“Why on earth would you choose that airline?” asked a skeptical friend when I mentioned that I’d booked my return flight from Dublin on Ethiopian Airlines.
I think I understand the unspoken racism of the comment so respond, “They just began offering non-stop flights from Dublin to Los Angeles. I like the idea of supporting a new operation. It will be an adventure.”
Oh, my Gawd, was it ever. And not one I recommend to anyone.
I’d first booked my return flight online in November, paying in full, with a return date of August 4th.
In January, I called them because I wanted to change my seat assignment to a window. First, the agent on the phone told me that they no longer had flights departing on August 4th from Dublin so he could not accommodate my request.
I politely expressed a bit of outrage about that fact. “What?! No one notified me about this. I wouldn’t have discovered it until I’d shown up at the gate. I can’t believe you didn’t send me an email about this.”
He didn’t apologize, just said, “What would you like to do?”
I asked, “So, when is the next possible flight?”
He told me August 5th, 5:30 am, then, “You need to be at the airport three hours before flight for check in.” in a stern voice.
“Okay. Please transfer my booking to that flight and let’s change my seat to a window.” I was being very patient.
Then, he told me I had to pay extra for for the seat change. I sighed. I pulled out my wallet and used the new credit card sent me by Bank of America following a security breach they’d experienced.
I paid the fee with my card. Same account, new card number. Remember this as it becomes key to the “adventure”.
Fast forward to August 5th.
I wake up at my hotel before 3:00 am, take a cab to the airport, and join the throngs queuing for service. 
There are only two gate agents and several hundred people. No wonder they say three hours. 
I get to the gate, hand the agent my e-ticket and passport and place my luggage on the scale.
“Give my your credit card, please.” The woman says.
I’m a bit confused. No one has ever, in the history of my flying, asked me for a credit card when I’ve paid months in advance.
“I paid for this seat and the change months ago.” I say, handing her my card.
She takes it, looks at it, then says to me, “Please take your luggage off the scale and go wait over there.” She points to some vague area outside the queue.
“Can you tell me why?” I ask.
“Please move, madam. We have many people to serve. I will be back to you in a few minutes.”
She keeps my ticket, passport and credit card and I do as she tells me to.
Many minutes pass and I don’t see her doing anything but checking other people in. Finally, I walk over to her and say,
“Excuse me. Can you please tell me what is going on?”
The second agent, a man, joins her. They speak in a huddle for a couple of minutes and then the man says, “Madam, do you have the original credit card you used to pay for your ticket?”
“No.” I answer, then explain, “The bank issued me the one you have several months ago to replace it. It’s the same account, just a new card.”
“I’m sorry, Madam, but we cannot allow you to board if you can not present us with the original card.”
Now I’m getting upset but I don’t raise my voice, just speak a bit more firmly.
“The bank issued me this card. It’s the one I travel with.
(professional card stand in)
I paid for this ticket months ago. You have my ticket, you have my passport, which proves I am me, here’s my international driver’s license, another photo I.D. proving who I am. There should be no problem.”
He is firm and not very friendly. “We cannot let you board. Please move out of the way.”
“I’m going to call my bank and let you speak to them.” I say. “I have a ticket and I need to fly home today. Please give me back my card, the number is on it.”
They do and I call the bank. It has become a scene from a bad movie.
The bank representative spends more than an hour on the phone with the male Ethiopian desk agent, his supervisor, and me. At one point the desk agent hands me the phone and the bank rep says to me, “Don’t worry, Nyla. I’m not going to leave you stranded there. I have to put you on hold but I promise I’ll be back. They want me to send a fax with the two credit card numbers and an explanation. I’ve never heard of such a thing but I am happy to help you get out of there.”
After about ten minutes of hold time, she comes back on and asks, “Did they receive it?”
They, meanwhile, have drifted off and are not to be seen. 
(This is NOT the service I received nor did I see anyone else receiving it)
The queue is gone and I am alone.
I run around, find the man, he denies having received the fax. She sends it again.
Meanwhile, the woman comes back and the two of them begin shutting down the desks and packing things away.
They deny receiving the second copy, say to me, “I understand this must be frustrating to you, but this is our policy. You will not be able to board the flight.”
Sunrise flight departing. Nyla is not aboard.
And they walk away with no further comment or help. 
I am left there, alone, in Dublin terminal one, with my luggage and no way home.
Thank you, Ethiopian Airlines. You have failed another customer.
OMG-I hope you are OK! I normally love “adventures of absurdity” but this sounds like a nightmare!
Please finish the story — how did you get home??
short version: very, very expensive next day flight on American Airlines booked for me through British Airways and requiring long wait at airport, plus 5 hour layover in Chicago. I’m emailing and calling Ethiopian for refund but they are not returning my messages or calls. I’ll engage BofA next but Ethiopian got the money in November and January so I suspect it will end up being a hassle. Their avoidance of me is not a good sign.