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Ethiopian Airlines currently offers the only stopover program in Africa. It allows eligible travelers to get a free hotel stay and meals on layovers between eight and 24 hours. While there are limitations, this service is well worth taking advantage of if you travel through Ethiopian's hub in Addis Ababa, as it can be your introduction into this vibrant city (or just offer you a nice place to relax) before you continue on your journey.
Here's an overview of the Ethiopian Airlines stopover program — including my experience using it.
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Ethiopian Airlines Stopover Program Overview
Whether you want some time to explore Addis Ababa or just a rest between long flights, Ethiopian Airlines has you covered. Passengers with a layover of 8–24 hours get a free hotel stay as part of their ticket.
Ethiopian Airlines stopover benefits
Passengers who qualify for the Ethiopian Airlines stopover program will receive the following benefits:
- One free night at a hotel, most likely the new Skylight Hotel (currently the largest hotel in Africa)
- Up to three meal vouchers
- Free transit visa valid for up to 24 hours
- Ground transportation to and from the hotel
With rare exceptions, you'll stay in the Skylight Hotel. Its rooms are modern and comfortable, and you'll have access to some excellent Ethiopian food buffets. That's a big plus, as dinner and breakfast are included in your stopover free of charge.
The full terms for the stopover program are available here. It's worth noting that nothing in them says you must use the complimentary shuttle to/from the hotel; if you want to hire a guide for a city tour during your layover and have them pick you up straight from the airport, this is possible (we've tested it ourselves).
Related: What Is the Difference Between a Layover vs Stopover?
Ethiopian Airlines stopover limitations
To qualify for the Ethiopian Airlines free hotel via stopover, Ethiopian Airlines must operate both flights into and out of Addis Ababa. You can't fly another airline and get a free stopover here. And your layover (the total time between flights) can't be less than eight or more than 24 hours.
Moreover, the flights must be on the same ticket. And you will not qualify for a free stopover if you book a later departure flight to take advantage of this program when an earlier flight is available (leaving less than eight hours after arrival).
And you may see online claims that the hotel stay isn't exactly free since long-haul flights with a long stopover in Addis Ababa cost $70 more. But I've found no validity to this. I've found several examples of flights (short and long) where there's no additional cost given in the fare breakdown for the stopover in the surcharges, taxes, and fees section.
How To Claim a Free Hotel Night in Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines
To get your Addis Ababa stopover package, book your flight as usual, transiting through Addis Ababa Bole Airport (ADD) with Ethiopian Airlines. Ensure you have a layover between eight and 24 hours in Addis Ababa and that there are no earlier flights out of the city to your destination. And if you were wondering, flights booked with miles instead of cash also qualify for the Addis Ababa stopover program.
You should receive your hotel and meal vouchers at the check-in desk for your flight. If you don't receive them, you can always claim them at the transit desk at ADD. You can do so after passing immigration and customs.
Speaking of immigration and customs, just show your onward ticket and passport when prompted. No extra documents are necessary.
From there, proceed to the baggage claim level, scan your belongings at customs, and head to the transit hotel desk near the exit (look for the big line of people, most likely). Employees will ensure you have the document needed for checking into your hotel and direct you to a shuttle.
My Experience Using the Ethiopian Airlines Stopover Program
I recently had the opportunity to utilize the Ethiopian Airlines stopover program on my way from the United States to Windhoek, Namibia, via Addis Ababa. In short, my experience was incredibly smooth.
To walk you through my journey, I originally booked my round-trip flights out of Atlanta, flying to Addis Ababa (ADD) and then on to Windhoek (WDH). And I took the the same route back. My layover in Addis Ababa on the return flight was only 45 minutes, but on the way there, it was about 11 hours. This made it the perfect scenario to try out Ethiopian's stopover program.
I booked this round-trip business class flight using 130,000 American Express Membership Rewards points by transferring them to ANA Mileage Club. This remains one of the best deals available for traveling to Africa using points and miles.
How I claimed my free hotel and meal vouchers
Before boarding my flight, I went to the counter at the gate in Atlanta and asked about a hotel voucher. I was immediately given a paper voucher and was told to visit the Skylight Hotel once we had landed. After landing in Addis Ababa and picking up my suitcase, I followed the signs for the Skylight in-terminal hotel.
What the check-in process, my room, and the food was like
The check-in process took about 20 minutes, and I was quickly checked into an unexpectedly nice double room. Being used to rugged conditions in Africa, I was pleasantly surprised at how nice the room was.
Not only that, but the entire in-terminal hotel is located directly next to Addis Ababa's B gates. If you're as lucky as I was, your departing flight will be out of one of the lower B gates, which means your hotel room door is only a 60-second walk to the gate — literally!
I was also given two meal vouchers — one for dinner and one for breakfast — served at the restaurant in the middle of the terminal, which overlooks the main departing gates.
Overall, I was extremely satisfied with my experience using Ethiopian's stopover program and would undoubtedly use it again in the future.
Our Take
The Ethiopian Airlines stopover program isn't as convoluted as other stopover programs other international airlines offer. But it's not without its quirks. Some passengers report not qualifying for the free hotel despite having a layover between eight and 24 hours long and there being no earlier fight. However, we at AwardWallet have used this transit hotel offer several times without any issues.
Addis Ababa isn't at the top of everyone's bucket list, but you can see a bit of the city by catching a taxi to a local restaurant or bar. Alternatively, head to one of the many museums if you have some daylight during your stopover. If those don't interest you, you can spend a complimentary night at the Skylight Hotel, relax by the pool, enjoy a spa treatment, or catch up on work. And you'll also get some free meals out of the deal.
Have you used the Ethiopian Airlines stopover program before? How was your experience?
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