Review of El Al Israel Airlines flight from Bucharest to Tel Aviv in Economy

Introduction

After 8 days in Romania,
it was time to return back to Israel.

Here is my experience with Elal on the flight from OTP to TLV.

OTP Airport

I arrived to the airport 3 hours before the flight.

The entrance to the terminal:

I entered to the terminal and went to the check in area.

I didn't take any photos in the check in area because it's prohibited to do so.

It took 30 minutes to check in to the flight and complete the security process.

After it, I saw some aircraft.
Lauda A320:

BA A320:

Tarom 737-800:

Shortly after, I arrived to the duty free area:

Nothing special about this duty free shop, it wasn't so cheap.

I went to the food court:

Pasta for 52-53 lei… (12-13 usd!)

I visited this airport in 2016 and I remember this food court as one of the most expensive food court I visited in European airports.
Seems that it's the same.

I bought a slice of pizza, I don't remember how much I paid, but I remember it was very expensive.

I made my way toward the passport control area:

After the passport control, there is small duty free shops, coffee shop and small shop with drinks, snacks, etc.

The prices were crazy here… 20 lei for 500ml Coca cola…

I entered our boarding area, which was like a big room, separated from other flights.

WIZZ A321 from our gate area:

Our aircraft waited for us:

On my way to the aircraft on the jet bridge:

Nice view from the jet bridge - AZAL Embraer ERJ-190AR and Tarom ATR72:

Flight experience - OTP to TLV

Aircraft information:
Boeing 737-8Q8(WL)
4X-EKP
Started it's service with Polynesian Airlines (September 2001 - January 2006 as 5W-SAO), delivered to Elal in January 2006, meaning it. was almost 23 years old on our flight.

I made my way to my seat, 34K:

The leg room was great!

Cabin view:

Wing view:

Shortly after, the push back started and we were on our way to the runway.

Plane spotting during taxi is always nice, especially if I can take photos of aircraft that doesn't visit Israel, like this Tarom ATR72:

Or Qatar A320:

On our way to the runway…

Appreciate the legroom again :)

Some Air force aircraft… C130? A400? Casa 295? I don't know:

We took off on time:

Like most of the 737-800 fleet, this aircraft also retrofitted with a new cabin, they even installed led instead of the old lights.
Some cleaning was needed…

Flying over Romania:

They also retrofitted some lightning solution, similar to the mood lightning in the newer 737NG:

15 minutes into the flight, the cabin crew served a bottle of water:

I went to the toilets:

They were in good condition, but consider it's only 20-25 minutes into the flight, I think that they could be cleaner.

Unlike the inbound flight (TLV-OTP), this time I could choose which sandwich I want, I chose the brisket sandwich.

It was OK but nothing to write home about.

The rest of the flight was uneventful and boring.
There is no WIFI in the Boeing 737 fleet except for one aircraft (as far as I know) which is 4X-EHC, Boeing 737-900ER.
At least we had charging ports and IFE solution in our smartphone, as well as overhead screens.

The Israeli coast:

Over Israel:

We just landed…

Taxiing to some jet bridge in Terminal 3:

Cabin view during deboarding:

The row I sat in:

Business class:

On the jet bridge:

Bye bye 4X-EKP!

Welcome to terminal 3!

On my way to the passport control and baggage claim area:

Baggage claim area:

Our suitcases arrived 10-20 minutes after I arrived to the baggage claim area, so it was ok.

After customs:

Thank for reading!