Ben Gurion International Airport

Terminal 3airside

Concourse E Swissport lounge for eligible business/paid entry—Priority Pass is not accepted at TLV.

Access: Day pass

Amenities: Food and drinks · Wi-Fi

Best for: Access-card holders · A quick pre-flight stop

Full access guide

Worth it

Terminal 3airside

A status-only El Al lounge intended for Top Platinum members; it is the most appropriate choice if you have that eligibility.

Access: Airline status

Amenities: Food and drinks · Wi-Fi

Best for: EL AL Top Platinum members

Full access guide

Depends

Terminal 3Concourse C

Terminal 3 Concourse C lounge in the post-Dan landscape; Priority Pass is not accepted. US Amex Platinum does not unlock free entry.

Access: Amex Platinum · Amex Centurion · Business class ticket · Day pass

Hours: 24 hours

Amenities: Buffet · Bar · Work areas

Best for: Israeli Amex cardholders · Paid access

Full access guide

Depends

Terminal 3airside

The main El Al lounge is the better TLV option when eligible, but busy departure waves can blunt the premium feel.

Access: Business class ticket · First class ticket · Airline status

Amenities: Food and drinks · Wi-Fi · Showers

Best for: El Al premium passengers · Long layovers

Full access guide

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

El Al lounges offer hot kosher buffet and showers for premium passengers
Aspire provides basic seating and WiFi but limited food variety
Quiet zones in El Al King David praised for rest during long layovers
No Priority Pass; Aspire (Concourse E) and Jetex (Concourse C) are paid/card options—Jetex complimentary access is Israeli Amex Platinum/Centurion, not US Amex

TLVGuide

Live airport status

Current operations

Guide quick facts

Pulled from the editorial markdown guide for TLV.

Updated Aug 31, 2026

Terminal 3 handles all international arrivals; T1 resumed domestic (28 Jun 2026) and some international departures (1 Jul 2026)
El Al is the dominant hub carrier with dedicated premium lounges
No Priority Pass lounges after Dan Lounge closure (31 Dec 2025); Aspire/Jetex are card/paid options
Thorough security questioning—plan 3 hours for international departures
Train to Tel Aviv: ~15–20 min, ₪11.50 single (no Shabbat service)
Taxis and sherut vans operate 24/7 including Shabbat

5 official sources

Airportist Score Breakdown

Comfort6.8

Navigation7.5

Food6.5

Transport8.2

Disruption resilience7.0

Key Stats

Annual passengers

22M

Terminals

2 active (T3 primary)

On-time departures

78%

Average security

45 min

Best For

Train connections to Tel AvivEl Al premium experience24/7 transport options

Watch Out For

Mandatory security questioning delaysNo Priority Pass loungesShabbat transport gapsLimited airside dining

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Arrive 3 hours early

Plan for full security questioning plus screening.

Lines move but questioning is mandatory and unpredictable for all passengers.

Terminal

Confirm T1 vs T3 before you arrive

Some airlines use both terminals—check the IAA flight board.

T1 handles Ramon domestic and some LCC international departures; all international arrivals still clear through T3. Free shuttle links terminals.

Food

Eat before security or in T3 airside

Limited airside options; pre-security has more variety.

Kosher rules apply; many travelers stock up landside or use lounge access.

Status

Do not count on Priority Pass

El Al status still unlocks King David / Top Platinum lounges.

Dan Lounge closed 31 Dec 2025. Aspire (Concourse E) and Jetex (Concourse C) for Israeli Amex / paid entry—not Priority Pass or most US cards.

TLVGuide

Depends

Terminal 3airside

Concourse E Swissport lounge for eligible business/paid entry—Priority Pass is not accepted at TLV.

Access: Day pass

Amenities: Food and drinks · Wi-Fi

Best for: Access-card holders · A quick pre-flight stop

Full access guide

Worth it

Terminal 3airside

A status-only El Al lounge intended for Top Platinum members; it is the most appropriate choice if you have that eligibility.

Access: Airline status

Amenities: Food and drinks · Wi-Fi

Best for: EL AL Top Platinum members

Full access guide

Depends

Terminal 3Concourse C

Terminal 3 Concourse C lounge in the post-Dan landscape; Priority Pass is not accepted. US Amex Platinum does not unlock free entry.

Access: Amex Platinum · Amex Centurion · Business class ticket · Day pass

Hours: 24 hours

Amenities: Buffet · Bar · Work areas

Best for: Israeli Amex cardholders · Paid access

Full access guide

Depends

Terminal 3airside

The main El Al lounge is the better TLV option when eligible, but busy departure waves can blunt the premium feel.

Access: Business class ticket · First class ticket · Airline status

Amenities: Food and drinks · Wi-Fi · Showers

Best for: El Al premium passengers · Long layovers

Full access guide

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

El Al lounges offer hot kosher buffet and showers for premium passengers
Aspire provides basic seating and WiFi but limited food variety
Quiet zones in El Al King David praised for rest during long layovers
No Priority Pass; Aspire (Concourse E) and Jetex (Concourse C) are paid/card options—Jetex complimentary access is Israeli Amex Platinum/Centurion, not US Amex

TLVGuide

Depends

Terminal 3airside

Concourse E Swissport lounge for eligible business/paid entry—Priority Pass is not accepted at TLV.

Access: Day pass

Amenities: Food and drinks · Wi-Fi

Best for: Access-card holders · A quick pre-flight stop

Full access guide

Worth it

Terminal 3airside

A status-only El Al lounge intended for Top Platinum members; it is the most appropriate choice if you have that eligibility.

Access: Airline status

Amenities: Food and drinks · Wi-Fi

Best for: EL AL Top Platinum members

Full access guide

Depends

Terminal 3Concourse C

Terminal 3 Concourse C lounge in the post-Dan landscape; Priority Pass is not accepted. US Amex Platinum does not unlock free entry.

Access: Amex Platinum · Amex Centurion · Business class ticket · Day pass

Hours: 24 hours

Amenities: Buffet · Bar · Work areas

Best for: Israeli Amex cardholders · Paid access

Full access guide

Depends

Terminal 3airside

The main El Al lounge is the better TLV option when eligible, but busy departure waves can blunt the premium feel.

Access: Business class ticket · First class ticket · Airline status

Amenities: Food and drinks · Wi-Fi · Showers

Best for: El Al premium passengers · Long layovers

Full access guide

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

El Al lounges offer hot kosher buffet and showers for premium passengers
Aspire provides basic seating and WiFi but limited food variety
Quiet zones in El Al King David praised for rest during long layovers
No Priority Pass; Aspire (Concourse E) and Jetex (Concourse C) are paid/card options—Jetex complimentary access is Israeli Amex Platinum/Centurion, not US Amex

TLVGuide

Live airport status

Current operations

Security wait times

Current security wait information is not available for this airport. Check the airport's official website or app before travel.

Official airport site

Operational status

Delays reported

Arrival delays

Flights are landing 25m late on average. Eurocontrol delays are affecting some inbound flights due to ATC restrictions.

Delay range: 25m avg

Source: Flighty Airports

Status response Sep 6, 10:19 UTC · Confirm live conditions with official sources before travel.

Guide quick facts

Pulled from the editorial markdown guide for TLV.

Updated Aug 31, 2026

Terminal 3 handles all international arrivals; T1 resumed domestic (28 Jun 2026) and some international departures (1 Jul 2026)
El Al is the dominant hub carrier with dedicated premium lounges
No Priority Pass lounges after Dan Lounge closure (31 Dec 2025); Aspire/Jetex are card/paid options
Thorough security questioning—plan 3 hours for international departures
Train to Tel Aviv: ~15–20 min, ₪11.50 single (no Shabbat service)
Taxis and sherut vans operate 24/7 including Shabbat

5 official sources

Airportist Score Breakdown

Comfort6.8

Navigation7.5

Food6.5

Transport8.2

Disruption resilience7.0

Key Stats

Annual passengers

22M

Terminals

2 active (T3 primary)

On-time departures

78%

Average security

45 min

Best For

Train connections to Tel AvivEl Al premium experience24/7 transport options

Watch Out For

Mandatory security questioning delaysNo Priority Pass loungesShabbat transport gapsLimited airside dining

TLVGuide

Depends

Terminal 3airside

Concourse E Swissport lounge for eligible business/paid entry—Priority Pass is not accepted at TLV.

Access: Day pass

Amenities: Food and drinks · Wi-Fi

Best for: Access-card holders · A quick pre-flight stop

Full access guide

Worth it

Terminal 3airside

A status-only El Al lounge intended for Top Platinum members; it is the most appropriate choice if you have that eligibility.

Access: Airline status

Amenities: Food and drinks · Wi-Fi

Best for: EL AL Top Platinum members

Full access guide

Depends

Terminal 3Concourse C

Terminal 3 Concourse C lounge in the post-Dan landscape; Priority Pass is not accepted. US Amex Platinum does not unlock free entry.

Access: Amex Platinum · Amex Centurion · Business class ticket · Day pass

Hours: 24 hours

Amenities: Buffet · Bar · Work areas

Best for: Israeli Amex cardholders · Paid access

Full access guide

Depends