Is Ethiopian’s J class JNB-BKK worth burning points for?

[Deskorpio]

hi All,
Having tasted SQ excellent long haul J product just recently, I am keen to experience other airlines’ Js! At the moment I have enough KF points to redeem JNB-SIN via Addis Ababa and Bangkok, flying ET (9hrs ?) and TG (short 2hrs flight). Does anyone know if ET628 from ADD-BKK consistently use the newer plane? I dont want to burn my points for their older J products! I know it will be nothing close to SQ, but if it’s the newer plane, I’d do it for the experience sake

cheers!

 

[Mattg]

ET628 is normally a Boeing 787-8, which is a new plane with a new J product. Go for it, I say!

Just beware that ET uses a mixture of 737s and A350s on the JNB-ADD route... you definitely want to get the A350 flight (ET808), which conveniently should connect well to BKK.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Have all the 787-8s been converted to full flat? The 787-8s have/had a mix of angled and full flat, and trip reports from Jan 2019 are still showing angled seats.

 

[Deskorpio]

ET628 is normally a Boeing 787-8, which is a new plane with a new J product. Go for it, I say!

Just beware that ET uses a mixture of 737s and A350s on the JNB-ADD route... you definitely want to get the A350 flight (ET808), which conveniently should connect well to BKK.

thanks Mattg! Fortunately the connection To JNB will be with the ET 808 )

 

[Deskorpio]

Have all the 787-8s been converted to full flat? The 787-8s have/had a mix of angled and full flat, and trip reports from Jan 2019 are still showing angled seats.

this was exactly what I was meaning to ask too!

 

[N860CR]

I don’t think they’ve all been converted as yet. I was on one with the old seats at the start of the year.

Is one of the SQ JNB flights available?

 

[PineappleSkip]

I've used the ET 787 flights to/from HKG several times, via BKK, and before when it was MNL-HKG-ADD, and I've had the angled flat product every time but one. It's pleasant enough, and the flight crew service is normally good. Everything I've read was that allocation of 787s with 'old' vs 'new' is totally random. Seat controls usually work but cabins are usually pretty empty so no drama switching seats if yours won't recline. 2-2-2 layout but as often as not you have an empty seat adjacent. The champers is tres ordinaire, as are the wines, but the ethiopian food is well worth trying. I love the latter. The business lounge at ADD T2 is also soso, and gets very crowded from mid evening as is/does the rest of the airport. You can do thd coffee ceremony in the J lounge in the evenings if that floats your boat. If you go, head for your flight from ADD in advance of the boarding announcement, go through security at the business boarding gate, not the numbered one for your flight, and ask the way to your flight. Often its a 'business bus' as often the HKG flight leaves from a remote stand.

All in all, if you were looking for an SQ-like luxury experience, forget it, if you want a fully flat bed, good luck with that, but if you want interesting and a bit out of the ordinary I'd say go for it!

cheers skip