Would you fly Garuda?

[stomplad]

The option on flying Garuda has come up in threads recently. They are the only direct J class product to Bali and cheap J class overseas and obviously most frequent flights to Indonesia. I use to fly airlines that gave me the best deals and I mean any airline, Europe with Olympic as a student. Now I am happy to pay a premium for comfort and safety.

WHat are your opinions on Garuda? Do u fly with them and are there others like me that are not sure about flying with them?

 

[QF029]

I wouldn't fly any Indonesian carrier on safety grounds.

 

[straitman]

The option on flying Garuda has come up in threads recently. They are the only direct J class product to Bali and cheap J class overseas and obviously most frequent flights to Indonesia. I use to fly airlines that gave me the best deals and I mean any airline, Europe with Air Biman as a student. Now I am happy to pay a premium for comfort and safety.

WHat are your opinions on Garuda? Do u fly with them and are there others like me that are not sure about flying with them?

Swimming is higher on my list than flying Garuda.

 

[stomplad]

Swimming is higher on my list than flying Garuda.

ROFL. THat's a very firm opinion

[in any case] ... This is my feeling too. Having said that I have flown Air Asia (Indonesia) but I figured the standards are more Malaysian than Indonesian. Am I delusional?

 

[moa999]

Flown it before and would do it again
Trip report - http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rst-flight-garuda-indonesia-sydney-31722.html

Much better in J on the A330 than the QF equivalent, and at a far better price.
Is now able to fly into Europe so any previous safety issues have been overcome to the satisfaction of that regulator.


Despite the massive 737-900 orders Lion is still not on my list.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Won't ever catch me in Indonesia or on an Indonesian airline.

 

[wingspan]

Paradoxically the price difference isn't enough to tempt me to fly Garuda, and if it were significantly cheaper I would just feel less safe somehow.

I have no problems with "Indonesian safety" or standards, though, if that's the main concern.

 

[herman_aussie]

The economy class is much better than qantas.
I think they finally get hteir act together to buy lots of new planes.

Last month i flew to jakarta on qantas, the pillow was disgusting, the cabin was smelly, there are still orange juice on the handrest. yuck!!

 

[Happy Trails]

I have done and would do so again.
I'd be far more worried about the taxi from the airport.

 

[stomplad]

The economy class is much better than qantas.
I think they finally get hteir act together to buy lots of new planes.

Last month i flew to jakarta on qantas, the pillow was disgusting, the cabin was smelly, there are still orange juice on the handrest. yuck!!

What is it with QF and the old planes they put on some routes to Asia. I flew Y to Manila last year and it was an old run down 767 with no IFE. Business was old seats yet the prices were almost the same as flying to Europe. As much as I am a fan of the older experienced QF staff, I think they put crew on this run before they put them out to pasture.

 

[auriga]

I certainly would consider flying Garuda.

 

[Grooba]

If the price was right and I had a reason to sure, I'd consider Garuda.

 

[mannej]

What is it with QF and the old planes they put on some routes to Asia. I flew Y to Manila last year and it was an old run down 767 with no IFE. Business was old seats yet the prices were almost the same as flying to Europe. As much as I am a fan of the older experienced QF staff, I think they put crew on this run before they put them out to pasture.

That is now serviced by an A333. Pretty much the only 767 intl run (apart from Noumea and TT if there are any left) is HNL.

 

[straitman]

What is it with QF and the old planes they put on some routes to Asia. I flew Y to Manila last year and it was an old run down 767 with no IFE. Business was old seats yet the prices were almost the same as flying to Europe. As much as I am a fan of the older experienced QF staff, I think they put crew on this run before they put them out to pasture.

You are right that QF is not doing itself any favours by not giving the 767s at least a basic freshen up.

 

[Stephen65]

I would have when I was younger (I flew some real dodgies including Iran Air and the Syrian airline) but now I have dependents I stay off unsafe airlines and that includes all Indonesian airlines.

 

[Noob]

You are right that QF is not doing itself any favours by not giving the 767s at least a basic freshen up.

I think the 767s would be able to stick around a while longer if they did give them a new interior. Is it possible/do airlines paint cabin interiors? I think getting rid of the yellowish look for a clean white would do wonders for the cabin. Either way 767's are beautiful airliners.

Yes, I would consider flying Garuda after a couple more years of a good safety record. From what I hear they are certainly trying!

 

[browski]

A330 = Yes
B737 = No

 

[meloz]

I've flown them and will continue if it suits my plans.

You have more chance of winning lotto than getting killed by an Indonesian carrier. You would also have more chance of dying in a road accident once there.

Meloz

 

[MrHyde]

Last month i flew to jakarta on qantas, the pillow was disgusting, the cabin was smelly, there are still orange juice on the handrest. yuck!!

I'm flying to Jakarta tomorrow on QF. Reading this post is not making me any happier.
I had considered flying Garuda, but decided I was still not too sure of their safety standards to risk it. I know the EU has allowed them back in, but I would still like to see a couple more years track record. Like others, I have flown my fair share of dodgy airlines (Aeroflot in 1992 being a memorable one), but try and avoid those these days.

 

[richie9x]

Generally I would not, unless there is no other alternative. I have a fairly strong prejudice against Garuda, is that prejudice warranted? It is hard to know. They do seem to have improved in the past few years. But their safety history still concerns me.

My uncle was seconded to KL for 4 years working as an jet engineer in the 1990s. He did get to work airliners from a number of airlines. He has some interesting stories about Garuda planes. He always warns never fly on Garuda. Granted a lot has changed in the time since then, but that does play on my mind.

I use to work for a large international company. They had a definite travel ban on using Garuda for work travel, even for Indonesians. I remember some colleagues had to fly from Jakarta to Manado and they ended up going via Singapore on SQ. This was back in 2007 when Garuda was banned in the EU. So not sure if that company ban has been lifted yet.

I have flown on a number of Indonesian airlines - Indonesia Air Asia, Indonesia Air Transport and Lion Air. If you are flying domestically in Indonesia you don't have a whole lot of choice in most cases. And taking a boat is probably not a whole a safer either. So if Garuda was the best option I would probably take them.

But internationally I generally would not fly with them. It is tough for them to build people's confidence in them. I am not sure what they could do to build confidence.