TRIP
EXTENSIONS
Want to experience more than just 10 days in Israel? We’ll help you make that happen
Not signed up yet? You can sign up for your Birthright Israel Trip here
HOW TO EXTEND
In most cases, you can extend your ticket either before you depart or after you arrive in Israel.
Extensions prior to departure can only be handled by Gil Travel (link: https://www.giltravel-br.com/), Birthright Israel’s official travel agency.
Be sure to allow plenty of time for your extension request to be arranged by Gil Travel.
Most extension requests must be submitted at least 7-10 business days before departure.
Although some airlines permit flight extensions to be made in Israel, it can be a time consuming process, and seats are limited.
Some airlines DO NOT permit extensions once in Israel at all.
Please note: If you have confirmed an extension and then cancel or change your trip, you will be forfeiting your extension, including all fees paid to Gil Travel and the airline. Birthright Israel is not responsible for extensions processed with Gil Travel or with the airlines. Extensions are the individual’s responsibility.
PLAN AHEAD
Your ticket can be extended, but some airlines limit how many tickets can be extended in a group. Please understand availability for date changes can become very limited or even nonexistent during peak summer.
You can generally extend your ticket up to 2-3 months from the date you depart depending on the rules of the airlines.
You will be on an organized group flight, which means you can only change the date of the return.
You can not change the route on the ticket to include another destination. You will not be allowed to extend your ticket on the front end and meet the group in Israel.
AIRLINE RULES & REGULATIONS
Each airline has different rules in terms of how long a ticket can be extended for and what it will cost you. Get to know about your airline’s flight extension policies. Please find your airlines information below:
Aeroflot Russian Airlines:
Once in Israel: CLAL Aviation phone: 03-521-4222
Sunday - Thursday, 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Air Canada:
Once in Israel contact Air Canada directly more than one (1) business day before departure. Exception: changes for departures scheduled for Sunday from Israel must be completed by Thursday before. Phone: 03-6072111
Sunday - Thursday, 8:30AM-5:00 PM
Austrian Airlines:
Once in Israel contact Austrian directly: Phone: 03-9058049
Sunday - Thursday, 9 AM-5 PM
Brussels Airlines:
Once in Israel contact Brussels Airlines directly: Email tlv.groups@dlh.de or call in Israel 03-5135629 Sunday - Thursday, 10 AM-1 PM.
Change of return date must be made more than 5 business days before the group’s original return date.
Delta Airlines:
Once in Israel contact Delta directly: Phone: 03-5138000 extension 3
Sunday - Thursday, 9 AM-5 PM
EL AL Israel Airlines:
Once in Israel contact EL AL directly. Phone: 03-9771111. Call center open 24hours.
Iberia Airlines:
Once in Israel contact Iberia directly: Via email (recommended) TAGLIT.IB@BA.COM or
180 9344 538 OPTION 2
Sunday - Thursday, 9 AM-5 PM
LOT Polish Airlines:
Once in Israel contact LOT Polish Airlines directly: Email completed extension document to lot@open-sky.co.il Phone: 03-795-1550
Sunday - Thursday, 9 AM-5 PM
Deutsche Lufthansa:
Once in Israel contact Lufthansa directly: Phone: 03-9058049
Sunday - Thursday, 9 AM-5 PM
TAP Portugal Airlines:
Once in Israel contact Orly via email: orly@open-sky.co.il
Phone: 03-7951331
Sunday - Thursday, 9 AM-5 PM
DO NOT call TAP Portugal Airlines as they CANNOT assist.
Ukraine Airlines:
Caspi Aviation is the handling agent for Ukraine Airlines.
Once in Israel: Caspi Aviation 03-5100213/4
Sunday - Thursday, 9 AM-6 PM and
Fri 9 AM- 1 PM Israel time.
DO NOT call Ukraine Airlines they cannot assist.
United Airlines:
Once in Israel contact United Airlines
1 809 344363 in BUE. Phone number only works from Israel.
Sunday - Thursday 8:30 AM-5 PM during local times in Israel.
FORFEITING YOUR RETURN FLIGHT
If you will not be using your return ticket at all, you should formally forfeit your return ticket. To do so, you must notify us in advance or you may lose your $250 deposit.
Forfeiting your return flight is different from extending your return flight. By forfeiting your return ticket you will be canceling your return flight altogether and will be responsible for arranging your own flight home from Israel.
To forfeit the return flight before the trip, email info@israeltm with the subject “Return Flight Forfeit.”
If you decide to forfeit your return flight during the trip, notify the airline at least 24 hours in advance to avoid losing your deposit.