Several days ago, I shared how I’d be traveling to Paris this week, and intended to fly Emirates’ A380 business class on the outbound, and British Airways’ 777 business class on the return. I mentioned how I was hoping to add a little side trip to Africa, and I’ve now been able to make that…
Continue reading: BOOKED: I’m Flying To Africa On Some Fun Airlines!
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
ITA is quickly turning out to be the Starlux of Europe, with the latest-and-greatest Airbus aircraft — not only the A321neo, A330neo and A350 but also the A220 (-100 and -300) and the A320neo, which the Taiwanese carrier does not have. Also, there’s reason to believe AZ has one of Europe’s better premium longhaul products based on Ben’s previous flight with them.
Ethiopian is Ethiopian, of course, the staggering giant it is, but despite the slew of A350s and 787s its business-class product hasn’t quite screamed ‘premium’. The A350-1000 — the first in the Star Alliance — will hopefully change that, though I can’t help but feel like ET could promote and market itself a little more in the West.
Looking forward to Sean M.’s comments on the latter, as he’s the go-to expert on anything and everything African!
Don't get me wrong, these reviews will be really helpful and I'm excited to see how ET's new product is, but the Ben I "know" - and based on the headline - I was really excited/hoping for something that included airlines like Air Senegal, ASky, AirLink, etc.
Lucky - keep in mind LHR-ATL still often uses the 8 across Club World as there are 2 LHR planes still flying this config as they have 1 more that's now being converted. My wife flew this route last week and was lucky as her day was 1 of only 2 of the entire week's flights that was in Club Suites.
I've used that stopover program only three times since COVID, so not an expert or anything. Make sure they give you your voucher when you check in in Cairo. I had a huge issue in Addis once when they didn't.
I only got the in-terminal hotel once, in my first trip when flights resumed after COVID. But, I would definitely ask at the hotel desk - couldn't hurt. Just explain you're enthusiastic about trying different hotels or something. The skylight is a great hotel for that part of the world - don't expect a western hotel - so it won't be bad if that's your only option. The shuttle can be a bit confusing so just ask people if you need to. Have fun! Looking forward to the review!
Fun trip! I look forward to hearing about whatever shenanigans you get in to at the Cairo Airport.
If you need to overnight in Cairo, the new Waldorf Astoria really is great. It's usually a good deal booked with the Amex credit, and very close to the airport. I've stayed twice since it opened (in 2023, I believe).
Lucky: Check your BA flight is being operated with the new Club World Suite. Though you mentioned all B777-200 aircraft have been updated but there are 2 that have yet to be updated (these are ex-LGW so not technically not their LHR fleet) and these are operated on ATL & BAH. I was in shock when I boarded my BAH flight last month to see the old config!
I flew ET recently in J a few months back, and was told accommodations are always at the Skylight Hotel not the one in the terminal. The process though is very easy, no visa or stamp even needed for transit under 24 hours so it's a very quick process in and out. Comfortable hotel with an OK breakfast, but nothing exciting.
I flew ETks A359 a couple months ago (on a last minute plane swap). Flying an award ticket my biz sear was closer to the aisle. That means you get about half a window with the shade controlled by the person in front of you. There were real window seats empty but I wasn’t allowed to take one. It will be interesting to hear about the A350-1000, assuming you actually fly it.
What about Neos airlines? Italian. I never heard about them until recently and they do fly even to New YorkF
I am in Addis today and using their stopover program. We were told at the interline desk (the one before immigration) that since we are in business class, we could choose between the in-terminal or the regular Skylight Hotel.
I have never actually stayed at the Skylight Hotel but have been for coffee there. The hotel is the largest in Africa with well over 1000 rooms and is located 5 minutes away from the airport. Would avoid staying in the airport as Bole is not the best place to stay the night. There is a road about next to the hotel with an Ethiopian Douglas DC3 on display. If you want to try something different, the Sheraton Addis (a luxury collection hotel) is the best. Although the rooms are starting to show their age, no expenses was spared in building the hotel and it is a magnificent building.
You can use either the main Skylight or the In-Terminal Hotel with a voucher that says "Skylight".
That said, there is no contest between the two. One is a legitimate 5-star property with all the benefits (you may have to ask to figure it all out as it is so huge!) and one is a windowless room (or a concourse view if you're lucky) inside a noisy airport.
Go for the main Skylight without a second thought and enjoy the stay.
Why I’m in Africa right now, come hang on Benguerra Island Mozambique, amazing!
Likewise: My future BA 787 Dreamliner LHR-MIA flight was canceled, and I was rebooked on the ancient hi-density 8 across A380 in J. What a disappointment.
If you’re in London for less than 24 hours, can you try if it’s possible to claim back the APD? I recall seeing someone’s success experience although can’t remember the airline.
Lol, I'll be on the island just north of that next week. Agreed, Ben should go hang out in Mozambique, a special place.
Agreed! Last time I was in that region, I flew Tunisair. Ethiopian was flat out boring compared to that exp
The ITA A321neo is a treat!
And Business Class fares from Cairo to Europe are only marginally more than Economy. And PE is a few dollars less than J. It's a no-brainer to upgrade to J on that routing if anyone has the chance. I booked my ticket for next month in Business between Cairo and Paris for $330 USD one-way, and both CAI-FCO and FCO-CDG are operated by the A321neo. Can't wait to fly it again!
“ITA is quickly turning out to be the Starlux of Europe” … I don’t expect that it will be once Lufthansa’s cost cutting takes control.
HA! Shock was probably too strong of a word, I did not expect it. I had a great flight and I actually do not hate the old product. It just is not competitive.
Forget the airport. I suggest the Sheraton Addis Ababa for this stop. 5 star and prime location.
Makes sense actually. The 2nd daily MIA flight was suspended by BA, so they're adding the high capacity A380 to make up for it.
I'm planning an FCO-CAI trip next summer flying ITA. I don't mind economy on the way there since it's a daytime flight, but the return flight is in J from CAI-FCO-SFO. I'm really hoping the CAI-FCO route is in one of the newer planes as it's currently on an older A320. It's an early flight as well, departing at 4:40AM.
And when you go back to Bole, if you aren't there already, go to the main lobby area and ask for the business class shuttle. Otherwise you might get stuck in the sea of humanity that is all the economy transit passengers.
The Italian restaurant at the hotel is good.
Just bring a carton of Marlboro red from duty free to Cairo and casually ask the transit desk do you smoke ? I got these from a friend.
No one paged @Sean M to the OMAAT comment section ? Thats obligatory for an Africa related article. Im out of town and you let me down people.
If you’re flying business class with Ethiopian airline you’re permitted to stay at the in-terminal hotel in Addis Ababa. Economy class passengers have to get on a bus to the skylight hotel about 5 min away.
@Ben - Have you registered for the SAS EuroBonus Millionaire promotion yet?
If not, you should. The rewards are tiered, and you get 10,000 bonus points if you fly on 5 different SkyTeam carriers between the promotion period (Oct 8th- Dec 31st). You already have Delta and Aeromexico down from your Latin America review trip, and you'll have ITA Airways down with this trip. That just leaves two more, and maybe you can squeeze them in one day while your in Europe right now. Perhaps a day trip from London to Copenhagen on SAS, then back to London via AMS on KLM. Or you can fly to another destination and have your BA award ticket start from there, so you can avoid the UK taxes on your ticket! With that, you save some cash and get 10K bonus miles for a little effort. And BTW, you just have to register during the promotion's duration. Any flights taken before registration also count, as long as they were taken after October 8th.
Or, you could also do an review trip to Asia and knock out 5 more SkyTeam carriers to get the 100K bonus miles reward after flying 10 carriers. Perhaps an updated review of Korean Air, China Airlines, Xiamen Air, China Eastern, and Garuda?
The Ethiopia Airlines Douglas DC3 can be seen in first few mins in this video. I was however flying at the back of the bus 🙂
Also make sure you don't pass the interline desk for the Starlight booking. Do not go through the security it's right before that. If you miss it (as in too distracted with the Ethiopian jets outside the window lol) you will have to come back and ask security to let you get to the desk so they can do your booking. You then pass security and immigration. Us poor Economy passengers were put into some hotel inside the city...no Starlight (also because there was some International conference on and the rooms were booked.
You can see the hotel and food at the end of this video
Just flew Johannesburg to London and then London to Houston in the same British Airways business class configuration.
My overall thoughts on space and experience:
Positives - liked the look of the space, nice sleek seat design, reclining options, decent storage space, much better than the old club suite forward/rear facing configurations, and good audio/visual entertainment options.
Negatives - width of the seat (not comfortable for a side sleeper), low height of door (not as much privacy as I would have liked - not taller doors like with Q suites), amenity kit was nothing special, food was below average, high award ticket taxes, and service was ok.
I would still fly it again over other business class options on that route, but would not go out of my way to do it.
Nice try, but there's a catch; this is from the government's website:
"Connected flights must be shown on the same ticket or on conjunction tickets and meet the time-related rules." ( https://www.gov.uk/guidance/air-passenger-duty-and-connected-flights)