Ethiopian Airlines

London Heathrow UK to Entebbe Uganda return via Addis Ababa Ethiopia and Kigali Rwanda. I left on 16 Feb and returned on 20th Feb 2014. Flight numbers ET701 ET811 ET821 and ET710. A decent long haul flight brand new aeroplane good food plenty to drink good entertainment and attentive air hosts. Not the best I've ever flown with but by no means the worst.

ET-905 ET-688. 16 and 17 Jan 2014. I liked the service the air hostesses are very good at what they do. The food served was good as well. However the aircraft was a bit old so seat comfort and the Inflight entertainment needs to be improved. Baggage handling by the airline is some what iffy most of the time.

I took a flight from Abuja to Addis which was fine. Staff very friendly plane in a reasonably good condition schedule was great. Arriving in Addis the Airport is just outdated but once can mange this. Going to the next flight to Dubai and it happened. Boarded the plane waiting for 2 hours and then change of Aircraft due to engine issues. Consequently we arrive 3 hours late in Dubai and I missed my connection. I am surprised that an airline with brand new aircraft's (787 Dreamliner) quite good and friendly staff is able to upset travelers by not being able to stick to a schedule. Since its not the first time I am not pleased and would try to avoid Ethiopian in future.

DXB-ADD-FRA on their 787. Flying the Dreamliner is always a great experience for me and ET didn't disappoint. Only issue is the seats don't have too much storage space and are not true lie flat. Put a book in the little nook by the seat and when I woke up the book was under the seat. Had to lift out cushions to reach it because of the shell. Service was good. Food was good as well.

I flew Mumbai to Lagos and back on Ethiopian. First leg of return leg (Lagos to Addis) was in a 777-200 but the individual TV screens were not working. With a stopover at Addis for only 30 min the airline handled baggage transfer quite efficiently. In the second leg (Addis to Mumbai) aircraft was suddenly changed from a planned 777-200 to an old 767-300 without personal Inflight Entertainment. Chaotic for people as seat numbers had to be reworked due to different seating configuration. Time for Star Alliance to step in and fix some basic norms.

NBO-ADD-JNB on February 12 and 13 respectively. All flights on time FA's active and caring. Almost unlimited drinks and food if requested. Service very good and began 10 min. after takeoff until 10 minutes before touchdown. ET provided unexpectedly hotel in ADD“Panorama. Transfer to and from hotel were quick and smooth. Drinks and meals also included. Aircraft's were in good condition and clean. Went by Boeing 737-800 and 777-200 respectively. On first leg only offered cold meal. On 2nd leg offered 2 choices of hot meals. Gate-procedures in ADD crowded and very uncomfortable. IFA not a priority neither for me nor the airline.

JNB-ADD. This flight was scheduled to depart at 14.20. It left the gate late taxied out to the runway and then announced a mechanical problem. We sat on the runway for 1.5 hrs. We were then told that we would be disembarked and returned to the terminal. A bus took us to international transfers and dumped us at the entrance. It was now about 17.00. No airline representative was present and after about 40 minutes with no information passed contract ground staff indicated that we should go to a distant departure gate. No other details were given. Arriving at the gate there was still no information given but meal vouchers were offered with a promise of new information at some unspecified time. By 20.00 ground staff were as tight-lipped as ever with no apologies and no airline representatives in sight. At this point I wanted off this flight. I cancelled my flight and went home.

MBA-ADD-BOM-ADD-MBA B737-800NG - B777-300ER and B777-200LR - B737-800. The outbound flight was ok. The AVOD was not updated movies were old and had very few options. Food was good. The FA's were very ignorant to calls and behaved like they couldn't hear a thing also had no smiles on their faces. Inbound flight was ok same problem with the FA's as the inbound flight. The aircraft was changed from ADD to MBA and had to check in my hand luggage after which I didn't get it in MBA until the next day.

LHR-ADD on 9 Jan 2014 - I flew using Business class both directions the flight takeoff and landing was smooth with new Dreamliner Boeing 787 and the arrival in Addis Ababa was earlier than the expected scheduled time. In my opinion the food quality was nice. In every other category this airline is well above standard. It begins with the crew who provides an excellent customer service experience. The cleanliness of the aircraft was noticeable the toilets were kept clean and the staff were genuinely friendly on both directions.

I had used Ethiopian Airlines several times to get to Africa and I used to like the service on board and usually connections at their Addis Ababa hub. However the ground service is very poor and unfriendly and seat selection is not respected as they keep changing aircraft types and configurations. Today I had finished a trip: Ground staff were in both ways the most unfriendly people I have seen (particularly in London and Pointe Noire Congo). My flights were delayed risking missing my connections my seat choice was never respected and the interior of the planes was particularly dirty. They added stops (my flight from Pointe Noire made a stop in Libreville adding flight time and shortening connection time. Will never use this airline again.