The Plaza Premium Lounge in Bole Addis Ababa International Airport (ADD) is a unique lounge and among the most disappointing Plaza Premium lounges I have visited.
Plaza Premium Lounge Addis Ababa Review (ADD)
I stopped here briefly on my way to the Ethiopian Airlines Lounge.
Access + Hours + Location
The Plaza Premium Lounge is open 24/7 and conveniently located just past the security checkpoint in Terminal 2. You can use Priority Pass to access this lounge (or LoungeKey or Dragonpass). Qatar Airways uses this lounge for its business class passengers and you can also buy access at 50 USD for four hours.
Seating
This is a rather unique Priority Pass Lounge in that there is a bar outside, also run by the lounge, that is not part of the lounge. Inside, you can scan your credentials and you will be invited into a rather small seating area with chairs and tables clustered into pairs.
Food + Drink
Food and nonalcoholic beverages are included, with a buffet featuring items including both Ethiopian and Western food, plus a salad bar, soup, bread, and sweets like fruit (sliced papaya) and cookies.
Coffee, tea, water, and soft drinks are available.
Alcohol, however, is not. If you do want alcohol, you can visit the area outside the lounge itself and purchase your drink of choice (there’s also barista-made coffee outside, which also costs extra).
Restrooms + Showers
The lounge has no bathrooms or showers. If you need to use the facilities, there are toilets located outside the lounge.
Service
Don’t expect much in terms of interaction with staff, though workers are monitoring the lounge to refill food and collect empty dishes and glasses.
CONCLUSION
This is not a lounge you would ever would want to arrive early for, but it could come in handy during a layover, especially if you are hungry. While ADD has improved from what it once was, it is still a crowded airport with limited amenities and so at least this is an option that beats the gate area (which is not always true at airports, but certainly is the case here).
“ I stopped here briefly on my way to the Ethiopian Airlines Lounge.”
This is odd behavior that a reasonable person would not do. It’s just a regular PP lounge.
But then again. Travel bloggers.
I will be the first to let you know, that the travel blog “Live and Let’s Fly” is run by a travel blogger. Are there some decent Priority Pass lounges? Yes. Is this one of them? Doesn’t seem so. That is exactly the info I seek when I read a travel blog.
@W Ho: I visit all lounges so you don’t have to…yes, that’s what any reasonable travel blogger would do…
If you go to one lounge and call it a day, you might find yourself stuck at the Plaza Premium ADD lounge. If you ever find yourself in London, or Singapore, Hong Kong, or even LAX might I suggest you do this new fun thing called “lounge hopping.” You walk to lots of lounges on your way to lounges. You get lots of food and drink, and you don’t even have to pay for it! WOW