Which is the best airline to fly from Australia to Bali?

[AustraliaPoochie]

Despite VA not being ideal, its the one to go for.
FF program with points that don't expire so long as there is activity.
J class.
Food, if we are lucky.
Nothing untoward that will happen, 99.9% of the time.
Money spent with VA will "hopefully" see them continue into the future.
Even tho no entertainment on board as of now, you can BYO. Just have to watch the antics of the bogans on board, and how the crew will react to the drunks, etc.
I didn't know OD/ID (Batik) had a FF program, but is it useful for Aussies who live in Aust, and can use the points before they expire.
JQ has a link to QFF, but on their planes, esp ADL - DPS, no J cabin, have to go across to SYD to get a J cabin, assuming they haven't changed the plane to a 321neo.

 

[p--and--t]

I'm still amazed that there is no full service airline between PER and DPS. Pre-Covid Garuda flew this sector. Would be a perfect opportunity for VA to take it up now.

“VA full service”

 

[jb747]

Surely Jetstar in Y is the best way to get the feel of Bali?!

Far too upper class.

 

[Budbrian]

I'm still amazed that there is no full service airline between PER and DPS. Pre-Covid Garuda flew this sector. Would be a perfect opportunity for VA to take it up now.

Yep it’s pretty sad, some of us like to have options, rather than be all jammed in like sardines.

 

[RooFlyer]

“VA full service”

There are airlines that promise 'full service' and fail to deliver. So any competitor would be on about the same level.

 

[oz_mark]

Yep it’s pretty sad, some of us like to have options, rather than be all jammed in like sardines.

Depending on the outcome of the current IASC applications, VA may be able to have a PER-DPS flight later in the year. Or Perth may get another Jetstar flight.

 

[drron]

“VA full service”

Well we are flying VA J BNE - DPS this year. The reason we picked VA? It was $300 cheaper than any other J offering including JQ.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

"Semi" full service, aka Hybrid or...
As they call themselves now.
---
Set a self reminder:
Anything of electronic worth/value, (battery banks, mobiles, cameras, etc), MUST be HLO.
Items do go walkies/disappear from plane hold bags over to there, or from there.

 

[jase05]

Well we are flying VA J BNE - DPS this year. The reason we picked VA? It was $300 cheaper than any other J offering including JQ.

I’ve enjoyed my trips from ADL-DPS in VA J. The lounge setup at ADL helps but found the crew have looked after us well and plenty of food and alcohol for the flight. We don’t use VA for the return leg though as I can’t do overnight flights upright so we either go the long way some via CGK and SYD/MEL with GA and have a day or two in Jakarta or via SIN or KUL with SQ or MH direct back to ADL

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Except that is a pain to use the BNE VAd lounge before the VAi flight BNE - DPS.
There might be a paid lounge at DPS to use on the way back, as they would be on the way there.
As we all know, no VAi lounges anywhere anymore.
Not even if you wanted to support VAi by going to one!
So don't go looking for one, Drron.
For ADL dep pax on VAi ADL - DPS, yes, the VA lounge visit is a good one to do.

 

[drron]

As usual we are taking the long way back from DPS. cruise ship to Japan and around Japan for sakura viewing. Then back via Bangkok and Singapore. Only overnight flight is SIN - SYD but at least we are in F. Certainly beats an overnighter from DPS.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

OffT: When you come back, can you do me a favour.
Count how many gates the new system uses with the new smartgate that takes a flimsy paper printout photo instead of the hard cardboardy slip.
Ta.
OnT.

 

[Flyfrequently]

As usual we are taking the long way back from DPS. cruise ship to Japan and around Japan for sakura viewing. Then back via Bangkok and Singapore. Only overnight flight is SIN - SYD but at least we are in F. Certainly beats an overnighter from DPS.

Are you ever home @drron ?!

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Think their trip is later in month or year.

 

[drron]

Are you ever home @drron ?!

Much more than last year. We have 12 weeks at home in the next 7 months. But nothing planned after August 1st.

 

[laffer]

Having recently had the experience of flying this route with Jetstar I am happy to recommend staying away.

One toilet on a flight of that length is a travesty. The poor crew trying to get up and down the aisle as the single file queue for the toilet stretches back to Row 8 at times was an unfortunate sight as they avoided injury to themselves and passengers and tried to navigate the trolley cart.

Paying for upfront seating only to have what was in effect a fourth row of passengers added (being the inevitable standing queuing passenger at the side of the aisle passenger). The fares were not even that cheap.

On time running is a suggestion only.

 

[marks]

Just had a week in Bali this month with the family. Went with VA. Had a great flight up and back with no real issues. BNE- DPS - MEL - BNE in Y
Cons:
No lounge for international in BNE or DPS.
J was sold out.
$400 extra per pax for direct DPS-BNE compared to going via MEL. (lounge in MEL Dom)
Food & drink options. Hot meals available. Make sure you have a physical CC for purchases.

Pros:
Nicer timings in the morning from BNE. (0700 vs 0940)
Being Platinum gets Econ-X for all the passengers on the booking. More comfortable seats and less mullets.
Not JQ (A.K.A. The Orange Gamble)
INT to DOM transit in MEL has to be the easiest capital city transit.
Archie Rose & fever tree G&T (have to purchase)

I'll definitely do VA again. I only wish they had lounge access. (Even a plaza/priority lounge option). Had priority check in & boarding. I pick VA for a lot of my flights for free Econ-X seating.

VA vs LCC/JQ. The full service is one thing, but with VA, do they have a higher responsibility to provide the flight home than vs LCC.? (Other flights, hotel overnight delays, etc) I always thought this was the VA/QF value over LCC.

Side note:
E-VOA for Bali : Great thread on eVOA to make the arrival 100% easier. We were all through passport control in 20 mins.

Cheers

 

[Julio Lamont]

This article contains an overview of all the airlines flying from Australia to Denpasar in 2023:

Overview of Airlines Flying from Australia to Bali in 2023

Bali is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Australians, with well over a million Aussies flying there every year.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

There are currently 179 weekly return flights available from Australia to Bali, from 7 different airports (soon to be 8) and on 7 different airlines.

Which airline is your preferred choice, and why?

I recently flew from Perth to Denpasar return on Citilink flying A320neos both ways and was very impressed. What was even more impressive was the fact the airfare was exactly half what Jetstar was charging for the same route at the time.

 

[Daver6]

I recently flew from Perth to Denpasar return on Citilink flying A320neos both ways and was very impressed. What was even more impressive was the fact the airfare was exactly half what Jetstar was charging for the same route at the time.

Probably half the safety of J* too :/

 

[Julio Lamont]

Probably half the safety of J* too :/

On what do you base that, Daver6?