of minutes.
Cabin and Seat
ELAL’s business class seats on the 787-9 are in a staggered configuration, meaning the odd numbered rows have single seats further from the window and center couples’ seats close together.
Odd Row Window Seat
Odd Row Middle Seats
The even numbered rows have single seats close to the window and center seats which are separated, also meant for single travelers.
Even Row Window Seat
The seats are laid out in a single cabin over 8 rows with 4 seats per row for a total of 32 seats in the entire business class cabin.
ELAL did an excellent job designing a modern, sleek, and premium feeling cabin on their Dreamliners. This is certainly one of the most beautiful business class cabins out there and a massive improvement over ELAL’s old business class product on the 777 and 747.
Not having preselected my seat, I was assigned 7G, a couples’ seat on the right side of the aircraft towards the back of the cabin. While I would normally prefer the even numbered window seats which offer more privacy and a view, I was very comfortable in the middle on this flight with the seat next to me vacant.
Seat 7G
Seat 7G
Seat 7G
ELAL offers a comfortable, practical, and sleek new business class seat that I was perfectly happy with on this flight. The seats themselves were quite comfortable with adjustable armrests and easy to use seat controls to the right of the seat.
To the right of the seat is a large table where I kept my wallet, phone, and passport for most of the flight, as well as a small compartment which can also be used for storage.
Here you’ll also find the IFE remote control as well as headphone jack and USB charging port.
There is an additional power outlet underneath the seat.
Although this was a short flight, I managed to take a 90 minute nap after I finished eating dinner. I found the seat in bed mode to be very comfortable, as was the bedding provided.
It would have been nice for ELAL to add additional storage compartments either under the IFE screen or built into the side table, otherwise I am a big fan of these seats.
IFE System
As I’ve experienced several times with ELAL on the Dreamliner, their IFE system is excellent and easy to use with a large movie selection and great route map.
ELAL does seem to offer Wifi on most of its’ Dreamliner flights, however I didn’t get the chance to test it out on this flight. You can find information on the rates here.
Food and Drinks
Pre Covid, ELAL offered a pre departure drink, an additional drink with some nuts after takeoff, and a full meal service on flights around this length.
Sample ELAL Pre Covid food and beverage service (Tel Aviv to London):
Many airlines have reduced meal service including ELAL who have eliminated the pre departure drink, menus, and now serve the entire meal on a single tray. The food quality for me was even better than the business class meals I’ve had with ELAL pre Covid which was great to see.
After takeoff I was brought a bag of mixed nuts and offered a drink of choice. I asked for a glass of red wine which was poured in the galley and brought to me in a plastic cup. The crew came by my seat multiple times to ask if I wanted anything else and kept my cup full.
Later I was asked for my dinner preference: chicken, beef, or fish (no further description given), and I decided to go with the beef. The entire meal was served on a single tray consisting of a colorful salad, cold chicken and pineapple dish, bread roll, a chocolate coconut cake, and my main dish: beef in a sweet coconut cream based sauce, rice, and green beans.
Overall the food was very tasty, but the meal service has been slightly downgraded; there was no table cloth and the cutlery is all plastic as opposed to the usual metal silverware.
After the meal, the crew came around with baklava in individual tins which was a nice touch, though too sweet for me.
Service and Amenities
Upon boarding, all passengers are given a blue pouch with some PPE and sanitizing equipment.
Waiting on my seat was a plush pillow and blanket, as well as a pair of noise canceling headphones, water bottle, and a L’Occitane amenity kit in the storage compartment next to my seat.
Service was as good as I could expect on a mostly full flight in these times. The crew were efficient, friendly, and calm in dealing with passengers regarding Covid concerns (unlike on many airlines these days). Overall, I was very impressed.
Bottom Line
ELAL has maintained it’s already very good Dreamliner business class product during these difficult times and successfully rolled it out on their new Dubai route.
Of the airlines currently offering service between Israel and Dubai, ELAL has the best economy class cabin, the only premium economy cabin, and the most elegant and comfortable business class. With a superior all round product, booking ELAL on the Dreamliner frequencies is a no brainer for flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai and will be my #1 choice on all my upcoming trips.