Name: American Express® Gold Card
Brand: American Express

Quick summary

Commercial flights between Israel and the United Arab Emirates have rapidly expanded since 2020, with up to 30 daily flights now connecting Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
El Al and UAE carriers now operate upgraded aircraft on these routes, including wide-body jets with lie-flat business-class seats and enhanced amenities.
El Al's King David Lounge at Tel Aviv airport has reopened, offering premium passengers an improved pre-flight experience, though the spa remains closed.
Recent diplomatic developments allow Israeli aircraft to fly over Saudi Arabia, reducing travel time and opening new route possibilities.

What to consider

El Al's Dreamliner flights offer a superior onboard experience compared to older aircraft, but not all frequencies use this plane.
Wi-Fi is available only on select aircraft and is not yet operational on routes east of Israel due to satellite coverage limitations.
Full meal service has returned, with notable upgrades in both food quality and presentation since pandemic restrictions were lifted.

What you'll miss from the article

A detailed comparison of business-class seating configurations and amenities across different airlines flying between Israel and the UAE.

Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.

Three years ago, it was a rare sight to see an Israeli-flagged plane parked right next to a sea of Emirates' Airbus A380s.

However, in August 2020, Israel and the UAE sent shockwaves throughout the Middle East and beyond when they announced they’d be normalizing ties as part of a U.S.-brokered pact. One of the key tenets of the deal was establishing commercial flights between the two previously unconnected countries.

Four months later the day had come — and I was there to witness it all firsthand from El Al flight 977, the first commercial flight to the UAE for Israel's national airline.

And nearly two years since then, there are now up to 30 daily flights operating between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

El Al, along with the two United Arab Emirates flag carriers, Etihad and Emirates, fly between the two countries, and there are even a plethora of ultra-low-cost carriers competing on the roughly 1,320-mile route from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

I was recently in Tel Aviv for vacation and needed to get to the UAE for a work event. When I was figuring out how to get there, I chose to fly with El Al, since it would give me a head-to-head comparison with my experience on the same historic route nearly two years earlier.

Here's how things have changed.

The lounge is back

As Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv returns to pre-pandemic traffic levels, El Al has reopened its flagship King David Lounge in the departures hall.

This two-story space is El Al's only lounge in Tel Aviv, and it features a variety of seating options, as well as a pretty extensive buffet. In addition to a range of tasty Middle Eastern salads and dips, you can enjoy freshly baked pizzas, soups and dessert cakes.

There's even a walk-up wine bar that features some local labels, such as Teperberg.

Before the pandemic, El AL partnered with the Brown Hotels group to open a pay-per-treatment spa in the King David Lounge. Unfortunately, this space is still shuttered. However, the rest of the lounge is back in business.

It's worth noting that the space can get quite crowded during peak departure banks. I'd recommend heading upstairs for a seat if you can't find one when you enter the lower level.

That said, the King David Lounge is the airport's nicest option for premium-cabin passengers, so it's great to see it open once again.

Better aircraft

When El Al launched commercial flights to Dubai, it flew the inaugural using its short-haul workhorse, the Boeing 737-900 aircraft.

This plane featured 16 business-class recliners and 159 economy seats. While the airline continues to operate some Dubai frequencies using the 737, it's flying its flagship aircraft, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, to the UAE as well.

The Dreamliner offers a substantially better onboard experience. The business-class pods turn into lie-flat beds, and there's even a moderately priced premium economy cabin for those looking for a domestic-first-class-style experience without breaking the bank.

Even the economy seats are upgraded with new cushioning and contoured headrests.

El Al Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner — ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

I booked a business-class ticket on my recent flight to Dubai, and I was overwhelmingly impressed with the Recaro CL6710 product. I was assigned a window-adjacent solo pod, which featured plenty of privacy and storage.

Given the flight's 5:30 a.m. departure time, I had no trouble catching up on some sleep after converting the seat into a bed.

The Dreamliner's onboard experience was a night-and-day difference relative to the El Al inaugural I took two years earlier. If you're planning to fly the route, I'd highly recommend selecting a frequency operated by an El Al 787.

However, it's not just El Al that's deploying its fanciest planes on these routes. Emirates now flies daily between Tel Aviv and Dubai on a Boeing 777-300, while FlyDubai operates some flights with its lie-flat-equipped Boeing 737 MAXes.

While Emirates definitely offers the best overall premium experience with its first-class product, the 2-3-2 business-class configuration pales in comparison to El Al's 1-2-1 configuration, which offers direct aisle access at every seat.

Fancier amenities

Another welcome improvement that I experienced on my recent El Al flight to Dubai was the introduction of fancier amenities.

Perhaps it was because my flight was operated by a Dreamliner, which normally flies longer-haul missions, but waiting at my seat during boarding was El Al's signature pillow and duvet made by Hollandia.

I even received a L'Occitane-branded amenity kit, which included a treat for aviation enthusiasts — a pair of airline-branded socks bearing the airport codes of an El Al route. (I received the bright orange Tel Aviv-to-Hong Kong pair.)

I also appreciated the small tubes of hand cream and lip balm, as well as the single-use refreshing towel.

When I flew the route back in 2020, I received an unbranded amenity kit, stocked with socks, earplugs, a toothbrush and an eye mask.

Inflight entertainment for all

In addition to the fancier seats on the Dreamliner, every flyer in all cabins got to enjoy a much better inflight entertainment offering.

Each seat is equipped with a high-definition entertainment screen, which is loaded with a selection of movies, TV shows and games. The moving map is highly customizable, and it even features a new view that displays Jewish prayer times according to the aircraft's present location.

El Al’s 737s don’t have built-in seatback entertainment. Instead, the carrier installed tablet stands in business class that fold out from the center console. Those sitting at the pointy end of the plane receive an iPad loaded with movies and TV shows for use during the flight.

At the moment, only El Al's Dreamliners and Boeing 777 aircraft feature Wi-Fi connectivity powered by Viasat satellites. While that would theoretically represent an upgrade over the unconnected Boeing 737 I flew back in 2020, El Al doesn't yet offer internet service on routes east of Israel.

That's because Viasat hasn't yet launched its third-generation satellite that's set to provide global connectivity. However, it's worth mentioning that I've received rave reports from readers about El Al's internet service on transatlantic flights. Full flight plans that support streaming cost $24.99 on routes to North America.

Big food upgrades

Along with Israel dropping all COVID-19 restrictions, El Al has also brought back its full onboard meal service, which I thoroughly enjoyed on my recent flight.

The breakfast entree options were either a tomato and cheese omelet or blintzes. I went with the latter, which was delicious.

The featured dish was served with a side of pickles and tomatoes, some Middle Eastern dips and salads, two miniature loaves of bread and a cheesecake dessert.

While the food itself was tasty, I also appreciated the stylish crockery and the great presentation of all the meal contents.

Back when I flew in 2020, no hot food was offered, and the meal — shown above — was presented with the plastic covering intact. Even the bread rolls back then were individually wrapped, so the improvements to the meal service were especially noticeable.

A new permanent routing

As the crow flies, getting between Tel Aviv and Dubai requires flying right over Saudi Arabia. That posed a problem for El Al since the Kingdom historically didn't allow Israeli-registered aircraft to use its airspace.

Without overfly rights, Israeli aircraft would need to fly over the Red Sea and around the Arabian Peninsula to get to and from Dubai, tacking on extra hours and unnecessary fuel burn. However, UAE-based aircraft could transit over Saudi Arabia, putting Israeli airlines at a significant disadvantage.

Before flights were launched between Israel and the UAE in 2020, government authorities worked to secure these overfly rights with Saudi Arabia.

They did, but with a big condition — the overfly rights only applied to routes to and from the UAE and Bahrain. Other flights, like El Al's service to Bangkok and Phuket, would still need to divert around Saudi Arabia.

Two years later, however, there's been more diplomacy in the skies. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia opened its airspace to all Israeli aircraft under a pact brokered by the Biden administration.

This not only is good news for the commercial feasibility of El Al's UAE routes, but it also unlocks some key growth opportunities for the airline, including possible destinations in India and beyond.

However, the feasibility of these routes is dependent on Tel Aviv also receiving overfly rights from Oman, which is still a work in progress.

Bottom line

For me, flying between Israel and the UAE on a nonstop El Al flight is still quite surreal.

I'm fortunate to have taken the inaugural commercial flight between these two countries during the height of the pandemic in 2020, and I was still excited about the opportunity to fly the route again two years later.

This time, the experience was significantly more pleasant. For one, I didn't have to worry about onerous COVID-19-related restrictions.

Also, the flight itself — from the time in the King David Lounge to the Dreamliner's impressive onboard experience — was so much better than round one.

The next time I fly the route, I'd love to give Emirates first class a try. However, with an outdated 2-3-2 configuration in Emirates business class, El Al's Dreamliner definitely feels like the way to go in if you're flying in business.

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2X	Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
1X	Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

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Pros + cons

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

More details

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Pros

Valuable dining and food-related credits
Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
Multiple travel and purchase protections
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)

Cons

Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App™, or purchased directly from airlines.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
$120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
Book your travel through the Amex Travel App™ with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Three years ago, it was a rare sight to see an Israeli-flagged plane parked right next to a sea of Emirates' Airbus A380s.

Four months later the day had come — and I was there to witness it all firsthand from El Al flight 977, the first commercial flight to the UAE for Israel's national airline.

And nearly two years since then, there are now up to 30 daily flights operating between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Here's how things have changed.

The lounge is back

As Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv returns to pre-pandemic traffic levels, El Al has reopened its flagship King David Lounge in the departures hall.

There's even a walk-up wine bar that features some local labels, such as Teperberg.

It's worth noting that the space can get quite crowded during peak departure banks. I'd recommend heading upstairs for a seat if you can't find one when you enter the lower level.

That said, the King David Lounge is the airport's nicest option for premium-cabin passengers, so it's great to see it open once again.

Better aircraft

When El Al launched commercial flights to Dubai, it flew the inaugural using its short-haul workhorse, the Boeing 737-900 aircraft.

Even the economy seats are upgraded with new cushioning and contoured headrests.

Given the flight's 5:30 a.m. departure time, I had no trouble catching up on some sleep after converting the seat into a bed.

Fancier amenities

Another welcome improvement that I experienced on my recent El Al flight to Dubai was the introduction of fancier amenities.

I also appreciated the small tubes of hand cream and lip balm, as well as the single-use refreshing towel.

When I flew the route back in 2020, I received an unbranded amenity kit, stocked with socks, earplugs, a toothbrush and an eye mask.

Inflight entertainment for all

In addition to the fancier seats on the Dreamliner, every flyer in all cabins got to enjoy a much better inflight entertainment offering.

Big food upgrades

Along with Israel dropping all COVID-19 restrictions, El Al has also brought back its full onboard meal service, which I thoroughly enjoyed on my recent flight.

The breakfast entree options were either a tomato and cheese omelet or blintzes. I went with the latter, which was delicious.

The featured dish was served with a side of pickles and tomatoes, some Middle Eastern dips and salads, two miniature loaves of bread and a cheesecake dessert.

While the food itself was tasty, I also appreciated the stylish crockery and the great presentation of all the meal contents.

A new permanent routing

Before flights were launched between Israel and the UAE in 2020, government authorities worked to secure these overfly rights with Saudi Arabia.

Two years later, however, there's been more diplomacy in the skies. Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia opened its airspace to all Israeli aircraft under a pact brokered by the Biden administration.

However, the feasibility of these routes is dependent on Tel Aviv also receiving overfly rights from Oman, which is still a work in progress.

Bottom line

For me, flying between Israel and the UAE on a nonstop El Al flight is still quite surreal.

This time, the experience was significantly more pleasant. For one, I didn't have to worry about onerous COVID-19-related restrictions.

Also, the flight itself — from the time in the King David Lounge to the Dreamliner's impressive onboard experience — was so much better than round one.

The lounge is back

Better aircraft

Fancier amenities

Inflight entertainment for all

Big food upgrades

A new permanent routing

Bottom line

Comments

Comments

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TPG featured card

TPG featured card

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Annual fee

Regular APR

Recommended credit

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

The lounge is back

Better aircraft

Fancier amenities

Inflight entertainment for all

Big food upgrades

A new permanent routing

Bottom line

Comments

TPG featured card

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Annual fee

Regular APR

Recommended credit

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Annual fee

Regular APR

Recommended credit

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Annual fee

Regular APR

Recommended credit

Pros + cons

Pros

Cons

More details

Pros

Cons

American Express® Gold Card

Rewards rate

Intro offer

Annual fee

Regular APR

Recommended credit

Pros + cons