Ethiopian Airlines
- leela
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Ethiopian Airlines
They're an obvious choice for my Malawi trips, budget-wise, but I've avoided them in the past. Not entirely sure why. Maybe a few years ago they were flying planes without seatback entertainment and/or had very long layovers.
But anyway, this time I've booked with them. £200 difference in fares is a lot, and it seems they have new planes on The LHR - ADD* route.
Has anyone flown with them? I gather that Addis airport is a bit grim, and losing luggage seems to be a recurring theme. I hope I don't regret this.
*I seem to have joined the club.
But anyway, this time I've booked with them. £200 difference in fares is a lot, and it seems they have new planes on The LHR - ADD* route.
Has anyone flown with them? I gather that Addis airport is a bit grim, and losing luggage seems to be a recurring theme. I hope I don't regret this.
*I seem to have joined the club.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Yes. There are so many Ethiopians here that EA has direct, no-plane-change flights from IAD to ADD. I flew Business Class. It was OK. Older plane, sour-faced FAs, a ton of food (Ethopian and otherwise). Safety-wise, I don't know. Wasn't there some issue a few years back?
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
excuse me? what is this nonsense language that you are speaking in?

welcome to the club! hahahahaaaa.
i have never flown ET. they seem ok. the reviews seem to rate ET as average. they are a part of star alliance. they have a lot of shiny new planes - including the dreamliner 787 and airbus a350. in some random searches between LHR-ADD, i see at most 2 daily a350 flights. wow! i have yet to try the a350 (yeah, i know, but it's a long story), so i would in a heartbeat jump at the opportunity to try the a350 ... even better with a cheaper airfare.
here are some pics and reviews (of the ET a350):
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/03/inside ... -a350-900/
https://thepointsguy.com/reviews/ethiop ... -business/
i love how the cockpit windows make the aircraft look like it is wearing a mask!



- leela
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- leela
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Ooh...and thanks for the links. I will, of course, be in the cheap seats. But as long as the entertainment's decent...
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- leela
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Nope, safety is supposed to be okay, from what research I've done. The incident that you're probably thinking of resulted from a hijacking.Chip_Oatley wrote:Yes. There are so many Ethiopians here that EA has direct, no-plane-change flights from IAD to ADD. I flew Business Class. It was OK. Older plane, sour-faced FAs, a ton of food (Ethopian and otherwise). Safety-wise, I don't know. Wasn't there some issue a few years back?
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- DCComic
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Yes. Same route. All was fine, not grim. Take a book, find a seat and zen out.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Cool. Thanks DCC. I've got nearly six hours in Addis airport on the way home. And there's no PAYG lounge. So not grim is good news. At least I should be able to buy decent coffee.
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- GLimpet
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
They have a route to PNR.
I'm asking around. Some people down there must have used it.
Might have to use it myself some time, especially when France is in strike season.
I'm asking around. Some people down there must have used it.
Might have to use it myself some time, especially when France is in strike season.
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- ManchVegas
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
A lot of these airlines are run by non-Africans. I didn't realize that.
That doesn't mean it's any better or worse but I had a friend who worked for Kenya Airlines (Not sure if I got the name right) but it was really all non-Africans that were running the show.
That doesn't mean it's any better or worse but I had a friend who worked for Kenya Airlines (Not sure if I got the name right) but it was really all non-Africans that were running the show.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Look it up online - it's a huge, modern, featureless transit hall. You can get a coffee, a snack and a few trinkets. When we were there it was clean and didn't stink.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Oh. I've looked at a couple of review sites, and 'the worst airport in the world' is a recurring phrase.
http://www.airlinequality.com/airport-r ... a-airport/
http://www.airlinequality.com/airport-r ... a-airport/
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- leela
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Ugh. They also have a terrible record of losing people's baggage and either never finding it again, or taking forever to locate it, and another forever to return it.
I really should have read the airport reviews as well as the airline ones before booking. I'm glad your trip was hassle-free DCC. I'll be hoping for the same, but packing a lot more into my hand luggage than usual.
I really should have read the airport reviews as well as the airline ones before booking. I'm glad your trip was hassle-free DCC. I'll be hoping for the same, but packing a lot more into my hand luggage than usual.
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- GLimpet
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
After reading those reviews, I now insist that you go and report back c/w with photos.
or there's always this:
https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/AA/EN ... cloud-nine
or there's always this:
https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/AA/EN ... cloud-nine
- DCComic
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Wow.leela wrote: ↑Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:19 amOh. I've looked at a couple of review sites, and 'the worst airport in the world' is a recurring phrase.
http://www.airlinequality.com/airport-r ... a-airport/
Whoever wrote that has never been to Luton.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
At least Luton has more than two toilets. And the toilets have seats.DCComic wrote:Wow.leela wrote: ↑Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:19 amOh. I've looked at a couple of review sites, and 'the worst airport in the world' is a recurring phrase.
http://www.airlinequality.com/airport-r ... a-airport/
Whoever wrote that has never been to Luton.
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- DCComic
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
I feel as if we're discussing different places. I was last there about 5 years ago. I get that it might have deteriorated a little, but no so badly and not by removing toilets.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
It is odd. And I hope my experience will be closer to yours. But all three of the airport review sites (the others were foursquare and sleeping in airports) were full of the same tales of woe.DCComic wrote:I feel as if we're discussing different places. I was last there about 5 years ago. I get that it might have deteriorated a little, but no so badly and not by removing toilets.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Its sister airport, ADHD, is slightly more mature.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Ha!Chip_Oatley wrote:Its sister airport, ADHD, is slightly more mature.
But more hyperactive.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Heh. I posted on the TT and TA to ask about the little bit of new terminal that's apparently just been opened. I mentioned the awful reviews, and got knee jerk defensiveness from (presumably Ethiopian) posters. One of them seems to think it's no worse than Heathrow.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
You're transiting there , not moving in
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- leela
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
We came here from a travel site. Having a whinge about a six hour layover in a (possibly) manky and overcrowded airport that might well lose my luggage, is allowed.
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- GLimpet
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/art ... -next-weekWhen completed the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport passenger terminal would have a capacity to handle 25 million passengers per annum. The new terminal will have a vast commercial area for duty free shops, restaurants and cafes. It will have two escalators and eight elevators which can shuttle 218 passengers at a time. The terminal will have three levels-access way, arrival and departure levels. It will be connected with the domestic terminal allowing passengers coming from international flights to transfer to domestic flights.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Yep. They've only opened one small part of it though, and I've not managed to find out exactly what that wing houses. Apart from the VIP facilities.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Update: the flights were fine. I'd happily fly with them again, based on my outward journey.
But Addis airport really was grim. I transited at their busiest time, and it was chaotic. And I forgot the advice I was given to use the toilet on the plane shortly before landing. I have never seen such a queue for toilets in my life. And yes, there really are only two in the terminal.
The place is a building site. Hopefully when it's finished it will be a lot better.
But Addis airport really was grim. I transited at their busiest time, and it was chaotic. And I forgot the advice I was given to use the toilet on the plane shortly before landing. I have never seen such a queue for toilets in my life. And yes, there really are only two in the terminal.
The place is a building site. Hopefully when it's finished it will be a lot better.
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- ManchVegas
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Interesting Leela. Was the crew Ethiopian? As mentioned before I've heard a lot of the African airlines are really just European in disguise.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Air Gabon had Gabonese crew.
"Welcome aboard zis Air Gabon Fuck-Air 100"

"Welcome aboard zis Air Gabon Fuck-Air 100"

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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Yes, Ethiopian crew.ManchVegas wrote: ↑Tue Sep 04, 2018 4:11 amInteresting Leela. Was the crew Ethiopian? As mentioned before I've heard a lot of the African airlines are really just European in disguise.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Holy crap. What a shit show Air Gabon must have been.
Oddly enough. I flew Air Koryo. The North Korean airline and it was perfectly fine. It's the only one star airline on Skytrax but they were fine. It was a spanking new jet from Beijing to Pyongyang. Russian made of course. Full hot meal. Matt can attest to this. And it's only a 90 minute flight!
The return was sketchy. I had to do a plane change in Shenyang. It was an old Tupolov that creaked and rattled upon landing. And I got the infamous "Air Koryo Burger" so nasty. Google it.
Having said that. It wasn't really bad at all. Better than most US carriers I'm sad to say.
Oddly enough. I flew Air Koryo. The North Korean airline and it was perfectly fine. It's the only one star airline on Skytrax but they were fine. It was a spanking new jet from Beijing to Pyongyang. Russian made of course. Full hot meal. Matt can attest to this. And it's only a 90 minute flight!
The return was sketchy. I had to do a plane change in Shenyang. It was an old Tupolov that creaked and rattled upon landing. And I got the infamous "Air Koryo Burger" so nasty. Google it.
Having said that. It wasn't really bad at all. Better than most US carriers I'm sad to say.
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- leela
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
I didn't see the flight crew, but certainly the captain sounded local.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
You must have seen the flight attendants?
What was the meal service like?
What was the meal service like?
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- leela
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Flight attendants were Ethiopian. Food was okay. The usual western stuff on both legs out here.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
That's kind of shame that they didn't do a local food option. On American Airlines to China they offered a choice of two. One Chinese and one US.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Okay. Well unlike the layover on the way, last night's was much better. The terminal we were delivered to was (after a fashion) landside, there was a cafe and some shops, and it was a quieter time of day. I managed to find myself one of the full length lounger type chairs, and the Wi-Fi was working. So not too bad at all. And I have to say that the boarding organization for the A350 was probably the best I've experienced in a long time. Unlike the boarding going out on the 737.
With any luck, when the extension is finished, it might be a reliably okay hub.
With any luck, when the extension is finished, it might be a reliably okay hub.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Hang on - you were in a different terminal with nowhere to get food and drink on the way out?
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Yep. During transit on the way out, to get to the food and drink area, I'd have had to go out through security and back in again.
It's a ridiculousness that's mentioned in many of the reviews of the airport. You don't go through security until you get to the gates. Last night I wondered why we were being called to the gate an hour and 45 minutes before the flight. After queuing for half an hour to go through security, I realised why. And once you've gone through, that's nothing.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
That's very different from when we did the trip. There was a huge modern hall with seats, cafes and shops. Not upmarket, but perfectly fine.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
That'll be the one I spent six hours in last night. But on the way, as we got off the plane we were asked our final destination by a woman blocking the corridor, and directed to a long thin hall of gates. Which was absolutely heaving and with the record breaking toilet queue. And no facilities whatsoever beyond that.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Would you use that route again? We've half a plan to go for Christmas.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Depends on the price DCC. It was very much cheaper than the alternatives this year. The flights themselves were fine, but my previous trips there transited in Johannesburg, which was very much more comfortable.
You need to have your wits about you though, on that outward transit. I was watching the board for boarding to Lilongwe. But it turned out that my flight went to Blantyre after Lilongwe, and the board only showed Blantyre as the destination for my flight. My fault for looking out for the destination rather than the flight number, but I ended up having to run to the other end of the airport as I'd been looking at the wrong Lilongwe flight on the board. I found out later that I was far from the only person caught out by that.
You need to have your wits about you though, on that outward transit. I was watching the board for boarding to Lilongwe. But it turned out that my flight went to Blantyre after Lilongwe, and the board only showed Blantyre as the destination for my flight. My fault for looking out for the destination rather than the flight number, but I ended up having to run to the other end of the airport as I'd been looking at the wrong Lilongwe flight on the board. I found out later that I was far from the only person caught out by that.
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- GLimpet
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Our West African guys occasionally use Moroccan airline via Casablanca. Does that have East Africa connections?
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Their booking page doesn't allow me to put Lilongwe in, so it seems they don't go to Malawi.
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- GLimpet
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
One of several toilets after gate security in ADD:

Those are just portacabin-a-loos but downstairs there were several built-in toilets and I didn't see long queues at the women's.
And my gate was right next to the Lilongwe gate.

Those are just portacabin-a-loos but downstairs there were several built-in toilets and I didn't see long queues at the women's.
And my gate was right next to the Lilongwe gate.
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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Upstairs before gate security looks OK too. There was a lively-looking bar just around the corner.


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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
As you Amharic readers can tell, ET861 is my flight to Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.


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Re: Ethiopian Airlines
Having a row to myself did mean I got some good sleep on the plane.

