Ethiopian Airlines - Anxiety in Addis Abada

[Andrew62]

The purpose of this post is to share my experience of flying through the ADD airport in Addis Adaba, and the challenges I faced flying with Ethiopian Airlines.

Before I get into the frustration side of this story, I would like to say that beyond what I am going to say about making the connection in Addis, ALL aspects of my trip in regards to Ethiopian Airlines were very nice. I honestly cannot think of anything about my 6 flights with them that was negative. Check-in, food, service, bathrooms, everything was very nice.

My flight went from Dulles to Addis to Victoria Falls. When you check in for your original flight, Ethiopian Airlines checks your bags all the way to Victoria Falls, however, when you land in Addis Abada, when you change planes, you are taken to the lower level of the airport to have your gun checked by security. Once your gun is checked, it is then taken to the next plane you will be flying on. All flights going from Dulles to Victoria Falls have a short 1 to 1 1/2 hour layover.

When I landed in Addis, I stepped off the plane to find a guy standing there with a sign over his head with my name on it. I said, ‘hello, I’m Andrew’, he replied, ‘we must run’! So here I go trotting/walking fast through this airport, after quite a long walk we went down a set of steps and walked outside of the airport on the runway side of the airport. At that point we had to wait on a bus to come pick us up and take us to ‘security’. This wait was easily 10+ minutes. We finally got a ride to security, there we had to wait for my checked bag and gun case to be taken off my original flight and brought to security, which we waited 20+ minutes on. Once they found my luggage, we waited about 5 minutes while they tracked down a security guard who could clear my gun. After my gun was finally cleared, when we went to walk outside to wait for the bus to take me back to where I could reenter the airport, the guy helping me told me I had missed my connecting flight.

Long story short, I had a 23 1/2 hour layover in Addis. One thing to note, if you find yourself in this position, to stay in Ethiopia more than 12 hours, by rule you need to have a yellow fever vaccination card, which I did have with me from previous trips to Cameroon.

Believe it or not, flying back through Addis was a way bigger headache. When I checked in at Victoria Falls for my flights back to the states, two ticketing agents told me that I would not have to have my gun checked in Addis. I told them I felt that was not the case, but what can you do at that point? So I boarded my flight and flew to Addis. I told a flight attendant about my gun, she said I would not have to have my gun checked. When I got off the plane there was no representative at the door of the airplane, no one at the bottom of the steps to meet me, no one on the bus taking us to the terminal, no one just inside the terminal that could help me, everyone kept saying just go to your gate.

Because I could not get help and because there are so many security check points, which are way backed up with literally hundreds of people waiting to get through, I was now running the risk of missing my flight back to the states, so I went straight to my departing gate. Once at the gate the gate agent lady called for me to come to the desk, I did, she said I needed to clear my gun. She said follow me, and we literally starting trotting pretty much the same route I had trotted the previous week.

While we were trotting she starts giving me grief about taking my time to come to check in, and for not getting someone to help me clear my gun. I politely told her the ticketing agents in Victoria Falls, a flight attendant, and at least 5 different people in green jackets in the airport all told me to go to the gate as I did not need to clear my gun, and I had not stopped anywhere between my last plane and the check-in area.

To keep this part brief, I did in fact make this flight, but that was only because they were having some technical issues with the boarding process which delayed the flight long enough for me to be able to take, otherwise, I would have had another 23 1/2 layover in Addis.

If you are going to consider going through Addis, once inside the terminal, in the A gate section, there are numerous security check points. I entered at Gate 11, between Gate 11 and Gate 17 where I boarded, there were 5 security check points, 2 for passport control, 2 for x-ray and or full body scan machines, and 1 for a boarding pass check.

There simply is no way to relate the anxiety and frustration you go through traveling on such tight connections, trust me, if there was a different way to go through Addis on a 3 to 4 hour layover, it wouldn’t be such a mission. As well, corruption must be bad in that airport to have security checkpoints every 2 boarding gates in the main terminal. Not having to deal with so many check points in the terminal is actually worth not flying through the ADD airport.

For context of my traveling experience, I have flown to Africa many times including 4 trips in and out of Cameroon, meaning I have flown into airports like Douala, Garoua, Ngaoundere, and Yaounde, all of which are quite challenging at times. All of this to say, I do understand and expect things to go sideways sometimes, but this particular airport was simply ‘frustration overload’! Their inability to communicate with someone to get you a ride to and from security, having the security person at their post when you need them, and for a way to know where your luggage is so security can go get it, it honestly was like watching someone try to herd cats!!!!

Maybe there will be a day Ethiopian Airlines changes their rule about having to have your rifle re-checked midway through a flight, but until that day, I will fly a different route.

 

[thi9elsp]

Thanks for sharing. June I’m flying Tampa/Atlanta Delta to Joberg, over night City Lodge, then Airlink to VF next day. Hoping all goes smoothly

 

[Graham Hunter]

I had my 1st and last experience with Ethiopian and Addis. Never again!

 

[Hogpatrol]

When I mentioned Ethiopian to Gracy, they told me If you have firearms, there's not enough time to make the connecting flight to Joberg. I guess this isn't common knowledge. Good you had your yellow fever card.

Edit: Ethiopian business is probably the cheapest out of Dulles but not worth the headaches. I flew Emirates in March. It was a long slog but worth the extra money.

 

[Andrew62]

Thanks for sharing. June I’m flying Tampa/Atlanta Delta to Joberg, over night City Lodge, then Airlink to VF next day. Hoping all goes smoothly

Good choice on your flight and hotel in June. I am returning to Zimbabwe in September, I'm booked to fly Pittsburgh - Newark - Johannesburg, over night in City Lodge, then fly Airlink to Harare.

 

[Andrew62]

When I mentioned Ethiopian to Gracy, they told me If you have firearms, there's not enough time to make the connecting flight to Joberg. I guess this isn't common knowledge. Good you had your yellow fever card.

Edit: Ethiopian business is probably the cheapest out of Dulles but not worth the headaches. I flew Emirates in March. It was a long slog but worth the extra money.

I actually booked this trip through Gracy Travel. The cost of my business class ticket was 3654, now I understand why!!

 

[eatmore-pbj]

Ethiopian going through ADD SUCKS even without a gun. Booked direct with them and made 3 calls questioning connection time. Every call assured me no problem had enough time.
Missed connection and had to get hotel down town for 1 1/2 days. Put me in red light district and was scared to leave the hotel the whole time. Worst trip of my life.

 

[BryceM]

Well, I have a crate coming through there in a few days. Hopefully it has better luck!

 

[Hogpatrol]

I actually booked this trip through Gracy Travel. The cost of my business class ticket was 3654, now I understand why!!

Assume no firearms?

 

[Vintageguy]

Staffing at airports everywhere seems to be degrading in quality each time I fly. It simply amazes me that people can work daily in a job and still seem so clueless, like it’s their first day and they’ve been abandoned to figure it out themselves. The handling of luggage and firearms in particular are becoming a giant pia. It’s a burdensome process with all the rules, it’s a pia when the ones you have to deal with in the process don’t know the rules themselves.

 

[wyosteve]

Stories like this help cement my decision to forego hunting in Africa unfortunately.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Stories like this help cement my decision to forego hunting in Africa unfortunately.

Don't let this discourage you. Been ten times and like others, multiple side trips, different countries, gun storage, hotel stays and only one time had an issue with a checked bag when I switched airlines returning to the states. In my experience, trying to save a buck can sometime disappoint.
Use an agent and things will generally be smooth.

 

[JimP]

Stories like this help cement my decision to forego hunting in Africa unfortunately.

Been over twice with no problems either time other than the second time flying Qatar and the extra 8 hour flight.

A couple of things, don't try to save money by taking a obscure route. Fly direct out of Atlanta. If you are in Wyoming you can fly Delta all the way with zero problems. My first trip I flew Delta out of Denver to Salt Lake and then to Ny. In Ny I moved over to SSA which is no longer in business in that business model. Zero problems.

 

[Scott CWO]

I’ve gone through Addis twice with guns. Yes, it is frustrating to have to go down to the street level baggage area and have guns inspected but your problem was not having enough layover time. I also don’t know why you waited for a bus unless you or your escort has trouble walking. It’s about a 7 minute brisk walk each way. It is also true that you have to do the inspection both ways. It is important to listen to Gracy and not local airline workers.

For any international layover anywhere, 1 to 1.5 hours is too short. If I don’t have other options on the same airline, I look for another airline or route.

 

[Scott CWO]

Stories like this help cement my decision to forego hunting in Africa unfortunately.

Just use an experienced agent like Gracy and check with members of this website and you shouldn’t have problems. I’ve been to Africa a dozen times and never had a flight problem. It is imperative to be prepared, detail minded and know the steps. I’ve always received my guns. The worst problem I had was a missing padlock when I claimed my gun case in Botswana. Luckily the rifle was fine.

 

[DLSJR]

I went through that cluster fuck in Addis back in December of 2019. Back then, it wasn’t widely known they were doing this, so I was caught off guard. It didn’t go well. They held the flight for while checking my guns and wanted to count ammo. I refused to go through counting ammo. The 767 departed 45 minutes late due to this goat rodeo.

I’d fly Ethiopian again, but only as a last resort or if I’m flying to ADD, not through there on the way to somewhere else.

 

[DLSJR]

Stories like this help cement my decision to forego hunting in Africa unfortunately.

You should not let this type of stuff keep you from enjoying African hunting. You’re depriving yourself of great experiences because of relatively modest problems when you consider the big picture.

Fly Emirates, Qatar Airways or Turkish Airlines and discover how good the travel experience can be.

 

[Tanks]

That's why I fly Emirates and Qatar. My luggage gets checked in at LAX and I pick it up wherever my destination is in Africa. On my last flight with Qatar an airline employee met me at the gate at Harare, got my luggage and rifles and expedited me through the customs as well.

 

[JimP]

You should not let this type of stuff keep you from enjoying African hunting. You’re depriving yourself of great experiences because of relatively modest problems when you consider the big picture.

Fly Emirates, Qatar Airways or Turkish Airlines and discover how good the travel experience can be.

Unless you are flying business class I'd stay away from Qatar, flying economy you are packed in like sardines and that extra 8 hour flight to get to Joberg just isn't worth it.

 

[Tanks]

Unless you are flying business class I'd stay away from Qatar, flying economy you are packed in like sardines and that extra 8 hour flight to get to Joberg just isn't worth it.

Unless one is flying business I'd avoid travelling, at least in one's latter years.