The hot and cold Xmas/NY break

[RB001]

LUZIA, in Sydney until the 9th of February.

 

[Scarlett]

LUZIA, in Sydney until the 9th of February.

I’ve had that tickets page open since I watched the doco! Have asked the family if they’d like to go.

 

[RB001]

I’ve had that tickets page open since I watched the doco! Have asked the family if they’d like to go.

Ha! My schedule is undergoing closer inspection to determine LUZIAn compatibility.

 

[Scarlett]

GA402 CGK-DPS
B777-300
PK-GIF
On time

To get home from my main international ticket I could have booked the reverse of what I did on the way here, QF Y to SYD or MEL and put in for a points upgrade to J. Instead I chose to go with a little more convoluted routing to get some VFF SCs relatively early in the year, but importantly, before the VFF changes take effect. These flights should get my current and planned total to about 60% of the WP requal mark.

So what I have booked is a domestic flight in Indonesia, a quick transit in DPS and then DPS-BNE-SYD-ADL-CBR in VA J. This was booked as two tickets as getting the Bali to ADL ticket was not much more expensive than going direct to other capitals. Then I booked an ADL-CBR ticket at sale J price.

I’ve done probably over 50 domestic flights in Indonesia (querying Openflights confirms this will be my 61st), with GA, QG, ID, JT, IW, IU and SJ. The majority have been on those first two, Garuda and its LCC arm Citilink. GA often flies its wide bodies on CGK-DPS and on this occasion it was a 777–300.


The airport was busy at 0545 as I was checking in. Indonesians are early risers with most getting up for fajar (dawn prayers) just before sunrise. Had a 25 minute wait in the Y queue to check in, which is always annoying to me and using the shorter J line is one of the things I value most from airline status.

There was also a relatively long line at security, which given how little interest the security staff are paying, is unusual. (I’ve very rarely seen a bag pulled for additional checks at an Indonesian airport…)

T3 is a large modern terminal and is usually a pretty pleasant place, more so now that they’ve installed additional cooling.


My aircraft at the gate.

Boarding was so swift and easy compared to the US flights I’d recently taken. Golf clubs travel for free on GA and I was able to select an extra legroom bulkhead seat at the front of whY for no cost.

It was a 90 minute flight to DPS and a drink and then cooked breakfast was served. I had the chicken rendang with lontong which was nice. Had to laugh when the FA serving the meal asked me if I wanted chicken with lontong, then tried to remember how to describe lontong in English …rice cake. So I answered her in Indonesian explaining that as I’d lived in Bandung I always prefer lontong! Got a side eye from the elderly Indonesian gent seated beside me, which is always fun.


Climbing out of the Jakarta smog.


DPS arrival near a Timor-Leste jet.

Another solid GA flight. Then it was downstairs for a 15 minute wait for bags and a walk across to the international terminal. As I was arriving domestically I saw no signs reminding me to pay the Bali tourist tax and as I was just transiting I wasn’t going to volunteer.