17 hour layover at ADD, eligible for free hotel?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 990
17 hour layover at ADD, eligible for free hotel?
I have some upcoming flights with Ethiopian Airlines and a 17 hour layover at ADD and I was wondering if am eligible for a free hotel? And what do you have to do at the airport to get this free hotel?
Regards,
Granite64
Regards,
Granite64
#2
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,672
Yes, you'll be eligible. They should give you a voucher when you check-in at the departure airport. If not then go to the transit counter in ADD. You'll show your voucher to immigration and they'll stamp your boarding pass, no visa needed.
#3
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Bonn, Germany
Programs: TK Elite, LH FTL
Posts: 647
As long as you are connecting between ET flights, they will provide a free hotel night, meals and airport transportation. You will also not need to pay for your visa, but rather be given a transit pass. I have never received the hotel vouchers at departure, but it is pretty straightforward in ADD - you need to go to the transit/hotel counter on the arrivals level (before the stairs down to passport control), they take your passport and your boarding passes, manually fill out a voucher (and assign you a hotel) and then you go through immigration, pick up your bags (if you checked them only to ADD), go through customs and then wait in the 'bus passenger waiting zone' (after the X-ray machines of customs but before leaving the sterile area. Somebody will eventually come and fetch you, once the shuttle bus for your hotel arrives. The hotels, which ET uses, are not great by and large, mostly local hotels on the periphery of the city, but they are usually clean and safe, the food uninspiring, but edible. If you are flying in business class, they will put you in the Hilton Hotel (which is also not great), but in coach there is no telling where you will end up.
#4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SoCal
Posts: 622
As long as you are connecting between ET flights, they will provide a free hotel night, meals and airport transportation. You will also not need to pay for your visa, but rather be given a transit pass. I have never received the hotel vouchers at departure, but it is pretty straightforward in ADD - you need to go to the transit/hotel counter on the arrivals level (before the stairs down to passport control), they take your passport and your boarding passes, manually fill out a voucher (and assign you a hotel) and then you go through immigration, pick up your bags (if you checked them only to ADD), go through customs and then wait in the 'bus passenger waiting zone' (after the X-ray machines of customs but before leaving the sterile area. Somebody will eventually come and fetch you, once the shuttle bus for your hotel arrives. The hotels, which ET uses, are not great by and large, mostly local hotels on the periphery of the city, but they are usually clean and safe, the food uninspiring, but edible. If you are flying in business class, they will put you in the Hilton Hotel (which is also not great), but in coach there is no telling where you will end up.
Just to confirm, one would have the ability at the origination check-in counter to advise staff to only check the luggage through to ADD?
#6
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,672
I had to do this before going NBO-ADD-LLW because my clothing was in the bag that was being checked in. They didn't make too much of an issue of it, but everyone kept asking why I had my luggage for a transit in ADD.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SoCal
Posts: 622
Thanks.
Thanks as well. And I guess there is no issue in re-checking the bag for the final leg?
Thanks as well. And I guess there is no issue in re-checking the bag for the final leg?
#8
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,672
I'd advise against changing your seat at this point though since your original boarding pass has your only immigration stamp. We did this and thankfully the officer at exit immigration was ok with the explanation that the ET check-in counter took the original boarding pass since we changed seats. He just stamped an exit stamp in my partner's passport instead. I can imagine that they could make more of an issue though if they chose to since we didn't have visas.
#9
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SoCal
Posts: 622
No issue at all, just walk up to the check-in counter as usual. They may ask why it wasn't checked through, but explaining that you needed whatever was inside during the hotel stay is sufficient.
I'd advise against changing your seat at this point though since your original boarding pass has your only immigration stamp. We did this and thankfully the officer at exit immigration was ok with the explanation that the ET check-in counter took the original boarding pass since we changed seats. He just stamped an exit stamp in my partner's passport instead. I can imagine that they could make more of an issue though if they chose to since we didn't have visas.
I'd advise against changing your seat at this point though since your original boarding pass has your only immigration stamp. We did this and thankfully the officer at exit immigration was ok with the explanation that the ET check-in counter took the original boarding pass since we changed seats. He just stamped an exit stamp in my partner's passport instead. I can imagine that they could make more of an issue though if they chose to since we didn't have visas.
I guess the only other thing that I've noticed are inconsistencies mentioned online as to whether or not we will need to pay for a transit visa. We are traveling in business class and our layover is 16 hours. It seems clear we will be offered the hotel and transfer back and forth from the airport. I'm just not quite sure about the transit visa.
#10
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,660
I guess the only other thing that I've noticed are inconsistencies mentioned online as to whether or not we will need to pay for a transit visa. We are traveling in business class and our layover is 16 hours. It seems clear we will be offered the hotel and transfer back and forth from the airport. I'm just not quite sure about the transit visa.
#11
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,672
Thank you. Will definitely hold on to our original bp.
I guess the only other thing that I've noticed are inconsistencies mentioned online as to whether or not we will need to pay for a transit visa. We are traveling in business class and our layover is 16 hours. It seems clear we will be offered the hotel and transfer back and forth from the airport. I'm just not quite sure about the transit visa.
I guess the only other thing that I've noticed are inconsistencies mentioned online as to whether or not we will need to pay for a transit visa. We are traveling in business class and our layover is 16 hours. It seems clear we will be offered the hotel and transfer back and forth from the airport. I'm just not quite sure about the transit visa.
It's a really simple process. Don't go to the visa on arrival counter, just straight to the immigration booth with your voucher in hand. There is one line roped off for Cloud9 (Business Class) that you'll have access to, saving some time if the others are backed up.
#12
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,660
Indeed, it's not even a real visa per say. They don't put a full page sticker in your passport like a typical visa. Instead you'll take your hotel voucher and boarding passes to immigration, they will put entry stamps on your boarding passes and send you on your way. Then coming back to the airport you'll go though exit immigration and they'll put the exit stamps on your boarding passes. Nothing at all goes in your passport.
#13
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,672
This varies. I have about a dozen entry/exit stamps in my passport from the transit visas, but the rest of the time there is only a stamp on the boarding pass or a slip of paper that needs to be handed in at departure. Never seen a logic as to what they will do on a given day.
#15
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,660
The only benefit *G has is the priority lines to pick up the voucher and go through immigration. Which can easily save you an hour at the worst times.