Would you fly Garuda?

[Must...Fly!]

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.

Medical condition aside...

A little practical evidence as to why I will never set foot on one of those veritable flying coffins.

 

[medhead]

I am sure you knew exactly what the poster meant!

I think I knew what they meant but I'm often wrong in what I think I know. Imprecise language is one of the biggest barriers to understanding, or misunderstanding perhaps.*

* not a dig at the poster. I've already stated I don't know what is the proper word


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

 

[BadgerBoi]

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...

I've tried the delights of VN and AF (in fact am Silver with AF), but have yet to fly Garuda. I am going to CDG
China Southern were offering flights for <$5k when I booked my ticket but I wasn't really tempted by them.

I might look at the cancellation charge on my ticket, given the possibility of becoming a "frequent flayer" - it pays to read the fine print :mrgreen:

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm proposing with this article from the paper today that Jetstar will also need to be added to those 'no fly' list along with Garuda?

I would be very interested to hear any argument that says garuda remains off limits but jetstar does not.

Pilot pressure caused errors

Some people have claimed GA has a culture of safety related problems... how many more do you need for Jetstar... the article above along with crews complaining of fatigue and a pilot texting while an aircraft is landing?

 

[Maca44]

I flew GA a few years ago when they had a bad name, and now that they 'appear' to have cleaned up their act, I don't think I would have any problems flying them again. I used to be loyal to QF etc, but these days you have to consider costs with travel and GA do offer some substantial savings. I know money isn't everything, but they would have not been able to get back into the EU without considerable changes to the way they did things. (with the current state of the euro I just hope the EU is around next year)

 

[browski]

Last week I flew to Dubai.
When traveling west across the world, I prefer day time flights so that I can get a good night's sleep at the destination - and from Melbourne there are only 2 options.
1. Cathay Pacific via HKG. Depart MEL 8.45am Arrive DXB 8.50pm
2. Garuda to Jakarta Depart MEL 10.45am Arrive CGK 1.30pm Emirates CGK-DXB Depart CGK 5.45pm Arrive DXB 11.00pm

I despise the CX Economy shell seats (and also the 10.45am GA departure assists with hangover management) so I took option 2.
I flew Y on a new A330 from MEL-CGK No on-line check-in a real bummer, long check-in lines at MEL. Food good, flight good, IFE good - 1 hour late departing. I credited the GA flight to my SkyTeam Partner, Korean Airlines
International transit at CDG is similar to attempting a BOM international transit - simply go to the Garuda transit desk, handover your passport and baggage ticket and they personally escort your bag over to EK. No need to go through immigration. I was the ONLY passenger attempting a non-Garuda International transit.

I flew in Business on EK for the CGK-DXB leg. The CGK EK Business Class lounge is a shared lounge called the Premier Lounge. It is truly horrible, but it does have food and wifi (and if you ask the waiters, you can get a few beers). 3 hours in the CGK lounge is probably the limit of human endurance and the EK Business cabin on the 777-300 was a welcome sight. Luggage arrived OK at DXB.

Would I do it again, probably. But if CX changed their economy seats and offered reasonable one-way fares ex-MEL then I'd opt for them instead.

 

[Paddy55]

Believe CX is changing economy seats.

 

[johnny_the_knife]

I'm sitting at the PER departures lounge waiting for a Garuda flight right now. If I survive, I'll let you know what it was like...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm sitting at the PER departures lounge waiting for a Garuda flight right now. If I survive, I'll let you know what it was like...

of course you will... I've heard the worst thing these days is they run out of beer sometimes on flights exAU!

 

[johnny_the_knife]

of course you will... I've heard the worst thing these days is they run out of beer sometimes on flights exAU!

What?! Run out of beer? Surly sufficient booze supply is on the checklist right next to adequate fuel for the trip.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What?! Run out of beer? Surly sufficient booze supply is on the checklist right next to adequate fuel for the trip.

I think they said it had something to do with the clientele... and simply not being able to carry enough to meet demand enjoy the flight

 

[johnny_the_knife]

Well, I survived the flight. Actually, it was quite pleasant. The food was better, at least in my opinion, than Qantas's recent efforts, and the only issues were a broken Toilet (short flight, 3.5 hours, so not a massive issue) and a delay due to air traffic at Perth, which isn't Garuda's fault, and not a single fatality.

Overall I'd certainly fly with them again.

 

[Fantic125]

I flew Garuda 31 years ago and didn't have a problem. Most probably flown some dodgier (If there is such a word?) airlines since then and survived.

Let's face it.. If you survive the flight and arrived at your destination you have achieved your goal. If not... well..... fail....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I flew Garuda 31 years ago and didn't have a problem. Most probably flown some dodgier (If there is such a word?) airlines since then and survived.

Let's face it.. If you survive the flight and arrived at your destination you have achieved your goal. If not... well..... fail....

we don't get the same 'fatality' musings about every trip someone takes on Air France. i don't know why when some are so happy to pick on GA.

 

[browski]

we don't get the same 'fatality' musings about every trip someone takes on Air France. i don't know why when some are so happy to pick on GA.

Best you don't go there, members of this forum don't like the reflection.

 

[Fantic125]

To be honest, even though they may have not been the most pleasurable of flights, I have survived them.

If I hadn't then this would be a really weird post.....

PS: this applies to all flights...

 

[simongr]

we don't get the same 'fatality' musings about every trip someone takes on Air France. i don't know why when some are so happy to pick on GA.

Could you point me at the posts where people are advocating flying on AF?

I can certainly direct you to the posts quoting AF's safety record as a major concern.

 

[simongr]

Best you don't go there, members of this forum don't like the reflection.

Are you insinuating that the dislike of Garuda is due to racism rather than a concern about safety?

 

[jetlagger]

It is certainly good to see some, or is it many? passengers having confidence in Garuda.. But for some, or others such as myself.. I do still have distinct memories of their past issues.. & it was more than being able to get a beer or two or the quality of the food.
The issue & problems that plagued Garuda for so long was the most important component of all.. Safety & Maintenance. I have experienced first hand & also have heard of many credible reports of consistent substandard flight safety & maintenance of the past.

Always consider: Reputation always precedes ones name.

I certainly hope that Garuda has truly brushed up its act & rectified ALL its past mistakes.. Till then, no matter how attractive the ticket prices are, I'll sit on the sideline!

Happy flying..

 

[dajop]

It is certainly good to see some, or is it many? passengers having confidence in Garuda.. But for some, or others such as myself.. I do still have distinct memories of their past issues.. & it was more than being able to get a beer or two or the quality of the food.
The issue & problems that plagued Garuda for so long was the most important component of all.. Safety & Maintenance. I have experienced first hand & also have heard of many credible reports of consistent substandard flight safety & maintenance of the past.

Always consider: Reputation always precedes ones name.

I certainly hope that Garuda has truly brushed up its act & rectified ALL its past mistakes.. Till then, no matter how attractive the ticket prices are, I'll sit on the sideline!

Happy flying..

My view is that the EU regulators are probably a little less corruptible than Indonesian regulators, and if they saw fit to put GA back on their fly list then they are probably doing something right. If the alternative was a long road or ferry journey (within Indonesia) or GA flight I would take the GA flight every single time.