Garuda London - Jakarta zero'd out in GDS for W18-19
Jan 8, 2019, 6:34 am
#226
Join Date: Nov 2016
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 35
Managed to change Economy B ticket. It was booked LHR-CGK-DPS next April. Now changed to LHR-SIN on SQ and then SIN-DPS on GA. 4 hours change in SIN on way out and 2.5 on the way back but guess there are worse airports to wait in and much preferable to early start in Heathrow getting to Amsterdam and then change in Jakarta etc...
Arranged via Amsterdam office as booked through them originally and have always found them to be a lot more helpful and on it than London office.
Arranged via Amsterdam office as booked through them originally and have always found them to be a lot more helpful and on it than London office.
So works out better (until they make the next scheduling change.....)
Jan 8, 2019, 10:31 am
#227
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 2,999
There are simple rules in minimising stress anywhere in the world. In Indonesia (or Thailand) it's a prebooked driver meeting you at the airport. In London, it's avoiding the Heathrow Express.
Jan 9, 2019, 9:00 pm
#228
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,575
and indeed the reverse for DPS now - in my view the best way from AMS will be via LHR and an overnight flight straight into Bali rather than the day flight and international-domestic connection in CGK
Jan 9, 2019, 9:01 pm
#229
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,575
As an aside - I credited my SQ leg to my Krisflyer and it shows over $5k "PPS" value - so if that is the amount that did in fact change hands, that was an expensive exercise for GA - especially as my original flight ended up running a few mins ahead of me after all!!
Jan 9, 2019, 9:23 pm
#230
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 46
Doesn't ring true of my 40 odd trips to Indonesia? Never had an issue with customs staff (but yes, local expats I know have, mainly as they have 'bent' rules), but in Bali (which is a pain if you arrive and are on the look out for a taxi) I always have a car waiting for me (hotel / prebooked) - a few $ more, and minimises stress. Bali is fabulous, traffic is horrendous in the south, just get out! I had 3 lovely days in Sidemen in November, and it was tranquil, peaceful and I love it!
There are simple rules in minimising stress anywhere in the world. In Indonesia (or Thailand) it's a prebooked driver meeting you at the airport. In London, it's avoiding the Heathrow Express.
There are simple rules in minimising stress anywhere in the world. In Indonesia (or Thailand) it's a prebooked driver meeting you at the airport. In London, it's avoiding the Heathrow Express.
An alternative to the rip-off airport taxis is the "Grab" app (took over from Uber in Indonesia) much more reasonable but you do have to be discrete meeting the drivers as the monopolist taxi firms are keen to defend their position - you'd probably need a little Indonesian to arrange a pick up point, if your hotel does not doo airport pick ups. Outside the airport insist on Blue Bird taxis (and not any of the 'blink and you'd miss' it copy cats like 'Blue Biro' and others). Drivers are polite and well trained, and funnily enough their taxi meters always work.
Jan 10, 2019, 3:55 am
#231
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 2,999
Hang on - just worked out that you can only fly LHR-DPS-CGK on the Tuesday flight, no late flight on Thu / Sat UK departures, so you have to overnight in Bali.
Surely that's an easy resolution? Surely if you're operating a CGK-LHR-DPS you have to offer connections LHR-DPS-CGK as well as DPS-CGK-LHR?
And currently DPS-CGK connecting flight is not the 777, but GA 403 d. 09:05 in a 737 (with another 737 at 07:00). But these connecting 737's are where they are expecting to fill a 777-300 worth of holidaymakers from CGK-LHR?
Surely this is easy to fix?! Yes, better slots from LHR are one way, but operating LHR-DPS-CGK-LHR on the same plane would make life so much easier!??
Uh, i've got a headache.
Surely that's an easy resolution? Surely if you're operating a CGK-LHR-DPS you have to offer connections LHR-DPS-CGK as well as DPS-CGK-LHR?
And currently DPS-CGK connecting flight is not the 777, but GA 403 d. 09:05 in a 737 (with another 737 at 07:00). But these connecting 737's are where they are expecting to fill a 777-300 worth of holidaymakers from CGK-LHR?
Surely this is easy to fix?! Yes, better slots from LHR are one way, but operating LHR-DPS-CGK-LHR on the same plane would make life so much easier!??
Uh, i've got a headache.
Jan 15, 2019, 3:27 am
#233
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 2,999
DPS-CGK flights to connect DPS-CGK-LHR still 737's - surely they need to reschedule those as same plane 773's? Next step?
Jan 17, 2019, 1:13 pm
#234
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Miles and More, BAEC , QR Privilege, Oman Sindbad, Tufty Club.
Posts: 64
Departures now re-scheduled (again) GA 87 Dep LHR 21:45 arr DPS 20:15. ---- GA 86 Dep CGK 11:20 Arr LHR 20:00.
Only problem is they have not rescheduled my return connection from DPS to CGK (GA403 (738) dep DPS 09:25 arr CGK 10:30 to pick up GA87. This means a connection time of 50 minutes and breaks their own rules ! ( Not surprisingly you cannot book it as a new reservation )
I suppose I shall have to call them at sometime to point out the error of their ways. Really don't fancy the alarm call in Ubud to get on the 07:00 DPS departure though !
Only problem is they have not rescheduled my return connection from DPS to CGK (GA403 (738) dep DPS 09:25 arr CGK 10:30 to pick up GA87. This means a connection time of 50 minutes and breaks their own rules ! ( Not surprisingly you cannot book it as a new reservation )
I suppose I shall have to call them at sometime to point out the error of their ways. Really don't fancy the alarm call in Ubud to get on the 07:00 DPS departure though !
Jan 21, 2019, 9:41 pm
#235
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,575
I'd probably forego the last night in my accommodation (depending on cost I would just keep the night using it as a very late check out) & head down to an airport hotel the night before - if you happen to have any Hilton points it's only 5k)
Jan 23, 2019, 3:44 pm
#236
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: SE England
Programs: AF-KL Platinum, ALL Platinum
Posts: 755
So we’re getting First Class back to LHR, for a short while at least?
https://www.routesonline.com/news/38...ondon-in-3q19/
https://www.routesonline.com/news/38...ondon-in-3q19/
May 23, 2019, 2:59 am
#237
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 2,999
Been a while since Garuda cancelled the route... still showing in systems
https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/...box=1558599739
https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/...box=1558599739
May 23, 2019, 4:13 am
#238
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: CGK
Posts: 2,375
Been a while since Garuda cancelled the route... still showing in systems
https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/...box=1558599739
https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/...box=1558599739
May 23, 2019, 8:34 am
#239
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 18
Well Garuda truly know how to mess around their U.K. passengers. On. Off. On. Reroute. Now off again. If the route is unprofitable it’s because of the lack of certainty over the flights and the reputation the company has gained for continually changing their minds. A real shame because the Garuda product is great.
May 25, 2019, 6:44 am
#240
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: SQ, GA, AA
Posts: 42
CGK - LHR is not the only route being axed out. CGK - AMS frequency will also be cut by half from 6 times weekly to 3 times weekly:
http://aeronauticsonline.com/garuda-...ork-once-more/
Garuda will also significantly reduce its Europe service. Its recently revamped London-Heathrow flights will be cancelled altogether, and flights between Jakarta and Amsterdam will be reduced from six flights per week to three flights per week. Earlier, the airline terminated its Belitung-Singapore service.
http://aeronauticsonline.com/garuda-...ork-once-more/
Garuda will also significantly reduce its Europe service. Its recently revamped London-Heathrow flights will be cancelled altogether, and flights between Jakarta and Amsterdam will be reduced from six flights per week to three flights per week. Earlier, the airline terminated its Belitung-Singapore service.
A Garuda Indonesia spokesperson in The Jakarta Post stated that around 59% of the total business costs (around 1.05 billion US$) for the airline were allocated to operational costs, which totaled $618.99 million. The airline spends $267.73 million on leasing aircraft while it spends $286.12 million on fuel costs.