EXTENSION REQUESTS ARE NOT HANDLED OVER THE PHONE. Once the request is submitted, it is processed via email ONLY. Please check your SPAM FOLDERS REGULARLY.
Due to the nature and volume of the extension process, Phone support is not available and voicemails will not be returned.
Extension requests must be received (Depending on Air Carrier) at least 7-10 business days prior to US/Canada departure (not including weekends and holidays) .
** IMPORTANT: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the departure date from North America.
Please understand that we are helping literally thousands of participants. Honestly, you will receive the quickest service if you look below. The answer to your inquiry is most likely already here. If you still need to contact us, that is fine, but it will take longer than finding your answer below. We usually reply the same day, but it may take a day or two, depending on the volume of inquiries. Contact us here only if you can not find the answer below. You can find them here. The cost to change your return flight home is determined by each airline. To see the cost for your airline please click here: https://forms.giltravel.com/br/extension_cost.aspx. Please note all extensions fees are NONREFUNDABLE, and any changes to a confirmed extension are subject to additional fees. Please note that you will NOT be charged if we do not secure a date that you choose. When submitting your request we will put a pre-authorization on your card, but not an actual charge. It will only be charged once your request is confirmed. If there is no flight available on your requested dates then the pre-authorization will be released (this may take a few days or longer, depending on your bank). You will not pay if you are not extended. You can pay with credit cards only when application is submitted. Airline frequent flyer miles are NOT accepted. Please see the terms and conditions for your specific carrier’s maximum stay restrictions on the extension request page. Gil Travel cannot make any exceptions to extend your flight longer than the maximum stay allowed by the airline. Your flight is NOT confirmed until you have received an email confirmation from a Gil Travel representative with new flight information. Please CHECK REGULARLY YOUR SPAM/ JUNK mail folders to ensure you have not missed our emails. It depends on your airline. Please click here to check the Terms and Conditions for your airline. Please note, that for extension purposes, JFK, LGA and EWR are all considered NY, and they may be interchangeable on your extension confirmation. No, once you submit the extension request form, you agree to let us confirm your return flight on the return date you provided for quoted fee of your airline (See details here). Please be aware that the dates you provide to us, means flights from 12:00AM to 11:59PM on the provided date. You will only be asked to re-confirm a return flight if the quoted fee is not available and a higher fee is offered by the airline, or if there is no flight availability on the provided date. In such a case, we will contact you via email first to ensure the new price or date is acceptable to you. Please be sure to check your spam folders. If you don’t see our emails, we will not call you to follow up. Once we receive your extension request form (https://forms.giltravel.com/br/), we will try to confirm your request within ten business days. Please note that this is only an estimate. If there are significant airline backlogs, or shortage of seats, it may take longer. Note that by submitting an application, you are NOT guaranteed an extension. We will do our best to secure your extension. It is strongly recommended not to book other elements of your trip based on expected extension, until you are actually confirmed. Gil Travel is not responsible for lost expenses due to other bookings made based on assumption that extension will be granted. Yes, but please note that there is no guarantee of availability, especially during peak travel time. So it is always recommended to extend in advance of your trip to ensure your plans are set and guaranteed. Keep in mind that if you are not planning to return with your group flight you must make your changes before the group return date. To extend after you arrive in Israel, please click here for instructions for your particular airline. You will need to fill out the “Travel With” field of the extension request form with the name (or names) of those with whom you wish to extend. They must do likewise. We will make every effort to confirm your request and book you with your travel partner(s). Ensure that you are entering your name, email address, etc. exactly as you have submitted on the Birthright Israel Application. If you are still having issues, please check with your Trip Organizer and try again later, once they have confirmed or corrected your records on their side. Upgrades are not permitted. No. You will have to depart with your group. Once you have booked an extension, subsequent changes will be subject to an additional extension fee. We will try to complete second changes within ten (10) business days, but it may take longer. The same terms and timelines as stated above for initial changes still apply. All changes are subject to availability. Please email the same agent who sent you your first confirmation to request a change. If you wish to change your extension once you arrive in Israel: For ELAL participants – You may directly email the agent who booked your original extension. For all other airlines – you need to contact the airline’s office in Israel. They can inform you about availability and fees, and you would pay any fees to the airline directly. Please note these would be NEW fees, not included in the previously paid amount for your original extension. Click here for contact info for your airline. Your original extension fee is NON-REFUNDABLE once booked. No. We recommend that you wait until the airline confirms your request and you receive an emailed confirmation of your new travel itinerary prior to purchasing your hotel and/or domestic travel as extension requests are not guaranteed. If you want to cancel the domestic segment of your return flight, you need to submit the “Extension Request Form” even if you are not extending and are returning with the group. In the process, you will be asked to select a date for Extension Date Choices. Although you are not extending, it does require you to fill this part in so please just write the next date after your group leaves Israel. What you enter into Comments is the most important part. Under “Additional Comments” please write: I would like to return with the group, but I would like to CANCEL MY RETURN DOMESTIC FLIGHT FROM XXX to XXX. Finish filling out the rest of the form and once we process the cancellation, we will email you. It is a minimum of $90 to cancel the flight (subject to the airline’s approval), however if the cost will exceed $90 we will contact you via email before we process the request. Please note that you will be required to pre-authorize your credit card for the amount indicated under the terms and conditions for an extension on your particular airline, but you will not be charged more than $90 without your prior authorization. No, stopovers are not permitted on Birthright tickets, and tickets cannot be modified to return from a different country other than Israel. You must have a confirmed return flight. Open returns are not allowed. You can request a meal with your Trip Organizer. Birthright Israel group tickets are subject to specific terms and conditions. They are NOT the same as publicly offered tickets. There may be cases where a flight is available to the public that does not meet the requirements to be offered as part of the Birthright Israel program. In some cases, the same class of service as the group fare may not be available for the requested extension, and the airline may offer a higher fare to confirm the requested return flight. We always do everything possible to accommodate each request, and will provide you with the best options available. Please read below carefully to find the correct procedure for your specific travel situation. (If you do not notify the correct party, you may lose your Birthright trip deposit). 1. If you did NOT make an extension: If you are making your own return flight plans (or staying in Israel after your trip), meaning you do not want to use the return portion of your Birthright paid ticket home – and you are NOT extending to another date – then you MUST notify your Trip Organizer – not Gil Travel. This means you are forfeiting your return ticket. Your Trip Organizer will make the needed adjustments. Again, this is only if you are not extending. 2. If you DID make an extension: a. If you have extended with Gil Travel and ARE using that flight, then there is no further action needed. As long as you received your email confirmation from us, then your good to go! b. If you DID extend and received your confirmation, but now would like to forfeit that extension flight, then you MUST notify your Trip Organizer – not Gil Travel. This means you are forfeiting your return ticket. Your Trip Organizer will make the needed adjustments. (The same applies if you want to “catch” the second leg of your flight home from Europe or other stop-over point (for example if your extended ticket included a stop-over in Europe, but you now want to fly to Europe earlier on your own, and you want to catch the second leg of your Birthright ticket from there). In such a case you MUST notify your Trip Organizer – not Gil Travel. If you do not notify your Trip Organizer, then when you miss your first leg out of Tel Aviv, then your second leg will be cancelled, and you will need to purchase your own ticket home). 1. If you did NOT make an extension: If you are making your own return flight plans (or staying in Israel after your trip), meaning you do not want to use the return portion of your Birthright paid ticket home – and you are NOT extending your Birthright ticket to another date a. For ELAL participants ONLY, click here to submit the request to forfeit your return flight b. For participants for all other airlines click here to find the correct airline contact to submit the request to forfeit your return flight Again, this is only if you did not extend. 2. If you DID make an extension: a. If you have extended with Gil Travel and ARE using that flight, then there is no further action needed. As long as you received your email confirmation from us, then your good to go! b. If you DID extend and received your confirmation, but now would like to forfeit that extension flight, then – For ELAL participants ONLY, click here to submit the request to forfeit your return flight (The same applies if you want to “catch” the second leg of your flight home from Europe or other stop-over point (for example if your extended ticket included a stop-over in Europe, but you flew to Europe earlier on your own, and you want to catch the second leg of your Birthright ticket from there). In such a case you MUST notify the correct party stated above. If you do not notify, then when you miss your first leg out of Tel Aviv, then your second leg will be cancelled, and you will need to purchase your own ticket home).
You need to contact your Trip Organizer for this information. You need to contact the airline’s office in Israel directly and ask for their assistance. They may ask for your confirmation number, or PNR (you can find the code in the confirmation email you have received regarding your extended flight or from your group leader). Please check here for your specific airline phone number or contact. Please note: Other branch offices and call centers of the airline cannot assist with Birthright Israel tickets. In other words, do NOT call the general “800” number or other customer service numbers for your airline.
Can I call you?
What are the General Terms and Conditions of Birthright Israel flight extensions?
How much will it cost me to extend my trip?
How can I pay for my extension?
What is the maximum number of days I can stay in Israel?
I have submitted my extension request form. Is my flight automatically confirmed?
Can I return to a different city in North America?
Once I submit my extension request form, will I be asked to confirm the return flight?
Once I submit the extension request form, how long will it take to hear from Gil Travel?
Can I extend while I am in Israel?
How do I ensure my friend and I have the same flight on the return?
When I enter my name into the extension request form, I am not recognized by the system. What do I do?
Can I upgrade my seat to business class?
Can I depart the US/Canada earlier than the scheduled group departure?
Can I change my extension a second time if my plans change?
Can I book hotel reservations or a domestic flight (USA) before my extension request is confirmed?
How do I cancel the domestic flight if I AM returning back with my group?
Can I stop in Europe on the way home to the US/Canada?
Do I need to have a confirmed flight home or can it be an open ticket?
How do I request a special meal?
I see a flight available online, but I was told there was no availability or the price is higher than the base rate. Why?
I would like to cancel (forfeit) my return flight home (or part of my flight home). What do I need to do?
Before Departure from North America:
Once you are in Israel:
– For participants for all other airlines click here to find the correct airline contact to submit the request to forfeit your return flight
What is my group’s flight itinerary?
What should I do in case of an emergency that affects my return flight while I am in Israel?