Ethiopian Airlines With kids ?

[Grz63]

Hi Everyone, I am planning a non-hunting trip, a mobile safari in 2027 June, with my partner and my daugther's family (inc 3 kids), from France or Frankfurt: Maun to Kasane + a couple of days in Vic Falls. Ethiopian Airlines could be a solution via ADD for MUB and VFA but the quality seems very poor according to the users comments (employees, delays, lost bags etc). What do think ? What do you recommend (Lufthansa -> JNB + airlink ?)
Philippe

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

lufthansa
just way easier especially from europe
air france, klm, also options

 

[VonJager]

I flew ethiopian from IAD-ADD-HRE in 2021. The employees were fine, I personally had no delays, and did not lose any bags including my rifle, though, the airport in ADD was interesting. Very chaotic, and seemed to be operating by the seat of their pants with rerouting passenger foot traffic with a wall of employees at one point.

I cannot speak to lufthansa, but I have booked with them for this september, DEN-FRA-JNB with airlink for mozambique connection.

If it goes well I am planning to bring family to Namibia next year with DEN-FRA-WDH route. Or DEN-MUC-WDH.

In 2011 I flew Air france DTW-CDG-JNB. I think air france was better than ethiopian but it was also 10 years prior. It seems everything is getting worse with time.

Just my

 

[Landlock91]

With kids, spend the money and go Lufthansa to Johannesburg, then Airlink to Maun and on to Kasane. I know it's more expensive. I know it adds a connection. I know it's tempting to take the direct-ish routing through Addis. But after doing both, I wouldn't put a family with young kids through Ethiopian if I had any other reasonable option.

 

[Grz63]

@Landlock91 there is no additionnal connection in fact . No one of us is living near CDG nor FRA. We need to reach the airport with a flght or with the TGV. Then only one connection is the maximum in Africa: either ADD or JNB.
And more connection is more time.

According to tripadvisor (Fr) Ethiopian is 3/5 (7366 comments), AirFrance 3/5 (38095) and Lufthansa 3.5 /5 (44687). On Skytrax 2025 AirFRance is 8th, Luft 15th, KLM 21th, Ethiopian 38th , Eurowings (40th) . I was on the same position as you.
In 2022 I flew Eurowings to Windhoek, after the TGV from Lyon it was ok. In 2021 the Covid killed AirNamibia).

@VonJager it seems Ethiopian Airlines satisfaction level has decreased compare to 2021.

 

[VonJager]

@Grz63 I used Ethiopian because I wanted to get to Zim with rifle and skip JNB. It worked, but not sure I would do it exactly the same again.

Like I said, everything, and every company seems to be getting worse. Enshittification

 

[Mountaineer]

Ethiopian airline is a little scatter brained at times with their procedures but the employees do care. If you aren’t the type to worry about everything go for it.