Enjoy Your Flight With Ethiopian Airlines: Comprehend Its Practices and Guidelines

Ethiopian Airlines has become a leading aviation group in Africa due to its establishment as a leader in various aviation facets, such as network expansion, technology, aviation business, and leadership. The airline was founded on 21 December 1945 as a state-owned and national carrier of Ethiopia. With the help of Africa's over 150 youngest fleet, Ethiopian Airlines provides flight service to over 160 passenger destinations and 68 cargo destinations. You can also fly to a destination you have longed for with the help of Ethiopian Airlines. However, there are a lot of things that you must know about the airline before you book your flight with it for a seamless travel experience. So, let's delve into the amazing world of Ethiopian Airlines. 

Ethiopian Airlines' hub

For the smooth conduct of the passenger and cargo flights of Ethiopian Airlines, it has established a few hubs at various locations, where some of the crucial hubs can be seen as follows: 

• Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD), Addis Ababa
• Liege-Bierset Airport (LGG), Liege
• Kamuzu International Airport (LLW), Lilongwe
• Lome-Tokoin International Airport (LFW), Lome
• Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), Lusaka

Ethiopian Airlines' Top International Destinations 

Ethiopian Airlines has positioned itself as the foremost aviation group in Africa. Its flights operate to various continents, including Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. However, if it would be difficult for you to decide which destination to fly to with Ethiopian Airlines, then you can fly to its top international destinations, where some of the popular international destinations of Ethiopian Airlines can be seen as follows: 

• Dulles International Airport (IAD), Washington, D.C.
• Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), Minneapolis
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark
• Melbourne Airport (MEL), Melbourne
• Spriggs Payne Airport (MLW), Liberia
• Ivato International Airport (TNR), Madagascar

Ethiopian Airlines' Code Share Partner

Though Ethiopian Airlines flies to various locations, the airline considers that there may be places left where it is currently unable to provide the service to its passengers. Thus, it has signed some code-share agreements with various partner airlines through which the airline helps you to fly to a region where you have always craved to fly. You can learn about the code-share partner airlines of Ethiopian Airlines as follows:

• Air Canada
• Kuwait Airways
• EgyptAir
• Australian Airlines
• United Airlines
• Oman Air
• TAP Air Portugal

Ethiopian Airlines' Types of Classes and their facilities

To make your travel comfortable and convenient, Ethiopian Airlines has provided two fare classes for its passengers, where they can experience a myriad of services offered by the airline. There is no specific fare class which is good or not, but it is about the preference one has and the services they want while travelling with the airline. However, if you are confused about which fare class to book your flight with Ethiopian Airlines, you can learn about the services in each fare class, which can be seen as follows:

• Economy Class

  • You can fly comfortably with Ethiopian Airlines in its comfortable seats.
  • To ensure a memorable flight for everyone, the airline strives to provide high hospitality by paying individual attention to each passenger.
  • You can choose your preferred highest-quality meal onboard, which is prepared by experienced and proficient chefs. 
  • While reaching your destination, you can also experience a distinctive Ethiopian national dish, which is prepared and served in a lasagna style. 
  • You would be provided with complimentary soft drinks, red and white wines, beers, and even hot beverages. 
  • To stay connected with your loved ones, you can purchase an internet connectivity package on selected flights of Ethiopian Airlines.
  • You can buy the latest products from the in-flight duty-free shopping onboard.
  • The airline also allows you to travel comfortably with your child, as it provides meals, games, and movies onboard for the kids. 

• Business Class (Cloud Nine)

  • You are allowed to carry an additional checked baggage apart from the standard one.
  • The airline provides you with exclusive access to its C9 lounges, where you can relax and be comfortable before your flight starts.
  • You can board the aircraft with priority, which provides you with ample time to settle into your flight. 
  • You can enjoy your journey in a relaxed cabin, where the cabin crew will treat and assist you.
  • The airline will mark the beginning of your journey by serving you welcome drinks. 
  • On short-haul flights, you are provided with scrumptious gastronomical dishes, which are all prepared by some top chefs. Along with that, you will also be offered alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in-flight.
  • While travelling on a long-haul flight in Ethiopian's Business Class, you will get the experience of:
    • The airline's appetising meal. 
    • You can stay entertained throughout the flight by enjoying TV hits, selected Hollywood blockbusters, games and music.
    • On selected flights of the airline, you can even adjust your seat based on your preferred position.

Ethiopian Airlines' Booking Process

There are various ways to reserve a seat on Ethiopian Airlines, including through its call centre, a travel agent, and its website. However, if you want to book the flight ticket on your own at your convenience from any place you want, through the official website of the airline. You can do so with the website in some steps, as mentioned below:

• Visit Ethiopian Airlines' website at ethiopianairlines.com
• Under the flight section, provide some of the basic itinerary requirements, and click on "Search."
• Choose the flight based on your suitability, and move forward. 
• Depending on whether you have an account with the airline, read the note provided on the screen and proceed with the booking. 
• Depending on your preferred option, follow the instructions as instructed. 
• Complete your booking purchase after paying the final payment.
• After that, you will receive an email at your registered email address from the airline confirming your booking. 

Ethiopian Airlines' Change or cancellation policy 

Though you have already booked your flight with Ethiopian Airlines and want to experience its array of services, you are still required to make some changes in your travel plan due to some unavoidable circumstances in your life. Thus, you either want to change your flight schedule or cancel it altogether. Though it is possible, the services vary based on the fare class you have selected. Thus, you are required to know about the change and cancellation policy of Ethiopian Airlines, which can be seen as follows:

• You are not able to cancel or change your flight if you have booked a multi-city booking with the airline.
• You can cancel or change your booking by paying the cancellation fee up to 24 hours before your scheduled departure.
• The change and cancellation fee would be based on your fare class and the flight route you have booked. 
• You can cancel the whole reservation through Manage Booking, or you can cancel the booking of one passenger from a reservation by contacting their call centre or live chat. 
• You are not even able to cancel only one segment of the flight in your reservation.

Ethiopian Airlines' Change or Cancellation Process 

Just learning about the change and cancellation policy of Ethiopian Airlines is not enough till the time you inform the airline about the changes, which is basically done through a prescribed process as mentioned by the airline. If you want to make changes or cancel your flight with Ethiopian Airlines, you can follow the steps as stated below: 

• Visit Ethiopian Airlines' website at ethiopianairlines.com
• On the "Manage Booking" page, enter your last name and booking reference number in the provided space to retrieve your booking.
• Select the option for changes based on your preference.
• Depending on your preferred option, follow the instructions as instructed. 
• Make the payment, if necessary.
• After that, you will receive an email at your registered email address from the airline confirming your changes. 

Note: The method mentioned above does not allow you to cancel your booking if you want to cancel a single passenger's booking in a multi-passenger booking or just one segment of your flight. To do so, you must call the airline's representative or use the airline's live chat application. 

Ethiopian Airlines' loyalty program

The official name of the loyalty program of Ethiopian Airlines is ShebaMiles. If you have joined the program, you are allowed to earn miles while travelling on Ethiopian Airlines and its partner airlines or use any of their other services. You will earn points on flights depending on your initially chosen fare class and the distance you have travelled with the airline. You have the chance to redeem your earned ShebaMiles for 3 years, excluding the year it was earned. However, if you are active in the final year of the expiry of your ShibaMiles, the validity extends for one year. The ShibaMiles have four tiers, which you can earn with:

• ShibaMiles Blue- 3,000 status miles or 2 qualifying segments.
• ShibaMilesSilver- 25,000 status miles or 25 qualifying segments.
• ShibaMiles Gold- 50,000 status miles or 50 qualifying segments.
• ShibaMiles Platinum- 100,000 status miles or 80 qualifying segments.

Process to Join Ethiopian Airlines' Loyalty Program

Ethiopian Airlines allows you to join the program for free if you have attained the minimum age of two. However, you would want to know how to join the program to take the various benefits offered by the airline. Then, you can look at the section provided below and understand the step-by-step process to join the ShibaMiles membership:

• Visit Ethiopian Airlines' website at ethiopianairlines.com
• Go to the "Information" section.
• Click on "Loyalty."
• Tap on "Join ShebaMiles."
• Fill out the information as asked by the airline.
• Follow further instructions as instructed and become a member of the ShibaMiles. 

Benefits of Joining Ethiopian Airlines' Loyalty Program

After becoming a ShibaMiles member, you will have a great advantage when flying with Ethiopian Airlines. And with the airline's increasing tier status, you will benefit even more, which you can enjoy till the validity of your ShibaMiles points. Some of the basic benefits of becoming a member of the program can be seen as follows, where the terms may vary based on the tier status you have achieved:

• You can carry a minimum of 5 kg of extra luggage in addition to the standard allowance on your flight.
• At the airport, you will be allowed to access the airport lounges for Ethiopian departures to make your journey smoother.
• You are allowed to rebook your award flight for free, and the number of times you can freely change it depends on your elite status.
• Your baggage will be handled with priority at the airport.
• The airline will provide you with a complimentary upgrade for your flight.
• You are allowed to freely cancel your award ticket flight and receive a refund for the fully unused award ticket, provided that you have cancelled your ticket within the validity period of your awarded ticket. 

Ethiopian Airlines' Refund Policy

Once you have cancelled your flight ticket with Ethiopian Airlines, you will definitely want to know what happens to the amount you paid to the airline for your ticket and whether you are eligible for a refund. Thus, you can check the provided section, which comprises a full detail on the refund policy of Ethiopian Airlines:

• If you make a refund request with the airline, your whole reservation will be cancelled. 
• Once you submit your refund request to the airline, it won't be changed, so ensure to put all the correct information on the form. 
• If you buy a refundable ticket, you are allowed to get a full refund from the airline. 
• If you don't buy a refundable ticket, you will be refunded according to the airline's standard refund policy.
• You can obtain a complete refund from the airline if you purchased your ticket from the airline's official site, cancelled it within 24 hours of buying it, made your reservation at least seven days prior to the scheduled departure, and one of your flight routes includes a destination in the USA. 
• Provided that you have made the refund request to the airline after the departure of your flight, apart from other charges, a no-show fee would also be applied to your ticket.
• If you are applying for a refund due to a significant impact on the schedule of the flight from the airline, you can ask for a complete refund, along with the refund for any additional services you have purchased from the airline. 

Ethiopian Airlines' Seat Upgrade 

It may be possible that you have booked an Economy fare class with Ethiopian Airlines, but after grasping the exclusive facilities offered by the airline in its Cloud Nine fare class, you may want to switch to the upgrade, but don't know the way. Then, you can look at the provided section through which you can learn about how you can upgrade your seat and what its policies are: 

• You can make a bid to the airline to let them know that you are interested in the upgrade.
• You will be invited to make a bid for the upgrade seven days before your flight departs, where you can make your desired bid up to 50 hours before your departure. 
• You can change the amount of your bid to higher or lower before the airline accepts or rejects your original bid. 
• For multiple passengers in a single booking, you are required to make a bid for everyone on the list. 
• You will be notified about the status of your upgrade between 50 and 24 hours before your flight through an email.
• If your bid is accepted, it is neither refundable nor transferable.
• After the upgrade, the fare conditions of your ticket remain the same as those of your original one regarding change, cancellation, refund, baggage, or any other policies. 

Ethiopian Airlines' Pet Policy 

Everyone wants to make their flight journey enjoyable. Maybe your little furry friend also wants that. Hence, it is essential to comply with the specific pet rules of the airline on which you are flying. Thus, if you are going to travel with Ethiopian Airlines with your loving pet, you have to take care of its pet policies, which can be seen as follows:

• Only dogs and cats are allowed to be carried by the airline, whether in the cabin or hold.
• Each compartment of the airline holds a limited number of pets in the cabin, where the number varies based on the fare class and the type of aircraft.
• The dimensions of the pet and its carrier must be larger than 55 x 40 x 20 cm, and their total weight should not exceed 8 kg. 
• For the hold, you are allowed to carry a pet whose weight, along with its carrier, is limited to 45 kg. 
• If the combined weight of your pet and its carrier exceeds 45 kg, you have to travel it with cargo. 
• You have to pay the pet travel fee to the airline, regardless of where it travels. 

Ethiopian Airlines' Name change and date of birth change 

Having a correct name and other information on the airfare tickets is essential for a comfortable flight journey and a smooth boarding process. However, there can be chances when you have made a mistake during the reservation and have noticed it after the confirmed booking. Then you are required to make all your information correct. For that, you must know about their policies. Thus, in the provided section, you can know about the name change and date of birth change policy of Ethiopian Airlines as follows: 

• Under the following conditions, Ethiopian Airlines may allow you to change your name after you submit the required documents:
  • You have booked your reservation under your husband's name, despite your maiden name, or vice versa. 
  • You have more than one name, but you give only one name on the ticket, and you want to add a second name as well.
  • Any transposition error in the first, middle, or last name can be corrected, provided that there is an error in only three letters. 
  • The airline allows you to change the title in your name. 
  • You have legally changed your name. 
• Conditions to make corrections in your itinerary details with the airline:
  • You must make the correction before the departure of the first segment of your flight.
  • You can make corrections in your ticket through the airline's call centre 24 hours before your departure. 
  • You are required to submit proof of your original name or any legal changes in your name to the airline. 
  • You are required to pay a service charge of USD 50 to make the correction in your ticket. 
• The airline may change your date of birth in your airfare ticket at its discretion. To do so, you must call Ethiopian Airlines' representatives and learn about the conditions for changing your date of birth. 

Ethiopian Airlines' Group booking 

If you want to travel with your loved ones in a group, you must comprehend the airline's group booking policy. Different airlines may have varying rules, which you must comply with. Thus, while booking your group reservation with Ethiopian Airlines, you can learn about its group booking policies, which can be seen as follows:

• You can book a group booking with Ethiopian Airlines if the number of passengers is between 10 and 99.
• You are required to reserve your group booking 331 days before your planned departure.
• To purchase your group booking, you must contact the airline's call centre, local office, or travel agent.
• Although you are not required to provide the names of the travellers at the time of the booking, they should be submitted to the airline at least 30 days before the departure. 
• Group booking passengers are allowed to do an online check-in.
• The other policy of the group booking, including change, cancellation, and refund, is applicable based on the terms and conditions agreed upon by you at the time of the booking. 

Ethiopian Airlines' Types of Discounts or Offers 

You would like to enjoy various benefits and discounts offered by Ethiopian Airlines. However, some of its benefits are provided to a specific section of society. So, let's find out if you fit under the airline's exclusive discounted offers as follows: 

• Student discount- Ethiopian Airlines allows you to get a 10 per cent off as a student discount, provided that you have joined their Student Club Membership program. 
• Special fare discount—The airline offers a discount based on the flight, regardless of any specialised categories. From time to time, the airline provides special fare discounts for its specific flights, which you can book to get a cheap flight from the airline. 

Ethiopian Airlines' Coupon (Festival Coupon) 

Apart from any specialised category, or waiting for the airline to provide their special fare discount, you can even get the discount from the airline using their coupon code in the following easy steps:

• Visit Ethiopian Airlines' website at ethiopianairlines.com
• Go ahead and book your new flight.
• At the beginning, you would be provided with the option to provide the coupon code.
• Fill in your coupon code in the provided space.
• Continue the booking process as usual. 
• In the end, you have to make the payment where the price is shown after applying the coupon code. 

Ethiopian Airlines' Last Minute Deals 

Though last-minute flights are generally costly, Ethiopian Airlines offers some ways to book them at an affordable cost. Some of the most efficient ones can be seen as follows: 

• Subscribe to the newsletters of Ethiopian Airlines—You can subscribe to the airline's newsletters so that you will be informed immediately about any discounts and offers initiated by the airline. Thus, if there is a discount in flight that you want to fly on, you can book it at an affordable cost even at the last minute. 
• Join the airline's loyalty program—After joining the ShibaMiles membership and attaining an elite status, you will be provided with an awarded flight from the airline, which you can book even at the last minute to make it affordable. 

Ethiopian Airlines' International Travel Rules

To make your flight experience enhanced and allow you to fly confidently on an international flight, you must know about the international travel rules, which you can learn from the following section, as provided by Ethiopian Airlines:

• Passport, visa, and health certificate requirements vary from one country to another. Thus, you are required to know about these specific rules based on the country you are visiting. 
• Some countries even require proof of a return ticket or onward travel when you enter the destination, along with evidence of the funds for your stay. 
• If you have a connecting flight from another city, you must also have an entry visa for that country.
• Your passport should be valid when you enter an international destination for the whole period of your stay, and for some destinations the validity of the passport should be at least six months more. 

Ethiopian Airlines' Cheapest Time or Date of Booking Flight

Apart from all the methods mentioned above, there are some other ways to make your Ethiopian Airlines flight cheaper and more affordable, such as booking it during the early weekdays of Tuesday and Wednesday. By booking your flight at this time, you can make your flight pocket-friendly, as the airline provides sales tickets to fill the vacant seats of its specific airline, making it beneficial for low-budget travellers. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a group booking with Ethiopian Airlines online?

No, Ethiopian Airlines doesn't provide the service of online group booking; you have to call the airline's representative for the same. 

Do Ethiopian Airlines allow me to earn ShibaMiles on the tickets that I have booked online?

Yes, Ethiopian Airlines allows you to earn ShibaMiles on tickets that you book online.

What is the change and cancellation fee for Ethiopian Airlines?

The change and cancellation fee of Ethiopian Airlines depends on the fare you have selected.

What is the last time by which I can correct my name on my Ethiopian Airlines flight ticket?

You are allowed to make name corrections, if applicable, with Ethiopian Airlines 24 hours before the departure of your first flight.

Am I allowed to make a bid to upgrade my seat on each and every flight of Ethiopian Airlines?

No, not every Ethiopian Airlines flight allows you to make a bid for your upgrade; only the flights for which you have received an email or a notification allow you to make a bid.