Travelling Business to Bali next week - need to knows?

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smithcorp

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Hi all, first post here, but found this forum a useful source of info.

We took advantage of the big sale on Vigin Australia business class seats to Bali earlier this year and booked four return business airfares for myself, wife and two small kids (for nephew's Bali wedding - never been there or really wanted to travel there before, but this is a good opportunity).

I've chosen seats for forward and return flights and found out via this forum that the lounge access referred to on our booking is only theoretical, but is there anything else worth knowing before we travel to make our experience smoother? I have travelled a lot for business but never with Virgin - will we have to pay extra on-board for what might be considered normal business class service from other carriers, can anyone provides tips on VA for a first-time customer? Any special considerations for our kids (almost 4 and almost 7)?

Thanks in advance

smith
 
Go to Kmart and buy security seals for your bag. Utilise them.

take advantage of the priority boarding due to your business fare - they call it straight after boarding for young & disabled. The overhead storage for business is dedicated and you shouldn't have an issue with some snotty J taking your overhead space.

All meals are included and drinks are complimentary i believe

Once you get to DPS airport, you will be bused to the terminal where in front of you is the VOA desk. They take visa / american / aussie dollars for your $US25 pp VOA. I'd suggest your wife get into the line for immigration (to the right of the VOA desk) while you wait in line for VOA. Typical wait time for immigration is 45-60 mins. There are people walking around who offer "express" service. Ignore them. Wait in line and watch other tourists get hit up by theses friendly criminals for IDR300,000 in exchange for them handing your passport to their mates to get processed faster. You may see someone has been friendly and taken your back from the carousel and is standing by it, expecting you to pay for them to hand you your bag. Grab it and ignore them.

Outside the airport there is a Taxi desk who offer fixed fares to your accommodation. They have a monopoly on the airport. If your comfortable you can walk to the edge of the airport property and catch a bluebird taxi to your hotel. Be careful of imitation taxi (blueswan, blueduck etc) as they can be bad news.
 
Thanks! Most useful and much appreciated. Hotel is providing a transfer to the hotel, so don't have to mess about with taxis.

cheers.
 
It's not clear where you depart from, but as a business class ticket holder (rather than Velocity status member) you'll have access to the Koru Club in either MEL, SYD or BNE.

+ Air New Zealand lounge access is not permitted when flying on any Virgin Australia international short-haul flights except for Business Class guests flying from SYD/BNE/MEL to Bali or from Brisbane to Honiara.
International Lounge Access | Virgin Australia

As for lounge access ex-Denpasar, it's published as a benefit for Velocity Gold and Platinum members (Lounge Access with Velocity Membership | Velocity Frequent Flyer) but the Virgin Australia website makes no mention of lounge access there for business class ticket holders. Which is a bit of a quirk.



I've never flown short-haul international J but my understanding - as backed up by the occasional report on these forums - is that it's essentially the domestic business class product with the addition of a basic amenity pack:
Virgin Australia's Business Class | Virgin Australia
 
Once you get to DPS airport, you will be bused to the terminal where in front of you is the VOA desk. They take visa / american / aussie dollars for your $US25 pp VOA. I'd suggest your wife get into the line for immigration (to the right of the VOA desk) while you wait in line for VOA. Typical wait time for immigration is 45-60 mins. There are people walking around who offer "express" service. Ignore them. Wait in line and watch other tourists get hit up by theses friendly criminals for IDR300,000 in exchange for them handing your passport to their mates to get processed faster. You may see someone has been friendly and taken your back from the carousel and is standing by it, expecting you to pay for them to hand you your bag. Grab it and ignore them.

Outside the airport there is a Taxi desk who offer fixed fares to your accommodation. They have a monopoly on the airport. If your comfortable you can walk to the edge of the airport property and catch a bluebird taxi to your hotel. Be careful of imitation taxi (blueswan, blueduck etc) as they can be bad news.

Sounds like a magical place.
 
Interesting, looks like they've changed lounge access for Bali again. Last time I flew there in J a couple of months ago I wasn't able to access the lounge out of Sydney but was able to out of Bali. I was told at that time access to the Premier Lounge in DPS was granted to Gold, Platinum and Business.

A pity the access to the Koru Lounge out of Sydney is only for Business, I'm flying back there on Friday but just in Y this time. Couldn't justify difference between the sale fares and J.

Anyway to answer Smithcorps original question, you'll essentially get the same as domestic business - meals and complimentary drinks as well as complimentary entertainment (Digiplayers - suggest you take an iPad instead if possible, they aren't the best). There's nothing additional to pay on board when travelling in J, it's all included. The loading is usually pretty light in J to Bali so there's a good chance you'll have the business cabin to yourselves. You'll get priority boarding out of Aus but not coming back due to the setup of the gates there's nowhere to do it. Your bags should be priority tagged but don't be too disappointed if it doesn't work in DPS, mine came out towards the back of the pack, first out coming back in Sydney, they were already on the carousel when I got to it.

Wait time to get through immigration can vary from 5 minutes to 2 hours - be prepared. I usually do my best to get as far in front of the pack as possible to minimise the wait, though that may be difficult for you with kids in tow. As Lowgoz said don't forget to buy the Visa on Arrival (VOA), I've seen too many people queue up at immigration for ages then have to head back to buy it. Despite what some recommend don't bother to change your currency beforehand, just pay for the VOA in AUD and they'll give you change in Rupiah (IDR). A much better deal than paying Travelex fees. If you need some cash there's money changers just past customs, not the greatest rates but okay if you just want some cash in your wallet. They all offer the same rate so take your pick. There's also ATM's in the baggage collection area before you go through customs including a Commonwealth Bank ATM which, if you're a CBA customer, charges a $2 transaction fee rather than the $5 most others do.
 
It's not clear where you depart from, but as a business class ticket holder (rather than Velocity status member) you'll have access to the Koru Club in either MEL, SYD or BNE.

As for lounge access ex-Denpasar, it's published as a benefit for Velocity Gold and Platinum members but the Virgin Australia website makes no mention of lounge access there for business class ticket holders. Which is a bit of a quirk.

I've never flown short-haul international J but my understanding - as backed up by the occasional report on these forums - is that it's essentially the domestic business class product with the addition of a basic amenity pack:

Cheers - leaving from Sydney. That advice you've given on lounge access differs from other advice on Virgin's website saying no access to Koro lounges if travelling to Bali. Confusing.

However, thanks all for your snippets of reassuring advice!

I have no interest in Bali as a travel destination, but I'm resigned to rest and recreate in a resort, if I have to go there for family commitments!
 
The lounge access is mentioned in the fine print at the bottom of the page, looks like it was added only recently. Good luck with it!
 
The Premier lounge is very nice inside. But it's a long way from the normal Virgin gates so leave early, you also need to be security screened to access the departure gate so make sure you have enough time. I did this last month with 3 kids under 6, can be a challenge!!

Enjoy you holiday though. Bali can be a great place if you stay away from the hot spots, ie. stay at your hotel and enjoy the cheep beer beside the pool!

Cheers.
 
Once you get to DPS airport, you will be bused to the terminal where in front of you is the VOA desk. They take visa / american / aussie dollars for your $US25 pp VOA. I'd suggest your wife get into the line for immigration (to the right of the VOA desk) while you wait in line for VOA. Typical wait time for immigration is 45-60 mins. There are people walking around who offer "express" service. Ignore them. Wait in line and watch other tourists get hit up by theses friendly criminals for IDR300,000 in exchange for them handing your passport to their mates to get processed faster. You may see someone has been friendly and taken your back from the carousel and is standing by it, expecting you to pay for them to hand you your bag. Grab it and ignore them.

Outside the airport there is a Taxi desk who offer fixed fares to your accommodation. They have a monopoly on the airport. If your comfortable you can walk to the edge of the airport property and catch a bluebird taxi to your hotel. Be careful of imitation taxi (blueswan, blueduck etc) as they can be bad news.
Necessary trip to Bali and interested in tapping into expertise. If a Villa (Australian owned) promotes a VIP EXPRESS CHECK OUT service at A$20 does that change the equation for a quick exit, after a night flight and potential wait time?
 
From what I've heard they presently aren't available due to APEC coming up (legally there's no such thing as VIP entry). That aside it's a lucky dip anyway, you may fly through immigration and then wait 30 minutes for your bags to arrive on the carousel. My own experience has ranged from 2 hours to 20 minutes from disembarking to taxi, it really depends on the number of flights arriving at one time. The wait the past couple of times have been on the lower end of that scale by the way.
 
We took it up on JQ35 arriving late night and were whisked through, past lines of sweating, frustrated people on a hot humid night. The longest wait was for the baggage to emerge on the conveyor belt. I don't care what it cost, I would always do it.
 
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Bali is a wonderful destination and the airport, with the tips given too you, is actually easy to navigate. I've experienced far worse. As in all developing countries, patience and an understanding of their ways will get you far. Try and get out of the resort too - there are amazing things to experience. Dinner at Breeze at The Samaya anyone?
 
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