ADD / Addis Ababa Bole International Airport - Connections, Facilities, Layovers
Jan 23, 2019, 3:26 pm
#61
Join Date: May 2008
Location: ARN
Posts: 3,470
Thanks! That's what I suspected. The guy who told me this was very sure of his information, but he also said that Moscow used to have such a problem earlier. Now, I've flown to and from Moscow airports lots of times, and although they may not be up to Schiphol standards, there's really nothing to fear by using those airports, so I suspected that the information about ADD was wildly exaggerated based on just a couple of cases that he had heard about.
Jan 31, 2019, 9:59 am
#62
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,230
transfer t2-t1
Have transitted through ADD often enough, but always t2-t2... will be doing t2-t1 in a couple of weeks (LHR-ADD-JUB).
Since t1 is largely domestic, do I have to immigrate into Ethiopia to get to it, or is there any airside/foreign transfer? The LHR flight often (usually) arrives at a jetbridge and transfer passengers are just guided straight upstairs to departures... where should I go?
In reverse, I'm going to have a long layover and will use the visa/hotel - if I don't get the voucher at JUB, do I have to transfer back to t2 to the transit desk to get it issued?
Thanks
Since t1 is largely domestic, do I have to immigrate into Ethiopia to get to it, or is there any airside/foreign transfer? The LHR flight often (usually) arrives at a jetbridge and transfer passengers are just guided straight upstairs to departures... where should I go?
In reverse, I'm going to have a long layover and will use the visa/hotel - if I don't get the voucher at JUB, do I have to transfer back to t2 to the transit desk to get it issued?
Thanks
Jan 31, 2019, 10:41 am
#63
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,655
Since t1 is largely domestic, do I have to immigrate into Ethiopia to get to it, or is there any airside/foreign transfer? The LHR flight often (usually) arrives at a jetbridge and transfer passengers are just guided straight upstairs to departures... where should I go?
Feb 14, 2019, 10:05 am
#64
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,230
Very straightforward
thanks B747etc it was indeed as simple as you say to transfer t2-t1 (bus pic below).
on the return, I didn't get a voucher in Juba but the bus from the plane made a stop at t1 and then continued to t2 where I was able to stop by the desk (and get a room at the Empire, which is a little less than I expected as a *G but actually has worked very well for a wander around a corner of Addis)
on the return, I didn't get a voucher in Juba but the bus from the plane made a stop at t1 and then continued to t2 where I was able to stop by the desk (and get a room at the Empire, which is a little less than I expected as a *G but actually has worked very well for a wander around a corner of Addis)
Last edited by Stewie Mac; Feb 25, 2019 at 4:02 am
Feb 14, 2019, 11:40 am
#65
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,655
Feb 17, 2019, 9:54 am
#66
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: Flying Blue, Diamond Club
Posts: 780
Feb 17, 2019, 1:21 pm
#67
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,655
Are they even giving it to Cloud Nine pax? I've been through Addis once since it opened, and my wife has been through as well on a different date, and both times we got the Radisson Blu as C9 pax rather than the new property.
Feb 17, 2019, 2:16 pm
#68
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: Flying Blue, Diamond Club
Posts: 780
Look likes it has yet to open thus, as you said, ET still sends people to the Radisson. Maybe, it's wrong but there was a video mentioning this - not specifically J pax but more generally - ET pax on long transits or disruptions would go there. And since it's a 5 star property it would be logical to keep it for premium clients only I guess.
Feb 18, 2019, 4:13 am
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
But I am confused about the lounge. For my transit, VIE-ADD-EBB I did not have to go through security. I looked for the lounge, but there are no signs for any lounge. I asked an ET employee and they said I would have to exit airside to use the lounge. I saw through the glass a huge security line. I had a bit less than an hour so I just went to my gate and sat in a hard plastic chair.
Feb 19, 2019, 5:15 am
#70
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: LY-PL, A3-*G
Posts: 1,679
I just did a transit at ADD very early in the morning and it was not at all cold. YMMV.
But I am confused about the lounge. For my transit, VIE-ADD-EBB I did not have to go through security. I looked for the lounge, but there are no signs for any lounge. I asked an ET employee and they said I would have to exit airside to use the lounge. I saw through the glass a huge security line. I had a bit less than an hour so I just went to my gate and sat in a hard plastic chair.
But I am confused about the lounge. For my transit, VIE-ADD-EBB I did not have to go through security. I looked for the lounge, but there are no signs for any lounge. I asked an ET employee and they said I would have to exit airside to use the lounge. I saw through the glass a huge security line. I had a bit less than an hour so I just went to my gate and sat in a hard plastic chair.
In ADD it's not exactly landside/airdside in airside there is pre-security and post security. The lounges are pre security.
Mar 6, 2019, 8:02 am
#71
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cape Town
Programs: TK E+ *G, AA Gold, A7 *S
Posts: 49
Just a few more pics to share taken in late January from the new portion of the terminal. Interesting that the signs are now in Chinese, along with English and Amharic. The new area definitely has a little more shine than the older areas, but has the same overall feel. My biggest disappointment is that (1) the bathrooms in the new extension are still extremely small, for example, the men's room in upstairs extension has just 2 stalls and (2) gates are still beyond security with absolutely no services/shops. The only improvement I noticed is the downstairs extension area does have vending machines, but I never have understood why they can't be like a normal airport and have full restaurants and shops gate side.
Apr 23, 2019, 2:36 am
#72
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4,279
KQ to KQ/Back to back
Hi,
I saw some great fares with Kenya Airways for trips ending/beginning in ADD. I was wondering how is it [rather how easy] is it to do a back to back transfer at ADD when arriving with Kenya Airways and departing again with the return flight. So far I am interested in the flights arriving from NBO at 1.55 am and departing at 3.30 am. [I am assuming here it is the same plane that flies back to NBO]
How will my check-in luggage be handled and how will I be handled from immigration/transit point of view?
Thanks in advance.
Cheers!
I saw some great fares with Kenya Airways for trips ending/beginning in ADD. I was wondering how is it [rather how easy] is it to do a back to back transfer at ADD when arriving with Kenya Airways and departing again with the return flight. So far I am interested in the flights arriving from NBO at 1.55 am and departing at 3.30 am. [I am assuming here it is the same plane that flies back to NBO]
How will my check-in luggage be handled and how will I be handled from immigration/transit point of view?
Thanks in advance.
Cheers!
May 27, 2019, 8:18 am
#73
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3
Transit Visa
Hi-
i have a 14 hour layover in ADD - traveling from NBO to SEZ via ADD on ET but as per Ethiopian Airlines I won’t be eligible for free hotel since there is another earlier flight available which reduces the layover time. SinCe the longer layover works better with my travel plans (we are family of 3 with a young child) I have booked a room at Hyatt Regency on points. My question is can I still get free transit visa? I don’t mind paying footprint the hotel and transportation costs. The alternative would be to get tourist eVisa which would cost $156 for family of 3. Or should I pay for transit visa on arrival? I don’t see too much cost saving between tourist VOA and transit visa. Am I seeing the costs wrong? Any suggestions or advice is greatly appreciated.
Secondly, our flight arrives at 7:40 pm. Is this considered rush hour and lines would be long for transit and/or immigration desks? Also, our flight leaves next morning at 9:40 am. Is arriving to airport 2 hours before the flight is sufficient? We are traveling eceonomy.
i have a 14 hour layover in ADD - traveling from NBO to SEZ via ADD on ET but as per Ethiopian Airlines I won’t be eligible for free hotel since there is another earlier flight available which reduces the layover time. SinCe the longer layover works better with my travel plans (we are family of 3 with a young child) I have booked a room at Hyatt Regency on points. My question is can I still get free transit visa? I don’t mind paying footprint the hotel and transportation costs. The alternative would be to get tourist eVisa which would cost $156 for family of 3. Or should I pay for transit visa on arrival? I don’t see too much cost saving between tourist VOA and transit visa. Am I seeing the costs wrong? Any suggestions or advice is greatly appreciated.
Secondly, our flight arrives at 7:40 pm. Is this considered rush hour and lines would be long for transit and/or immigration desks? Also, our flight leaves next morning at 9:40 am. Is arriving to airport 2 hours before the flight is sufficient? We are traveling eceonomy.
Jun 14, 2019, 1:56 pm
#74
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: GEG
Programs: UAL 1K/1MM, Go Zags!
Posts: 404
Transit ADD with luggage
Hi all- I am flying FRA ADD on ET with climbing gear. I then connect with another ET flight to JRO. My daughter is arriving into ADD on SV and joining me on the same ET flight. We are both on the same PNR for the connecting flight. I am assuming that we both need to clear customs and immigration, gather our bags, and recheck onto the connecting ET flight to JRO together. I am also assuming that we need e-visas to do this and avoid the immigration mess. Do I have this correct or is there an easier option. We have plenty of time- she has eight hours and I have five to make the connection.