Garuda Business – GA719 MEL-DPS

[Cruiser Elite]

After a number of less than enjoyable VA / JQ flts to Bali I decided to book GA J MEL-DPS/DPS-MEL this year – booked in June @ AD1,700 ret.

Cruiserette decided we would travel to MEL night before and o/n in Park Royal – it was a great decision. We had a very tidy dinner in Airo with a bottle of Veuve then a full nights sleep for dep 09:50. View from room to Inter Terminal:



Check in was not so quick / arrived 07:15 and 5 or 6 groups in front of us – seemed quite slow to process those in front of us - after we check in nobody in line behind us - go figure

Security and immigration was very quick – I have APEC so immigration is never slow – first difference you notice with GA is no separate Express Card given to you – rather express Stamp on reverse side of BP:



Straight into into QF J lounge for brekky – again first thing that strikes me is the ‘kiddies school camp’ cutlery – I think I saw these on offer in Aussie Disposals for like $10 a set 12 – J/K QF lovers – J/K - food very good / coffee sensational:



And:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

We boarded right on time:



We are seated 10D/10G here are our seats.



Just check how narrow aisles are between J seats – never seen anything so narrow.



Plenty leg room in front seats:



J cabin split in 2 on 330-200 - 3 rows 2-2-2 in both cabins - A/C-D/G-H/K - 10 pax front cabin / 11 rear cabin -a rear view of front J cabin:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

6 crew J cabin - Purser / 2 MDC (Matre De Cabin) - 2 F FA serving - Senior Cabin Crew / 1 MDC front galley / 1 M FA rear galley preparing meals - Manager Kitchen - Chef - normally on 332 1 Purser / 1 MDC / 3 SCC / 1 MK

Seat just so so for comfort – but seems serviceable – offered champs as soon as we are seated - check the Champers - Billicart Salmon Brut Rose:



Push back right on time - in air in no time - gorgeous FA Bunga - means flower - champers lovely - service excellent:



TV screens less than huge:


Cruiserette is just the PERFRECT travel companion - she takes a motion sickness tablet 1hr before take off - then 1 glass of Champers and it's 'lights out':

 

[Cruiser Elite]

All J pax receive Unisex Amenity Kit:



The usual suspects inside:



TBH did not open either Amenity Kit o/b so did not find the QF F Standard scuffs inside - but I do always carry forward - no self respecting 'pointy-end' traveller would be caught in any F or J cabin without SQ F scuffs would they:



YES YES I know ladies - those legs are sending you into a frenzy right? They make Cyd Charrise's look like table legs huh? Google that kids - the 'mature folk' here will understand!

 

[get me outta here]

F/J camping in a sleep sheet/ body bag. Quite comfy till you try to turn around?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Lunch time rolls around - the Menu and Wine List:



Ill give you the wine selections first - Champers:



Billiecart Salmon Brut Rose - take that some of you other alleged 5* airlines - what a lovely drop

Whites:



Reds:



I repeatedly sampled both Australian reds - both more than ecceptable.

Dessert:



And the beer - OMG - the beer was ICE COLD!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Pre lunch all pax served an exquisite mini tart with sun dried tomatoes / olives and whatever:



Another neat little feature is no trolley service - each pax served individually seat by seat – it's a bit labour intensive but pretty impressive also. We both chose the Modern European menu:



Cruiserette had the Ocean Trout:



I had the Corn Soup - even with the soup the bowl is first placed on tray table then soup poured ffrom glassware:



Both were absolutely delicious!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

The mains:



And the sides to accompany the mains:



Cruiserette chose the Barramundi and said it was just excellent:



I had the Lamb Chops which were also excellent:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Next Cheese Board and Dessert - I had the dessert first which kind stumped Bunga:



Then the Cheese Board:



Timing of meal service to the middle pair of seats was a bit muddled - Cruiserette received her Appetiser a few minutes before me - then I had finished my soup and my main and Cruiserette was still still waiting for her main – with the non trolley service crew were working their coughs off. Was no biggie as Cruiserette was watching a movie was watching movie - but window pair seats were served together.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Then the coffee which was undrinkable!



And:



And:



And:



TBH I have no idea which coffee I chose - but my firm advice to others is DO NOT choose this one!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

The flight itself was extremely smooth - it was 4hrs into 6hr flt before any turbulence at all - ATPIT all window shades down and you could actually see the 'No Smoking' / 'Seat Belt' sign overhead:



But when window shades up absolutely impossible to see 'No Smoking' / 'Seat Belt' illuminated o/h.



Kinda nit picking huh?

How would I rate GA overall - EXCELLENT!

Their hard product is clearly not as good as SQ/CX J - but their soft product stacks up rextrememy well against either - BC Brut Rose as the stock champers - FABULOUS - beats the pants off that Deutz vinegar CX serve in J. Excellent product for the cost - I would fly them any day again without blinking.

Note: We have completed 1 of 2 legs - will be interesting to see how return leg goes which o/n flt.

 

[Sprucegoose]

excellent report. The Germans have done wonders with that airline. Who was the pilot?

 

[Dalescott]

We were booked with them to fly to LGW couple of years ago. But they stuffed everything up, with a 17hour delay in Jakarta, and in the end didn't fly with them. They still have a long lay over in Jakarta and have a three layover to UK. So they are out of my list to use to go for our twice yearly to UK.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

If only VA had the A330/new J seats running to DPS...

I have to admit, I didn't expect GA to be so good, but this actually looked great Cruiser!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

excellent report. The Germans have done wonders with that airline. Who was the pilot?

As in what nationality was the pilot? NFI - announcements from flight deck same voice in Indo and Eng so I assume Indo.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I have to admit, I didn't expect GA to be so good, but this actually looked great Cruiser!

I certainly went in with an open mind - could not fault one aspect of soft product except timing of delivery of meals to middle pair seats and coffee quality - was very pleasantly surprised at the standard.

This was indeed the ONLY comm pointy end flt I have purchased all year ~60 SQ/EK/CX/VA/LX/KA F & J sectors all on pts - so when I was paying hard earned $$s I was eager to make sure we received value.

 

[hummel]

Nice report CE, and not a bad price when booking out that far.

Looking forward to getting over to DPS for the first time next week.

 

[hummel]

Nice report CE, and not a bad price when booking out that far.

Looking forward to getting over to DPS for the fruit time next week.

 

[moa999]

Nice report.
Last flew GA J SYD-CGK about five years ago with the same hard product.
While the hard product is now becoming dated, the soft product definitely looks like it has improved.

Did they still have the onboard immigration officer?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Nope o/b VOA thing of past - no biggie - as J pax we walked straight to counter for Cruiserette - then APEC channel got us straight through