What is EL AL Airlines Cancellation Policy?

EL AL Airlines provides flexible cancellation options, allowing 24 hours cancellation. Additionally, the airline offers a refund for voluntary cancellations. The EL AL Airlines cancellation policy also provides for refunds and compensation (if applicable) in the event the airline cancels the flight.

Let’s understand all the guidelines for cancellation with EL AL Airlines and how passengers can maximize their refund while paying minimal cancellation fees. 

What is EL AL’s 24-hour cancellation policy?

EL AL offers free cancellation for flights within 24 hours of purchase, especially for the travel routes Israel and the U.S/Canada. The airline offers a free refund under certain conditions, which include:

• Passengers request cancellation within a day of purchase. 
• Refund is not applicable to the flight tickets that have already been used for rebooking and flight changes.
• The scheduled departure date must be at least 1 week away for cancellation.
• Refund not applicable for the flights booked with rewards under the Matmid Frequent Flyer program.

The airline processes the refund in the original debit/credit card used at the time of booking within 1-2 weeks. 

How much are EL AL Airlines’ cancellation fees?

El Al Airlines mostly operates on international routes. The airline’s cancellation fee varies with the fare rule in each class of service. 

Below is the overview of the EL AL Airlines cancellation fee for all fares:

Economy Class	Economy Classic	Economy Flex
Cancellation fee (in USD)	200	100

Premium Economy	Premium Fare
Cancellation fee (in USD)	200

Business Class	Business Fare
Cancellation fee (in USD)	Free of charge

Are There Cancellation Fees for EL AL Reward Tickets?

Yes, EL AL applies special rules for reward bookings and Cash & Points fare. Reservations booked through the Matmid Frequent Flyer program are subject to cancellation fees depending on the ticket type, fare rules, and timing of the cancellation.

Here’s the detailed breakdown:

Matmid Membership Tier	Time Before Departure	Change/Cancellation Fee
Platinum / Top Platinum	Up to 24 hours before departure	10 USD
	Between 24 and 6 hours before departure	60 USD
	No-show (missed flight)	100 USD
Silver / Gold / Other Tiers	Up to 24 hours before departure	150 USD
	Between 24 and 6 hours before departure	200 USD
	No-show (missed flight)	200 USD

Note: if the reward ticket is cancelled, the mileage points are redeposited to the Matmid account. Any fee would be paid in cash and cannot be redeemed through the mileage points.

What is EL AL Protect Service?

The EL AL Protect Service is an add-on that allows passengers to cancel their flight reservation without any cancellation fees. They will receive the credit voucher after adjusting the EL AL Airlines cancellation fees. 

Here’s how it works:

• Cancel your flight booking made before October 28, 2024, and you will receive a credit voucher for 100% of the ticket’s value.
• The EL AL Protect fee is non-refundable. 
• The voucher can be used for future EL AL flights as well as for ancillary purchases like baggage fees, seat upgrades, pet travel, and more. 
• The credit voucher remains valid for 365 days from the date of cancellation.
• The service must be bought while booking the flights or within 4 hours of purchase. 

Eligibility:

• Available for all class of service. 
• Cannot be added to Lite fares, bonus tickets, and Birthday promo tickets for Fly Card owners.
• This policy does not apply to codeshare flights.
• For flights departing on or after November 3, 2024, Flex fares to or from North America include EL AL Protect for free..
• Available for flight tickets booked with cash, points, or a combination of both.
• Must be purchased for all passengers on a reservation, including infants.

How much does it cost: The EL AL protect service varies with the destination, flight duration, cabin class, and fare type. In simple terms, the shorter duration costs less service fee than a long-haul flight. 

The exact fare amount is displayed during the booking process.

Other terms and conditions:

• Not available for group passengers.
• Once purchased, EL AL Protect cannot be canceled or refunded
• If cancelling a round-trip ticket, the entire reservation must be canceled, and not just a single flight segment.
• You can cancel tickets for some passengers on a booking, provided EL AL Protect was purchased for them.

How to cancel an EL AL Airlines flight booking online?

Canceling an EL AL Airlines flight ticket is easy with options to do so online, by phone, or at the airport. Below is the step-by-step guide for each method:

Cancelling online: A convenient online cancellation process for eligible tickets through the “Manage My Booking” link. With this method, you can have quick, self-service cancellation without needing to contact customer service. Follow these steps:

• Access the portal on EL AL’s website and visit the Manage My Booking page. 
• Provide your booking information, including the reservation reference and the passenger’s last name.
• If your ticket is eligible, you will see the “Cancel Booking” option.
• Read the EL AL cancellation terms and conditions displayed on the screen, including the applicable fees. 
• Tick the box to confirm you accept the cancellation terms, then select “Cancel Booking” to finalize the process.
• After cancellation, a confirmation screen will appear, and the refund will be processed.

To cancel the reservation online, you must check the eligibility, such as

• Online cancellation applies to the tickets purchased through EL AL’s website, app, or call center.
• It also includes the flight tickets bought with coupon codes, via EL AL’s Bid2Fly auction.
• It also covers the partially used fares and those with connecting flights.

How to cancel an EL AL Airlines flight booking over the phone?

For tickets not eligible for online cancellation or those reservations that need special assistance due to multiple flight segments or airlines involved, you can cancel by contacting EL AL’s customer service.

Here are the steps to cancel the flight over the phone:

• Dial 1-818-287-8006 (U.S.) or the relevant local number listed on EL AL’s website.
• Share your booking reference, passenger names, and other travel details to verify your reservation.
• The agent will explain applicable fees, refund policies, or voucher options based on the class of service you have booked.
• After you review the flight cancellation terms, explore how much it costs to request the flight changes. 
• If you agree with the fees and refund details, authorise the flight cancellation. 

What is the procedure for cancelling an EL AL Airlines flight at the airport?

If you’re already at the airport and need to cancel your flight, EL AL’s airport staff can assist at the check-in. Your reservation only qualified for a refund if you requested flight cancellation up to 2 hours before scheduled departure. 

Follow these steps:

• Present your booking reference, ticket number, or ID to the EL AL customer service representative. 
• The airline agent will check your ticket’s fare conditions, applicable cancellation fees, and refund eligibility.
• If allowed under the fare conditions, the agent will complete the cancellation and share the refund details with you.

If you’re opting for last-minute cancellation, check it you can request same-day flight changes. No change penalty will be assessed. If available, you can postpone your flight schedule for a later flight on the same day. 

What is EL AL Airlines’ Refund Policy?

Your eligibility for a refund when canceling an EL AL flight is determined by the fare class of your ticket.. Also, depending on the payment method you used, you may take between a week to 1-2 billing cycles. 

Refund timeframes: 

• For reservations booked with credit cards, a refund for an EL AL flight may take up to 30 business days.
• If you book your ticket using a credit voucher, the amount applied from the voucher will be refunded.. Any update to the value of the voucher may take up to 7 business days.

Partially used tickets:

• As per the EL AL refund policy, the airline issues the refund for the unused portion of the fare.

Important conditions:

• Only bookings made via EL AL’s website, app, or call center are refunded online.
• Promotional fares and special deal fares are non-refundable.
• If you purchased EL AL Protect, you can cancel and request a full refund. The ticket value would be converted into a future credit voucher.

Conclusion

EL AL Airlines provides a passenger-friendly cancellation policy that caters to the various travelers’ needs, offering options like cancellations within 24 hours, the EL AL Protect Service for added flexibility, and clear refund processes. However, the cancellation fee varies with the fare destination and timing. Passengers can minimize costs by understanding fare rules and taking advantage of services like EL AL Protect. 

With multiple ways to cancel your El AL flight booking, EL AL Airlines ensures accessibility. By reviewing the above guidelines, passengers can make well-informed decisions by paying less or no cancellation fee, enhancing their travel experience with EL AL Airlines. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)