A short stint in Saudi (and QR Doha Stopover)

[RooFlyer]

Just reading this

This country is spending billions to boost tourism. It’s not working out

With mega-projects falling by the wayside and visitor numbers to resorts below target, a tourism dream is slipping away.

www.smh.com.au

I think the article is a little unfair. ‘The Line’ wasn’t really a tourist thing and it was just barmy from the start.

From what I’ve looked at a lot of of the new resorts and hotels are over the top, very expensive five and six star resorts. At Al Ula, there were several beautiful $1000 to $3000 a night places; the Accor place is reasonably priced but reviewed as coughpy. I was lucky to get a room at the mid price place by booking about a year out.

As I’ve argued in another thread, they will have to allow booze at some foreigner exclusive hotels before the place really takes off. And I’m pretty sure that will come but ‘MBS’ knows he has to take it slowly.

 

[VPS]

I think the article is a little unfair. ‘The Line’ wasn’t really a tourist thing and it was just barmy from the start.

From what I’ve looked at a lot of of the new resorts and hotels are over the top, very expensive five and six star resorts. At Al Ula, there were several beautiful $1000 to $3000 a night places; the Accor place is reasonably priced but reviewed as coughpy. I was lucky to get a room at the mid price place by booking about a year out.

As I’ve argued in another thread, they will have to allow booze at some foreigner exclusive hotels before the place really takes off. And I’m pretty sure that will come but ‘MBS’ knows he has to take it slowly.

I wasn’t agreeing with the article just sharing. I think Traveller do get a little carried away sometimes especially if Ben Groundwater is writing it

 

[RooFlyer]

We pulled into CGK about 35 minutes early. As I think @SYD has described it, a sea of empty arrival gates which I zipped through and then collected my bag (came out about 20th or something), then there was a short hold up in a queue at customs. I went to the red lane as I had declared to Temazepam in my customs declaration, as I had the last time I visited Indonesia, 5 weeks ago. Last time they pulled me over and wanted to see the packet and my prescription. This time although he obviously saw something on his screen, he just waved me through.

My first time at CGK and I must say the baggage Hall is something.



Onto the Anara airport hotel check-in and I was in my room 30 mins after gate arrival. A quick check-in, top floor, away from elevators and the aircon works well.





Those blinds are going to need the sticky tape treatment.

 

[jase05]

My first time at CGK and I must say the baggage Hall is something.

Yeah, not a bad place to hang out and watch the big screens. The underwater display almost looks real.
All up though I reckon CGK is a pretty decent airport. Arriving is so quick and easy

 

[SYD]

We pulled into CGK about 35 minutes early. As I think @SYD has described it, a sea of empty arrival gates which I zipped through and then collect bag,

I assume there must be a “peak” time that QF41 lands outside of or perhaps they’ve just truly future proof the place? Build it and they will come?

My first time at CGK and I must say the baggage Hall is something.

Sounds like the renos have finished! Finally.

Onto the Anara airport hotel check-in and I was in my room 30 mins after gate arrival.

That’s cheating! Half the “fun” of a cheap CGK stopover is getting to your hotel - that isn’t attached to the airport. The Grab / Rideshare zone is a hot mess but seems to work.

 

[jase05]

I assume there must be a “peak” time that QF41 lands outside of or perhaps they’ve just truly future proof the place?

The last few times we’ve been through it was deserted.
This was arvo time in October

 

[SYD]

The last few times we’ve been through it was deserted.
This was arvo time in October
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Yep, pretty much my experience 8 or more times in the last couple of years. Despite that, luggage can be a bit slow to appear.

Then you get outside and the closer you get to the Rideshare and it’s a whole different world! Like, where did these people come from?

 

[RooFlyer]

Then you get outside and the closer you get to the Rideshare and it’s a whole different world! Like, where did these people come from?

It would be handy if you could explain how to get to that. I’ll need it the next time I come through in a week.

The only starting orientation however I have is the exit that is straight in front of you as you come out of customs or there was an exit ( into a car park?) if you kept going straight instead of turning right into the Anara once upstairs.

I assume Gojek is the go? I noticed a desk in the baggage Hall. Should I use that?

 

[SYD]

It would be handy if you could explain how to get to that. I’ll need it the next time I come through in a week.

The only starting orientation however I have is the exit that is straight in front of you as you come out of customs or there was an exit ( into a car park?) if you kept going straight instead of turning right into the Anara once upstairs.

From T3 the car park is on the right but you want to veer left under or around the escalators up. You’ll see the Premium Grab zone first and the regular Grab (and other Rideshares) are further along and across the road - look for the sea of humanity waiting for rides. It looks chaotic but has some degree of order…

I assume Gojek is the go?

We use Grab. A fare from an airport Hotel to T3 ought to be a couple of dollars but rides from the airport can be a lot more. A premium Grab from the airport might be more like A$20+ but can be worth it if you don’t won’t to stuff around. The cars are usually there waiting. Otherwise, you schlep further along.

There’ll be a bunch of young guys and girls standing around in their respective rideshare uniforms able to book a ride. I haven’t bothered to research why but I assume they’re on commission? As far as I can tell it’s the same fare as booking yourself - which I always do.

There’s good directions here. Scroll down and select T3 and then the directions to the various Grab options.

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) transfers - Grab

Request an airport transfer from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport with Grab, Southeast Asia’s safest ride-hailing service. Book conveniently with upfront fixed fares.

www.grab.com

Unfortunately, the Grab app doesn’t appear to be letting me check CGK fares while in Oz. But if you’re still in transit, it would be a good idea to play around with the app to see if you can check the various fares.

I noticed a desk in the baggage Hall. Should I use that?

I thought that was more of a pre-pay Taxi service (with usual markup?). Someone else might be able to elaborate.

I’ve only caught Grabs, and once we used the train into and back from the city on our first visit together. I think that’s up the escalator - from memory.

 

[jase05]

From T3 the car park is on the right but you want to veer left under or around the escalators up. You’ll see the Premium Grab zone first and the regular Grab (and other Rideshares) are further along and across the road - look for the sea of humanity waiting for rides. It looks chaotic but has some degree of order…

We use Grab. A fare from an airport Hotel to T3 ought to be a couple of dollars but rides from the airport can be a lot more. A premium Grab from the airport might be more like A$20+ but can be worth it if you don’t won’t to stuff around. The cars are usually there waiting. Otherwise, you schlep further along.

There’ll be a bunch of young guys and girls standing around in their respective rideshare uniforms able to book a ride. I haven’t bothered to research why but I assume they’re on commission? As far as I can tell it’s the same fare as booking yourself - which I always do.

There’s good directions here. Scroll down and select T3 and then the directions to the various Grab options.

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) transfers - Grab

Request an airport transfer from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport with Grab, Southeast Asia’s safest ride-hailing service. Book conveniently with upfront fixed fares.

www.grab.com

Unfortunately, the Grab app doesn’t appear to be letting me check CGK fares while in Oz. But if you’re still in transit, it would be a good idea to play around with the app to see if you can check the various fares.

I thought that was more of a pre-pay Taxi service (with usual markup?). Someone else might be able to elaborate.

I’ve only caught Grabs, and once we used the train into and back from the city on our first visit together. I think that’s up the escalator - from memory.

You are on the money from previous experiences.
We are lucky that when we stay at the Raffles they throw in airport transfers for us and our driver is waiting as soon as we exit but on trips where we have stayed elsewhere we have use a combination of Grab and Taxis. The grab pick up up points are as you described with the Premium pick up point having a “lounge”. I’ve found the Bluebird taxis to be more or less the same price but beware of the many touts and imitators who WILL try to scam you. There are companies such as Silverbird and Bluebell? that are much more expensive and even if someone is wearing a Bluebird uniform they are often fakes or just touts. Just head straight to the Bluebird kiosk and buy your ticket from them

 

[RooFlyer]

Many thanks @SYD and @jase05

 

[RooFlyer]

I was lucky to sleep through to 5 am (9am at home) and headed to the QR check-in for my flight to Doha and onto Jeddah.

Easy check-in, then there were only a couple of us going through the three or four security machines that were open, and as usual, a breeze through the immigration gates. I'm a late-comer to using CGK as a revenue ticket springboard to Europe - I usually use SQ awards tickets to SIN, but on this occasion I had enough QFF points for CGK. Might have to see when I can wangle that again, as CGK has been very easy to use.

QR use the plaza premium lounge and CGK, located opposite gate 6, which is our departure gate. No complaints with this lounge, except for the single, very slow coffee machine. Lockers available, which I used to go out and continue my search for some AirTags 2nd gen. Unfortunately, as far as I could tell, there is no electronics duty free at CGK, except for a corner in the WH Smith.

 

[SYD]

I was lucky to sleep through to 5 am (9am at home) and headed to the QR check-in for my flight to Doha and onto Jeddah.

Easy check-in, then there were only a couple of us going through the three or four security machines that were open, and as usual, a breeze through the immigration gates. I'm a late-comer to using CGK as a revenue ticket springboard to Europe - I usually use SQ awards tickets to SIN, but on this occasion I had enough QFF points for CGK. Might have to see when I can wangle that again, as CGK has been very easy to use.

QR use the plaza premium lounge and CGK, located opposite gate 6, which is our departure gate. No complaints with this lounge, except for the single, very slow coffee machine. Lockers available, which I used to go out and continue my search for some AirTags 2nd gen. Unfortunately, as far as I could tell, there is no electronics duty free at CGK, except for a corner in the WH Smith.

View attachment 494272

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It’s a reasonably solid lounge but can get busy in the evening. Same lounge for QF on your return (also CX and bunch of others)

There’s a quirky internal door to the SQ section (lounge within lounge)…

I’ve never worked out who gets access to the “First” lounge that shares the same entrance. Maybe EK F?

I personally would prefer SIN (for the better lounges and of course the city) over CGK but the DIY QF J CR seats are just not there anymore…. So it’s CGK again for us in Aug…

 

[RooFlyer]

Boarding very organised - most pax kept to the gate seats until an agent went around with a 'Group 1' sign and then those pax lined up (and J separately).

A non-QSuites A350-900, quite OK for a daytime flight, and it does have Starlink. 3A for me.





Remember when we always had a 'legroom' shot?



I'm not sure if this is the 'new' amenity kit, but its different from the two-compartment one I got last time. Single zip, with a handle.



Contents pretty much as usual, including the lack of ear plugs, which I think should be in every amenity kit. The kit is pretty small, as befits the contents, so not very useful for other uses. Overall I think QR's amenity kits let them down a bit - not at all 'premium', unlike much of their other amenities and service.

 

[RooFlyer]

PDB of the usual lemon-mint drink, menus and wine list in the seat pocket and orders taken. Brekky (which I passed on) and then all-day, dine-on-demand.











Dates and Arabic coffee after seat belts off.