Africa - overnight at ADDIS airport

Off to a friend's wedding in Zanzibar. I'm trying to save on the travel budget, and find myself arriving in ADD at 03:30 from Madrid via Cairo, leaving for ZNZ at 10:30.

Has anyone got a clear picture of what ADD is like at that time of night/day in terms of finding a lounge or a quiet corner ?

Chjeers, Ian

Addis is largely quiet when you arrive at 330am and then gets ridiculously crazy from about 6am until you depart during the main African departure bank.

There are plenty of quiet corners if you don't mind sitting/sleeping on the floor with the dozens of others with the same idea.

Addis is largely quiet when you arrive at 330am and then gets ridiculously crazy from about 6am until you depart during the main African departure bank.

There are plenty of quiet corners if you don't mind sitting/sleeping on the floor with the dozens of others with the same idea.

Thanks for that! I'm hoping my shiny gold *A card might get me into a lounge, at least from 6-ish onwards.

I'd like to grab the opportunity and have a day or two in Addis, but time isn't on my side this trip.

No guarantees on my memory here, but I'm pretty sure Ethiopian Air had a 24 hour Cloud Nine Lounge at Addison Abbaba Airport. Even though I was flying Ethiopian with my United *A (Premier Executive) card, I could get admitted. If you're not on Ethiopian coming or going, I suspect you won't have much luck.

ethiopian is now part of the star alliance, so if you are travelling on *A, you should be able to go into their lounge if it is open. There isn't much other seating until you are allowed into your gate just before boarding, so plan for going to one of the restaurants or sitting on the floor if you stay at the airport. If you are transiting on Ethiopian for both legs of your flight they often provide a hotel for long layovers but might be an 8hr cutoff.

The last time I had a long layover in ADD they gave economy customers a room and a meal at the wabe shebele hotel in Mexico Square. It was simple and clean but certainly an old, previously government owned hotel. Business class was taken to the (also old) Hilton.

Another option would be to make a reservation at a hotel and discuss with them that you'd be arriving very early in the AM. However, to do that you'd need a transit visa on arrival which might eat up another hour of the time you'd have to leave the airport. I'd just bring a blanket and a book if I were you.

Does anyone know if ET gives free transit hotels to ALL pax or just to those on revenue tickets? I have a business class award ticket with a 10 hour layover and was wondering if they will give me a hotel.

Is the lounge open 24-hours a day? Last time I was there, it was during the daytime so dont remember looking for the overnight hours.

Does anyone know if ET gives free transit hotels to ALL pax or just to those on revenue tickets? I have a business class award ticket with a 10 hour layover and was wondering if they will give me a hotel.

Yes, passengers on award tickets will get hotel vouchers. Passengers on non-revenue (ID/AD) tickets however will not.

Lounge is open overnight.

Yes, passengers on award tickets will get hotel vouchers. Passengers on non-revenue (ID/AD) tickets however will not.

Lounge is open overnight.

Thanks! Is Biz class still the Hilton? or something closer to the airport?

Thanks! Is Biz class still the Hilton? or something closer to the airport?

Depends on availability. During the AU Conference a few weeks ago, they were really struggling to find availability anywhere. Waits of 4-6 hours to be assigned a room were normal.

Depends on availability. During the AU Conference a few weeks ago, they were really struggling to find availability anywhere. Waits of 4-6 hours to be assigned a room were normal.

Is there any way to coordinate hotel in advance like at checkin of origin?

Is there any way to coordinate hotel in advance like at checkin of origin?

No. The vouchers are handed out on a first-come-first-serve basis at the transit desk in Addis.

No. The vouchers are handed out on a first-come-first-serve basis at the transit desk in Addis.

Does this mean that there are sometimes not enough to go around? I will be in business class and arriving at 8pm, hope I get there before most other pax!

Does this mean that there are sometimes not enough to go around? I will be in business class and arriving at 8pm, hope I get there before most other pax!

They always find enough hotels to go around, especially for Business Class passengers. Quality deteriorates at the bottom end of the scale! Business Class almost always winds up at the Hilton though.

I called Ethiopian yesterday to work on seat assignments and asked about my ticket (UA award ticket in C). At first, the agent said yes, you get a hotel. Then she said, no, you do not. Then she spoke to a supervisor, and came back and said, yes you do. She also said the transit visa is at your own expense ($20 USD).

Luckily, I know that FT reports are more trustworthy than the phone agent. Still, worried they may come up with an excuse when I get to ADD. Fingers crossed!

She also said the transit visa is at your own expense ($20 USD).

You don't actually get the normal transit visa for the STPC. Instead you get a laminated plastic token which you hand to immigration and they stamp your passport for a 24 hour stay. No need to line up for the actual visa if you don't intend staying any longer than that.

I have an award ticket SJC(UA)-IAH(TK)-IST(TK)-ADD(ET)-SEZ booked in J (except for the ADD-SEZ in Y) for next March. It requires a 10 hour layover beginning at 1AM in ADD.

I assume I'm on my one for the hotel being that I'm coming and going into ADD on different carriers? Also, any idea if I'll get lounge access coming in on TK in J? I have no status with *A.

I assume I'm on my one for the hotel being that I'm coming and going into ADD on different carriers? Also, any idea if I'll get lounge access coming in on TK in J? I have no status with *A.

Go to the Ethiopian Airlines transfer desk and they will sometimes sell you a hotel, meals and visa package for $70. Not a fancy hotel by any means, but definitely a huge step up from spending 10 hours at the airport without lounge access.

In fact, you will probably need to go to the transfer desk anyway since TK is not able to issue Ethiopian boarding passes. Won't hurt to show your Business Class inbound boarding pass and (assuming your ticket is a single ticket issued for Business Class but booked in Economy due to no award availability on ADD-SEZ) see if they can rebook you into Cloud Nine. At 1am, the transfer desk is usually very quiet so you may get a bored agent keen to help you out.

I'll ask about the packages. That's very helpful. It is a single award ticket so I'll see what the transfer desk can do for me.

You don't actually get the normal transit visa for the STPC. Instead you get a laminated plastic token which you hand to immigration and they stamp your passport for a 24 hour stay. No need to line up for the actual visa if you don't intend staying any longer than that.

Are you saying if you stay < 24hr, you can get a free visa to leave airport?

Are you saying if you stay < 24hr, you can get a free visa to leave airport?

If you are on an Ethiopian Airlines itinerary that REQUIRES (viz. no earlier connection available) a stay between 8-24 hours in Addis, they will provide you with complimentary hotel, visa and meals during your layover.

If you are on an Ethiopian Airlines itinerary that REQUIRES (viz. no earlier connection available) a stay between 8-24 hours in Addis, they will provide you with complimentary hotel, visa and meals during your layover.

I've 10 hour layover, 7pm ish to 4am ish. but coming in on ET, out on MS to CAI. So I guess no free visa/hotel for me?