safest airline within Indonesia / fly at all?
#16
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 70
I've had some hesitation the past couple of trips to use Lion, because of the extremely heavy schedule they were running. The planes (and for that matter the flight attendents) who looked new and fresh the first year of operation took and an appearance of overuse very quickly.
I've been very comfortable with Garuda-- had no problems with Merpati, and haven't hesited to fly one of the LCCs where it was convenient
I've been very comfortable with Garuda-- had no problems with Merpati, and haven't hesited to fly one of the LCCs where it was convenient
#17
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CMH
Posts: 891
I've flown Garuda, Lion, Indonesia AirAsia, and Mandala. Garuda was the best, Lion was not too bad (I was on their MDs, 737-400s, and 737-900ERs), Indonesia AirAsia's and Mandala's planes were a bit old and worn, but the flights were just fine.
#18
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Pampanga, Philippines
Programs: TK Elite Plus, FB Platinum, Emirates
Posts: 1,619
Adam is just about grounded as we speak - the rest are fine.
Flown on Adam/Batavia/Expressair/Garuda/Indonesia Air Asia/Lion/Mandala/Merpati/Sriwijaya/Wings. Garuda is consistent and boring, the rest are always interesting experiences.
Flown on Adam/Batavia/Expressair/Garuda/Indonesia Air Asia/Lion/Mandala/Merpati/Sriwijaya/Wings. Garuda is consistent and boring, the rest are always interesting experiences.
#19
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Programs: QF QP NB, PC Plat. Amb, SPG Gold
Posts: 1,879
I've flown with a host of the airlines within Indonesia as well - as others have said, Garuda is the best choice overall, and others can be interesting to various degrees .
But as also mentioned by others, given the way people drive in Indonesia and even the seeming regularity of train derailments as well, flying's still much safer than your other options within Indonesia for getting around.
But as also mentioned by others, given the way people drive in Indonesia and even the seeming regularity of train derailments as well, flying's still much safer than your other options within Indonesia for getting around.
#20
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
Agreed with most comments above -- Indonesian airlines may be dodgy, but they're far less dodgy than any of the alternatives...
A collection of my trip reports for Adam Air, Garuda, Indonesia Air Asia, Lion Air and Wings Air:
Fly is Cheap: Low-Cost Adventures in Indonesia
A collection of my trip reports for Adam Air, Garuda, Indonesia Air Asia, Lion Air and Wings Air:
Fly is Cheap: Low-Cost Adventures in Indonesia
#21
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bali
Programs: GA Gold, BA Silver, HH Gold, IHG Gold
Posts: 221
#22
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: SCL, MCT, LGW and a variety of 1W lounges in between.
Programs: BA Mucci (Seigneur et Ingenieur des Appareils Volants (Gold)), QF (WP and LTG), AA EXP, GF Gold
Posts: 3,931
Our company standing instructions for Indonesia are not to use domestic airlines when possible. Sometimes it is not possible to avoid them. We would never have used Adam Air. I saw the 737 before the tail dropped off and could tell that there were serious structural problems with the aircraft months beforehand. However, nobody in Indonesia listens to us. We are only aircraft accident investigators so what the hell do we know about aircraft anyway?
The recent Garuda 737 overrun was the best of the worst of Indonesian flying. I have seen it in most of the crashes in Indonesia.
However, when considering the requirement to be in Indonesia and the dangers of ground transport there, flying is relatively safe as an option. As ever, worry about when you on other forms of transport and know where the exits are!
The recent Garuda 737 overrun was the best of the worst of Indonesian flying. I have seen it in most of the crashes in Indonesia.
However, when considering the requirement to be in Indonesia and the dangers of ground transport there, flying is relatively safe as an option. As ever, worry about when you on other forms of transport and know where the exits are!
#23
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YK136amZYI
#24
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Pampanga, Philippines
Programs: TK Elite Plus, FB Platinum, Emirates
Posts: 1,619
It might not be enough to know where the exits are -- here's a video taken inside the Adam Air plane that overran and busted its landing gear in Batam last week:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YK136amZYI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YK136amZYI
#25
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
#26
Join Date: May 2002
Location: seattle, wa.
Posts: 915
same goes with all other Air Asia's planes, I think. I was on one of them from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi and I swear I could smell the toilet from my seat which was in front of the FA's front jumpseat.
#27
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SAN
Programs: PR Premier Elite
Posts: 1,950
Boarding AirAsia flights in Indonesia may carry some risk of being trampled to death but I believe they maintain good maintenance practices and properly train their pilots.
#28
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Bali
Programs: GA Gold, BA Silver, HH Gold, IHG Gold
Posts: 221
Indonesia AirAsia is still flying older 737-400's exclusively but Malaysian AirAsia has brand new,factory fresh A320's for at least some of the flights KUL-SUB and KUL-CGK as well as some of their other international destinations. The plan is to completely phase out the 737's and replace then with brand new A320's.
#29
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: MAA
Programs: BA bronze, Marriott silver
Posts: 2,804
You sure its the toilet? One pax in a seat near you with bad gas can make your trip miserable enough ..