First flight on Garuda Indonesia - Sydney to Jakarta Executive class

[moa999]

Background

Had to do a relatively short notice trip to Jakarta requiring to be there Wed, Thu. Unfortunately Qantas doesn't fly direct Tue or Thu, Singapore connections didn't work, one-ways on both Qantas and Garuda were extortionate, so Garuda return it was. Fare was just over $2k - far better than our Qantas corp fares.
Interestingly there is no ability to select seats online on Garuda website
At Syd, convenient check-in at Row H, predominately Qantas staff Quickly checked in and my newly enrolled Garuda FF added - will make Silver just on the syd-cgk-syd in executive! .

Garuda offers an interesting whereby you prepay the visa on arrival duty at Sydney airport, then on the plane two customs offers (in full customs regalia) come through and process your passport - really good for my colleague. Less benefit for me (as an APEC card holder) although they still processed the APEC card in flight. Garuda also provides express incoming and outgoing customs tokens (again used apec as the line was shorter) as well as an express card for CGK.

Garuda uses the Qantas Business lounge at SYD. Politely requested access to the FL but was denied so to the lower level lounge for the first time in five years.

Quick barista coffee, hot breakfast then also offered a chorizo, potato and poached egg dish - chorizo was tasty, unfortunately the poached egg resembled a runny soup - way undercooked. Some ham, cheese tom croissants also came round a bit later but I was done.
Boarding call at 1030 vs 1015 on the boarding pass for the 1110 departure.

 

[moa999]

GA713 SYD-CGK Executive Class
Garuda A330-200. PK-GPH (is painted on the wing). Seat 2K



Business/Executive class is a 2x2x2 setup with two cabins of three rows each. Second Exec cabin was closed off and only 15 up front/ 124 down the back vs 36/186 capacity (and on a day Qantas doesn't fly!). Can only imagine the Qantas loads given their prices - would think it may become a Jetstar route but Garuda far better than Jetstar for seat and service... Crew of 12 at least four of whom seemed to work the Exec cabin.

Fully flat bed, oodles of legroom, hardshell seatback - massage function, good adjustable headrest - similar to the Qantas Skybed II. Decent sized touchscreen IFE but lack of recent movie choices. Good music selection with ability to create own playlist (albeit my system crashed once doing this).

 

[moa999]

Food was decent without being exceptional. Quality hardcover menu specific to flight. Orders for main taken as we reached cruise, then hors d'oeuvres plus drink, entree, main, cheesecake or fruit, and a maggie beer ice cream about an hour before arrival.

The hors d'oeuvres and entree



Let down was the wine list - missing what I thought was the best french red (although on re-reading the menu maybe not carried on the Aussie leg) and an average french red and white remaining. Had not heard of the Australian so passed.
The special Garuda drink - martebe juice was quite tasty.
Cutlery was all plastic (very cheap), only the spoon was metallic and cheap feeling.

Service was great - at least three hot towel services and very attentive with the drinks. Crew addressed passengers by name and were genuinely friendly - had a few mean G&Ts as well (Gordons).

Power on my laptop struggled at first but was ok when I used a us adapter (like many airlines has problems with the aussie plugs).

IFE switched off (including radio) way before descent and headphones collected (so no radio to the gate with my own headphones for the last 20 minutes)

So for my first Garuda flight - a distinction all around, and much much better than what I was dreading.

 

[moa999]

GA713 Menu (Menu ID: 713/03/Jul"11)
Sydney - Jakarta GA713

Lunch
Chicken Tandoori Slice - Salad Waldorf - Yoghurt Vegetables Salad with Choice of Dressing
.
Chicken Breast Stuffed with Apricot - Almond - Cream Cheese - Potato Gratin - Vroccoli - Carrot
or
Fried Sea Nile Perch with Dill Fish Sauce - Fettucine - Vegetables
or
Caremalizzed Beef - Steamed Rice - Mixed Vegetables
.
Assorted Bread and Butter
.
Cheese and CRackers
.
Cheese Cake with Biscuit Base
.
Assorted Fruit
.
Coffe or Tea
Praline
Before landing, ice cream will be served accompanied with choice of drinks. Please accept our apologies if your first choice is not available. This menu is prepared according to Islamic principle

Beverage List

Red Wines
Chateau Haut Barreyre Grand Vin D'Bordeaux has awarded Gold Medial at concours de Bordeaux Vin D'Aqutaine 2003
L'Ostal Cazes Estibals Vintages 2006 (*)
Richland Cabernet Sauvignon (*)
.
White Wines
Michael Leon Riesling Vintage 2008
Try our taste Victor Berartd Chablis which balance and delicately (*)
Buttery taste with a lively fresh finish
Westend Richland Chardonnay (*)
.
Champagne
Maurice Leger Brut
Enjoy the floral notes hawthorn and fruity notes of fresh fruity type
.
Spirits
Smirnoff Vodka
Gordon's Gin
Bacardi Light Rum
Chivas Regal Whisky
Camus VSOP Cognac
.
Beers
Ask your flight attendant for our selection of beer per destintion:
Bintang (indonesia), Asahi (Japan), Tsing Tao (China), Heineken (European)
.
Non Alcoholic
We serve variety of soft drinks from Cola and Diet Cola, Lemonade, Soda Water, Ginger Ale and Tonic Water
.
Juices
Orange Juice, Apple Juice, Tomato Juice and Guava Juice and
Our signature welcome drink, Martebe Juice
.
Hot Drinks
Try our frshly brewed Espresso and Cappucino (Only available on board Airbus A330-200)
We also serve Authentic Indonesian Coffee, Instant Coffee and Decaffein Coffee

We have a variety of Black Teas, Flavoured Black Teas, Green Teas and Herbal Infusion Teas from TWININGS
TWININGS, the Oldest English tea company in the world with over 300 years of expertise
Try our authentic Indonesian Black Tea

We also serve hot chocolate

Please accept our apology for any unavailable of particular beverages due to high demand
(*) available for Australian destinations

 

[moa999]

Jakarta

Crazy city. Crazy crazy traffic.
Good cheap cabs - the SilverBirds which are around most western hotels are C or E class Mercs and very reasonable from an Australian standard.

Was very much a work trip.

Le Meridien Jakarta - Club Room US$170/ night
Stayed at Le Meridien as my corporate rates not available at Grand Hyatt or Mandarin, but got a club room for US$170/night.
Unfortunately some screwup between my travel agent (Amex Corporate) and the hotel meant the note for a non-smoking room didn't reach the hotel and I was booked in a smoking room. First night they were completely full so all they could offer was a room spray (which was done and thankfully it wasn't that bad). Second night was upgrade to a non-smoking suite.
After the baggage x-ray, avoided the front desk and went up to Level 20 in the new tower which is the club floor for club check-in. Good to check-in sitting down.
Then down to room (Level 17 overlooking a long abandoned construction site) to send suit and shirt for pressing (free with club room - booked for 6am return), then back to Club.
Club has two hours coughtails from six - some sushi platters, deserts, and a few hot selections. Good to have some cold beers

Then went to Plaza Indonesia (high end mall connected to Grand Hyatt) and ate a late dinner at Arella Cafe - a mid-market cafe with a western focus in the middle of the shopping mall, then a few drinks at Immigrant Bar, on Level 6 overlooking the main traffic clogged roundabout and the Selamat Datang Monument



First morning had a very early meeting and a 6.15am pickup so it was pack (for the room change), piece of toast from the Club breakfast stand (not a great selection at 6am), then out for the day.
Ate in a private room at Sumire, Japanese restaurant in Grand Hyatt which was very good.

Room change was from a 17th floor smoking room overlooking the construction side to a 5th floor corner suite overlooking the pool.
Weird entry to a small hallway leading to guest bathroom and work room with desk, couch, two chairs and a cofee table and a large 55" TV, then into the main bedroom with a 42" TV and bathroom.
Quite nice but a little dated.

Later start on the second day so went back to Club Floor for breakfast, eggs by order, but the Eggs Benedict wasn't great. Few meetings then back to hotel buffet for lunch which was actually very good and under US$20 a head.

 

[moa999]

Left for the airport at about 6pm and despite taking backroads journey was almost two hours, thankfully in a comfortable SilverBird.

Interesting security check at the airport, anyone can get into the terminal but you need to show a guard your flight reservation papers to get into the internal area containing the check-in desks. Your bags are also x-rayed here.
Quick check-in at the Garuda desks then to the central immigration point. Still have to pay a departure tax (in cash) at the check-in desk.
The Fast Track line wasn't manned so started queuing at the 15-deep main lines, then five people walked in and went to Fast Track and someone came over and started processing so back to that line.

Garuda Lounge
Nice enough lounge with view of a few gates and a number of computers.
Fairly average food - some soup, few sandwiches and some hot dishes that looked like they had been there all day.
Only juice available, alcohol (beers, wine and limited spirits) available on request from the non-existent staff.
Two showers in the mens bathroom - they are however exceedingly tiny with almost nowhere to store luggage or get changed in a dry area.

Wandered out and had a great 45min foot and neck massage for under $10 getting rid of almost all of the foreign currency.

Duty free was reasonably priced - Absolut Vodka 1L US$20 (A$19), and JW Blue US$166, wine and champagne was not cheap.
Duty free shop will deliver to the gate for Garuda flights (unsure about others), although when moving to the gate area I was just asked if I had liquids - there wasn't a check

 

[moa999]

GA712 CGK-SYD Executive Class
A330-200. Seat 4A
Plane was slightly fuller on the way back - both Executive cabins used and only about five spare seats, thankfully one next to me.

Snack before take-off was disappointing particularly given the vagaries of Jakarta traffic most will get to the airport early - a bowl of nuts or a vegeterian roll - served in its plastic wrap.
So had a quick red wine and G&T, changed into my QF F PJs (I came prepared!) - seat into flat mode, blanket on top, me on top, blanket on top, earplugs and eyemask.

Slept pretty well on my side - unfortunately whilst the seat is flat there is a definite depression on the join which when lying on your back is right in the middle of the small of your back and I found it quite uncomfortable.

Breakfast was served around 90minutes out of Sydney and the omelette was pretty average.

Arrived back into a very quiet Sydney customs and immigration. egate worked fine, didn't get a green stamp but got sent down a queue, no x-ray and out. Quickly home for a shower then back into work to complete the day.

 

[moa999]

GA712 Menu (Menu ID 712/03/Jun-Jul"11)

After take off, light snack will be served accompanied with choice of drinks

Breakfast

Slied Fresh Fruit
.
Yogurt
or
Cereal
.
Omlette with Capsicum - Chicken Sausage - Potatoes - Sauteed Corn - Green Peas
or
Special Nasi Goreng
or
French Toast with Maple Syrup - Chicken Sausage - Grilled Tomato
.
Assorted Bread
.
Butter - Jam
.
Cofee - Tea

Please accept our apologies if your first choice is not available. This menu is prepared according to Islamic principle

 

[moa999]

So all in all a very decent experience, and I am now Garuda Silver !

Was it equivalent to Qantas J (similar A330 service)?
Pluses --
Fully flat bed
Better lounge at CGK end
Good attentive service

Negatives --
Food below QF standards
Wine a long way below
IFE system was lacking new releases and some choices
No PJs (but I came prepared)
Whilst flat bed uncomfortable
No Status Credits

Overall I think slightly below the equivalent QF service, but then also substantially cheaper.

Given QF doesn't do a daily CGK service I suspect this might be one route that may be handed over to Jetstar.
If so then Garuda would definitely be the preferred choice, and based on fares to SIN etc I don't think JQ would be much cheaper.

 

[moa999]

For more photos (and higher quality please see Sam Chui's report)

The new Garuda Indonesia Experience by Sam Chui

 

[Moopere]

Thanks a lot for the TR. I am particularly interested in your comparison of GA to QF J. The only thing holding me back is the lingering bad smell of GA's safety record. Things seem to have improved in recent years but a problem like this leaves lingering question marks for a very long time.

 

[adampenrith]

A pretty fair assessment of how good Garuda is these days. The safety issues relate to domestic flights. I have commuted to DPS on GA with some connecting flights via CGK and never had an issue.

The fast track at CGK - there is always someone in the office who will come out and process you.

On departure there is also a supper - normally a salad roll, or maybe a egg salad roll. If you are hungry ask for the snack.

The mode of operation is settle the cabin for those who want to sleep, normally if you are watching the IFE or reading, the FA will quietly say do you want a snack.

 

[stomplad]

great report thanks.