getting to Jakarta from Melbourne - options?

[Mr_Gimlet]

I need to go up to Jakarta for few days, flying business. The QF suggestion is via Sydney (yuk transfer) and then a 330 up to/back from Jakarta. Are there other realistic options - eg connecting through Singapore? - overnight stays would be fine but not preferred.

 

[browski]

Option 1:
Jetstar Starclass MEL-SIN-CGK (11.00am-8.55pm) A330/A320

Option 2
Singapore Airlines: MEL-SIN-CGK (10.10am-6.05pm) A380/777

Option 3:
Garuda MEL-DPS-CGK (9.55am-4.35pm) (A330/737

Option 4:
Malaysian Airlines: MEL-KUL-CGK (12.15am-8.50am) 777/737

Option 5:
Air Asia X Premium Seat: MEL-KUL-CGK ((9.35am-8.00pm) A330/320 (I think)

Option 6:
Tiger: MEL-PER (10.45pm-12.50am) A320
Jetstar: PER-CGK (2.20am-5.45am) Monday or Friday A320

I think SQ is the pick here. Maybe MH if you want an overnight trip. Jetstar if you want the Qantas FF/status points. Garuda is technically the quickest. Option 6 if you want flight hell.

 

[herman_aussie]

Option #7:

The fastest option is direct flight with Garuda new Airbus A333.
It is new product/fit out. The J was cheap too. But if the company gonna pay, I prefew SQ product.

Last time I flew Garuda in Y, and flight was only 90 ppl so i could sleep in the middle row. The flight attendant said most of the time it is only half filled.


Garuda Indonesia (GA717)

07h 15m Melbourne [MEL]
09:55 07-May-2011 Jakarta [CGK]
14:10 07-May-2011

 

[herman_aussie]

AUD 808 return all inclusive for Y

I think for J it was AUD 2100

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

Thanks all - Singapore looking promising. Maybe QF to SIN and then SQ to CGK.

 

[munitalP]

Thanks all - Singapore looking promising. Maybe QF to SIN and then SQ to CGK.

Connecting through SIN is painful - have done it a few times. Also Perth is the same.

In all honesty, MEL/SYD/CGK is the best option. You get lounge access in SYD, and the 330's in J are OK.

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

In all honesty, MEL/SYD/CGK is the best option. You get lounge access in SYD, and the 330's in J are OK.

Have to say that an overnight flight on a 330, even in J, doesn't appeal to me. Or are the seats better than that?

 

[herman_aussie]

Thanks all - Singapore looking promising. Maybe QF to SIN and then SQ to CGK.

I would recomend using SQ all the way especially on A380 or 777W... you will enjoy it more than QF.

(just my 0.02 cents)

 

[munitalP]

Have to say that an overnight flight on a 330, even in J, doesn't appeal to me. Or are the seats better than that?

The seats are skybed. Its not overnight anyway. You arrive in Jakarta mid evening. Last time I was there, I went out for dinner after landing.

Cheers

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

The seats are skybed. Its not overnight anyway. You arrive in Jakarta mid evening. Last time I was there, I went out for dinner after landing.

Coming back is the one I was more worried about - it is 2040 from Jakarta - but I think skybeds are fine (that's the cocoon one but not flat - I tend not to travel to places the smaller aircraft service). So it sounds like MEL-SYD-CGK will be fine.

 

[browski]

Connecting through SIN is painful - have done it a few times. Also Perth is the same.

In all honesty, MEL/SYD/CGK is the best option. You get lounge access in SYD, and the 330's in J are OK.

Well, I have not done this exact trip but...............Until now, I've never heard anyone suggest that connecting in SYD was better than in SIN. Nor have I ever heard (or experienced) that any connection at Changi was painful. To each his own though.

 

[munitalP]

As you say, each to their own.

SYD: Flounge access, direct flight to Jakarta.

SIN: Fly past Jakarta and carry on for another 1.5/2 hours. Alight, board another aircraft in a huge busy airport, then retrace your previous flight path 1.5/2 hours.


hmmmmm

 

[browski]

As you say, each to their own.

SYD: Flounge access, direct flight to Jakarta.

SIN: Fly past Jakarta and carry on for another 1.5/2 hours. Alight, board another aircraft in a huge busy airport, then retrace your previous flight path 1.5/2 hours.


hmmmmm

.........and how would you describe the completely futile MEL-SYD leg. At least in SIN, you don't have to deal with that silly bus.

Total travel time: QF MEL-SYD-CGK (not daily, using a 767/330 and a bus) 10hrs 45 mins
Total travel time: SQ MEL-SIN-CGK (daily, using the rubbish A380/777) 10hrs 55mins

.......hmmmmm somebody stop the fight..

 

[herman_aussie]

.........and how would you describe the completely futile MEL-SYD leg. At least in SIN, you don't have to deal with that silly bus.

Total travel time: QF MEL-SYD-CGK (not daily, using a 767/330 and a bus) 10hrs 45 mins
Total travel time: SQ MEL-SIN-CGK (daily, using the rubbish A380/777) 10hrs 55mins

.......hmmmmm somebody stop the fight..

Definitely SIN changi is a better airport than SYD.... i hate transfer by bus in sydney, no free wifi, no gardens.... and SQ level of service in J and better J product..... mmmmmmmm....

 

[JohnPhelan]

It seems the inter-terminal bus in SYD is a real issue for some people. I agree it's not ideal, but would never avoid going through SYD just to avoid the bus ride .....
(and actually, I rather like the close-up views of the aircraft)

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

It seems the inter-terminal bus in SYD is a real issue for some people. I agree it's not ideal, but would never avoid going through SYD just to avoid the bus ride .....
(and actually, I rather like the close-up views of the aircraft)

I really don't like it. It's not the bus ride itself, its the whole way the transit is organised with all its bottlenecks and holding pens. I just feel completely disoriented at 630am

 

[munitalP]

.........and how would you describe the completely futile MEL-SYD leg. ...

Those of us with First Class Lounge access including the OP would describe the 50-70minute flight to Sydney nought but a bus ride to one of the best lounges in the world. Have you access brownski? I guess if you did, you would understand.

 

[munitalP]

Definitely SIN changi is a better airport than SYD.... i hate transfer by bus in sydney, no free wifi, no gardens.... and SQ level of service in J and better J product..... mmmmmmmm....

Better J product on selected aircraft. J product I have flown on SQ ex MEL has been regional appointed aircraft with no lay flat seating.

Im not questioning Changi as being a better airport either, after all, its voted the best in the world over and over. The point I am making is:

1. Fly SQ, the OP gets access to a cough little lounge in MEL as a J pax
2. Flys to SIN (granted nice lounges) then back tracks to Jakarta
3. Sydney - a quick domestic J (lets face it, its not that bad) to SYD, a 5 minute bus ride, then the comfort of the First Class Lounge, next stop Jakarta followed by his hotel

Im not talking through a hole in my cough either as I have travelled to Jakarta direct from MEL, transited PER as well as SYD, and my preference is the long haul being the last flight of the journey - also with lie flat beds.

As our learned browski said, each to their own.

 

[medhead]

There's always the train in SYD if you don't like the bus.

 

[browski]

Those of us with First Class Lounge access including the OP would describe the 50-70minute flight to Sydney nought but a bus ride to one of the best lounges in the world. Have you access brownski? I guess if you did, you would understand.

The thing is, it is not 50-70 mins. It is 3 hours when all is done and dusted. The knuckles get a bit white though when that "Flying Grannie" (the 17 year old Boeing 767s) start doing their endless holding patterns. Then you arrive at SYD Dom 1 hour late, with only 15 mins to get to the Int'l terminal and gate. Then you rush down the escalator near gate 1 and turn the corner...................and just seat there and do nothing (other than cursing that damned stupid, slow bus). Just waiting, waiting for the Qantas bus to roll in at its leisure. Then you must push to the front and hope you don't have to trample too many folk; just to make sure you do not get discarded to the next bus. Undignified and unnecessary.

I have not visited the Qantas F Lounge in SYD, but then I'm more of a Singapore Girl type of guy than a Qantas dragon.