Flying with Ethiopian Airlines often means long-haul journeys and extended layovers in Addis Ababa. This post shares my experience with the airline’s Cloud Nine business class, including lounge access, onboard comfort, food service, and how I secured a business class upgrade for a 12-hour flight.
Flying with Ethiopian Airlines usually means at least 12 hours of flight time to reach the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Depending on your final destination, this can easily add several more hours of flying after your connection at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.
The airline’s business class, called Cloud Nine, a reference to the English expression meaning happiness or extreme comfort, can make this long journey much more pleasant.
Lounges
Even before leaving the ground, you already start to feel the comfort of business class through access to Star Alliance lounges.
During the layover in Addis Ababa, Cloud Nine passengers also have access to an exclusive lounge, offering snacks, drinks, and even massage chairs, which makes a big difference during long connections.
Comfort
Ethiopian Airlines’ business class offers generous legroom and seats that fully recline into a flat bed.
Onboard service is another strong point. The flight attendants are very friendly, attentive, and speak excellent English, which makes the experience smooth and comfortable throughout the flight.
Food
Upon boarding, I was given a very detailed menu to choose my meals. The food is abundant, and both main courses and appetizers were served five times during the 12-hour flight.
Champagne is served before takeoff, or in my case, orange juice, which was perfectly fine and served with the same level of attention.
How to Upgrade
While you can purchase a business class seat directly, it is also possible to upgrade using Star Alliance points or through an online bidding system.
With this system, you place a bid indicating how much you are willing to pay for the upgrade. If a seat is available, your bid may be accepted for the amount you offered. The website also shows a probability indicator, giving you an idea of how likely your bid is to be successful.
In my case, I paid USD 750 for an upgrade on the Addis Ababa to São Paulo (Guarulhos) flight, which lasts 12 hours.
Conclusion
Flying Ethiopian Airlines business class was an excellent experience. While it is not the most luxurious business class on the market, the price is reasonable and it delivers solid comfort, not only during the flight itself but also during the layover in Addis Ababa, an airport that is usually extremely crowded.
For long-haul flights to destinations such as China or Thailand, Cloud Nine is a cost-effective option when compared to the main airlines operating on these routes.
Leave a reply