Flights

Departure 🛫

At your departure airport, you will have an additional layer of security compared to what you may be used to. You will be separated from your traveling companions and questioned individually, and your bags may be searched. You will be asked questions like:

• Do you speak any other languages, and which ones?

• Are you part of any particular community?

• What holidays (religious or otherwise) do you celebrate?

• Who are you traveling with? How well do you know them?

Although these questions may seem odd or intrusive, they are very standard, and you will eventually be able to make your way to the gate. 

Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport 🛬

Welcome to the holy land! You landed at Terminal 3. As you exit the aircraft and make your way out the terminal, you’ll notice biometric passport scanners. The scanner will print a pass you will need to present as you clear through border protection. If you do not have a biometric passport, continue to exit the terminal and ask the airport personnel to direct you to the desk validating non-biometric passports.

International travelers are exempt from paying value-added tax (VAT) in Israel. To be eligible for a VAT refund, keep your pass until your date of departure, as they indicate the status by which you were admitted to the country. 

Take the ramp down the terminal and clear through border protection. There will be a sign indicating the aisle(s) dedicated for “All Passports”. Be ready to answer questions about your visit, such as:

• What is the reason for your visit / stay in Israel?

• What is your planned departure date?

• Where will you be staying?

• What is your relationship with the people you are visiting?

• What is the name of the wedding venue? [Terminal]. What city is it located in? [Petach Tikva]

After clearing border protection, pick up your luggage from the conveyer belts and exit to the airport terminal hall. Do not worry if you are randomly selected to scan your luggage as you clear through customs – this is a common procedure for controlling the flow of goods into the country. 

Getting to Tel Aviv from Ben Gurion Airport 🚕

There are several ways to commute from the airport to Tel Aviv. The easiest ways are:

• Taxi Cab – exit the airport, walk all the way to the curb and turn to your left. To order your taxi, use the machines located by the taxi booth. The taxis in Israel are white and have a yellow taxi sign including their medallion number. Make sure to ask the driver to turn on the meter as you enter the vehicle. A ride from the airport to Tel Aviv should cost approximately $35, depending on traffic.

• Service Taxi – these are known as “Sherut” (Service) taxi. They are yellow and look like a small mini-bus. Their routes are fixed, and they depart when all seats are filled. If you choose this option, please double-check that the destination is Tel Aviv.

• Car Rental - all major car rental companies operate at Ben-Gurion. Follow signs at the airport to the car rental checkout counter. See Transportation for more details. 

Departing Israel, Au Revoir ❤️🙏👰

All international flights depart from Terminal 3 at Ben Gurion Airport. To get there, you can use the Gett Taxi app, a bus, or a train. However, please account for traffic and ample time to complete the security process, as the trip duration from Tel Aviv can range from 20 minutes to an hour and a half depending on traffic.

As you enter Terminal 3 at Ben Gurion Airport, the information officers will direct you to your lane depending on your destination. You will first go through a security questionnaire, which is standard procedure. Be ready to answer the following questions:

• What was the reason for your visit?

• Where did you stay?

• Tell me about the wedding.

• How do you know the bride or the groom?

• Did you pack by yourself? Did you have your luggage with you at all times? Did someone ask you to transfer anything? Do you have any liquids or sharp objects in your suitcase?

After the security questionnaire, proceed to the check-in desk to receive your boarding pass and check your luggage. Next, you will scan your hand luggage and go through border protection.

Once through border protection, you can visit the VAT refund desk or the currency exchange desk to convert your remaining shekels to any other currency (see Tips).