St. Louis Lambert International (STL) doesn't have the passenger volume to support a nonstop to Tel Aviv, and honestly, no airline is likely to add one anytime soon. The great-circle distance between the two cities is roughly 6,400 miles (about 10,300 km) — long enough that it would require a widebody aircraft flying at the edge of its range, and that kind of equipment gets deployed on routes from bigger U.S. gateways first. So every itinerary from St. Louis to Tel Aviv involves at least one connection, and for many travelers, planning around that connection matters more than picking a specific airline.
The good news: St. Louis sits within easy reach of nearly every major U.S. gateway that does fly nonstop to Ben Gurion Airport, so you have real choices rather than being stuck with one awkward routing.
Strategy 1: East Coast gateway, then nonstop to TLV. United flies STL to Newark (EWR) several times daily, and Newark has a long-haul nonstop to Tel Aviv. Delta connects through JFK or Atlanta, with JFK offering a direct hop to TLV. American routes through Philadelphia, which also has nonstop TLV service seasonally. El Al doesn't serve St. Louis directly, but its New York nonstops pair naturally with a same-day STL-JFK or STL-EWR connection on a partner or separately ticketed segment.
Strategy 2: European hub, one-stop with a widebody carrier. Lufthansa via Frankfurt or Munich, Air France via Paris-CDG, KLM via Amsterdam, British Airways via London Heathrow, and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul all connect St. Louis to Tel Aviv with a single stop on each end effectively, since the transatlantic leg from STL typically routes through one of those hubs directly or via a second U.S. city first. This option tends to offer more schedule flexibility and sometimes shorter total layover windows if the connection is well-timed, plus the chance to add a stopover in Europe on the way home.
In practice, total journey time from STL to TLV usually runs between 14 and 19 hours depending on the connection city and layover length, with the transatlantic or transcontinental long-haul segment alone accounting for 10-11 hours.
STL has two terminals. Terminal 1 handles American, United, Delta, and most legacy carriers — this is where you'll almost certainly depart from for a Tel Aviv-bound itinerary. Terminal 2 is largely Southwest's domain and isn't relevant here unless your routing gets creative. The MetroLink light rail stops at both terminals and is the cheapest way in from downtown St. Louis (roughly 20-25 minutes), while I-70 traffic to the airport is normally light outside of rush hour. Because your first flight is domestic, TSA PreCheck lanes at STL move fast, and international check-in requirements (passport, visa documentation for Israel) are handled at your connecting hub, not at STL itself — so keep your passport accessible but you won't need it scanned until later.
All international flights land at Terminal 3, a modern single-terminal facility that's straightforward to navigate even after a long journey. Passport control has both manual desks and self-service biometric kiosks for eligible travelers, and lines move quickest early morning and late evening — the midday and post-Shabbat evening waves get busiest. Baggage claim is a short walk from immigration, and customs is a simple declare-or-not system.
For onward travel, the Ben Gurion Airport train station is directly beneath Terminal 3 and runs to Tel Aviv HaHagana/Savidor Central stations in about 20 minutes, continuing on to Haifa and other cities — genuinely one of the more efficient airport rail links in the region. Taxis are metered and readily available outside arrivals (expect a 20-30 minute ride to central Tel Aviv depending on traffic), and shared "sherut" minivans run fixed routes into the city at a lower cost if you don't mind a few extra stops.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18°C / 64°F | 10°C / 50°F | Rainiest month, mild days |
| March | 21°C / 70°F | 12°C / 54°F | Pleasant, good for walking |
| May | 26°C / 79°F | 17°C / 63°F | Warm, low humidity |
| July | 30°C / 86°F | 23°C / 73°F | Hot, humid coastal air |
| September | 30°C / 86°F | 22°C / 72°F | Still summer-like, sea is warmest |
| November | 24°C / 75°F | 15°C / 59°F | Shoulder season, fewer crowds |
April-May and October-November are the sweet spots — warm enough for the beach without July-August's heavy humidity, and airfares from the U.S. tend to be less inflated than the peak summer and major-holiday windows.
Jewish holidays significantly affect both crowd levels and flight demand. Passover (spring) and the Rosh Hashana-Yom Kippur-Sukkot stretch (September-October) see a surge in diaspora travel to Israel, meaning fuller flights and higher fares out of every U.S. gateway, STL connections included. Book connecting itineraries for these windows well in advance. Tel Aviv Pride in June draws a large international crowd and fills hotels citywide, while the relatively quiet winter months (December-February, outside Christmas week) offer the calmest connections and often the most flexible seating on the transatlantic long-haul legs.
If minimizing total travel time is your priority, a same-alliance itinerary (say, United/Star Alliance through Newark, or a Star Alliance partner through Frankfurt) usually means checked bags transfer automatically and you rebook easily if the first leg runs late. If you're chasing the lowest fare, mixing carriers across a European hub sometimes wins, but budget extra connection time — 2.5 to 3 hours minimum — since you may be re-clearing security or terminals change between arrival and departure gates. Given Ben Gurion's own security screening on departure (which includes an interview-style check well before the gate), build in generous time on the return leg regardless of which hub you flew through.
Delta Air Lines2 stops · Economy$1,124Select
United Airlines2 stops · Economy$1,169Select
Etihad Airways2 stops · Economy$1,841Select
AZ2 stops · Economy$2,858SelectCheapest non-stop
No non-stop inventory returned for these dates.
Cheapest connecting
$1,124
Delta Air Lines · 2 stops
Indicative one-way economy fare incl. taxes. Live price confirmed at checkout. updated Aug 30
| Airline / fare | Cabin bag | Checked bag | Extra bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 1 carry-on + 1 personal item | 1 checked bag on most international fares (economy) | Charged for additional or overweight bags at check-in |
| Delta Air Lines | 1 carry-on + 1 personal item | 1 checked bag typically included on transatlantic economy fares | Second/extra bags incur a fee, varies by route |
| El Al | 1 carry-on + 1 personal item | 1-2 checked bags depending on fare class | Additional bags charged per piece |
| Lufthansa / Star Alliance partners | 1 carry-on + 1 personal item | 1 checked bag standard on economy long-haul fares | Extra bags billed per hub airline's policy |
Since this route always involves a connection, baggage rules are usually set by the airline issuing your ticket (the marketing carrier), and bags typically check through to Tel Aviv automatically if booked on one itinerary. Always confirm allowances directly with the airline before departure, as fare class and codeshare partner can change the specifics.
A 90-minute connection might be technically allowed, but international arrivals can run late and Ben Gurion's departure security takes longer than a typical airport. Aim for at least 2-2.5 hours on connections in both directions.
Your STL departure is domestic, but your passport (and any Israel-specific entry documentation) will be checked at your connecting hub, not in St. Louis — have it out and ready before you reach the international gate area.
If you're routing through Paris, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt, some fares allow a short stopover at no major cost increase — worth exploring if you want to break up the long return journey.
Departing Tel Aviv involves a personal questioning step before check-in, sometimes with additional bag inspection. Arrive at least 3 hours before an international departure to avoid stress.
If you're not specifically traveling for Passover or the fall holiday season, avoid those weeks — flights fill up with diaspora travelers and Tel Aviv itself gets significantly busier and pricier.
No. STL doesn't have nonstop widebody service to Tel Aviv, so every itinerary connects through at least one hub — typically a U.S. East Coast gateway like Newark or JFK, or a European hub like Frankfurt, Paris, or London.
Newark and JFK offer the shortest total routing since both have direct nonstops to Tel Aviv paired with frequent United or Delta flights from STL. European hubs like Amsterdam or Frankfurt are strong alternatives if you want more schedule options or a possible stopover.
Realistically 14 to 19 hours door-to-door depending on your connection and layover length, with the long-haul segment itself (from a U.S. or European hub to TLV) taking around 10-11 hours.
United, Delta, and American all offer one-stop options via their U.S. hubs, while Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, British Airways, and Turkish Airlines route through their respective European hubs. El Al service pairs naturally with a New York connection.
Terminal 1 at St. Louis Lambert handles American, United, and Delta, which cover essentially all the practical connections to Tel Aviv.
The airport train station sits directly under Terminal 3 and reaches central Tel Aviv in about 20 minutes. Metered taxis and shared sherut vans are also available right outside arrivals.
Winter months outside the Christmas period tend to have lighter demand and easier connections. Avoid booking around Passover and the Rosh Hashana-Sukkot stretch in fall, when diaspora travel spikes fares and fills flights.
Yes — Ben Gurion's departure security includes a screening interview well before check-in, so on your return leg, build in more buffer time than you would for a typical European or domestic connection.
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