Garuda Indonesia First Class: Was it as “Good” as Five Stars? Almost… LHR-CGK-SIN
Aug 23, 2016, 7:37 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
A bit too much purple in the first lounge.
The hard product in F looks very similar to SQ but actually looks more private.
Great trip report. Makes me hungry and wanting to go away tomorrow. Thanks for posting.
The hard product in F looks very similar to SQ but actually looks more private.
Great trip report. Makes me hungry and wanting to go away tomorrow. Thanks for posting.
Aug 23, 2016, 8:17 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
Programs: AA EXP 1.7 M, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, AARP Sophomore, 14-time Croix de Candlestick
Posts: 18,669
Excellent report, Carfield. I love how you capture the nuances of what elevates service into higher realms.
Aug 24, 2016, 11:38 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Amazing report!!!!!
Does anyone know if Garuda doesn't sell F CGK - SIN anymore? ExpertFlyer shows a 3-class 777 on two daily flights but even GA's web site won't let you book F.
Does anyone know if Garuda doesn't sell F CGK - SIN anymore? ExpertFlyer shows a 3-class 777 on two daily flights but even GA's web site won't let you book F.
Aug 24, 2016, 11:50 am
#21
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bargara Australia
Programs: VA, SQ, IHG, HH,ALL, Europcar
Posts: 1,530
An interesting cultural difference. The American feels uncomfortable being helped to do something, they can easily do themselves. They feel that it is somehow disrespectful to the agent.
The European feels that by carrying the bag himself that he is disrespectful to the agent, implying that the agent is incapable of doing his/her job or that his/her job is unnecessary.
Not saying either is right or wrong, it is just a difference of perspective.
Having made my cultural literacy comment for the day, let me just say:
Thank you, Carfield for an interesting trip report about a lesser covered airline in FT. I have never flown Garuda due to lingering doubts about their safety, but your report might tempt me to give them a try.
The European feels that by carrying the bag himself that he is disrespectful to the agent, implying that the agent is incapable of doing his/her job or that his/her job is unnecessary.
Not saying either is right or wrong, it is just a difference of perspective.
Having made my cultural literacy comment for the day, let me just say:
Thank you, Carfield for an interesting trip report about a lesser covered airline in FT. I have never flown Garuda due to lingering doubts about their safety, but your report might tempt me to give them a try.
I agree that things had got a bit lax with safety around the 2000 mark - but in the last 5 years there has been a HUGE improvement with safety awareness and customer service.
I have been a regular FF on Garuda since Ansett ended service in 2000, and have flown Garuda frequently between Australia and Indonesia (where we have a holiday home on the Balinese island), I have also done numerous intra Asian flights and domestic flights on Garuda.
I prefer the Garuda Business product over the Emirates product.
Aug 24, 2016, 3:34 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: BA blue, LH Senator, KQ (FB) gold
Posts: 8,215
Garuda Pilots do their simulator training and refreshers in Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific.
I agree that things had got a bit lax with safety around the 2000 mark - but in the last 5 years there has been a HUGE improvement with safety awareness and customer service.
I have been a regular FF on Garuda since Ansett ended service in 2000, and have flown Garuda frequently between Australia and Indonesia (where we have a holiday home on the Balinese island), I have also done numerous intra Asian flights and domestic flights on Garuda.
I prefer the Garuda Business product over the Emirates product.
I agree that things had got a bit lax with safety around the 2000 mark - but in the last 5 years there has been a HUGE improvement with safety awareness and customer service.
I have been a regular FF on Garuda since Ansett ended service in 2000, and have flown Garuda frequently between Australia and Indonesia (where we have a holiday home on the Balinese island), I have also done numerous intra Asian flights and domestic flights on Garuda.
I prefer the Garuda Business product over the Emirates product.
Aug 26, 2016, 6:23 pm
#24
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: QFF, Krisflyer
Posts: 472
Thanks Carfield for the TR.
A shame that the things that differentiated this F Class from others and put it over the top (the email requests before flights) and the 3 different Menus offered in First, and First Class drinks menu have all been removed/cost cut.
Makes it a slightly less compelling option over other F carriers. YMMV.
Hopefully Garuda will reinstate the above but I'm not holding my breath.
A shame that the things that differentiated this F Class from others and put it over the top (the email requests before flights) and the 3 different Menus offered in First, and First Class drinks menu have all been removed/cost cut.
Makes it a slightly less compelling option over other F carriers. YMMV.
Hopefully Garuda will reinstate the above but I'm not holding my breath.
Sep 2, 2016, 1:43 am
#27
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CGK
Programs: FlyingBlue | Krisflyer | SPG | HHonors
Posts: 1,563
Thanks for this comprehensive report of my 'home' airline! It was great to see Garuda Indonesia improve so much, though I have yet to take their F class before.
IMO, they are still a notch below the other Asian carriers like SQ/CX/NH due to the limited F itineraries and destinations.
IMO, they are still a notch below the other Asian carriers like SQ/CX/NH due to the limited F itineraries and destinations.
Sep 3, 2016, 5:40 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,593
In theory, yes. But from a practical standpoint, no. Ignoring the high number of miles required for a GA First Class mileage ticket, the requirement to present yourself not once, but twice at a Garuda ticket office to makes it impractical for most of us to even think about redeeming miles.
Sep 3, 2016, 6:09 am
#30
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Sydney
Programs: QF Plat, VA Gold, HH Diam, PC Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,082
In theory, yes. But from a practical standpoint, no. Ignoring the high number of miles required for a GA First Class mileage ticket, the requirement to present yourself not once, but twice at a Garuda ticket office to makes it impractical for most of us to even think about redeeming miles.
There is a Garuda office in Sydney
...and another article: http://thepointsguy.com/2014/07/maxi...and-transfers/
Last edited by kpc; Sep 3, 2016 at 6:27 am