Virgin Bart
Established Member
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2011
- Posts
- 1,565
Hi all, about 6 months ago I booked a cheap flight to Denpasar. After a few weeks a decided to get creative with my route back. The story:
MEL-DPS on JQ43
As a new joined up QC member (and NZ resident) this was going to be the first time I could get myself into a Qantas lounge on my own accord. Very exciting (and thanks to everyone from AFF and FFA).
I've only ever done MEL-SYD twice on the 788, so this was my first time medium haul. Very impressed. I scored an exit row which was nice. Pretty uneventful flight. Didn't order any food or drink, but had a couple of bottles of water with me. In seat entertainment available for $10.. Although on JQ DPS the entertainment is usually in the seat next to you.
Bali
Two nights at Heritage Hotel Kuta. Nice hotel. Enter on ground, reception on L1, and pool with restaurant on L4. I scored two nights at 1,000,000IDR each (~$100). This included transfers, mind you a taxi from DPS to Kuta is a fixed 50,000/$5 so no biggie.
Nice rooms, quiet. Two bottles renewed daily (a necessity in Indonesia with hardly potable water in tap).
Breakfast was also included with a good array of local and attempts at western food. As usual I lost all control at breakfast and it turned into a breakfast/lunch both days.
As for Bali.. Well, i surprisingly enjoyed myself more than I did when I was there at age 19. The weather wasn't that humid which helped, so I was on foot a lot and eating the local cuisine seemingly constantly. Decent meals for $7-9. Restaurant quality for $10-12. Drowned myself in watermelon juice ($2) and Bintangs (long neck $3.5).
Transfer at 1200 for 1440 Indonesia Air Asia flight to DRW. As I arrive at airport o see "RETIMED", luckily only 50 minutes delay.
The new DPS airport is great. World class. Check in took 1 mibute, including waiting time. Security took 30 seconds, incl. And immigration took 30 seconds, incl. Fantastic experience to be honest.
I walked around and checked out the only lounge at the airport - Premier Lounge. The amount of QC/SG/WP attempting to get in and getting turned away disappointedly was amazing. I estimate once every 3 minutes. (The big JQ sign was the cause - of course only for Business Max customers).
Usual inflated-but-cheap prices at duty free. Boarding on time following standard (yet ridiculous) Australian-mandated bag search at the gate.
DPS-DRW QZ540
I really like Indonesia Air Asia. Sure, it's no frills, but if you come expecting that it's a good airline.
Efficient boarding, captain with American accent, smiles all round.
Big tip: pre-order your food online or you won't get anything hot. I ordered Nasi Lemak (Malaysian breakfast fried rice) for 50,000/$5, which was absolutely delicious and came with a cup of sealed water.
Flight landed on time, but an ill pax meant a 45 minute delay upon landing while Quarantine doctors came on board to assess the lady. All clear, through customs and immigration and out the door within 5 minutes of disembarking.
Darwin
Dosembarked at 2100, so straight to Rydges Airport Hotel (not Rydges Airport Resort). An old hotel. Typical of airport hotels I found, they can serve and charge what they like and will still get people. I got a room next to elevator, wheelchair friendly, despite asking to be put as far away as possible. Fine for overnight though.
0430 wake up for 0600 flight. No breakfast at hotel. 5 minute walk to DRW airport and check in on my first Air North (TL) flight. Off to Gove (GOV) via Groote (GTE). Tried my luck at QC and was lucky enough to get a quick breakfast in there post its 0500 opening. Beautiful, new and large lounge. Breakfast offerings similar to Virgin MEL standard fare - toasted sandwiches, some cold stuff and boiled eggs. Delicious coffee.
DRW-(GTE)-GOV TL414
After walking to the small propellor plane I quickly realized how bloody old it is! Or at least old looking. 1-2 configuration. One toilet at the back. 90 minutes to GTE, no disembarking, 30 minutes to GOV.
Very nice cabin crew (one). Served as per picture. Loud, old plane but a nice experience. 80% full. No air con(!). And this is where I wrote up to here. I'll post the remainder of the TR on Sunday.
If there's any questions, just ask!
MEL-DPS on JQ43
As a new joined up QC member (and NZ resident) this was going to be the first time I could get myself into a Qantas lounge on my own accord. Very exciting (and thanks to everyone from AFF and FFA).
I've only ever done MEL-SYD twice on the 788, so this was my first time medium haul. Very impressed. I scored an exit row which was nice. Pretty uneventful flight. Didn't order any food or drink, but had a couple of bottles of water with me. In seat entertainment available for $10.. Although on JQ DPS the entertainment is usually in the seat next to you.
Bali
Two nights at Heritage Hotel Kuta. Nice hotel. Enter on ground, reception on L1, and pool with restaurant on L4. I scored two nights at 1,000,000IDR each (~$100). This included transfers, mind you a taxi from DPS to Kuta is a fixed 50,000/$5 so no biggie.
Nice rooms, quiet. Two bottles renewed daily (a necessity in Indonesia with hardly potable water in tap).
Breakfast was also included with a good array of local and attempts at western food. As usual I lost all control at breakfast and it turned into a breakfast/lunch both days.
As for Bali.. Well, i surprisingly enjoyed myself more than I did when I was there at age 19. The weather wasn't that humid which helped, so I was on foot a lot and eating the local cuisine seemingly constantly. Decent meals for $7-9. Restaurant quality for $10-12. Drowned myself in watermelon juice ($2) and Bintangs (long neck $3.5).
Transfer at 1200 for 1440 Indonesia Air Asia flight to DRW. As I arrive at airport o see "RETIMED", luckily only 50 minutes delay.
The new DPS airport is great. World class. Check in took 1 mibute, including waiting time. Security took 30 seconds, incl. And immigration took 30 seconds, incl. Fantastic experience to be honest.
I walked around and checked out the only lounge at the airport - Premier Lounge. The amount of QC/SG/WP attempting to get in and getting turned away disappointedly was amazing. I estimate once every 3 minutes. (The big JQ sign was the cause - of course only for Business Max customers).
Usual inflated-but-cheap prices at duty free. Boarding on time following standard (yet ridiculous) Australian-mandated bag search at the gate.
DPS-DRW QZ540
I really like Indonesia Air Asia. Sure, it's no frills, but if you come expecting that it's a good airline.
Efficient boarding, captain with American accent, smiles all round.
Big tip: pre-order your food online or you won't get anything hot. I ordered Nasi Lemak (Malaysian breakfast fried rice) for 50,000/$5, which was absolutely delicious and came with a cup of sealed water.
Flight landed on time, but an ill pax meant a 45 minute delay upon landing while Quarantine doctors came on board to assess the lady. All clear, through customs and immigration and out the door within 5 minutes of disembarking.
Darwin
Dosembarked at 2100, so straight to Rydges Airport Hotel (not Rydges Airport Resort). An old hotel. Typical of airport hotels I found, they can serve and charge what they like and will still get people. I got a room next to elevator, wheelchair friendly, despite asking to be put as far away as possible. Fine for overnight though.
0430 wake up for 0600 flight. No breakfast at hotel. 5 minute walk to DRW airport and check in on my first Air North (TL) flight. Off to Gove (GOV) via Groote (GTE). Tried my luck at QC and was lucky enough to get a quick breakfast in there post its 0500 opening. Beautiful, new and large lounge. Breakfast offerings similar to Virgin MEL standard fare - toasted sandwiches, some cold stuff and boiled eggs. Delicious coffee.
DRW-(GTE)-GOV TL414
After walking to the small propellor plane I quickly realized how bloody old it is! Or at least old looking. 1-2 configuration. One toilet at the back. 90 minutes to GTE, no disembarking, 30 minutes to GOV.
Very nice cabin crew (one). Served as per picture. Loud, old plane but a nice experience. 80% full. No air con(!). And this is where I wrote up to here. I'll post the remainder of the TR on Sunday.
If there's any questions, just ask!
