Looking for advice booking domestic Indonesian flights
#31
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Programs: QF QP NB, PC Plat. Amb, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,879
Just another thought: in a pinch, if the flight schedules collapse as we're waiting, we could conceivably grab a taxi and just have the driver take us from Jogyakarta to Jakarta. About how many hours drive would it be from the airport at Jogyakarta to the airport at Jakarta?
#32
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Indonesia
Programs: Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Garuda, Air France
Posts: 87
More info on Indonesian domestic flights and trains
Hi everybody,
I am an infrequent reader/poster on FlyerTalk, but thought I could add a few tips on this topic:
There is some useful general information about booking Indonesian domestic flights here:
Plane Sailing? Booking Indonesian Flights Online
http://www.indonesiamatters.com/4938...lights-online/
It is originally written mostly for Indonesian residents (whether locals or expats), but here are some of the key points:
- The only Indonesian domestic airlines that permit payment with non-Indonesian credit cards are the local subsidiary of Air Asia and Garuda; the latter for a short list of countries only.
- Mandala Air and Batavia Air allow payment by Paypal in $US only, for flights more than 10 days in advance. Batavia Air seems to charge a fair bit extra for the privilege, though.
- Another site like travelindo that solves the problem of how to pay/book before you arrive is Mau Ke Mana:
http://flights.indonesiamatters.com
They accept payment via Paypal in any of the 19 Paypal currencies: $, , , etc.
If you would like more information in English about train travel in Indonesia, check this out:
http://www.indonesiamatters.com/4398...vel-indonesia/
Here is the official Indonesian Railways website:
http://kereta-api.co.id/
It is in Indonesian only, but you can understand enough to be able to choose the right cities and use the electronic timetable and get a list of prices ($US1 = Rp9000) and times.
Trains are always faster than buses and often faster than cars too due to small roads in poor condition.
I am an infrequent reader/poster on FlyerTalk, but thought I could add a few tips on this topic:
There is some useful general information about booking Indonesian domestic flights here:
Plane Sailing? Booking Indonesian Flights Online
http://www.indonesiamatters.com/4938...lights-online/
It is originally written mostly for Indonesian residents (whether locals or expats), but here are some of the key points:
- The only Indonesian domestic airlines that permit payment with non-Indonesian credit cards are the local subsidiary of Air Asia and Garuda; the latter for a short list of countries only.
- Mandala Air and Batavia Air allow payment by Paypal in $US only, for flights more than 10 days in advance. Batavia Air seems to charge a fair bit extra for the privilege, though.
- Another site like travelindo that solves the problem of how to pay/book before you arrive is Mau Ke Mana:
http://flights.indonesiamatters.com
They accept payment via Paypal in any of the 19 Paypal currencies: $, , , etc.
If you would like more information in English about train travel in Indonesia, check this out:
http://www.indonesiamatters.com/4398...vel-indonesia/
Here is the official Indonesian Railways website:
http://kereta-api.co.id/
It is in Indonesian only, but you can understand enough to be able to choose the right cities and use the electronic timetable and get a list of prices ($US1 = Rp9000) and times.
Trains are always faster than buses and often faster than cars too due to small roads in poor condition.
#33
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: AA, UA, SQ, VA, QF, AF, BA
Posts: 2,865
We are planning a trip to Seram and West Papua for birding next year. Our flights from BNE-DPS will be award tickets on DJ, then we have to get to the following places:
DPS-Ambon
Ambon-Sorong
Sorong-Manokwari
Manokwari-DPS
It looks like the airlines we have to choose from are a hodge-podge of Lion Air, Wings, Batavia, Express and Sriwijaya. We will probably have to use SUB or UPG to transit between DPS and Ambon, then Manokwari back to DPS. This thread is a couple years old so I was looking for more recent experiences with these airlines. Not fussy, just want to get there reliably, safely and preferably be able to book and pay online. There will be a buffer of 4 days in Bali before out flights back home. As far as I can see, overland transport doesn't seem to be an option between Sorong and Manokwari.
DPS-Ambon
Ambon-Sorong
Sorong-Manokwari
Manokwari-DPS
It looks like the airlines we have to choose from are a hodge-podge of Lion Air, Wings, Batavia, Express and Sriwijaya. We will probably have to use SUB or UPG to transit between DPS and Ambon, then Manokwari back to DPS. This thread is a couple years old so I was looking for more recent experiences with these airlines. Not fussy, just want to get there reliably, safely and preferably be able to book and pay online. There will be a buffer of 4 days in Bali before out flights back home. As far as I can see, overland transport doesn't seem to be an option between Sorong and Manokwari.
#34
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: HHonor Dia, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 547
We are planning a trip to Seram and West Papua for birding next year. Our flights from BNE-DPS will be award tickets on DJ, then we have to get to the following places:
DPS-Ambon
Ambon-Sorong
Sorong-Manokwari
Manokwari-DPS
It looks like the airlines we have to choose from are a hodge-podge of Lion Air, Wings, Batavia, Express and Sriwijaya. We will probably have to use SUB or UPG to transit between DPS and Ambon, then Manokwari back to DPS. This thread is a couple years old so I was looking for more recent experiences with these airlines. Not fussy, just want to get there reliably, safely and preferably be able to book and pay online. There will be a buffer of 4 days in Bali before out flights back home. As far as I can see, overland transport doesn't seem to be an option between Sorong and Manokwari.
DPS-Ambon
Ambon-Sorong
Sorong-Manokwari
Manokwari-DPS
It looks like the airlines we have to choose from are a hodge-podge of Lion Air, Wings, Batavia, Express and Sriwijaya. We will probably have to use SUB or UPG to transit between DPS and Ambon, then Manokwari back to DPS. This thread is a couple years old so I was looking for more recent experiences with these airlines. Not fussy, just want to get there reliably, safely and preferably be able to book and pay online. There will be a buffer of 4 days in Bali before out flights back home. As far as I can see, overland transport doesn't seem to be an option between Sorong and Manokwari.
There's new full-service airline, Pacific Royale (http://www.pacificroyale.com/), which will finally fly this month. Not sure about route/price though.
#35
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: AA, UA, SQ, VA, QF, AF, BA
Posts: 2,865
Lateness I can work with as long as they don't cancel alltogether. I just won't schedule anything too close. I'll have to see what routes that new airline will be flying.
Can tickets be bought online with non-Indonesian credit cards for any of them?
Can tickets be bought online with non-Indonesian credit cards for any of them?
#36
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: HHonor Dia, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 547
I know with Garuda you can't use US credit cards. (They only accept certain countries credit cards)
Not sure with other airlines though, sorry.
#37
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: LAX, CGK
Programs: EVA Diamond, Hilton Gold, National Exec
Posts: 349
I have been using my US issued credit card to buy Garuda tickets online for the past two years. No problem, they did not even ask me to show the credit card when checking in.
#38
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: HHonor Dia, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 547
And good to know they didn't check the cc either.
#40
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: Accor+ Platinum, SPG Plat, GFF Plat.
Posts: 65
my suggest try only garuda because their on time is trusted than other airlines.
if you need to issue indonesia ticket or hotel just pm me, i can help you because i have tour and travel company here.
see you at my country
if you need to issue indonesia ticket or hotel just pm me, i can help you because i have tour and travel company here.
see you at my country
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,741
Datapoint for foreign CCs
Tried to buy AK, GA and JT flights today.
AK rejected my U.S. Visa but accepted the Canadian Visa (have a Verified by Visa account here).
JT rejected Canadian MC, Visa and US Visa. My U.S. Visa issuer send a fraud warning. They supposedly approved JT but to no avail. JT seems to use Mastercard Australia.
JT fares went up in the meantime so I bought tickets on GA with the Canadian Visa. Got a call from GA to verify the transaction within an hour. E-ticket receipts sent immediately following with some e-mail about reservation confirmation.
AK rejected my U.S. Visa but accepted the Canadian Visa (have a Verified by Visa account here).
JT rejected Canadian MC, Visa and US Visa. My U.S. Visa issuer send a fraud warning. They supposedly approved JT but to no avail. JT seems to use Mastercard Australia.
JT fares went up in the meantime so I bought tickets on GA with the Canadian Visa. Got a call from GA to verify the transaction within an hour. E-ticket receipts sent immediately following with some e-mail about reservation confirmation.
Last edited by YVR Cockroach; Dec 11, 2012 at 2:33 pm Reason: GA follow up
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,741
Another foreign CC datapoint
Sky Aviation (SY) successfully accepted a Canadian Visa for online ticket purchase. Used Verified by Visa.
Last edited by YVR Cockroach; Dec 11, 2012 at 2:39 pm