You’re standing in Terminal 4 at JFK, clutching a coffee that cost more than your first car, wondering if you actually remembered to fill out that digital form everyone keeps talking about. Flying across the world is never exactly "chill." But when you decide to fly to Israel from NY, the stakes feel a little higher. The security is tighter. The planes are bigger. The hummus at the other end? Way better.
People think they know the drill. You book a ticket, you show up, you sleep for ten hours, and you wake up in Tel Aviv. Honestly, though? It’s gotten a lot more complicated lately. Between new entry permits and shifting airline schedules, you can't just wing it like you used to in 2019.
The Reality of Getting There
Getting a seat is the easy part. Knowing which tail fin to look for is where it gets interesting.
Right now, El Al remains the heavyweight champion of this route. They run multiple flights a day out of both JFK and Newark (EWR). If you're flying from JFK, you're likely looking at the LY2 or LY8. These are usually Boeing 787 Dreamliners. They’re sleek. They’re quiet. They have those cool dimming windows that make you feel like you’re in a sci-fi movie.
But they aren't the only game in town. Delta has been aggressive with its schedule, often running two direct flights a day from JFK. They use the Airbus A330-900neo for a lot of these runs. It's a solid ride. United holds down the fort over in New Jersey, pulling most of the Newark traffic.
Then there’s the wildcard: Arkia.
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It’s an Israeli airline most Americans haven't heard of unless they’ve done domestic hops to Eilat. They’ve started running wide-body service (usually an A330-200) from JFK to Tel Aviv. It’s often cheaper. It’s also a bit more "no-frills" compared to the massive international carriers. If you want to save a few hundred bucks and don't mind a slightly older cabin, it's a legit option.
The Stopover Strategy
Direct is great. 10 hours and 30 minutes. Boom. Done.
But sometimes the price for a direct flight is just stupid. If you see a ticket for $1,400 and your budget is "student loan debt," you look at the stopovers. Lufthansa through Frankfurt or Air France through Paris are the classics.
Lately, HiSky and Air Europa have been popping up on search engines with some bottom-barrel prices. Just be careful. A 2-hour layover in Madrid sounds lovely until your first flight is 45 minutes late and you're sprinting through the terminal like an Olympic athlete with a carry-on.
The ETA-IL: Don't Get Left at the Gate
This is the big one. As of early 2025, Israel rolled out the ETA-IL.
It stands for Electronic Travel Authorization. Basically, if you have a U.S. passport, you used to just show up and get a blue slip. Now, you need to apply online before you head to the airport. It costs 25 NIS (which is like 7 dollars).
It’s not a visa. It’s a "hey, we’re coming" notification.
If you don't have it, the airline won't even let you check in. They are strict about this. You should apply at least 72 hours before your flight. Most people get approved in minutes, but if your name happens to match someone on a watch list, you’ll want those three days to sort it out with the consulate.
Security Isn't Just a Suggestion
We need to talk about the "interview."
When you fly to Israel from NY on an Israeli carrier like El Al, security starts before you even see a TSA agent. You’ll meet a young, very polite, very intense person who will ask you who packed your bags.
- "Did anyone give you a gift?"
- "Where are you staying?"
- "Who do you know in Jerusalem?"
Don't be a comedian. They don't have a sense of humor about "jokes" in the security line. Just tell the truth. They’re looking for inconsistencies, not trying to ruin your day. If you're flying Delta or United, you'll still get some extra questioning at the gate, but it's usually less intense than the El Al experience.
Baggage Realities
Don't overpack. Seriously.
Most airlines on this route allow one checked bag up to 50 lbs (23 kg) in Economy. If you’re in Premium Economy or Business, you usually get two. American Airlines—which is slated to return to this route fully in March 2026—is particularly stingy with Basic Economy bags, often charging $75 for the first one on trans-Atlantic flights.
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Timing Your Arrival
Tel Aviv is 7 hours ahead of New York.
If you take the 5:00 PM flight from JFK, you’ll land around 10:00 AM the next day. You will feel like a zombie. The sun will be too bright. The taxi drivers will be too loud.
My advice? Don't nap.
Force yourself to stay awake until at least 8:00 PM local time. Go walk on the beach. Grab a coffee at a kiosk on Rothschild Boulevard. If you sleep at 11:00 AM, you’ll be wide awake at 3:00 AM wondering why the hotel minibar is so expensive.
The Ben Gurion Exit
Landing at TLV is actually pretty smooth if you have your paperwork ready.
If you have the ETA-IL and a biometric passport, you can often use the self-service kiosks. You scan your passport, the machine spits out a small blue gate pass, and you walk through the electronic gates. No more waiting in the long "All Passports" line for an hour.
Keep that blue slip! You need it to exit the baggage claim area, and sometimes hotels ask for it to prove you're a tourist so they don't charge you VAT (Value Added Tax).
Practical Next Steps
Ready to pull the trigger? Here is how you actually handle the logistics without losing your mind:
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- Check the Calendar: Avoid flying on Friday afternoons or Saturdays if you want to use public transit. Everything shuts down for Shabbat. No trains, no buses. You’ll be stuck paying for an expensive "Special" taxi.
- Apply for the ETA-IL: Do this the moment you book your flight. It’s valid for two years, so there’s no reason to wait until the night before.
- Download the Apps: Get Gett (the Israeli version of Uber/Lyft) and Moovit for navigation. Uber works in Israel, but it basically just calls a regular taxi anyway.
- Exchange a Little Cash: You don't need much. Almost everywhere takes credit cards or Apple Pay. But having 100 Shekels in your pocket for a market stall or a small tip is a smart move.
The flight is long, and the security is tight. But once you're sitting at a cafe in Jaffa with a plate of fresh shakshuka, the JFK stress will feel a million miles away.