My experience flying with Ethiopian Airlines

I'll start with a confession: I chose the lousiest possible flight just to save a few pennies. This is something one has to experience before stating: NEVER AGAIN.

 

My flight with this infamous company left São Paulo, Brazil, made a brief stopover in Lome, Togo, a connection in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with a waiting period of - gasp - 12 hours (!!!) to only then drop me off in Frankfurt. When I noticed this damn connection it was too late, the ticket had already been issued and only by forging a death certificate would I be able to get my money back. Then I thought: I'm a backpacker. What's the big deal with spending one night sleeping on an airport floor in Africa? It's just another adventure :)

 

I arrived in São Paulo GRU airport with a tranquil heart, at peace with my fate. Then came the first good surprise: I received, along with the boarding pass, a voucher that included transfer, accomodation, dinner and breakfast in a four star hotel. Way to go, Ethiopian!

The plane itself wasn't much. The seats reclined very little, it wasn't very comfortable. But, as it was a new company in Brazil and therefore not so widely known, the flight came empty and I could lie down in three seats. So much win! I arrived at the airport half drunk after a marathon of farewells with wonderful friends and passed out the second I got on the plane. When I woke up takeoff had already finished and I went back to sleeping like a rock. 

I was keenly awakened by a stewardess wearing a very colorful African outfit, asking if I wanted "fish or meat." I chose the meat and received a typical economy class meal: A tasteless glop. At least the wine was ok.

Hmmmm.... tasty! NOT.

Once awake and (mis) fed, I decided to navigate the entertainment center. Each seat has an individual screen, something that should be default for long flights but unfortunately it isn't, so point for Ethiopian. The movie selection was surprisingly good: lots of blockbusters and classics, a few European, Asian and African movies. I watched The Internship and Before Midnight, both very entertaining.

At this point the sun had risen and breakfast was served - which was at the very least, well, eccentric: a kind of unidentifiable mousse/pie followed by baked potatoes and chopped tomatoes. It must be typical Ethiopian, but it did not match my tastebuds. At least there was also a piece of bread and some fruit salad to ease the stomach.

I was under the impression of seating behind three African celebrities. Throughout the flight both passangers and flight attendants came talk to them, and by the end of the flight pretty much everyone greeted them. I found the Africans very smiling to each other, but not as much to me. Maybe it was my crumpled sleep face, or the competition with the celebs, i don't know.

Flying over the African coast was a thrill. I saw eternal beaches and a lot of green - I couldn't expect any less of a continent that was brothers with South America on the days of Pangea.

And one last thought: my experience in that place has proved that using deodorant is not part of the local culture. Brands, that is a huge market to explore!

P.S.: However long and uncomfortable was this trip, I'll never regret buying those tickets because of this scene - the vastness of the Sahara merging with the Mediterranean, which in turn merges with the bluest sky I've ever seen.

So so, I know.