General Flight Information & Rules

The Taglit-Birthright Israel program makes use of multiple airlines. Most of the flights are direct from the gateway city, although some flights include a change of planes in Europe. Most airlines allow participants to check two bags and bring one piece of carry-on luggage as well as a small carry-on bag, but it’s a responsibility of participants to check the airlines’ websites for exact baggage limits.

Please read carefully some flight rules here:

  • Participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation to the gateway airport
  • You must depart for Israel with the group from the scheduled gateway airport
  • You cannot meet the group in Israel...even if you are already in Europe or in Israel at the time.
  • You can extend your ticket up to 2-3 months from the date you depart for Israel depending on the airline.
  • If you stay in Israel for longer than the airline allows, you will be responsible for your return flight
  • If you fail to extend your ticket till after the group flight departs Israel, your ticket will be void.
  • You cannot pay extra for a stopover or to change your return flight destination.
  • It's impossible to get frequent flier miles for your ticket given the nature of the ticket fare rules.


Getting to the airport

Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to and from the departure airport in USA. You are required to arrive at the departure airport at least 4,5 hours before your flight to Israel is scheduled to depart. You will be met at the airline check-in area by Ezra representatives who will present you with your plane ticket and who will give you instructions on how to proceed through the security screening and check-in processes. When you arrive to the airline check-in area, simply locate Ezra staff members. They will be wearing Ezra t-shirts and will be holding Ezra sign, and they will be looking for you too! If you need a domestic flight to NY, it is your responsibility to book and fully pay for the roundtrip tickets. Please take a flight that arrives to NY at least 6 hours before the scheduled departure to Israel, in case there are any delays or cancellations on your domestic flight.

For the return flight, if you are scheduling a domestic connection, plan for at least four hours between flights to allow for passage through customs/baggage claim, etc.


Seating Arrangements

It is impossible to book seats on the plane in advance, however you can try to do it at the airport when you check-in. Sometimes seating arrangements come pre-arranged and that cannot be changed, so in that case you cannot get a seat next to your friend. You would need to seat at your assigned seat, and then after take-off you may ask a person next to you or next to your friend, to switch seats.


Special Meal Requests

For participants requesting special meals such as vegetarian, diabetic meal etc on the flight, the request must be by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at least 3 weeks before the departure date. If it is less than 3 weeks your request can not be guaranteed. If your group flies El-AL airlines, all meals are Kosher, even for special meals, but you can request Glatt Kosher. For all other airlines Taglit Birthright Israel requests kosher meals for all participant and staff. If you eat strictly Kosher we still suggest you to take along some kosher food with (no liquids) in case airlines misplaces your kosher meal. NOTE: As said before, meals are automatically requested as KOSHER for ALL flights. Any person who does not want a kosher meal should bring their own food (no liquids)


Baggage Limits

Most Taglit-Birthright Israel: Ezra groups travel with El Al Israel Airlines although occasionally the airlines listed below are used as well.

For the contact information for the airlines that Ezra groups fly on and for exact luggage size and weight restrictions please see below:


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Ticket Extensions

We strongly urge you to maximize your Israel experience by extending your stay in Israel following your Taglit-Birthright Israel: EZRA trip.

All Taglit-Birthright Israel: EZRA participants have the option of extending their ticket to remain in Israel beyond the program (unless informed otherwise). Extending will only be possible once Ezra has notified you that you have been ticketed on a specific flight. Please know that once the Taglit-Birthright Israel program has concluded that you will no longer be under supervision or responsibility of Ezra or Taglit-Birthright Israel. Also, if you do choose to extend your stay, keep in mind that you must participate in the entire 10-day Taglit-Birthright Israel trip right until bus takes your group back to Ben Gurion Airport on the final day. There is no leaving the group early under any circumstances.

Extensions prior to departure for all airlines are handled through an official Taglit Birthright Israel travel agency Gil Travel only. Ezra cannot offer any assistance before or after your trip in extending your flight. Participants can only make their extension request via the Gil Travel extension page (extensions are not done over the phone, so do not call them) and must allow sufficient time for it to be processed prior to their departure date.


We highly recommend that you extend you stay prior to leaving North America since all seats are subject to availability, contract specifications and specific classes of service by the airlines. Although some airlines permit the extension to be made in Israel, it can be time consuming; seats are limited because tourism in Israel is high. You will also see that some airlines DO NOT permit extensions once in Israel. Please read each airline caption to understand the restrictions and cost for extensions:


Option 1: Extend from US before through Gil Travel (recommended):

  • Fee: Extensions prior to departure $240.00 subject to seat availability. Cost may be higher due to limitation of seats.
  • Maximum stay extended to 90 days from departure
  • Please note: The extension is only for staying longer in Israel. Their ticket does not permit you to have a “stay” over in Ukraine

Option 2: Extend in Israel (not recommended):

  • Change once in Israel, fee is $ 150 subject to the availability of seats. Handled by Clal Aviation 1700504114 or 03 5192222,open Sun-Thu 9AM-5:30PM, Fridays 9AM-12:30PM

Option 1: Extend from US before through Gil Travel (recommended):

  • Fee: Extensions prior to departure $240.00 (or higher) subject to seat availability. Cost may be higher due to limitation of seats.
  • Maximum stay extended to 90 days from departure
  • Please note: On Air Canada you fly on domestic flight from USA to Canada, and switch to international flight, so you will have to enter Canada with valid documentation. If you are not US citizen or hold only a US Travel Document, you will be required to get a Canadian visa. Please check here for more info

Option 2: Extend in Israel (not recommended):

  • Change once in Israel, fee is $ 150 subject to the availability of seats. Handled directly by Air Canada reservation office in Tel Aviv 03 6072111,open Sun-Thu 8:30AM-5PM

Option 1: Extend from US before through Gil Travel (recommended):

  • Fee: Extensions permitted for maximum of 9 participants of the group; fee is $240.00 subject to seat availability. Cost may be higher due to limitation of seats
  • Maximum stay extended to 90 days from departure
  • Note: There are a limited number of extensions permitted and once this allotment is filled, no further extensions will be granted

Option 2: Extend in Israel (not recommended):

  • • Change once in Israel, fee is $ 150 subject to the availability of seats. Handled directly by Continental Airlines in Tel Aviv: 03-511 6777, open Sunday thru Thursday 8:30AM – 5PM.

Option 1: Extend from US before through Gil Travel (recommended):

  • Fee: Extensions prior to departure $240.00 subject to seat availability. Cost may be higher due to limitation of seats.
  • Maximum stay extended to 90 days from departure

Option 2: Extend in Israel (not recommended):

  • Change once in Israel, fee is $ 150 subject to the availability of seats. Handled directly by Delta Airlines reservations center in Tel Aviv: 03 513 8000 ext 3,open Sunday thru Thursday 9AM – 5PM

Option 1: Extend from US before through Gil Travel (recommended):

  • Fee: To extend your stay prior to departure, the fee varies according to availability of seats for the day you select. The fee can range from $165.00, $250.00 or $350.00 (depending on class) includes processing and subject to availability.
  • Maximum stay extended to 90 days from departure

Option 2: Extend in Israel (not recommended):

  • Change once in Israel, fee can range from $75.00 - $275.00 subject to the availability of seats. Handled directly with EL AL in Tel Aviv: 03 977 1111, open 7 days, 24 hours. Once in Israel, number of extensions limited to 15% of total group, specific contract rules per group applies.Note: If you depart from Newark, you can pay to extend your ticket and return to JFK (no additional fee). If you depart from JFK, you can pay to extend your ticket and return to Newark (no additional fee)

Extend from US before through Gil Travel (recommended):

  • Fee: Extensions are permitted for a maximum of 17 participants of the group prior to departure the fee is $240.00 subject to seat availability
  • Maximum stay 60 days from departure.
  • Note: There are a limited number of extensions permitted and once this allotment is filled, no further extensions will be granted

Option 2: Extend in Israel (not recommended):

  • Change once in Israel is $240.00 subject to availability. Handled through the Gil Travel website ONLY (not through Swiss Air) or email to Gil Travel with full details of request along with credit card information. DO NOT contact Swissair they CANNOT assist. )

This trip is a gift of Taglit-Birthright Israel