New York, NY – January 27, 2010 – EL AL Israel Airlines turned one New York woman’s panic into relief after a forgotten backpack containing $50,000 worth of jewelry and irreplaceable business documents was discovered and safely returned by EL AL employees. 

Upon arrival from Israel into JFK International Airport, the EL AL passenger accidentally left her backpack at the baggage claim area next to the luggage carousel. The bag contained over $50,000 worth of jewelry, including an 18 carat gold rope necklace, Tahitian black pearls, white pearls and diamond rings.  There was also a laptop, her pocketbook with personal items plus the important business papers.

It was only upon arrival at her home in Queens when the passenger discovered that the backpack was missing.  She immediately returned to JFK and, on her way, received a call from the EL AL information desk that the bag was found and all the items were safe.  The EL AL agent found her cell phone number on a prescription bottle that was in the back pack.

“I cannot express enough how grateful I am to EL AL and commend the employees who found the bag and returned it to me,” the customer explained in a thank you note to the airline.  “I am not sure this would have turned out the same with any other airline.”

As always, EL AL is committed to providing superior customer service to its passengers prior to, during and after all flights. For more information about EL AL, please visit www.elal.com or contact EL AL at (800) 223-6700. 

About EL AL
Celebrating more than 60 years of service, EL AL, Israel's national airline, offers the most nonstop flights between New York (JFK/Newark) and Israel as well as the only nonstop service from Los Angeles.  Worldwide, EL AL flies to more than 40 destinations from Israel and serves dozens of other destinations throughout the world via partnerships with many other carriers (including 22 additional cities in the U.S.A.). Only EL AL has First Class service on nonstop flights between the U.S.A. and Israel. The airline has annual revenues of about $2.1 billion and carries more than 1.9 million passengers every year.

EL AL embodies Israel’s values of innovation and caring and the promise of a genuine Israeli welcome.  Your Israel experience begins with EL AL and warm Israeli hospitality. Israeli flight attendants will make you feel at home, the best trained Israeli pilots will take you to and from Israel and passengers enjoy enhanced in-flight dining with freshly prepared healthy meals. 

EL AL. It’s not just an airline. It’s Israel.