Long transit at ADD with ET complimentary hotel

[Scarlett]

G’day all,
In a few months I have a long transit at ADD where I expect to be able to use Ethiopian’s (ET) ‘sponsored transit’ program. Has anyone used this program and if so how have you found it.

I’ve previously done STPC transits with UL in CMB and with PR in MNL, but this will be my first time with ET. I’m flying BKK-ADD-CAI and then return a fortnight later, in J, with about 16 hours transit in ADD on each leg.

As I understand it:
- they’ll (ET) organise the transit visa so on an Aus passport I don’t need to sort anything out beforehand (and can get visa on arrival if the airline are concerned at check in).
- they’ll shuttle/bus/car me to whichever hotel they use and book the return timing.
- relevant meals whilst at the hotel are provided.

For those who may have done this, is there anything else you know of the process you think is relevant?

Finally, I’m planning to head out of the hotel whilst there so hopefully no transit visa related restrictions?

 

[Flashback]

I've done the overnight transit 3 times now; once myself (paid for Visa and Hotel) and twice as part of their stopover program (<24 hours only).

You should be issued with the hotel voucher when you check in and then you'll receive the food vouchers when you actually get to the hotel itself. Sometimes, the airport isn't on top of things (I've got a 50:50 ratio so far!) and in that case you just need to go to the desk on arrival, it's not far from the passport control desks. They'll shuttle you to the hotel too. If you're flying in J, don't let them put you in the Churchill Hotel (that's for Y pax, although Y pax also sometimes get Skylight). You may need to have this 'battle' downstairs, just keep mentioning you're in J and eventually you'll be ushered to the J area (outside the pen.... but sometimes, inside the pen too!). Also, with the Skylight, when you enter the driveway... it's the one on the left, not the one on the right. Kind of like boarding an aircraft, go left for the J pax Skylight hotel, go right for the Y pax Skylight hotel.

When I paid, my passport was stamped, but the 2 times I came through via the transit program there was no stamp put in my passport.

There's no restrictions, feel free to head out. There's not much around the area so you'd need a driver, car or taxi.