Garuda CGK-HKG in J, truly amazing!

[defurax]

This is my first trip report. I was so surprised by the quality of the J service offered by Garuda that I decided to share my experience.

First the seat on the A332, I was seated in 6K (which is first row of the J cabin)




I had initially selected 6D, but was happy I finally took a window seat.



The pre-departure drink; a choice of juice, water or Billecart-Salmon 2000.

 

[defurax]

We were only 7 PAX in J for 36 seats, which might have contributed to the outstanding level of attention.

The amenity kit branded L'Occitane en Provence.


The crew had already put an English newspaper in my the seat pocket.



And I was also offered a magazine from a huge selection, I took the Economist.

 

[defurax]

Right before takeoff one of the FA came and asked me if i wanted to keep drinking Billecart-Salmon until the meal service, I answered with an emphatic YES PLEASE!

Three choices of meal were offered:
Indonesian


Japanese


and European

 

[defurax]

I took the Indonesian menu:

The "fruit" salad Rujak serut (with some sort of very spicy mix of crushed peanuts)


The soup Sup tekwan (the broth was added to the bowl at my seat, poured from a flask)


and the main course Ayam bakar kalasan (chicken)


Finally, the dessert. Buckwheat pancake with strawberries and vanilla ice cream

 

[defurax]

This nice meal was accompanied by a choice of 3 white and 3 red wines (take note QF!)
White


Red


Plus a choice of Champagne, dessert wine, Digestifs, Spirits, Liqueurs and Beers

 

[defurax]

I think I was the only J PAX drinking alcohol, so here are a few shots of nice clouds, rainbows and views of secluded islands on approach to HKG after I drank one bottle of Billecart-Salmon and one bottle of 2008 La Segla Margaux.

 

[RooFlyer]

I think I was the only J PAX drinking alcohol, so here are a few shots of nice clouds, rainbows and views of secluded islands on approach to HKG after I drank one bottle of Billecart-Salmon and one bottle of 2008 La Segla Margaux.

Useful!

In the first pics in the first post it looks like 2 seats against the side, but then on the next couple of pics it looks like a 1-2-1 config. What is the seating?

And IFE - hopefully not just the little screen on the bulkhead?

 

[defurax]

Useful!

In the first pics in the first post it looks like 2 seats against the side, but then on the next couple of pics it looks like a 1-2-1 config. What is the seating?

And IFE - hopefully not just the little screen on the bulkhead?

The seating is 2-2-2. The seats are fully flat bed, I didn't try sleeping, but the guy in 6A slept almost the whole flight, so I presume it is comfortable!
I should have added that with the chef on board you can have your meal when you want, so the PAX in 6A got his meal 30 minutes before start of descent.
There are 12 bulkhead seats with IFE in the armrest (J cabin divided in 2 sections). The other seats have the IFE screen at the back of the seat in front. Great choice of movies.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Well done selecting the local cuisine!

 

[TomVexille]

Looks pretty good. I've seen some really good trip reports over on FT. They really do appear to have upped their standards.

 

[defurax]

Looks pretty good. I've seen some really good trip reports over on FT. They really do appear to have upped their standards.

Well, I sure hope they know what they are doing in the coughpit:shock:, but the cabin service was First Class!:mrgreen:

 

[moa999]

Nice report.

The wine and food selection does appear to be better than my last flight SYD-CGK about three years ago (wine and food were my only negatives.)
But the seats and on-board immigration beat QFs A330 hands-down

That said the Australian red - while a decent brand, is on of their cheapest bottles - $18 at Dans
https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_75976/d-arenberg-the-footbolt-shiraz

And whilst I'm not sure how the champagne can be both 2000 and n.v. (non-vintage). I suspect the latter - it is still a decent drop - $100 at Dans
https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_182084/billecart-salmon-brut-ros

--- Indeed my trip report from 2011 does show how much the wine and champagne selection has improved:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rst-flight-garuda-indonesia-sydney-31722.html

 

[Daver6]

On the topic of the wines...all three reds and whites seem to fall into the rather cheapo selection.

Nice report.

The wine and food selection does appear to be better than my last flight SYD-CGK about three years ago (wine and food were my only negatives.)
But the seats and on-board immigration beat QFs A330 hands-down

That said the Australian red - while a decent brand, is on of their cheapest bottles - $18 at Dans
https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_75976/d-arenberg-the-footbolt-shiraz

And whilst I'm not sure how the champagne can be both 2000 and n.v. (non-vintage). I suspect the latter - it is still a decent drop - $100 at Dans
https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_182084/billecart-salmon-brut-ros

--- Indeed my trip report from 2011 does show how much the wine and champagne selection has improved:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rst-flight-garuda-indonesia-sydney-31722.html

 

[rioter]

The seating is 2-2-2. The seats are fully flat bed, I didn't try sleeping, but the guy in 6A slept almost the whole flight, so I presume it is comfortable!
I should have added that with the chef on board you can have your meal when you want, so the PAX in 6A got his meal 30 minutes before start of descent.
There are 12 bulkhead seats with IFE in the armrest (J cabin divided in 2 sections). The other seats have the IFE screen at the back of the seat in front. Great choice of movies.

I flew this on SYD->DPS looks like a similar hard product. The food looks very different in terms of presentation, wonder if thats a recent change.

The bed was pretty comfortable although as they don't put something down over it there was a noticeable gap where the seat fold are(which happens to be where my hip was positioned).