ETHIOPIA TRAVEL PROCEDURES 

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS - From U.S. to Ethiopia

Ethiopian Airlines 1-800-445-2733  http://www.ethiopianairlines.com/

  1-800-645-3880   www.Lufthansa.com
 

 1-800-247-9297   http://www.britishairways.com/travel/globalgateway.jsp

 

     www.United.com

TRAVEL DATES

Most families travel approximately two months from their referral date.  The date depends on the time CHI receives the Travel Approval from Ethiopia.   

Families will be notified immediately by email of the travel time and asked to make their international flight arrangements.

·      It is common that the confirmed travel date may not be known until about two weeks prior to leaving.  You may research all options before then but not finalize arrangements.

• Families will be notified when appointments are confirmed with the American Embassy and the Ethiopia arrival and departure dates are set up by our Addis Ababa Office Staff. 
   

• The CHI Travel Coordinator will contact you when it is time to make the international reservations
   

• She will give you suggestions regarding those flights. 
   

• You are free to use the travel agency of your choice for the US domestic and International flights or to make your own arrangements directly with the airlines of your choice.  You can do it.  We can help.

Things to know when booking your international flights:
 

• Your choice of international departure city depends on where you live:

East coast - New York or Washington D.C.:

Midwest - Chicago or Detroit

West coast - Los Angeles or San Francisco

Do not book a flight returning to the US with any layover in Canada .  Your child will not be able to board that airplane even if you won't be getting off the plane in Canada.

When arranging your US flights to the city of departure, please allow enough time (a minimum of 2-3 hours) to catch your international flight.  If need be, you should fly the night before and spend the night in order to catch your international flight.

A return international ticket for your child in his/her Ethiopian Name is required even if your child is under the age of two.  You do not have to purchase a seat ticket, but a lap ticket is required, and the cost is a percentage of your adult ticket.  The ticket must be in your child’s Ethiopian Name, because that is the name that will appear on his/her Ethiopian passport.

All names on tickets must match the names on the passports. 

General Airline Information & Transit Visa Notice

Get Your Ticket!!  Use your choice of travel agents or do it yourself.

When you have been given clearance to travel by CHI/STL, confirm your itinerary, and then email a copy to Children’s Hope. You should plan on spending 5 business days (Monday through Friday inclusively) in Ethiopia (minimum) – not counting your arrival and departure days. Northwest Airlines/KLM, British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines have good air service to/from the United States (Dulles in Washington, D.C.). If a travel agent is making your arrangements, make sure they have experience making reservations in Ethiopia. Your child will travel on an Ethiopian passport; be sure to check your return itinerary if your child will require any transit visas based on your flight itinerary.  It’s best to fly through Britain or Germany which do not require a transit visa for your child. You can check with the airline or your travel agent to determine if a transit visa will be required on the route selected.

 It is sometimes very difficult to use frequent flyer mileage due to the short notice of the confirmed travel dates, and the possibility of sudden changes due to the time in country being lengthened or shortened.  Please check with your travel agent.

 Please remember to buy a return ticket for your child.  This is required even if your child is under the age of two.  You do not necessarily have to purchase a seat ticket, (depending on the age of the child) but a lap ticket is required and the cost is a percentage of your adult ticket.  The ticket must be in your child’s Ethiopian Name, as that is the name that will appear on his/her Ethiopian passport.  The name on the tickets must match the name on the passports.  Request bulkhead seats with bassinet or sleeping bag (depending on your child’s age and weight) on all segments of the flight home. Note: you will not be able to reserve bulkhead seats – they are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis for handicapped passengers and families with children, so you may want to get to the airport early. You may also check into the possibility of ordering baby food or special meals from the airline for the flight home but these as well are not guaranteed. We encourage you to plan accordingly for your child’s meals on the plane. 

Travel Insurance

If you decide that travel insurance is worth your consideration but don’t know where to start in terms of comparing policies and prices, InsuremyTrip.com offers a free on-line comparison tool to make an informed decision.

The URL is http://www.insuremytrip.com/myquote-1000-0-13521-43.html  The U.S. Department of State has posted a similar travel insurance advisory at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1470.html .  Travel insurance information is also included in your travel packet for your convenience. 

 Confirming Your Flights & Getting Ticket for Infant

Two days before departing for Ethiopia, call the airline directly and reconfirm your flight to Ethiopia.  Before your departure, check with the airline or travel agent to find out how much luggage and how many carry-on bags you are allowed. International standards vary from domestic flights. If you have any extra room for donations, please check with your adoption consultant for suggestions of donations for the House of Hope Transition Home and Guest House or items that are needed in the country.

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 Where will you stay in Ethiopia?

Your choice