Czech Airlines Long Haul?

Frank Grimes

Hi,

I'm thinking of going to Israel in early January and am just pricing flights right now. I've found a flight with Czech Airlines which, to me at least, seems too good (i.e. cheap!) to be true; I can fly from Dublin to Tel-Aviv via Prague for about €330. This is about 100 euro cheaper than most other of the cheaper airlines I've checked out, and even those land in Tel-Aviv at crappy times in the early morning. With this flight I'm looking at there isn't too much of a wait in Prague (well, 7 hours on the way over; but I'm ok with that) and it lands at a reasonable hour too.

Has anyone used these to fly long haul? I'm thinking there must be some catch - if it's something like paying for food I'll live with it though considering the price of the tickets I've only been able to find other posts here about flights to Prague with them and they mostly got favourable reviews, just wondering if it's the same further afield. Thanks!

highlydebased

CSA would not be the best for flying long haul. You'll get what you pay for for that price. Service is not the best on long haul.

Personally I'd go with Air France/Lufthansa/Swiss/KLM

John R

It's hardly long-haul though. Dublin-Prague would be about 3hrs and Prague-Israel about 4hrs. Even if the service isn't great it's hardly the end of the world. Bring your own food and some entertainment and the flight will be over before you know it. Oh and don't forget to wear clean underwear for the nice Israeli security officers, your flight should go by in a flash but that experience will stay with you for a lifetime.

Frank Grimes

Yes, the OP should have read 'Long Haul', I realise it's not a 12 hour flight or anything like that.
Thanks for the suggestions Neon-Circles.

ro1798

John R wrote: »

Oh and don't forget to wear clean underwear for the nice Israeli security officers, your flight should go by in a flash but that experience will stay with you for a lifetime.

what the story with this? do they search every person?

John R

ro1798 wrote: »

what the story with this? do they search every person?

No. It very much depends on who and what you are or what they think you are. If you are obviously Jewish or are able to convince them you are then it should be relatively painless. on the other hand if you are Arabic, Islamic or are suspected to be sympathetic to Palestinians in general then you may expect to be thoroughly interrogated and what ever else they feel appropriate.

Getting out of the place is often just as bad, several hours must be left to go through security before flying out.

therecklessone

Frank Grimes wrote: »

Hi,

I'm thinking of going to Israel in early January and am just pricing flights right now. I've found a flight with Czech Airlines which, to me at least, seems too good (i.e. cheap!) to be true; I can fly from Dublin to Tel-Aviv via Prague for about €330. This is about 100 euro cheaper than most other of the cheaper airlines I've checked out, and even those land in Tel-Aviv at crappy times in the early morning. With this flight I'm looking at there isn't too much of a wait in Prague (well, 7 hours on the way over; but I'm ok with that) and it lands at a reasonable hour too.

Has anyone used these to fly long haul? I'm thinking there must be some catch - if it's something like paying for food I'll live with it though considering the price of the tickets I've only been able to find other posts here about flights to Prague with them and they mostly got favourable reviews, just wondering if it's the same further afield. Thanks!

Done exactly that about two weeks ago, flew out Monday (arriving in the am Tuesday) and flew back Friday. There were quite a few flew from Dublin who continued on to Tel Aviv, and maybe two others on the way back.

Service on-board is fine, small meals served on both services outbound (some form of chicken curry on way to Prague then spicy beef with pasta on way to Tel Aviv), on the way home we got breakfast to Prague and curry chicken on way to Dublin. Didn't appear to be any problem with requesting extra drinks if wanted.

The stopover in Prague is harder than it sounds...not a great selection of bars/restaurants in the airport itself, and what they do have is pricey (about €4 for a coffee, €5 for a beer). You can pass through passport control and head into the city if you want to kill a few hours, I didn't bother. There is a transit hotel available as well, IIRC for €20 you can have a shower and get some grub. Your bags will be checked through to Tel Aviv from Dublin, but you won't be issued your boarding card until you arrive in Prague, and they won't allow you to check in for the Tel Aviv flight until 10pm at the transfer desk (or 9.30pm in the main check in desks on other side of passport control)

Entry into Israel can go smoothly...or not so smoothly...I seem to match a specific profile so always get questioned no matter where I travel. I was stopped by two security staff as I exited the airbridge for a few questions (where you coming from, what is the purpose of your visit) then got a grilling at passport control. The immigration staff will put a piece of paper in your passport when they let you through, I think the colour of which decides whether you need further questioning or not. I needed further questioning...:( That happens right after the passport control booths, but you can be taken away for more extensive questioning.

Nothing serious though, about 15mins asking why I was in the country (I was there for a footbal match, but they couldn't understand why I didn't have my match ticket with me, it was with a mate who travelled on another flight). I bumped into an English Muslim on the way out on Friday who was questioned for an hour on his way in. Just have your flight confirmation and hotel details with you when you arrive, explain what you're there for and where you'll be visiting if asked. Above all else, DO NOT LIE, even a white lie. The questioning I received was relatively aggressive, I felt it was to try unsettle me, so if I was bullsh1ting them I'd have got very nervous.

Allow yourself 3 hours minimum to check in on the way out. There are a whole series of layers of baggage checks before you even get to check in...I was questioned briefly, then had my bags x-rayed, then had my bags searched and swiped for explosives (plus a bit of questioning at the same time)...I then proceeded to the check in desk, went around the corner to be stopped again, had my hand baggage and shoes swiped for explosives, patted down, through a metal detector...then I got to pass through passport control, but she was nice as pie...:D

The flight from Prague to Tel Aviv is no more than 4 hours...on the way back the walk from gate to gate will take you no more than 15 minutes so the short time between the two flights is not an issue. Bear in mind that you will have to pass through passenger screening at the gate, so if you want to bring any drinks on board the flights you'll need to have change for the vending machines after screening at each gate.

Tel Aviv is a great city by the way. If you can, try staying in the Intercontinental Hotel, mates stayed there and it looks very nice. I'll also try and remember the name of the place we ate on the Wednesday night, they did the best steak I have ever eaten. There's a couple of bars beside the American embassy (Mike's Place and Buzz Stop) which front on to the beach, you'll get decent food and beer for a decent price.

Finally, Israeli women are beautiful...;)

Frank Grimes

Cheers therecklessone, very helpful post. Much appreciated.

Third_Echelon

therecklessone wrote: »

Done exactly that about two weeks ago, flew out Monday (arriving in the am Tuesday) and flew back Friday. There were quite a few flew from Dublin who continued on to Tel Aviv, and maybe two others on the way back.

Service on-board is fine, small meals served on both services outbound (some form of chicken curry on way to Prague then spicy beef with pasta on way to Tel Aviv), on the way home we got breakfast to Prague and curry chicken on way to Dublin. Didn't appear to be any problem with requesting extra drinks if wanted.

The stopover in Prague is harder than it sounds...not a great selection of bars/restaurants in the airport itself, and what they do have is pricey (about €4 for a coffee, €5 for a beer). You can pass through passport control and head into the city if you want to kill a few hours, I didn't bother. There is a transit hotel available as well, IIRC for €20 you can have a shower and get some grub. Your bags will be checked through to Tel Aviv from Dublin, but you won't be issued your boarding card until you arrive in Prague, and they won't allow you to check in for the Tel Aviv flight until 10pm at the transfer desk (or 9.30pm in the main check in desks on other side of passport control)

Entry into Israel can go smoothly...or not so smoothly...I seem to match a specific profile so always get questioned no matter where I travel. I was stopped by two security staff as I exited the airbridge for a few questions (where you coming from, what is the purpose of your visit) then got a grilling at passport control. The immigration staff will put a piece of paper in your passport when they let you through, I think the colour of which decides whether you need further questioning or not. I needed further questioning...:( That happens right after the passport control booths, but you can be taken away for more extensive questioning.

Nothing serious though, about 15mins asking why I was in the country (I was there for a footbal match, but they couldn't understand why I didn't have my match ticket with me, it was with a mate who travelled on another flight). I bumped into an English Muslim on the way out on Friday who was questioned for an hour on his way in. Just have your flight confirmation and hotel details with you when you arrive, explain what you're there for and where you'll be visiting if asked. Above all else, DO NOT LIE, even a white lie. The questioning I received was relatively aggressive, I felt it was to try unsettle me, so if I was bullsh1ting them I'd have got very nervous.

Allow yourself 3 hours minimum to check in on the way out. There are a whole series of layers of baggage checks before you even get to check in...I was questioned briefly, then had my bags x-rayed, then had my bags searched and swiped for explosives (plus a bit of questioning at the same time)...I then proceeded to the check in desk, went around the corner to be stopped again, had my hand baggage and shoes swiped for explosives, patted down, through a metal detector...then I got to pass through passport control, but she was nice as pie...:D

The flight from Prague to Tel Aviv is no more than 4 hours...on the way back the walk from gate to gate will take you no more than 15 minutes so the short time between the two flights is not an issue. Bear in mind that you will have to pass through passenger screening at the gate, so if you want to bring any drinks on board the flights you'll need to have change for the vending machines after screening at each gate.

Tel Aviv is a great city by the way. If you can, try staying in the Intercontinental Hotel, mates stayed there and it looks very nice. I'll also try and remember the name of the place we ate on the Wednesday night, they did the best steak I have ever eaten. There's a couple of bars beside the American embassy (Mike's Place and Buzz Stop) which front on to the beach, you'll get decent food and beer for a decent price.

Finally, Israeli women are beautiful...;)

This is why I would never be arsed going to Israel!!!!

Pythia

I went with Czech Airlines to Moscow and back by St Petersburg. It was a great flight. All of them were half empty, on one of the flights I got a whole row to stretch out on.
I ordered vegetarian food, it was lovely.
Prague airport is bleak, but it's fine.
I've also gone with them twice to Prague and thought it was a great experience.

Frank Grimes

Thanks Pythia. I've booked the flights anyway, hopefully it'll be the same for me!