Ethiopian Airlines Review

Overall Rating

Flights were from Brussels to Entebbe via Addis Ababa and back. Aircraft was safe and comfortable, the usual problems for a guy well over 6 foot tall but certainly no criticism there. Crew on board were friendly and helpful, no complaints whatsoever. Booking and service in the airport by Ethiopian Airlines staff was inefficient, insulting and inconsiderate. Let's get a start on those, shall we?

Problems at departure in Brussels were hardly worth mentioning, we weren't found on the list, which was solved quickly by our booking agent. A short, unexplained delay of around 1 hour in Addis Ababa but nothing big there. Things got trying when we tried to confirm our return flight from EBB to BRU. Various phone numbers were supplied, some which were disconnected, others where we were incoherently mumbled at and yet others where we were told that there was a problem with our ticket. We couldn't actually be reconfirmed but as we were travelling on an OK-class ticket, we could just report at EBB airport and everything would be fixed there. Yes, at the usual hour. No, not the usual hour mentioned on our ticket, obviously, the usual hour changes in December, everyone knows that.

At EBB airport, it quickly became clear that our tickets weren't as OK as we were told on the phone, the smarmy bloke in the office informed us, with a big smile, that we weren't in his computer and if people weren't in his computer, there was nothing that he could do. No, not those confirmed tickets there, nor the booking confirmation, nor the phone numbers that we had dialed to confirm our tickets, he couldn't help us, though he would really, really like to. We were very welcome to book a second ticket with him for a following flight, though.

Other passengers, some were already stuck at EBB airport for over three days because bookings kept disappearing, they informed us that the only piece of paper which could have an effect on Mr. Helpful's computer was a 50 dollar note. That was how they had finally obtained their, already paid for seats. Fortunately, our Belgian booking agent didn't hesitate in putting some pressure on EA, resulting in a mumbled explanation that there was a problem with our computer, you were on the list after all. Oh and that Belgian people complain too much.

The ensuing delay of two hours in EBB and another one and a half hours in Addis (both unexplained) seemed pretty tolerable after that.

So in conclusion, whilst EA may have friendly cabin staff, good food and fine aircraft, we will never, ever, ever be flying with them again, we happen to believe that, once paid for and confirmed, tickets should not need an additional contribution to the private fund of a frustrated ground staff manager.