Review: Ethiopian Airlines Cloud Nine Business Class Lounge Addis Ababa

You were lucky not to be there during the early morning rush.... huge queues for the few toilets there are [that included the lounges as well, as to the state of them [....yuck....] and wifi was not useable

You were so 'lucky' that the lounge was empty, when I was there it was completely packed. Almost nowhere you could charge your phone/ laptop though, probably the biggest downside of the lounge.

You didn't think of stepping onto the street to take in the Ethiopian air? Or cabbing it to Bole Bulbula just to see what that is like?

What exactly looked so "horrible" about the Ethiopian Airlines Cloud Nine/Star Alliance Gold Lounge? Your photo shows only the entrance yet you say it looked horrible?

@ stvr -- I would've liked to, but had quite a bit of baggage and had a lot of work to catch up on.

@ Bill -- Taking a look inside, it looked much worse than the other lounge. Sadly couldn't grab a picture.

You got the new lounge in the new terminal. The old lounge in the old terminal is like something out of a Joseph Conrad novel.

Please don't kid yourself, or us readers. Of course your failure to travel to Africa was by design not accident. And I would not classify a four-hour layover where you didn't even leave the airport as a trip to anywhere. I also do not understand why you say there are not many great airlines flying there. The list of airlines flying to Africa is quite long and includes many that you regularly fly in the US, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Also, the continent does not lack for outstanding five-star hotels and even nature preserves that would make a wonderful setting for a trip report. Nothing personal, I just think it was something other than airlines and hotels that held you back. After a long period of hesitancy, I recently made my first trip to Africa (actually got out of the airport and experienced some local culture) and found it quite spectacular.

Can you really say you've "been" to a country or city if all you've done is take a four-hour layover in an airport lounge? Experiencing a place and all it has to offer is so much more than sitting in a lounge.

@ Al -- Right, not sure where I claimed to have "been" to Ethiopia. I haven't, and would certainly like to visit at some point.

Lucky, FYI It is the second paragraph of your post that gives the impression that you are counting your stay in the lounge as somehow being a trip to Africa.

You could try HKG - JNB on SA or CX biz after they turn to the 777-300ER (I guess you already have a packed calendar until September)?

Settle down people with the bitchy comments. Enjoy the posts. Lucky I think you're amazing.

@john, precisely my point, thank you.

This blog is mainly about airlines/hotels/lounges. Not sure why people are getting worked up when it's not about that? There are tons of others blogs for the destination itself.

I would strongly recommend a visit to Africa as well, and go not as a 'luxury' trip, but stay at normal hotels, etc. You'd be really surprised. Had an excellent experience there a few years back - in east Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania to be exact). Though not the least developed, and there are parts that are certainly tourist-oriented, it is a totally different experience to your usual trips, and well worth the effort (and discomfort in parts).

I was travelling EK on that trip, and was also a Skywards member then. Though in Y, they gave me lounge access. On the outbound, it was like another trip, connecting in DXB, etc., and all the 'luxury' (lounge, food) seemed whatever. But somehow, on the return, the sudden return to the luxuries offered and in part taken for granted in 'the West' was really odd. I was most uncomfortable in the lounge at DAR on leaving Africa. Haven't been there for a month and having seen some of the better but still poor conditions, the sudden abundance of food especially was really uncomfortable.

Not saying that I don't enjoy the occasional buffet and the visits to lounges any more, but just makes you think twice about all the things that we just often take for granted.

Back to the original topic - you really should pay them a visit. Well worth it, even if for the safaris alone if you're not into hands-on volunteering. Maybe go with your parents? 🙂

@ Al @ John -- In that case was referring to African airports. I had no clue what to expect of African airports.

do you know if it's possible to buy a day pass as an economy flyer to this lounge?

@ r hirsch -- I don't believe so, unfortunately.

I love your detailed posts on lounges/flights/hotels...they are always my go to source. I'm flying through ADD, and I forgot what the lounge was like as I was there a few years back. Thanks for the detailed pics. Also...your statement about the Germans at the end has me cracking up!!!

A quick question - my brother-in-law will be travelling through Addis in January. He has a 15 hour layover, but is travelling economy class. Do you know if it is possible to buy an entry into one of the VIP lounges in the Addis airport?

I was in gold lounge as I was invited by gold card lounge friend was fantastic amazing and relax had 7 hrs transit! So what are u people talking about? If u go Africa and see how beautiful is Africa go Safari, and stop just go there for luxury hotels when u come back u proud ur self u have been in Africa. While u hv been to the beach and come back

All these stupid comments about "oh you dont know how good africa is." *uck that. I've lived over 20 years in Kenya and Rwanda. There are goods and there are bads... But let's be honest... A third world country is a twc for a reason.
Good airlines in Africa? KQ ET and South African are probably the top rated. I've never been on SA but KQ and ET have a long way to go. Other airlines? Most airlines dont offer long haul aircrafts when coming in to Africa. Nairobi would be an exception I know of that has B777-300ERs coming in, but other than that you would normally expect a B737. So tell me... How a B737 experience is going to make your flight worth it.

I also just spent 4 hours in the same lounge. It was so crowded I could barely find a seat. Hard to find a way to charge my phone. Wasn’t there for food. Was a female by myself. I travel a lot and it was not good but better than being at the gate we’re there was no place to be comfortable or sit. My time was in Uganda, but that will be reviewed elsewhere. Next trip to Africa I will avoid long layovers.