I've read the search info but am looking for anything current. I'd like to take some family over next year but nobody on the west coast knows anything about ET and have doubts (unfounded?) about them.

Any and all info, good, bad, indifferent will be appreciated. Thanks in advance for playing.

We had a client fly on Ethiopian this year to Zim. I'll find out what he thought of it. I think Aaron has flown with them a couple of times.

Mark

I flew EA to Zambia in May. Granted I flew during the Osama raid and shortely thereafter and security was likely higher, but they were not the smoothest airline to deal with regarding firearms. My firearm made it, but I damn near missed my connecting flight home in Addis Ababa while they kept me in bowels of the airport deciding whether or not they could load my firearms case on my flight to the US. Other than that, the experience was OK. The employees are pleasant enough. The only issues that stood out in my mind during the flight(s) were slow service, poor selection of movies and no spirts in cattle class. None of which would keep me from using EA again, but the firearms issue will give me pause.

you mean you can't buy a drink in coach??? FORGET IT !!!!!!!!!( I never travel with a gun any more so that is a non-issue)

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
you mean you can't buy a drink in coach??? FORGET IT !!!!!!!!!( I never travel with a gun any more so that is a non-issue)

All that was offered in coach was beer and wine. When I asked for scotch you would have thought I was asking for crack by her reaction.

I flew Ethiopian Air from Dulles to Nairobi, Nairobi to Addis and then Addis back to Dulles. Solo female, Sept 15th to Oct 10th. I thought the service was fine. I was really worried about carry on luggage (75 lbs of photography gear in 2 bags) but I had an email from the airline saying they would do their best to accomodate me and everyone let me carry it on.

I had read not so nice stuff about the personnel and I didn't notice anything negative. I did drink wine but didn't try to buy any liquor so no experience there. I thought the bathrooms were cleaner at the end of the long flights than any airplane bathroom I've seen. The food wasn't very good for airline food which is pretty poor to begin with so you might take your own snacks.

They suggested being at the airport 3 hours early in Addis. I didn't get there until 1.5 or 2 hours before the flight and spent the whole time in line and all but half a dozen people had already boarded by the time I got to the gate. Everyone is allowed 2 checked bags and check in took a long time. If you happen to be going to Addis, they did a search of all males entering the airport parking lot. No women security people were there so I didn't have to get out of the car but every male did and they were patted down. I hadn't seen that before. Normal security inside.

I wouldn't hesitate to use them again.

~Cindy

After further research, I won't be flying with them. Among other issues, they are not gun friendly.

Mike,

Our guy that used EA this year had no issues. I'd pass on his contact info but I understand he is quite ill.

Mark

EA is one of the few African airlines approved for US government travel. This is based off of safety record and not comfort. I've flown them once or twice and it was pretty nice for African air travel. If you're coming from/to US or Europe, there are probably better choices for comfort and service. Head and shoulders above other nationals like Air Algiers , Air Ivoire, or Burkina Air.