Can Anyone Say Anything Positive About Ethiopia Air?

Old Jul 25th, 2015, 11:32 AM
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Can Anyone Say Anything Positive About Ethiopia Air?

We are planning a 2016 trip from Washington, D.C. to Tanzania, stopping in Ethiopia for several days on the return leg. Ethiopia Air has the most convenient (shortest) and inexpensive flights, going through Addis Ababa. However, checking on Fodor’s and other travel and airline blogs, what limited comment there is on Ethiopia Air is mostly negative, relating frequent and unexplained flight cancellations, unhelpful counter reps, etc.
I realize all airlines have occasional delays or cancellations and that people are more apt to report an unsatisfactory experience than a happy one but, taking that into account, there seems to be a much greater than typical level of dissatisfaction with EA. We would really like to go with EA, but are concerned that we’ll have a flight cancellation in Addis Ababa when our guide is ready to depart in Arusha or we’ll still be at the airport in Lalibela as our flight is leaving ADD for Dulles.
Has anyone had any experience with EA that might ease my mind (or confirm that we should be looking at other options)?
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 04:04 PM
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I flew with Ethiopian to Dar (connected with them in Toronto), and would happily fly them again, but I do realize that I was lucky that everything went according to schedule.

I don't expect that they would be any worse than American or European airlines in handling delays, etc. The negative behavior you describe also happens with those airlines as well.
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Old Jul 26th, 2015, 01:05 PM
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Two summers ago, Ugandan friends, en route to their wedding, flew from Calif to Entebbe on Ethiopian . Like yours, their decision was based on cheaper fares and slightly better transfer times. They are optimistic people, rarely complain about anything, and expected things would be fine despite their knowledge of EA's rep. Just in case, they made sure the arrival was well in advance of the big event.

The good news: they arrived in Entebbe pretty much as scheduled.

The bad news; on the return trip, they were stuck in Addis for three days. What made it particularly infuriating, they said, was the cold indifference of the EA staff at Addis, and the hotel where they were put up by the airline. It had no running water for most of their stay!

EA gets numerous bad reviews for a reason. Sure, chances are probably 90% it will be ok, and you'll have Femi's good luck. But why risk it and become another writer of a negative review, or wonder why you didn't pay attention to your concerns. Sometimes the anxiety, and actual experience, are just not worth the savings. ( I "feel" your dilemma, as going through similar decision--nixed lowest air fare, good connections flight on poorly reviewed Vietnam Airlines for a more expensive flight on EVA which gets great reviews.) Sometimes that adage "You get what yo pay for" holds true.
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Old Jul 26th, 2015, 02:53 PM
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We took Ethiopian Airlines last August 2014 from DC to Arusha, connecting in ADD. I had concerns too based on what I read online about others experiences with EA. just too good of a deal to pass up. We purchased Cloud Nine seats- their version of business class. Still a whole lot cheaper than most other flights. I must tell you we had the BEST experience!!! We felt like VIPs the whole time on the flights and anytime we said "cloud nine" someone whisked us away to board the plane immediately- no standing in line- the entire experience exceeded our expectations! I suggest EA and if you can, go Cloud Nine. The plane wasn't the latest and greatest newest, but it got us there and back. for the overall value it can't be beat.
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Old Jul 26th, 2015, 03:47 PM
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I've flown 3 legs with them, 2 in business and 1 in coach. Business was great and coach was....coach. I had a cancellation on IAD to ADD on one occasion. It was a PIA but it worked out well enough. I would fly them again for their scheduling. Arriving in Africa early afternoon is a major selling point for me. Most airlines get you in evening, night, or very early morning. The early p.m. arrival lets me overcome lag and feel much more rested when I head out on safari the following day.
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Old Jul 27th, 2015, 11:58 AM
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Thanks for your thoughts. I' m still pondering.
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Old Jul 28th, 2015, 04:16 PM
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I've flown them, as well, with no problems. There was a big storm that hit the airport in Addis Ababa and knocked out the power just before we were to board. With all the E-tickets, I was sure that there would be a mess, but they got everything back up and running with no delays. I, too, had read of problems online, but was pleasantly surprised by my experience with Ethiopian Airlines.
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Old Jul 30th, 2017, 05:10 PM
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Belated report. We chickened out on taking EA from the US to Tanzania but did fly with the airline from Tanzania to Ethiopia and for several flights within Ethiopia. All were smooth, on time, clean and the flight attendants were pleasant and efficient. Food and drink was served even on flights of an hour or less.

Over all, we were very pleased with our experience.
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