As Ethiopian Airlines is part of Star Alliance, I was invited to relax at the United Club in Terminal 7. The club offered a late-night meal of miso soup and salad, frequently cleaned seating, plenty of charging outlets and friendly staff. The only drawback was the long walk to the gate when our midnight boarding time arrived.

At ADD’s lounge, a kind manager had to help me and my companions get past a gatekeeper-type attendant, even with our business-labeled tickets. Once inside, I found myself surrounded with vibrant local art, a buffet of warm Ethiopian food, a nicely appointed bar and a coffee ceremony area preparing the mighty bean in traditional fashion. Though not as plush as other Star Alliance lounges, I personally enjoyed the brief immersion into Ethiopian culture.

The Cloud Nine section of our Boeing 787 Dreamliner, attired in bright green and yellow, was clean and ready to go. Smiling flight attendants promptly offered drinks and reading materials, good-quality duvets and instructions on the seat’s bells and whistles. They also made sure everybody had a menu, a solid wine list with mostly French selections, and an amenity kit packaged in a sunny yellow bag perfect for toting sunscreen and bug spray to the Seychelles’ beaches.

Once the long-haul flight was underway, the flight attendants promptly picked up our menu cards. I opted for the Western-style salmon meal with a French white Bordeaux that ended up exceeding my expectations in presentation and freshness. I also appreciated a dessert-time cheese plate rather than a random slice alongside the salad. Although Ethiopian food is rustic by nature, my neighbor’s vegetarian dish was plated nicely and smelled wonderful.

After the late dinner, I was ready for bed. While the pillow and duvet were covered with a soft cotton that felt nice against the skin and the seats reclined 180 degrees, the upholstery was a little on the hard side. The movie selection was limited, but decent sound and picture quality made it possible for me to pick a movie that would help me nod off to sleep until the stopover in Dublin for security and cleaning the cabins. In about an hour, we were off again, and I repeated the process with a new set of flight attendants.

Our four-hour flight to the Seychelles was on an older plane whose upholstery had seen better days. In the business class, however, we were treated to a rolling buffet of Ethiopian dishes we could mix and match, dispensed by a cheerful, energetic flight attendant. She patiently answered questions about the food and Seychelles, and would be a great role model for the flight attendants working the DUB–ADD segment.

Ethiopian Airlines

Cloud Nine Business Class
Los Angeles (LAX) to Addis Ababa (ADD) via Dublin (DUB) to Seychelles (SEZ)