If you’ve been flying out of Ben Gurion Airport lately, you already know the lounge situation has been in flux. Priority Pass is gone. The old Dan Lounge credit card deals are dead. And now there’s a shiny new option at TLV — except it comes with a catch that matters a lot to American Jewish travelers.
According to Dan’s Deals, American Express Israel and international aviation company Jetex have partnered to open a new premium lounge at Ben Gurion Airport — but access is restricted to holders of Israeli-issued American Express cards only. Your U.S. Amex Platinum or Centurion card? Not going to get you in.
What’s the New Jetex Lounge?
Jetex, which operates lounges at airports across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, won a tender from the Israel Airports Authority to operate two new lounges in Terminal 3 at Ben Gurion, in partnership with Israeli duty-free operator LAYAM (owned by Teddy Sagi). The Jetex lounge is situated near the main duty-free area and runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The lounge promises dedicated rest and work areas, premium service, and a menu built around local Israeli flavors.
Meni Cohen, CEO of American Express Israel, described the new lounge as part of a broader commitment to offering cardholders a top-tier travel experience from the moment they leave Israel, noting that the menu would feature “local, authentic cuisine and advanced global hospitality standards,” according to the Jerusalem Post.
The Israeli Amex Cards Only Problem
Here’s where things get frustrating for the typical American kosher traveler flying home after a trip to Israel. The Jetex lounge partnership with American Express is between Jetex and American Express Israel — a completely separate entity from American Express U.S. This is not a new phenomenon at Ben Gurion. The old Dan Lounge had the same issue for years, with U.S. Amex Platinum cardholders showing up at the desk only to be turned away because their card wasn’t Israeli-issued.
To be clear: if you hold an Israeli-issued Amex Platinum or Centurion card, you get unlimited free lounge access. If you hold the U.S. Amex Platinum — even with a Global Lounge Collection membership or Priority Pass — this lounge benefit does not apply to you.
What Happened to the Old Lounge Options?
The TLV lounge landscape shifted dramatically in early 2026. Priority Pass is no longer accepted at Ben Gurion Airport as of January 2026, meaning even U.S. Amex Platinum cardholders whose Priority Pass benefit previously granted access are now locked out across the board. The Dan Lounge, which was the airport’s longtime fallback for credit card access, also ended its credit card agreements in late 2025. Entry to the Dan Lounge now requires direct payment of around 225 ILS (roughly $60) per person with a maximum two-hour stay.
The Aspire Lounge has opened as a replacement for Israeli Max cardholders, and the Jetex Lounge now serves Israeli Amex Platinum and Centurion customers. None of these options offer a clear free-access path for travelers holding U.S. or international credit cards.
So What Are Your Options at Ben Gurion?
Realistically, if you’re flying out of TLV with a U.S. credit card portfolio and hoping for lounge access, here is where things stand right now:
Pay to enter the Dan Lounge. At roughly $60 per person for a two-hour window, it’s not a terrible option if you want somewhere quieter to sit before a long transatlantic flight. The food has historically been a kosher buffet with salads, breads, cheeses, soups, and beverages, though reviews of the experience have been mixed.
El Al King David Lounge. If you’re flying El Al business class or hold El Al top-tier status, this remains the best lounge at the airport and is a strong option for eligible flyers.
Eat at the airport. Ben Gurion is arguably the most kosher-friendly airport in the world, and there is genuinely no shortage of solid options once you’re through security.
- Moses Air (Concourse E) — Full-service burger restaurant from the popular Moses Shop chain, certified mehadrin under Rabbi Nissim Almaliach, Chief Rabbi of Ben Gurion Airport.
- Aroma Espresso Bar (food court area) — Kosher glatt, with sandwiches, salads, pastries, and coffee drinks.
- Red Hot Grill House (Duty Free hall) — Kosher grilled meats, open Sunday through Thursday until midnight, closing two hours before Shabbat on Fridays.
- McDonald’s (Terminal 3 food court) — Certified by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, open 24/7 including Shabbat via a Zomet Institute-approved protocol. Food is prepared before Shabbat and reheated; non-Jewish staff operate the branch on Shabbat.
- Duty Free Market — Wide selection of kosher packaged snacks, chocolates, and foods. Not every item carries hashgacha, so check labels carefully.
Look into the Israeli Amex Platinum. If you travel to Israel regularly and have an Israeli bank account, it is actually possible to obtain an Israeli-issued Amex Platinum. The card comes with its own set of local benefits and now lounge access at Ben Gurion that U.S. cards simply can’t match. At an annual fee reportedly around $300 (and with an unpublished discount available to some), it may be worth exploring for frequent Israel travelers.
The Bigger Picture for Kosher Travelers
Ben Gurion Airport has always had a somewhat unique situation compared to other major international hubs. Because essentially everything airside is kosher by default — all eateries in the terminal operate under kosher supervision — the lounge food question is less about finding something you can eat and more about finding a comfortable, quiet environment before a long flight.
The new Jetex lounge sounds promising on paper: international-caliber hospitality, locally inspired kosher food, round-the-clock access. The frustrating reality is that the travelers who most need a pre-flight sanctuary — Americans who just spent two weeks in Israel and are about to board a ten-hour overnight flight — are the ones locked out of it.
We’ll keep an eye on whether Jetex expands access to international Amex cards, or whether any U.S. card benefit programs negotiate access to the new lounges at TLV. For now, if you’re flying out of Ben Gurion and you don’t hold an Israeli card, plan accordingly.
H/T: Dan’s Deals
