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One of the advantages of flying into Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv is that it feels as if it's considerably smaller than airports in major American metropolises. Compared to New York, Chicago, and L.A., Ben Gurion is incredibly easy to navigate.

Navigation in Ben Gurion is also enhanced by convenient and easily discernible signs. Like many westernized nations, nearly all signs have an English translation or pictograph (such as the male and female signs for the bathroom). But the reality is that it's difficult to get lost as everyone is moved to the same customs check point and then to the same luggage area.

Upon arrival, it's important to understand that security is vital for Israel. The questions asked of me at customs were not outrageous. They were concerned about where I was staying and who I knew. These are questions to be expected at every customs check point.

The luggage arrives at clearly marked conveyor belts and the belts are easily marked with flight numbers. But unbeknown to me, the luggage personnel separate those items deemed "over sized". I was forced to check a guitar as luggage on my way to Ben Gurion which never came down the conveyor. After 30 minutes of waiting, I decided to meet up with the person who came to pick me up and go back to question the personnel about my guitar.

Unfortunately, once a traveler leaves the luggage area to meet with their friends or family, they can not re-enter. Unlike many other airports, the luggage area is not blocked off from outside traffic and normally travelers will meet with their companions before picking up their suitcases. At Ben Gurion, you must be certain to collect ALL of your luggage before exiting the airport. With the help of my Hebrew speaking friends, I was allowed to go through a full security check before being escorted back into the luggage area and directed to the "over sized" luggage area.

Upon exiting the country, a traveler must be aware that they will be questioned and have their luggage fully searched before boarding. Travelers with laptop computers will especially be scrutinized at Ben Gurion. During my exit, they had me remove all detachable pieces of my computer, boot it up, and start a program to be sure it was a fully functioning computer. They also took the laptop for several minutes to test it while I was also instructed to remove everything from my luggage for inspection. All travelers were subjected to this. Be sure to arrive at least two hours before your flight. This may be the one airport that the two hour leeway rule is necessary!

Overall, I found Ben Gurion to be well organized and clean. The security may seem a bit extreme for westerners even compared to the higher security in American airports, but overall not too cumbersome.

Learn more about this author, Jami Gibbs.
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