Ethiopian Airlines
Overview
3.06,548 reviews
Travellers' Choice 2018 Winner
Legroom
Seat comfort
In-flight entertainment (WiFi, TV, films)
Onboard Experience
Customer service
Value for money
Cleanliness
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Food and beverage
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About Ethiopian Airlines
Airline Alliance
Star AllianceHeadquarters: Airport Enterprise Building, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Airline Summary
Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is the flag carrier of the country of Ethiopia and a member of the Star Alliance. The airline flies non-stop to 20 domestic destinations and more than 80 international destinations. This includes about 50 destinations elsewhere in Africa, as well as points in Europe, Asia, North America and South America. Most of the airline's fleet features a two-cabin configuration: Cloud Nine, which is the company's Business Class, and Economy Class. Some of its smaller planes are configured with only Economy Class seating. Ethiopian's head office and operational hub is located at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD).
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Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
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Addis Ababa - Entebbe
Africa
The staff at the airport are bad and Ethiopian Airlines is very bureaucratic The plane was delayed and no one wants to give us any information for more than two hours we stand in rows and we don't know what is happening
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Date of travel: June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Atlanta - Kilimanjaro National Park
International
After reading reviews about this airline on Trip Advisor, I was worried because my travel agency had booked me on it coming and going to east Africa and tried to change to another airline. Wow, torn and stained seats? Filthy trays? Poor customer service? But I ended up being very pleasantly surprised. ET is a member of the Star Alliance group so my US segments included Delta and United. I have to say, I was crunched in a lot worse in the Delta flight from FL to Atlanta than on the ET flight overseas. The food was great, and free, with complimentary wine. Every time I turned around there was another fresh tasting hot meal or breakfast on the way with pleasant service. I couldn't eat it all. The planes were clean (to start with) but a lot of people were inconsiderate on the overseas flight and tossed stuff everywhere. I was lucky enough to have a great seat mate on the way over to Africa and I also got newer Boeing Dreamliners. The entertainment console had lots of options and free headphones and overnight pillows and blankets in wrappers with socks, cloth eyeshades and a disposable brush and toothpaste were distributed. On the way back, I was able to opt for the emailed "buy a neighboring seat" offer that gave me the whole three seat row so I could stretch out for the 17 hour flight back that required a stop in Rome. What a difference that made for about $300 that I was able to pay with my Venture card points. My back, legs, and sanity thanked me. Hint- get seats in the back where they are more likely to stay open if you want a chance at that. I'm now a member of "Sheba Miles" with an extra carry-on allowance (had no problem on the way with my Cpap and extra bag with my back up battery for the Serengeti camps and didn't even need to show my medical certificate). Be aware that if you go through Addis Ababa and transfer planes, security there is tight. You will not only go through security before you are allowed in the main terminal but will go through security again before you enter your ET boarding area after transversing the terminal. And "I have a metal hip replacement" does not get you out of a pat down. I got touched more during my trip to and from Africa than during the last couple of years before the divorce. LOL. I'm now looking at other places I can travel on ET as many of their segments are reasonably priced. And I miss that kind of curried lemony chicken dish with rice. Be aware that some of the airports they serve do not have jetways and if you have physical difficulty climbing stairs with a carry on to get on a very high plane to ask in advance for accommodations when you book. I guess you get lifted into the back with the food?…
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Date of travel: May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Manchester - Entebbe
International
In the past flying with Ethiopian was fine - not great, but you knew what to expect. This last trip I had with them will be the last time I fly with them. On the second leg of my return trip, from Addis Ababa to Manchester, the customer service was absolutely rotted. There was a final security check right at the gate where I was boarding. I walked through the scanner and something went off so they wanted to pat me down. This security woman comes up to me and barks “male or female??” in a very rude tone. Like she could not tell whether I’m a man or a woman and then she makes that lack of sense my problem? I honestly just stared at her and said “what?”, to which she responds nothing and proceeds to pat me down. It was just rude and gross. Then, they took a brand new bottle of water I had just purchased at the airport off me, which has never happened to me on any other flight - once you’ve gone through main security it’s standard to be able to take a new water bottle on the plane. On top of that, as I was drinking the water then and there so as not to waste it, one male staff member kept making odd creepy faces at me saying “drink, drink!” Like maybe it was good natured but this is at 3 am in the morning and clearly not the time for this kind of “humour”, it just made me feel harassed and creeped out. They also took a bottle of rum I had bought in entebbe airport off me - even though it was fully wrapped up and marked as duty free, they said they had to take it and check it in with the luggage. They put some bubble wrap around it, but of course, when I arrived at Manchester airport and went to get my luggage, it had been smashed. Maybe this airline doesn’t care to lose customers, especially ones only flying economy, but they should be careful how far they push it. I for one will certainly not fly with them again and will advise others against it as well.…
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Date of travel: March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
New York City - Windhoek
International
It has the worst customer service in 39 countries I have traveled to—certainly my first and last. I communicated with the airline in advance that I would not be able to leave the airport because I was traveling with an emergency travel document If I bought the 10-hour layover in Addis Ababa from New York's final destination Namibia. The airline as per their policy offered me an in-terminal hotel. I bought my ticket right away for $2000. On check-in at JFK New York, the agent offered me a voucher for a Presidential hotel. I reiterated that I would not be able to leave the airport. She then said I could change my voucher on arrival in Addis Ababa at the customer service desk. My first experience in flight started with my screen being damaged with lines across the screen, seat 24H. I stayed in the same seat during our layover in Abidjan. On arrival in Addis, I was referred to the Interlink office. I have never been so belittled by a Customer service agent Mulugeta (somebody) who had the nerve to tell me it was not his fault my passport was not valid. He went on to dismiss me and walked away as I was trying to get answers. His final response was that the Skyline hotel in the terminal was for business class travelers only. Two days ago, I looked at this hotel, and it would have cost me $75 for 5 hours. He offered me dinner and a public bench for 10 hours. I walked away in tears back to the customer service desk who offered me access to the gold lounge. He took me to a quiet room I could use, and as a woman, he allowed me to sleep in a darkened room with 4 strange men. I am sitting and writing this in the lounge trying to stay awake for the next 6 hours before my last leg to Windhoek. The food in the lounge is dry and has been here for hours. The bar that's supposedly open 24 hours is closed. I fear what my experience with your airline will be on my way to Windhoek. I can only pray to God I never experience this Airline ever again.…
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Date of travel: May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Brussels - Zanzibar Island
International
Ethiopian is always selling extra room seats, to more passengers than available places. And when you ask for a reimbursment, they pretend you had the seats. One year that I am trying to get my money back. They always close the file. You never get what you paid for: seats, service,... Run away ! Just do not use that company, their client service is awful !!!…
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Date of travel: June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
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All photosAll Traveller Photos
The smashed bottle of rum that was pointlessly taken off me and checked in
123456…
V T wrote a tip 3 Jun
"Do not buy any duty free bottles as they will take them off you and check them in and they’ll probably break"
kimera M wrote a tip 2 Jun
"They have no consideration with parents with small children or elder passengers. Best advice, stay away!!"
Iben wrote a tip May 2024
"Prepare to ponder about when excately they put this very average airline company in the top range. Maybe it was 10 years ago? Or 15?"
Mercia L wrote a tip May 2024
"If a very long transfer time is not available, don't even think of Ethiopian Airlines. Bole International is their Hub, no way to avoid it."
123456…
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Depart
Fri, 21/06
Return
Fri, 28/06
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1, Economy
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