I can put a check next to number 17 on my Pre-30 Bucket List: Flying upgraded overseas
Now we can adequately give an Ethiopian Airlines review…
Ethiopian Coffee served traditionally on Ethiopian Airlines.
Our Ethiopian Airlines Cloud Nine Review
How it started:
Ethiopian Airlines found out about the nonprofit work we were doing in Ethiopia, and not only discounted our tickets, but upgraded us for free. (Ethiopian Airlines is a very patriotic business; they are still an Ethiopian company and like to see people give back to their home country.)
Ethiopian Airlines flew us first class via one of their partner airlines (Virgin America) to Washington DC.
Virgin Atlantic was so comfortable. For the leg of the flight I needed to stay awake, I slept the entire time.
After hanging out in the amazing Lufthasa club at the Dulles airport (open to all Ethiopian Airlines Cloud Nine Business Passengers), we were able to check out Ethiopian Airlines for the first time.
D.C. Airport waiting for the EA flight to arrive.
Ethiopian Airlines has a two-class cabin for their flights to Addis Ababa. They also recently acquired a 787 Dreamliner, which is a lighter weight plane with more leg room and a better experience all-around.
When we arrived, they directed us to the Cloud Nine cabin where we were given champagne.
Ethiopian Airlines flight attendants making us mimosas. (And yes, their entire crew was this attractive.)
I immediately discovered my bed/seat.
Dr. Jay Gordon and I were pretty darn excited with our seats.
We explored our area and discovered their quilts are probably the best airline blankets ever. They really keep you warm the entire trip, which sounds silly, but once you’re up in the freezing air, you appreciate it.
The Godfather and Gentleman Prefer Blondes were options in the movies section.
We also learned about the relax attitude in this cabin. No one was rushing us to put anything in the overhead cabin. In fact, anything logically safe lying around was allowed to be left there. We also could continue to sip our cocktails during takeoff.
What I noticed the most was how much food was offered. It seemed like every 5 minutes we were getting offered a cocktail, tea, Ethiopian coffee, or a menu for both Ethiopian and American meals. Then, the desserts would come, then more drinks. I was stuffed.
Jay and I jumping in to our first Ethiopian meal of the trip.
It was a fun experience all around. The cultural aspect of the flight was really cool to see, I had great conversations and flying companions, the movies were good, the food was good, the sleep was good.
One of the “snacks” served on this amazing voyage.
Do you have any fun (or maybe funny but awful) memories of flying internationally?
