Dear Fred
I really must thank Ethiopian Airlines eternally! I have not been so
entertained as I was when I read your mail earlier today. I can just
visualize you holding one end of the cane desperately while a
beautiful woman is dragging you while staying as far from you as
possible - just in case your indecent thoughts transmit themselves to
her virginal self from your hand via her elbow!
But, seriously, I suspect all airlines have their off day - when they
neglect you and nearly leave you or when the cabin crew do not even
notice your presence ... when even the meal service skips you (or
attempts to skip you). I must say though that I have never experienced
a situation where airline staff ask fellow passengers to assist me
onto or off the plane. So the number of negative coincidences here
need to be dealt with via a complaint perhaps.
Anyway, I have been nearly left in Nairobi, in Washington, in Joburg
and in so many other places. In the end one has to rely on their
instincts - to kick a fuss or to demand things, etc etc. Or even to
alight from the plane on your own when you've just had it. One time I
just followed the crowd to Passport Control and to baggage; then
obviously I had to ask for help finding the bag.
I find that cabin crew of smaller airlines can be extremely fickle.
One time I sat in the front with a colleague, yet when we landed in
Nairobi from Kisumu they were saying I should wait until everybody
else alighted. Of course we disregarded that suggestion to their great
umbrage.
Good thing about flying KQ is that at least when you want to quarrel
you have the option of doing it in Swahili (rather than Amharic)!
Then there was the time I actually lost my rucksack (with my laptop
and focus 40) but that's a story for another day.
And thank you judge for the Indian case.
Lawrence
On 5/18/16, Fred Haga <fredhaga2013@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear Friends,
I recently used Ethiopian Airlines (ET) between Nairobi and Addis for
the first time and would like to share with you my experience.
1. I had to squeeze myself in order to fit the seat belt after maximum
adjustment; this was both ways of my trip. Not sure though whether it
was the same aircraft.
2. After check-in in Addis, I was asked to seat and wait for boarding
time. The ‘person’ who showed me where to sit apparently was not
Airline staff and asked some money for ‘Porter services’. I am used to
being assisted right from the point of check-in by Airline staff,
especially when I have indicated during booking that I will be
travelling by myself and will need assistance.
3. Waiting for the gates to be open where I was seated, no one came at
all for me; I got concerned when there was less than 30 minutes left
to departure time and caused. I had been waiting for more than 2
hours. Finally someone in the crowd came (a fellow traveller) and
showed me the ET desk. They had completely forgotten about me and we
had to run around frantically. I did not hear any call on the public
address for this missing passenger who had already checked in! I later
confirmed that there had been none anyway. There were no apologies
either!
4. As I was being taken to the plane, the lady guiding me insisted
that she had to hold my cane in order to lead me! We ended up having a
row as to how I would like to be guided. She must have thought I was
out of my mind or had indecent thoughts!
5. There was no attention given to me in terms of safety briefings,
toilet and summon button orientation or emergency practices. As much
as it is usually the same routine more or less, and even sometimes
boring, I am used to being given some briefing, regardless of how
superficial it is. It makes one feel that someone cares. Very
reassuring for me!
6. After landing in JKIA, I waited and waited (this is usually common
anyway), when someone finally appeared to help me find my way, I was
so relieved! However, it turns out that this was just one of the
passengers who had been asked by the cabin crew to help me out! I
found this undignified! The passenger was very helpful and friendly
though but really, this is not his work!
I am sharing this because I wish to hear your experiences with ET. Was
it just an unlucky day or is this common? I am definitely filing a
complaint with the Airline.
Most of my travel experiences with other airlines have been very
different, some even pleasant. However, I have heard of horror travel
stories by PWDs before. Maybe this was my turn!
Kind regards,
Fred Haga.
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