Is the cheap price actually cheap? And what do you get for the extra cost on a regular airline?

The "Open Skies" agreement brought a revolution to Israel. Airlines like Wizz Air, Ryanair, and EasyJet made Europe closer and cheaper than ever, but they also changed the rules of the game for traditional carriers like El Al, Lufthansa, and United.

The Low-Cost Model

The principle is simple: you pay only for the seat. Everything else comes at an extra cost.

Advantages: very low base prices, flexibility in choosing services, usually a modern fleet of aircraft.

Disadvantages: expensive extras (bags, seats), often depart from Terminal 1, limited customer service.

Full-Service (Legacy) Carriers

The traditional model where most services are included in the ticket price (or bundled packages).

Advantages: meals and drinks included, baggage included (usually in standard tiers), use of the main Terminal 3.

Disadvantages: higher starting price, less flexibility if you don't need all services.

The Flight Math: When Is Low-Cost Actually Worth It?

Many travelers make the mistake of comparing only the base price. To compare correctly, you must add to the low-cost price: carry-on or checked bag (sometimes costs more than the ticket!), seat selection (if sitting together matters), and food and drinks on board.

Rule of thumb: if you're flying with a large suitcase and need a meal, the price difference often shrinks to just a few dollars — in which case, the full-service airline is usually the better choice.

Quick Summary

Base price — low-cost: very low. Full-service: medium/high.

TLV terminal — low-cost: mostly Terminal 1. Full-service: Terminal 3.

Baggage — low-cost: extra charge. Full-service: usually included.

How FlyTLV Helps

In our destination search, you can see which airlines operate each route, helping you decide which model fits you best before you book.