Batik Air Indonesia 737 Economy Class Review

Matt Graham
A Batik Air Indonesia Boeing 737-800 with Garuda Indonesia plane in background at CGK
A Batik Air Indonesia Boeing 737-800. Photo: Matt Graham.

Based in Jakarta, Batik Air Indonesia is a full-service airline forming part of the Lion Air Group. In addition to a large domestic network, the airline operates flights to destinations across Southeast Asia as well as from Bali to Perth.

Batik Air Indonesia offers Economy and Business Class service, with checked baggage and a snack included as part of the ticket price.

I recently needed to fly from Jakarta to Singapore during a busy travel period. This airline offered a considerably lower price than other airlines on the route, including Jetstar, so I thought I’d give them a try.

What was the experience like? Find out as I review my Batik Air Indonesia Economy Class flight from the Indonesian capital to Singapore…

Note that Batik Air Indonesia (IATA code “ID”) is a different airline to Batik Air Malaysia (IATA code “OD”). Batik Air Malaysia is also part of the Lion Air Group, but is based in Kuala Lumpur and used to be called Malindo Air. Both Batik Air Indonesia and Batik Air Malaysia operate flights to Australia.

Flight Details

Flight number ID7159
Route Jakarta (CGK) to Singapore (SIN)
Aircraft type Boeing 737-800
Class of travel Economy
Seat number 24A
On-time performanceWe arrived on time
Star rating3 stars out of 5

The route

ID7159 route map

Flight Cost

I paid $184 (in Australian Dollars) for a one-way Economy Class ticket. This was for a peak travel time, booked at relatively short notice. You can often get a lower price by travelling off-peak and booking further in advance.

Airport Experience

I wasn’t able to choose a seat in advance, and was automatically allocated a middle seat when checking in online. Online check-in opened 12 hours before departure and closed with 45 minutes to go. During the check-in process, I was able to move to a window seat towards the back of the plane.

Batik Air Indonesia online check-in
Online seat selection only became available when check-in opened 12 hours before departure.

Batik Air offers extra legroom seats at the front of the Economy cabin and in the exit rows, but I could not find a way to reserve one of those seats – even for an additional fee.

For international flights, Batik Air uses Terminal 2 at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. This appears to be the more “budget” international terminal and is shared with the likes of Lion Air, AirAsia and Scoot. (Garuda Indonesia and most international airlines, including Qantas, use the more modern Terminal 3 for international flights.)

There was only a short queue to drop my checked luggage and receive a paper boarding pass.

Batik Air international check-in at Jakarta Terminal 2
Batik Air international check-in at Jakarta Terminal 2. Photo: Matt Graham.

After checking in I headed through passport control, past a few shops and then through security. In hindsight, I should have waited to clear security as there were very limited food and drink options beyond that checkpoint – just a few stands selling coffee, cold drinks and packaged snacks. There was no Priority Pass lounge available in this terminal.

Terminal 2 departures area at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
Terminal 2 departures area at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Photo: Matt Graham.

That said, the terminal has character and was clean, quiet and very pleasant. I liked the design with gardens and trees in between each of the gates.

Terminal 2 at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport
Terminal 2 at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Photo: Matt Graham.

Boarding commenced almost an hour prior to the scheduled departure time via a bus gate. After a long bus ride to the other side of the airport, we boarded our 7-year-old Boeing 737-800.

Boarding a Batik Air flight at CGK
Boarding ID7159 at a remote stand. Photo: Matt Graham.

The Hard Product

The Batik Air Indonesia Boeing 737-800 had a fairly modern Boeing Sky Interior fit-out with pleasant mood lighting. Unfortunately, the panel lights above my seat area were permanently stuck in the brightest setting and one of the light panels across the aisle from me was flickering for the entire flight.

The Batik Air Boeing 737-800 cabin during boarding
The Batik Air Boeing 737-800 cabin. Photo: Matt Graham.

This aircraft had three rows of Business Class seating at the front…

Batik Air Indonesia Boeing 737-800 Business Class seats
Batik Air Indonesia Boeing 737-800 Business Class seats. Photo: Matt Graham.

And 150 leather Economy Class seats in a standard 3-3 layout. The Economy seats lacked adjustable headrests but reclined and were well-padded.

Batik Air offers reasonable legroom in Economy on its Boeing 737-800
Batik Air offers reasonable legroom in Economy on its Boeing 737-800. Photo: Matt Graham.

With 32 inches of seat pitch, the legroom was surprisingly good. I could comfortably sit in my seat without my knees touching the seat in front.

Economy Class legroom on Batik Air Indonesia's Boeing 737-800
Economy Class legroom on Batik Air Indonesia’s Boeing 737-800. Photo: Matt Graham.

There was a personal in-flight entertainment screen on the back of the seat in front. The entertainment system had a very limited range of games, movies and TV shows. There were also music and moving map options, but the music folder was empty and the moving map didn’t work.

The moving map on the Batik Air Indonesia IFE system wasn't working
The moving map on the Batik Air Indonesia IFE system wasn’t working. Photo: Matt Graham.

The entertainment options were better than nothing, but there really wasn’t a whole lot to watch. Luckily, we were treated to some stunning views of the sunset as we flew towards Singapore, skirting around a few thunderstorms.

Sunset viewed from a Batik Air 737 over Indonesia
View of the sunset en-route to Singapore on ID7159. Photo: Matt Graham.

The Soft Product

All Economy Class passengers were served a complimentary sweet bread roll filled with something resembling Nutella and a cup of water. This was included in the ticket price. No other drinks or snacks were available, including for purchase.

Snack in Batik Air Economy Class from Jakarta to Singapore
Snack in Batik Air Economy Class on ID7159. Photo: Matt Graham.

The cabin crew were friendly and made all announcements in Indonesian and English.

Batik Air Indonesia Economy Class
  • Airport Experience
  • Hard Product
  • Soft Product
3.5

Final thoughts

This was a pleasant and uneventful flight. It arrived on time and got me to Singapore for a significantly lower price than any of the other seven airlines serving this route.

While the service was nothing to write home about, the crew did a good job and the seat was comfortable enough for the short flight. The legroom was particularly good. You might want to BYO entertainment if flying with Batik Air Indonesia on a longer flight, as the range of in-flight entertainment available was limited.

 

You can leave a comment on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum.

Matt Graham
The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 90 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include aviation, economics & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.
Matt Graham
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H HS-TQE Jun 04, 2023 #1

Looks like Batik's Economy BOB menu (found on Batik Air Malaysia) may have been extended to Batik Air (Indonesia) for all flights from Indonesia (Denpasar/Bali) to Australia.

View image at the forums


Batik Air In Flight Sales Menu

Hi Valued Customers! Batik Air now has provided in-flight food sales, currently valued customers can enjoy this service for departure and arrival routes from Australia (Sydney, Perth, Melbourne) Denpasar, and vice versa. Here is the Me...

View image at the forums


lionairgroupsupport.freshdesk.com

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Port Power Jun 26, 2023 #2

I have just flown Batik Air Malaysia OD152 and I can barely describe the experience on arrival. I rate the soft and hard produce well enough, but NOT post-flight service. Let’s start at the beginning…

OD152 PER-KUL.
It departed 2 hours late, first due to arriving 1 hour late arrival from KUL, then a problem with a toilet, and finally another 10 minutes delay in push back due to two Singapore Airline aeroplanes in line.

Seat 2C on a B737. 2F empty. Very roomy: there is definitely more space between rows. The seats are comfortable. BUT….this is not a full service airline as they advertise. There is a screen in the armrest, but the service is not connected. There are pliable arm reading lights between the seat backs - but they don’t work either. Nor does the remote control. No power to that whole section. When the cabin lights were turned off after the meal service, I had to stand up and use my iPad light to switch on the overhead reading light.

The meal choices were good. The FA put table cloths on the tray tables and took orders. The meal was served all together on a tray with another cloth. I chose a green chicken curry with rice. It was tasty, if minimal. There was a bread roll and carrot cake and a small packet of nuts. I ordered a red wine, which came in port glass. I’m not kidding! And only half full at that! I did ask for a second glass after the meal.

The flight attendants were lovely: professional and quietly spoken.

I used the lavatory halfway through the flight. Here is where the flight conditions became unacceptable. The cubic was spotlessly clean. However, there was no water from the tap (perhaps the plumbing issue?), but a small bottle of water was sitting by the basin. However, there was NO SOAP. None! How can one efficiently wash hands without both soap and sufficient water? Not having a bottle of hand cleanser is unforgivable! When I asked the FA, she acknowledged no soap was available. I asked for hand sanitiser. They DID NOT have any hand sanitiser! Really? In this late COVID era? Fortunately I had brought my own along with me.

When the man in 2A got up to go just after me, I showed him my hand sanitiser and said he was welcome to use it. We had been chatting in the lounge and since being seated. When he returned, he said he realised what I meant! He reckons this is the worst business class he has ever experienced. (Not the two FAs though.)

I was connecting in KUL to a TK flight to Istanbul. The layover was 1 hour 40 minutes. When I checked in, I was told the OD flight would be an hour late, but as there are 32 passengers on the flight who are connecting to TK61, we would be met at the gate and directed. Naturally we became concerned as the delay was extended. However, given 32 passengers would be too many to have to accommodate and compensate, everyone thinks the TK flight will wait for us. The Captain will make an announcement when we are closer to landing.

No announcement was ever made. No mention at all.

The plane landed at 23:18, then about 12 minutes to taxi to the gate. However, we had to wait another 10-12 minutes for a staff member to come and operate the airbridge. Therefore 11:40pm as we disembarked.

Continued in Part 2.

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AIRwin Jun 26, 2023 #3

Continued in Part 2.

Did you make it?!

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Port Power Jun 26, 2023 #4

There were a group of Batik/Malindo staff waiting at the terminal. They called for TK61 passengers. We were told TK61, due to depart 23:05, had already departed. They had waited 20 minutes. Not very happy with them, but as we subsequently learned of Malindo’s history of delayed arrivals, I cannot really blame them.

I use “Malindo” as many of the uniform polo tops had Malindo embroidered on them, and they are still known as Malindo in the flight and hospitality communities.
We were told that TK61 that night (Saturday) was booked out and we would be put on Sunday night’s flight. Accommodation and meals would be provided. Much arguing ensued and a few people refused to leave the airport. I now applaud them: they probably got on a flight that night.

We were escorted to the luggage area as our bags had been offloaded. We were escorted through immigration and ferried to an airport hotel at KLIA2. We were told we would be contacted the next morning with flight arrangement.

That’s all, folks! We never heard from them again.

Around 12:30 pm on Saturday a few of us went to the Malindo counter at KLIA1 and started asking questions. Promises were made. We went back and reported. Others made the journey around 3:00pm. We original few went back at 7:00 pm to find those others still there, still arguing! The 10 lads going to Seoul were there, but checking onto the Batik Air flight to Seoul. Sorted!

A German man pulled the pin and booked Emirates to Lucerne, as he was going home and had no further legs to fly.

We just demanded tickets be issued. TK didn’t want to know us without the OD booking reference. My TA held a seat for me, but TK still gave it away. Finally a man and his young done were booked for the morning flight, which I believe was TK63 at 8:05am. Some of us left with the promise we would be on TK61 on Sunday night. Some stayed and I heard another made the early flight.

I went with luggage to check in to again find no ticket had been issued. Back to the Malindo counter. With us standing ear over them and refusing to leave, electronic tickets were eventually issued to five people. I was going to fly to Singapore the next morning and take the TK 23:30 flight from there.

I arrived again with luggage at 11:00 am on Sunday. No ticket! Where is it? The flight is checking in. There were 7 people there arrived that morning from Melbourne who had also missed their TK connection. AND their luggage had been off loaded and left behind! One of our group was handed, after an hour of arguing and fiddling around, his boarding passes for SIN and TK. The Melbourne group all eventually received theirs, although teo ladies had to wait for the 7:30pm OD flight to SIN.

Me - still waiting!

OD said there was no flight from IST to DBV on Sunday, so I could either hang around IST for 36 hours or fly TK61 on Monday night. I had my travel agent on the phone listening in. OD said they had to duplicate original touting and would not book to DBV via Zagreb. They said I could go back to the hotel and I would be emailed. No way! If I left, nothing would be done.

At 4pm I joined those at the future TK check in counter for a chat. Where else did I need to go. There was an older Perth couple there who had been sent a shuttle to bring them over.

I went back to Malindo and one of our group on that night’s TK61 was having his ticket sorted. With the new flight ticket, OD had removed his return flights! They had to be reissued. I again asked for my electronic ticket. I said I had not received any email. A few minutes later it arrived in my inbox. Confirmed, no less, and with a PNR.

Anyway, end result is I am flying tonight but have had a traumatic 3 days of seemingly constant aguing and demanding, and 3 nights at a hotel that is just okay for an overnight in transit. I know the inter-terminal train system really, really well!

My flight back KUL-PER is with MH. The outward flight should have been, too.
OD is 3/5 to actually fly on an aircraft with, but they practif ally disown their customers if there is a problem.

Avoid them like the plague!

The older couple who just remained at the hotel as they were told, are also still in KL. I think they were supposed to fly via Singapor, but weren’t actually told. The wife has mobility problems. He emailed the didn’t board last night, but are now at a KLIA1 hotel. I’ll see them tonight. Hopefully I can guest them both into the lounge. They are an example of out of sight, out of mind as far as OD was concerned.

I have missed 5 nights on a small yacht visiting islands around the coast of Croatia. I will be able to join the small group for the last two nights aboard, as well as the three weeks of the land based Balkans tour. It will cost me a little more, probably only one (expensive) hotel night and a ferry ticket. My TA has spent hours on the phone to TK but they would not or could not help. The tour group manager is staying behind to meet me and has made the catch up arrangement. However, i now feel quite drained and depressed. Once I am handed those boarding passes tonight and find the airline lounge, I am sure I will shrug the nightmare off and start looking forward again. 🥂

Thank you everyone who reads this. I had to vent somewhere.

DO NOT FLY BATIK AIR.

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Scarlett Jun 27, 2023 #5

Interesting report @Port Power.

As I mentioned in another thread, you may have been dealing with people in some Malindo attire and some Batik attire but these are all Lion Air. As a group Lion does everything by the bare minimum and right now they’re lucky not to be bankrupt and having a fire sale of all their assets. The Lion Air name is rated poorly in Indonesia. So much so that they’ve started up Super Air Jet and are using that expanding new ‘company’ to replace a growing number of Lion Air flights.

How did you come to have OD connecting to TK as a ticket? I’m guessing this was a fare constructed by a travel agent to try and take the sting out of the AUS tax? If you don’t mind my asking, was the saving significant enough over an all Star Alliance itinerary using SQ to link up with the TK flights to Europe?

I have a Lion Air flight tomorrow and have only booked it because it’s a short single flight and not time critical.

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Port Power Jun 27, 2023 #6

Interesting report @Port Power.

As I mentioned in another thread, you may have been dealing with people in some Malindo attire and some Batik attire but these are all Lion Air. As a group Lion does everything by the bare minimum and right now they’re lucky not to be bankrupt and having a fire sale of all their assets. The Lion Air name is rated poorly in Indonesia. So much so that they’ve started up Super Air Jet and are using that expanding new ‘company’ to replace a growing number of Lion Air flights.

How did you come to have OD connecting to TK as a ticket? I’m guessing this was a fare constructed by a travel agent to try and take the sting out of the AUS tax? If you don’t mind my asking, was the saving significant enough over an all Star Alliance itinerary using SQ to link up with the TK flights to Europe?

I have a Lion Air flight tomorrow and have only booked it because it’s a short single flight and not time critical.

The flight was booked with Turkish Airlines and they only code share with Batik and Malaysian Airlines from Perth. SQ isn’t an option. I am returning on MH, but OD152 came up as the outward bound connection. I have no idea why, with our combined knowledge, neither myself or TA looked at other departure availability. Maybe there wasn’t a “see all flights” option? I really don’t remember, it was booked on February 9th. In hindsight I would certainly choose one of the earlier MH flights.

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Mattg Aug 18, 2023 #7

@Port Power out of interest, did you get your boarding pass for the (originally booked) TK flight out of KUL when checking in at PER?

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Port Power Aug 18, 2023 #8

@Port Power out of interest, did you get your boarding pass for the (originally booked) TK flight out of KUL when checking in at PER?

Yes. Batik Air at Perth Airport gave me all three boarding passes. (PER-KUL, KUL-IST, IST-DBV).

However, after the missed connection and them rebooking not just the onward flights from KUL, Batik Air also rebooked the return flights. Perhaps because they were all now on a new PNR. Therefore my TA no longer had access. AND....somehow, despite OK on the ticket, Batik Air also managed to cancel the MH leg in J from KUL-PER! I had to pay an outrageous amount to MH at the airport transfer desk to fly on the same aeroplane in Y!

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Mattg Aug 18, 2023 #9

I had to pay an outrageous amount to MH at the airport transfer desk to fly on the same aeroplane in Y!

Were you ever able to recover that cost? Surely you shouldn't be up for extra money in this circumstance.

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Port Power Aug 18, 2023 #10

Were you ever able to recover that cost? Surely you shouldn't be up for extra money in this circumstance.

My TA is in email talks with TK to refund the KUL-PER J fare. It is not MH's fault. It is all the fault of OD, and although the whole itinerary was booked with TK on one PNR, TK completely washed their hands of the matter of rebooking flights or helping in any way.

Neither my TA or I will ever book OD again, obviously. Nor TK if we can help it. In particular, my TA says he will no longer book any of his clients via KUL.

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