We highly recommend that you extend your ticket prior to departure rather than waiting until your arrival in Israel as seats are limited, particularly in the airfare class/code of your ticket.
**PLEASE NOTE: ALL EXTENSIONS WILL BE SUBJECT TO A $150 TRAVEL AGENT FEE**
Extensions are NOT guaranteed and can be costly. It is NOT recommended that you make post-trip plans until you have confirmation of a new return flight. Stopovers are not permitted.
How can you extend?
Extensions are processed in the Birthright Israel App at least 7-10 business days prior to departure. Applying later than that date may result in receiving your confirmation only AFTER you arrive in Israel. The price of the extension depends on the airline (view the prices here).
Note: Most airlines fly on Friday nights and Saturdays. We suggest you indicate in your extension notes if you do not wish to fly on Shabbat.
Can you extend your trip and visit another country during the extension?
Yes, you can! Just make sure that any flight you book is either at the same time as your group’s flight or later.
**You cannot book a ticket departing earlier than your group’s flight or you will be asked to change the ticket at your own cost.**
Can you extend your health insurance and cell phone plan?
Sure, we strongly recommend that you extend the health insurance policy and the phone plan. For more information on how to do this, please email info@israelfreespirit.com.
Is it possible to cancel the return ticket?
Yes. Once you’re in Israel, if you want to cancel your return ticket, this can be done through the Birthright Israel App.
Extension Fees & Guidelines For Each Airline
Air Canada:
- Maximum stay is 90 days.
- Extensions are limited, be sure to process your extension ASAP
- Extension prior to departure $150 subject to seat availability in the same class/code fare of service, plus Birthright Israel agent fee ($150). If original class/code fare is not available and a higher airfare is available, the fee is USD $150/CAD $150 plus the difference in airfare, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150). CAD fee will be debited in the USD equivalent amount to the CAD when processed.
- Change of return once in Israel is USD $150 subject to seat availability in the same class/code fare of service, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150). If original class/code fare is not available and a higher airfare is available, the fee is USD $150 plus the difference to the next class code/fare, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).
Arkia Airlines:
- Maximum stay is 90 days.
- Extensions must be made more than 7 days before the departure date
- There is no charge to extend before or after departure provided it is confirmed in the same class/code of service plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150). If original class/code fare is not available, the fee is the difference in airfare plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).
Austrian Airlines:
- The maximum stay is 90 days.
- Limited extensions per group
- The extension fee prior to departure is USD $50 subject to seat availability in the same class/code fare, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150). If the original class/code fare is not available and a higher airfare is available, the fee is USD $50 plus any applicable fare difference, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).
- Change of return once is Israel is USD $150 subject to seat availability in the same class/code fare. If the original class/code fare is not available and a higher airfare is available, the fee is USD $150, plus any applicable fare difference, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).
Brussels Airlines:
- Maximum stay is 90 days.
- Extension fee prior to departure is USD $50 subject to seat availability in the same class/code fare of service, plus any applicable fare difference, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).
- Once in Israel extension/change of return is $150 subject to seat availability in the same class of service, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150). If the original class is not available and a higher airfare is available, fee is difference in airfare plus $150, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150.
- Limited extensions per group.
Delta Airlines:
- The maximum stay is 90 days.
- Extension requests more than 21 days before departure, there is no fee from the airline provided the return date is in the same class/code of service plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150). Extension requests will not be granted if same class/code fare is not available.
- Extension requests within 21 days before departure date if the return is not available in the same class code/fare, the fee will be the difference in airfare plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).
- Change of return date once in Israel is subject to seat availability in the same class/code fare of service and must be made before the original return date. If original class/code fare is not available and a higher class of service is available, the change fee will start from $50.00, plus the difference in airfare subject to availability, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).
EL AL Israel Airline:
- Maximum stay is 90 days
- Extension prior to departure is the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150) if same class of service is available. If the original class code/fare is not available and a higher airfare is available, the fee is the difference in airfare, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).
- Change of return date once in Israel is $50 service fee for a seat in the same class/code fare of service, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150). If the same class/code fare in economy is not available, then the charge will be the service fee of $50 plus the difference to the next available seat in economy, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).
LOT Polish Airlines:
- The maximum stay is 90 days
- Limited extensions per group
- Extension requests submitted more than 7 days before departure, no charge in the same class of service, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150). If original class/code fare is not available and a higher airfare is available, the fee is the difference in airfare plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).
- Extension requests submitted 7 or less days of departure the fee is USD $100 plus the difference in airfare, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).
- Change of return once in Israel is USD $100 subject to seat availability in the same class/code fare of service, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).. If the original class/code fare is not available and a higher airfare is available, the fee is USD $100 plus the difference to the next class code/fare, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).
Lufthansa Airlines:
- The maximum stay is 90 days
- Limited extensions per group
- The extension fee prior to departure is USD $50 subject to seat availability in the same class/code fare, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150). If the original class/code fare is not available and a higher airfare is available, the fee is USD $50 plus any applicable fare difference, plus the BRI agent fee
- Change of return once is Israel is USD 150.00 subject to seat availability in the same class/code fare, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150). If the original class/code fare is not available and a higher airfare is available, the fee is USD $150, plus any applicable fare difference, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).
- Extensions must be requested and confirmed prior to the ticketed return flight date
Swiss Airlines:
- The maximum stay is 90 days
- Limited extensions per group
- The extension fee prior to departure is USD $50 subject to seat availability in the same class/code fare, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150). If the original class/code fare is not available and a higher airfare is available, the fee is USD $50 plus any applicable fare difference,
- plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).
- Change of return once is Israel is USD 150.00 subject to seat availability in the same class/code fare, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150). If the original class/code fare is not available and a higher airfare is available, the fee is USD $150, plus any applicable fare difference, plus the Birthright Israel agent fee ($150).
- Extensions must be requested and confirmed prior to the ticketed return flight date