Choosing Different Airlines Can Save Hundreds on Holiday Flights to Popular Destinations

A recent price comparison for flights during the Jewish New Year holiday reveals significant cost differences for the same destinations and dates depending on the airline chosen. The analysis, conducted by C14 for flights between September 10 and 14, shows that selecting one airline over another can save families hundreds or even thousands of shekels.

The largest price gap was found on flights to Crete, where El Al offers the lowest fare at $776, Israir charges slightly more at $793, and Arkia's price jumps to $1,096. This represents a difference of $320, or over 40%, which for a family of four translates to an additional $1,200 or more. Flights to Budapest also showed notable disparities, with El Al and Israir pricing tickets around $590, while Arkia's fare is $733, a 24% difference. For flights to Tbilisi, Israir had the cheapest ticket at $406, compared to El Al's $469 and Arkia's $557, a 37% price gap.

The findings highlight that even during peak travel periods when prices are generally high, comparing airline options can yield substantial savings. While individual travelers might save tens or hundreds of dollars, families can save thousands simply by choosing a different carrier. The article also advises considering what each ticket includes, such as baggage, flexibility for changes or cancellations, flight times, and departure airports, since higher prices sometimes reflect added services rather than just pricing differences.

Travelers booking holiday flights from Ben Gurion Airport to popular destinations like Crete, Budapest, and Tbilisi are encouraged to compare airline offers carefully to maximize savings.