Ethipoan Airlines. Are they ok? your experiences?

[lovetravellingoz]

Hi all,

I am just interested in anyone's experience in flying Ethiopian Airlines.

WHY?:

• My eldest daughter as part of her 8 month post -Uni trip is going to finish with a stint volunteering for a charity in Togo (west Africa next Ghana). One of the attractions for her apart from the volunteer work is that the national language is French and so living and working there for several months will help to make her more fluent.

She has secured her post-Uni fist career job, starting in March 2013, and so the plan is to return from Togo, back to Australia.

It is most attractive for myself to use Star Alliance points for this via SQ.
​

• There is no simple route back to Melbourne, but the most simple would be by using Ethiopian Airlines from Lome Airport, for several connections. Possibly to Bangkok and then say Thai.

Will look to book in J.

So has anyone had experience with them of late? If so I would be interested in your views.

Thank you in advance.

PS: Earlier on in the trip she will have already have been to both Morocco and South Africa, and while in Togo she intends to visit some of the abutting countries (most likely just by overland means). So stopping over on the way back is not something that she is currently considering.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I read a trip report of Ethiopian Airlines recently - but can't remember where... maybe a google search? The report was so-so.

For something simpler, try here: Ethiopian Airlines Customer Reviews | SKYTRAX

Again - mixed reports.

If I had to fly in Africa there would be a few airlines I would trust. Kenya Airways, South African, EgyptAir and so on. I would certainly fly Ethiopian if I had do. Would i fly them all the way to BKK? I dunno. Maybe to Dubai and then TG or SQ from there?

 

[Simo]

Looking at the reviews,

Reads like something you would see on a movie and not real life.

Toilets dirty, food cough and seats broken.

I would give them a miss IMHO

 

[haydensydney]

Recent trip report is here for Ethiopian

Proud To Serve - Ethiopian DXB-ADD-JNB 77L/763 J — Trip Reports Forum | Airliners.net

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Thanks for all the input so far. And yes I have read some reviews on other sites which is a bit inconclusive.

However a point to note here is that there is very little choice flying out of Lome, in Togo. It is very much an out of the way destination in an impoverished country....which is of course the attraction for my daughter. She has chosen a small charity when she feels she can make a difference.


So whichever way she leaves the country will not be ideal (well at least by your and my AFF standards!!!!! though she is not too fussed ), or at least of the same standard if one was say flying to Europe. However compared to how she will have been living for several months while doing her volunteer work J on Ethiopian will probably seem like to height of luxury!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are much better flight options out of ACCRA, in Ghana but getting there overland is a bit awkward and uncomfortable, and the flight expensive for such a short stint...plus add on an extra Visa cost). She may still do this however.

Ethiopian looks...ok, but not great. But there is no other real alternatives except for paying for relatively expensive repositioning flights, whereas flying with Ethiopian to begin a *A trip home does not add to the cost, apart from airport taxes.

There are many possible routing options back after the first flight. Via Dubia, Mumbia, Bangkok, Istanbula, Singapore, and others. I have yet to ring SQ to see which they will allow-book, as I thought I would do some homework first to be aware of various trade offs including total flying time, transit times, numbers of flights, comfort on each leg etc.


Leaving comfort aside I guess my main concern is safety. From what I have read Ethiopian is is ok on this measure.

Thanks.

PS: Whem my daughter gets back it will be interesting to quiz her on the various African airlines for at this stage she will be flying at least SAA ( Johannesburg to London), Egypt Air ( Amman to Johannesburg), a local flight in Egypt (Luxor to Sharam el-Sheik ), Royal Marok (Casablanca op Lome) and quite likely Ethiopian.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I read a trip report of Ethiopian Airlines recently - but can't remember where... maybe a google search? The report was so-so.

For something simpler, try here: Ethiopian Airlines Customer Reviews | SKYTRAX

Again - mixed reports.

If I had to fly in Africa there would be a few airlines I would trust. Kenya Airways, South African, EgyptAir and so on. I would certainly fly Ethiopian if I had do. Would i fly them all the way to BKK? I dunno. Maybe to Dubai and then TG or SQ from there?

Thanks...and yes I have done more than Google. You sentiments are similar to mine. Lome has few choices though to begin the journey.

Using say Hipmunk: Better Flight and Hotel Search throughs up all sorts of *A combinations to get back to MEL, after using Ethiopian for at least the first leg.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks...and yes I have done more than Google. You sentiments are similar to mine. Lome has few choices though to begin the journey.

Using say Hipmunk: Better Flight and Hotel Search throughs up all sorts of *A combinations to get back to MEL, after using Ethiopian for at least the first leg.

just on this - and I note you might be looking at a possible option which SQ will allow you to book... perhaps have a look at the star alliance booking tool? That might be useful information to have in hand when calling SQ.

As for safety - they fly to Europe, so I'm assuming they aren't on the EU banned list. Which might be a good start compared to some other african airlines.

 

[haydensydney]

I thought I might add that when I think of Ethiopian, I think of this:

Call me macabre... but I always remember this, not very fondly either.

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Sprucegoose]

They were an excellent airline, under the management of TWA I believe.

Not sure about now.

 

[RB]

I thought I might add that when I think of Ethiopian, I think of this:

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yes not a nice situation however your source also quotes the following to suggest Ethiopian were not alone at that time

"However, the situation has not returned to the pre-1968 level and the number of successful hijackings continues to be high - an average of 18 per annum during the 10-year period between 1988 and 1997, as against the pre-1968 average of five".[SUP][2][/SUP]

 

[lovetravellingoz]

... perhaps have a look at the star alliance booking tool?

Thanks and yes that was one of my first ports of call.

Going to Accra, abd then SAA to J-burg and then SQ back to MEL is probably the most comfortable flights. But it does have the hassle of getting to Accra first.
Ethiopian is easier...and so hence I was wondering what anyone's direct experience with has been.

Another factor is safety....my 21 year old daughter being dropped at the Lome airport by the charity + Ethiopian Flight, I would rate as a safer trip than overland by bus to Accra + SAA