How good is Lion Air?
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
How good is Lion Air?
Doing some research on domestic Indonesian flights and came across Lion Air.
Does anybody have experience with them? Esp concerning seat pitch/inflight comfort, reliability, luggage allowance. TIA.
Does anybody have experience with them? Esp concerning seat pitch/inflight comfort, reliability, luggage allowance. TIA.
#2
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 60
I took Lion Air in March 2010 from Solo to Mataram, with a quick s30 minute stopover in Jakarta. It was my devised way of getting to the Gili Islands as
quickly as possible.
1- I could not book on line. I called overseas to a Singapore call center
and managed to reserve my flight at a fixed price adverised provided
I pay in person as soon as I arrived in Kuala Lumpur
2-The agent in Kuala Lmpur culd not take credit card payment,but gave me a paper to present to the agent in Yogyakarta INDONESIA,where I finally got
my ticket and paid in cash.
3-Plane departure 1 hour late in Solo, leaving me 15 minutes to catch my connecting flight in Jakarta
4- arrival in Mataram but my luggage never gets there. After days waiting,
it is presumed lost for good,and I am told by administrationto give up hope, No compensation,,nothing
5-get a text in Bali 8 days later that they might have found my backpack.
They eventuall send it to Bali Airport ,for pickup,where certain items are missing Iam thrilled nonetheless,since the presumed loss and necessity to start buying new clothes depressed me and wrecked my stay in the Gillis
GOOD THING I KEPT MY VALUABLES(MONEY ,PASSPORT,CELL PHONE ETC) ON ME AND NEVER PACKED THEM WITH MY LUGGAGE
quickly as possible.
1- I could not book on line. I called overseas to a Singapore call center
and managed to reserve my flight at a fixed price adverised provided
I pay in person as soon as I arrived in Kuala Lumpur
2-The agent in Kuala Lmpur culd not take credit card payment,but gave me a paper to present to the agent in Yogyakarta INDONESIA,where I finally got
my ticket and paid in cash.
3-Plane departure 1 hour late in Solo, leaving me 15 minutes to catch my connecting flight in Jakarta
4- arrival in Mataram but my luggage never gets there. After days waiting,
it is presumed lost for good,and I am told by administrationto give up hope, No compensation,,nothing
5-get a text in Bali 8 days later that they might have found my backpack.
They eventuall send it to Bali Airport ,for pickup,where certain items are missing Iam thrilled nonetheless,since the presumed loss and necessity to start buying new clothes depressed me and wrecked my stay in the Gillis
GOOD THING I KEPT MY VALUABLES(MONEY ,PASSPORT,CELL PHONE ETC) ON ME AND NEVER PACKED THEM WITH MY LUGGAGE
#5
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
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#6
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 60
equipment and seats - nothing special- nothing terrible-did remember that the flight hostesses did speak a bit of English.
To Emailkid- Are you kidding? Still alot of naive travellers,or foolish people
making those mistakes, EVEN WHEN FOREWARNED
To Emailkid- Are you kidding? Still alot of naive travellers,or foolish people
making those mistakes, EVEN WHEN FOREWARNED
#7
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: PR Premier Elite
Posts: 1,950
In all, for a cheap short flight they are fine. Nothing to rave about but I have flown MANY MANY times worse in Indonesia. Most likely you won't die.
I havent got their web site to accept my credit card anytime recently. Once it did a few years back but never since.
They have glossy "prayer cards" in the seat back pockets with prayers in like 4 different languages and 6 different religions asking the relevant gods to please ensure the plane reaches its destination without crashing or anything. This has to be one of the awesomest things I have ever found in a seat back pocket. It says please do not remove from the plane but I HAD to keep one.
BTW. At CGK domestic they have a lounge adjacent to check-in outside security. On an economy ticket I bought into the lounge for 50,000 Rupia. Real price with a receipt given and everything, not a bribe-in. No booze but they had snacks and stuff and it beats sitting with the masses in CGK.
#8
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
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Posts: 14,429
Then what's the point
Oh @:-)
EmailKid
#9
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 6
Lion air famous for delay. So better stick with Garuda. Oh wait, this is budget forum, no?
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,001
the Gili's without cloths sounds like my trip
Garuda and Merpati aren't exactly tops either. It's Indonesia.
#12
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Singapore
Programs: M&M Senator, SQ Gold, EK Gold, TK Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 23
5-get a text in Bali 8 days later that they might have found my backpack.
They eventuall send it to Bali Airport ,for pickup,where certain items are missing Iam thrilled nonetheless,since the presumed loss and necessity to start buying new clothes depressed me and wrecked my stay in the Gillis
I would say: Lion Air is not really a bad airline. The planes are nearly all new. I would prefere Lion air in Indonesia!
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,468
Thanks all for the replies. Seems to come down to Lion (JT) or Garuda (GA).
Farewise GA is about 20 - 25% higher than JT on some the itineraries checked.
Not sure if GA is any better in case of lost luggage. JT sems to have a large fleet (172 per website) of fairly new 737-900s. We'll see.
Farewise GA is about 20 - 25% higher than JT on some the itineraries checked.
Not sure if GA is any better in case of lost luggage. JT sems to have a large fleet (172 per website) of fairly new 737-900s. We'll see.
#14
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: PR Premier Elite
Posts: 1,950
Thanks all for the replies. Seems to come down to Lion (JT) or Garuda (GA).
Farewise GA is about 20 - 25% higher than JT on some the itineraries checked.
Not sure if GA is any better in case of lost luggage. JT sems to have a large fleet (172 per website) of fairly new 737-900s. We'll see.
Farewise GA is about 20 - 25% higher than JT on some the itineraries checked.
Not sure if GA is any better in case of lost luggage. JT sems to have a large fleet (172 per website) of fairly new 737-900s. We'll see.
BTW, if you want safety concerns about Lion . They have had several "tail strikes" on their brand new 737-900's. Nothing serious has come of any of them but they seem to have set a trend for that foible with the very "long" 737-900. I have also personally noted EXTREMELY long and fast takeoff rolls on Lion out of CGK. The only plausible explanation I could come up with is the planes must have been loaded to the hilt with cargo.
I just don't worry about such stuff and it all works out. Enjoy Indonesia. It's all good.
#15
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TSV, Australia
Posts: 2,401
If the price difference isn't too important, I'd go Garuda. The legroom is better, the service is better, and you get food and drinks.
Lion Air's new planes are pretty tight for anybody of average (westerner) height.
Lion Air's new planes are pretty tight for anybody of average (westerner) height.