Ethiopian vs KLM or Turkish to JRO
Sep 22, 2015, 6:49 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: UAL, AA
Posts: 46
Ethiopian vs KLM or Turkish to JRO
Hi All -
I will be flying Los Angeles to Kilimanjaro and wanted to get some feedback. Ethiopian seems to be the least expensive for a paid coach ticket, but I have honestly never heard of them or flown them.
Other options include Turkish Airlines, and KLM.
Thoughts, preferences, experiences, comparisons???
Thanks so much,
Blasky
I will be flying Los Angeles to Kilimanjaro and wanted to get some feedback. Ethiopian seems to be the least expensive for a paid coach ticket, but I have honestly never heard of them or flown them.
Other options include Turkish Airlines, and KLM.
Thoughts, preferences, experiences, comparisons???
Thanks so much,
Blasky
Sep 22, 2015, 7:48 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Aurora, CO
Programs: Statusless and proud
Posts: 7,582
Hi All -
I will be flying Los Angeles to Kilimanjaro and wanted to get some feedback. Ethiopian seems to be the least expensive for a paid coach ticket, but I have honestly never heard of them or flown them.
Other options include Turkish Airlines, and KLM.
Thoughts, preferences, experiences, comparisons???
Thanks so much,
Blasky
I will be flying Los Angeles to Kilimanjaro and wanted to get some feedback. Ethiopian seems to be the least expensive for a paid coach ticket, but I have honestly never heard of them or flown them.
Other options include Turkish Airlines, and KLM.
Thoughts, preferences, experiences, comparisons???
Thanks so much,
Blasky
I wouldn't pay a premium myself to be on the other airlines, but if I did, I'd choose Turkish (good food).
Chris
Sep 22, 2015, 7:53 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: UAL, AA
Posts: 46
Thanks for that. The only reason I would pay a premium is for extra legroom. Depending on the costs and if its available of course. Not sure if Ethiopian even offers a premium economy seat, other than coach and biz class.
Sep 22, 2015, 1:20 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 529
With Ethiopian Airlines, you have to transit the wildly chaotic Addis Ababa airport. If you know what to expect and are a go-with-the-flow type of experienced traveler, it wouldn't be too painful. The flights to/from Los Angeles also will have a stop in Dublin for loading and unloading passengers.
With KLM, Turkish Airlines, and Qatar Airways (beginning 1 January 2016) everything is likely to go smoothly. However, an overnight stay in IST would be necessary on TK and in DOH on QR.
Do not forget the possibility of a multiple airline itinerary, like UA to Houston and then TK to JRO. The possibilities are endless.
With KLM, Turkish Airlines, and Qatar Airways (beginning 1 January 2016) everything is likely to go smoothly. However, an overnight stay in IST would be necessary on TK and in DOH on QR.
Do not forget the possibility of a multiple airline itinerary, like UA to Houston and then TK to JRO. The possibilities are endless.
Sep 22, 2015, 1:47 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: UAL, AA
Posts: 46
Yes... The flight connections for TK as well as KLM are very tight. Probably best to see if I can take a non direct flight and save the overnight requirement. So much to consider... Overall would u say one airline preferred / far superior than the other?
Sep 22, 2015, 3:52 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 529
For economy, KLM, Qatar, and Turkish are all pretty good.
Ethiopian is good, too, if on a 787-800 or 777-300ER. But beware of the delays on flights leaving Addis Ababa (except to JRO, which almost always seems to be on time). Don't forget the option of flying to Toronto or Dulles to pick-up Ethiopian there, at a possibly lower cost.
Delta is a one-airline option from Los Angeles to Johannesburg, with an onward same day connection to Dar es Salaam and then another connection to JRO.
Emirates, Etihad, KLM, Turkish, Qatar, British Airways, Saudi Airlines, and China Airways are one-airline options from Los Angeles to Nairobi, with an onward same day connection on Kenya Airways or Precision Air to JRO.
Emirates, KLM, Turkish, and Qatar are one-airline options from Los Angeles to Dar es Salaam with an onward same day connection to JRO.
And then there are lots of multiairline combinations to reach Europe for onward connections to JRO.
Tons of permutations, but not all of them are allowed on one ticket.
Ethiopian is good, too, if on a 787-800 or 777-300ER. But beware of the delays on flights leaving Addis Ababa (except to JRO, which almost always seems to be on time). Don't forget the option of flying to Toronto or Dulles to pick-up Ethiopian there, at a possibly lower cost.
Delta is a one-airline option from Los Angeles to Johannesburg, with an onward same day connection to Dar es Salaam and then another connection to JRO.
Emirates, Etihad, KLM, Turkish, Qatar, British Airways, Saudi Airlines, and China Airways are one-airline options from Los Angeles to Nairobi, with an onward same day connection on Kenya Airways or Precision Air to JRO.
Emirates, KLM, Turkish, and Qatar are one-airline options from Los Angeles to Dar es Salaam with an onward same day connection to JRO.
And then there are lots of multiairline combinations to reach Europe for onward connections to JRO.
Tons of permutations, but not all of them are allowed on one ticket.
Last edited by Sabasi; Sep 22, 2015 at 9:56 pm
Sep 22, 2015, 10:01 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 529
For economy, KLM, Qatar, and Turkish are all pretty good.
Ethiopian is good, too, if on a 787-800 or 777-300ER. But beware of the delays on flights leaving Addis Ababa (except to JRO, which almost always seems to be on time). Don't forget the option of flying to Toronto or Dulles to pick-up Ethiopian there, at a possibly lower cost.
Delta is a one-airline option from Los Angeles to Johannesburg, with an onward same day connection to Dar es Salaam and then another connection to JRO.
Emirates, Etihad, KLM, Turkish, Qatar, British Airways, Saudi Airlines, SWISS, and China Airways are one-airline options from Los Angeles to Nairobi, with an onward same day connection on Kenya Airways or Precision Air to JRO.
Emirates, Etihad, KLM, Turkish, and Qatar are one-airline options from Los Angeles to Dar es Salaam with an onward same day connection to JRO.
SWISS is a one-airline option from Los Angeles to Dar es Salaam with an onward next day connection to JRO.
And then there are lots of multiairline combinations to reach Europe for onward connections to JRO.
Tons of permutations, but not all of them are allowed on one ticket.
Ethiopian is good, too, if on a 787-800 or 777-300ER. But beware of the delays on flights leaving Addis Ababa (except to JRO, which almost always seems to be on time). Don't forget the option of flying to Toronto or Dulles to pick-up Ethiopian there, at a possibly lower cost.
Delta is a one-airline option from Los Angeles to Johannesburg, with an onward same day connection to Dar es Salaam and then another connection to JRO.
Emirates, Etihad, KLM, Turkish, Qatar, British Airways, Saudi Airlines, SWISS, and China Airways are one-airline options from Los Angeles to Nairobi, with an onward same day connection on Kenya Airways or Precision Air to JRO.
Emirates, Etihad, KLM, Turkish, and Qatar are one-airline options from Los Angeles to Dar es Salaam with an onward same day connection to JRO.
SWISS is a one-airline option from Los Angeles to Dar es Salaam with an onward next day connection to JRO.
And then there are lots of multiairline combinations to reach Europe for onward connections to JRO.
Tons of permutations, but not all of them are allowed on one ticket.
Last edited by Sabasi; Sep 22, 2015 at 10:10 pm
Sep 26, 2015, 7:46 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Sep 26, 2015, 11:09 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: YVR - Vancouver, with most winter weekends in Whistler.
Programs: Aeroplan 35K, Alaska MVP, Marriott Titanium / Lifetime Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 4,613
If earning miles in any particular program isn't important to you, I would probably pick KLM out of the three.
The rationale for me would be that if you ever had flight cancellations or interruptions, KLM will handle it much better and more professionally than Turkish or Ethiopian ever would. Although those two are Star Alliance members, they have substantially less polish on their customer care and delivery than KLM and, as a result, would be my last choices.
The rationale for me would be that if you ever had flight cancellations or interruptions, KLM will handle it much better and more professionally than Turkish or Ethiopian ever would. Although those two are Star Alliance members, they have substantially less polish on their customer care and delivery than KLM and, as a result, would be my last choices.