CTS and DPS Turnarounds
 

I know this has been asked before but the withdrawal of the search function does not allow me to look for it.

As part of my DONE4 I will do both CTS and DPS turnarounds. How easy will these be? Is there any way to get the BP for the return legs issued in HKG before departure? Both turnarounds are circa. 75 minutes so I don't have much time to get through Immigration (if I have to) and back through security.

CX can issue return boarding passes for a limited number of destinations. There should be a list on the web site. In my experience they cannot do it for Jaraka, so DPS may be a problem.
Also, Indonesia has some new visa entry restrictions which may affect you depending on nationality.
As a Brit I have to get a VISA on arrival - means two queues - one to pay and one for the visa, and then go and join the queue for immigration. At Jakarta I managed to do the turn around in time to check-in and then join the queue for immigration.

I've decided to forget about DPS. It was making my itinerary very tight. It allows me to bring my HKG-BNE-AKL flights forward by a day which means I can fly QF with a Spacebed rather than CX with regional business class. I was not looking forward to 8.5 hours in RBC. :eek: :eek:

Anyone have any more recent update on Indonesia turnrounds?

I have two segments on an AONE3 to use before I fly off to JFK, and the choice is basically between CGK or NRT to use a forthcoming Saturday or Sunday catching up on my reading en route and back. I'm sufficiently tight on requalification this year that I'm considering sacrificing the Kaiseki meal for the extra 500 Club Miles from CGK.

But I'm really only interested if I can do an airside transit at CGK - it's not worth the hassle of visas, immigration etc. I know that NRT is trivial to do.

(And yes I know I could get a few hundred more miles by spending the whole weekend going in regional-J to CMB or even KHI, but I'm not that desperate ;) )

I, and some other FTers, have done turnarounds on SQ at CGK many times. It is easy as long as you have the return boarding pass (if not then may be a headache if transfer desk can´t print it for you. Go straight up escalator to departures level. Sometimes there is a security check at the bottom (rescreen carry on) and sometimes not. Then head to lounge or shops or whatever. Takes very few seconds. Will have to pay departure tax at the gate. 100,000 rupiahs or can pay in USD, euros, SGD. No change given so try to have the right amount.

My experience in CGK, early 2006, is that you need to get the boarding pass in CGK, CX cannot issue return boarding pass for CGK. You could ask the CX rep, who will be greeting the arriving flight, to escort you to check-in (landside) and back. It is very doable and there is no need for visa/immigration because of the escort. You do need to pay departure tax of about $11. There is no CX transfer desk in CGK.

Not that anyone is going to change their travel plans over it, but I noticed today that TSA has signs around (LAX, anyway) stating that DPS does not meet FAA security standards. Interesting that they should be posting such signs.

Perhaps that's because they focus on doing things like catching Australian drug smugglers rather than worrying about whether my deodorant is over or under 3 oz?

Is there a direct flight LAX-DPS? Otherwise it seems an odd thing to have signposted??

The TSA evaluates only airports that do have direct service to the US, so there was direct service at the time of this advisory (Dec 2005). US law requires signposting of this warning at all US airports (not just LAX) as well as notification of all pax buying tickets from US airlines to DPS. The details are at http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/20...ease_0642.shtm

CGK Turnround
 

Yes thats right. Did a CGK turnaround in November 2005 in F out on CX777 back CX776. Explained the situation to the CSD on the outbound flight and on arrival in CGK she got the ground agent to meet the flight and whilst I relaxed in the lounge, the ground agent got return BS and brought back to lounge. Obviously had no checked bags.

Thanks all for your help. Detailed calculations say I need those 500 Club Miles so I reckon I'll try the CGK turnround. Any observations on CGK F? Any specific cuisine or is it "just" generic regional F (like TPE, MNL, BKK, SIN...)?

I did the CGK turnaround in 2004 and the menu was brunch to CGK and dinner on the return. I remember the F menu similar to the daily 747 SIN-HKG menu.

Isn't DM requalification 120,000 miles, and you say you are within 500 miles of that? Wow, talk about cutting it close -- quite impressive.

Not sure if it affects you, but I've had one person tell me that Indonesian immigration officials were quite aggressive in collecting a "visa fee" for a turnaround (never went through immigration), presumably as a bribe, at CGK. They waited in the lounge for their BP and it was accompanied by an immigration official who wanted a cash payment as a "visa fee". I forget the amount, but it wasn't exorbinant, circa USD 20. I guess this is part of the cost of doing business in CGK, even if you don't leave the airport.

I was told at CGK that turnaround is not considered as transit and departure tax of Rp10,000 (about $11) was due. I was given a receipt stapled to my BP. It seemed legit to me.