Would you fly Garuda?

[pauly7]

While our specialist travel insurers maintain a flight banning Garuda, so do I!

 

[straitman]

I feel that no matter what Garuda does, some members on AFF will never change their view on the airline.

This happens in all walks of life and not just aviation.

To answer the question though. For me to fly Garuda they would have to be taken off the no fly list of the large multinational company that I worked for. It is not an arbitrary list as they operate and contract many flying operations all around the world and have sizeable a very proactive aviation services division that looks at and audits any flying operations that the company is involved in.

 

[dajop]

It's almost impossible for a passenger to judge the safety standards of an airline, but there must be something positive of EU exempted GA from their blanket ban of Indonesian carriers. Last year I did two sectors on GA (to avoid doing one sector on Lion Air). From a passenger perspective I noticed they completed all the standard pre-take off and pre-landing flight checks, and were very strict on things like hand luggage being stowed properly, exit row instructions to passengers, window shades up etc, which is really the only things a passenger sees. I just hoped this level of discipline carried through to maintenance, pilot training etc, but certainly made me feel more comfortable than some airlines which seem pretty lax when it comes to pre-take and pre-landing checks.

 

[Stephen65]

I often read the comments that people have made on here about Garuda, ironically the same comments that they have been saying for years, and it appears (clearly) that these members just hold a xenophobic view of the airline which will unlikely change now or in years to come. I pose a question to those that say "Never fly Garuda" - what will it actually take before you can trust the airline again? What proof do you need to change your opinion [or will it never change]? Is it just the absence of crashes that will make you feel warm and fuzzy about the carrier?

The absence of crashes would be a necessary but not sufficient criterion. If Garuda were to fly for another ten years without a fatal accident I would be inclined to accept that they have put their past history behind them.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I agree with Hayden and the Winchester... so many people spouting how they won't fly Garuda because it's not safe... but yet they probably drive?

I'd like to know if the same passengers refuse to fly air France (crashes in the Atlantic and Toronto), Singapore airlines (taiwan), Thai airways (multiple)' qantas (almost lost an a380, countless other engine failures including one that was uncontained, oxygen bottle exploding and decompression, uncontrolled flight off Perth, or perhaps the flight I was on where a fan blade shattered on take off with subsequent emergency landing)... and the list goes on... what are we to make of all the international airlines that continued to fly during the ash crisis here in australia? that makes them all potentially unsafe with a 'bad' safety culture (something COULD have happened, gasp)

who does that leave I can actually safely fly?

 

[mannej]

MEL, although I was thinking along the same lines as you in particular as to AF. There is a lot more than to list those occurrences, especially as though everything not getting reported in the AU media. You forgot to mention EK and their tired pilots for one.

Another example is if you look at Avherald, you will see a lot of Canadian incidents listed. The question is, does the high number of incidents make them dangerous, or do they have a stricter protocol in place for reporting these incidents compared to other countries?

If people do not want to fly Garuda, because they perceive it to be unsafe, so be it. It is their prerogative, so what, you could have the same thread in relation to any carrier, and you would get similar answers.

 

[medhead]

I'm amused by the idea of a xenophobic view of an airline.

Xenophobia - an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers or of that which is is foreign or strange

For mine: if an airline is "foreign or strange" to a group of frequent flyers who travel the world extensively then any fear is not unreasonable.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[wingspan]

I agree with Hayden and the Winchester... so many people spouting how they won't fly Garuda because it's not safe... but yet they probably drive?

To be fair, I don't drive. And I do often think about how each time I get in a car there is a chance it could be the last. I rarely think about that when I fly.

 

[haydensydney]

I'm amused by the idea of a xenophobic view of an airline.
Xenophobia - an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers or of that which is is foreign or strange
For mine: if an airline is "foreign or strange" to a group of frequent flyers who travel the world extensively then any fear is not unreasonable.

I tried to find a better word, but this one was the best I could find.

 

[medhead]

I tried to find a better word, but this one was the best I could find.

I can't think of one either. I think you mean that the fear, while it might be reasonable, is out of proportion with the risk.
:?:


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[wingspan]

I can't think of one either. I think you mean that the fear, while it might be reasonable, is out of proportion with the risk.
:?:

Or that some people accord inordinate privilege to some airlines, at the expense of others?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I tried to find a better word, but this one was the best I could find.

garudaphobia?

 

[BadgerBoi]

They're selling J tickets Sydney to Europe at around $3,700 - if I hadn't already bought my ticket (at considerably more but on a considerably better airline) I would probably be in the process of purchasing one of the Garuda bargains right now.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

garudaphobia?

That's the one. I've got it.

 

[UP4014]

Now I am happy to pay a premium for comfort and safety.

If you're happy to pay a premium for safety, why not choose the safest airline on the route in question. I somehow don't think it is Garuda.

No, I wouldn't fly them.

Matt

 

[Saji]

Safety standards are better than before as they are allowed to land in LHR. Service is good..but may encounter the same service issues like QF - Can be fantastic one day and absolutely disgusting the next. I would fly it on J.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I'm amused by the idea of a xenophobic view of an airline.

Xenophobia - an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers or of that which is is foreign or strange

For mine: if an airline is "foreign or strange" to a group of frequent flyers who travel the world extensively then any fear is not unreasonable.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

I am sure you knew exactly what the poster meant!

 

[MELso]

They're selling J tickets Sydney to Europe at around $3,700 - if I hadn't already bought my ticket (at considerably more but on a considerably better airline) I would probably be in the process of purchasing one of the Garuda bargains right now.

But for an extra ~$200 you could always fly VN (and AF codeshare if going to CDG if you choose) in J. Two hops rather than three, and access to Skyteam lounges along the way...

Mind you, Garuda offers lounges to all its 'frequent flayers' [sic] too... (ref: Garuda Indonesia - Services at The Airport) A few people on this forum are set then...

 

[MrHyde]

How was your QF flight to Jakarta?

Thanks for asking.

It was a fairly normal flight... your typical average Qantas flight... no complaints, but nothing special. Plane was a A330.. I was sitting in the first row in economy... flight departed on time and arrived on time, meals were ok, liked the snacks, but don't like Qantas' international main meal menu departing Sydney. Had to check-in baggage, so no issues with luggage.

Jakarta airport was alright as well. Sitting at the front of the plane, I managed to be one of the first few to the visa on arrival payment windows and go through customs very quickly. Jakarta traffic was also non-existent, meaning I got to my hotel under an hour from the time the plane landed.

 

[missafternoondelight]

Yep!
I flew with Garuda during the volcanic ash stoppage in Bali in January. All the other airlines had cancelled flights the day I was flying, except them.
We had to leave the island because my sister is terribly asthmatic, and she was getting bad symptoms due to the ash. So we braved the flight.. it was fine, even though there was also a cyclone and storms hanging around the karratha area, which is sort of on the way home. Was rough, yes, but fine.
I think having emerged from that unscathed, I'd fly with them anytime again. Good value, good service, and food is alright. Have caught 10+ flights with them and always dead on time. Like the colour scheme, too. Up to the individual, but if they earned QFF points I'd fly them all the time.