El Al gave them vouchers during the war and then they sued: this is the reason

The Haifa District Court rejected a request to certify a class action against El Al, after a couple who received credit vouchers during the war claimed their terms were illegal. The judge ruled that the vouchers were given as an exceptional benefit under security circumstances, not as a regular commercial transaction, and ordered the couple to pay court costs.

On October 7, 2026, the Haifa District Court rejected a request to certify a class action against El Al, filed by a couple who received credit vouchers from the company after the outbreak of the war in October 2023. The couple purchased Lite tickets—the basic fare that does not allow a refund upon cancellation. Their outbound flight on Smartwings was canceled, but their return flight on El Al remained scheduled. Against the backdrop of the security situation, El Al allowed even Lite passengers to cancel and receive vouchers, even though they were not entitled to this under the ticket terms. The couple received vouchers worth $305, valid until December 2024, and sold them to a third party for $240. They argued that the voucher terms do not comply with the Consumer Protection Law. Judge Avraham Boulos ruled that the vouchers were given as an exceptional benefit following the security crisis, without a contractual right, and that treating emergency benefits as commercial transactions could deter companies from providing similar assistance in the future. However, the decision does not rule on the voucher terms for other passenger groups.