Flight: Ethiopian Airlines ET 574 from Addis Ababa to Chicago via Dublin (Only ground stop)
Duration: 8 hrs (ADD – DUB), 7 hrs 30 mins (DUB – ORD)
Equipment: B789(Boeing 787-900)
Class: Business
Seat: 2D – 2H (Middle row)
Seat Specification: Lie Flat Seats
Ethiopian Airlines alternates between Boeing 787-800 and 787-900 between Chicago and Addis Ababa. When Karen flew by herself between Chicago – Addis Ababa, it was the 787-800 with angled-flat seats. However, this time when we were both flying back to Chicago, we were lucky to have gotten the 787-9 with full lie-flat seats. The seats are still in 2 x 2 x 2 configuration so we selected the middle row so both of us could have direct aisle access.
The flight takes off from Addis Ababa quite late at night and dinner was served around midnight.
The fish was lukewarm and the breading was not crunchy, so very disappointed with the entrée. Karen did not care much for the chicken either.
After dinner, I watched a movie and then laid out the seat in bed mode and went to sleep.
Before landing in Dublin, the flight attendants served some snacks. After the plane arrived in Dublin, all passengers had to stay onboard and the entire crew switched. After staying on ground for about an hour, the flight took off for Chicago.
Soon after take-off lunch service commenced.
The Ethiopian bread with the chicken was the tastiest item during the whole flight. If I knew they were going to serve this, I would have opted out of bland chicken curry.
After lunch I slept for about 4 more hours and soon it was time to land in Chicago.
Bottomline:
Seat: ****
Service: ***
Food: **
On the plus side the seats were lie-flat. However, I am very partial to 1 x 2 x 1 configuration over 2 x 2 x 2 so that all seats have direct aisle access. The seat padding was quite good and did not have any trouble sleeping.
We experienced pretty ordinary and uninterested service from the flight attendants in all of our Ethiopian flights. The staff pretty much spent majority of the time in the galley chitchatting with each other.
Other than the very delicious Ethiopian bread with chicken, all other items on both legs of the flight were not that good. Even with the lackluster food and service, because of the lie-flat seat I would not hesitate to fly this carrier on these ultra long-haul flights.