Aviation info.

[Anglian]

"The new "Terminal 3 Ultimate", designed by Australian architecture firm Woodhead,."

You mean Bonehead

 

[Chiron]

I'll just be happy when all the international airlines are once again in the same terminal with Garuda domestic. The last couple years of flying into Jakarta and transferring from Eva Air or Singapore Airlines to Garuda hasn't been the greatest experience. I never got a chance to try out the new airport train, but can say the free shuttle bus was not exactly fun. Everyone is trying pile onto the bus, so you have to be a little assertive. Being tired, hot, sweaty, and dragging two suitcases after 30 hours of travel, doesn't help either. However, once on the bus, people are smiling and accommodating as you try to balance yourself on the small space that you happened to find yourself in this very crowded bus. For the record, I decided to just take a taxi last time - it was worth every rupiah I ended up paying.

As for Terminal 3 itself, agree with @Anglian about the distances you may have to walk. On my last transfer to a Solo flight on Garuda, I left out of Gate 28 which felt like walking an actual kilometer from the security area. They do have the electric people carts, and if you do walk, they have plenty of the moving sidewalks. On the positive side, there are some pretty decent restaurants near the check-in/ticketing area. Nothing is better than having a Cold Stone Creamery ice cream after the check in process is complete with Garuda domestic.

 

[Anglian]

A typical departure
I don’t recall the gates now, but departure is the furthered away, we all sit patiently only to be told it’s now at that gate it’s at the opposite end, we all troop up to that gate, boarding time arrived we all go down the ramp, but we bypass the aircraft that is there, we all queue up at the long passage, we have to wait while passengers from an arrival aircraft to pass, once past we now walk the length of the terminal to our aircraft, we are shepherded along like sheep lest the stragglers get lost, return much the same only you walk further, I seemed to have walked the length of the terminal, you go down some steps, I saw one of those buggies, he gave me a lift to immigration, once through immigration you then have to figure out which luggage round about my luggage is at, you wander out, where’s the taxis, oh ever there, looks a bit chaotic, but I’m thankful I’m sitting down and out of it

 

[brian@bekasi]

A typical departure
I don’t recall the gates now, but departure is the furthered away, we all sit patiently only to be told it’s now at that gate it’s at the opposite end, we all troop up to that gate, boarding time arrived we all go down the ramp, but we bypass the aircraft that is there, we all queue up at the long passage, we have to wait while passengers from an arrival aircraft to pass, once past we now walk the length of the terminal to our aircraft, we are shepherded along like sheep lest the stragglers get lost, return much the same only you walk further, I seemed to have walked the length of the terminal, you go down some steps, I saw one of those buggies, he gave me a lift to immigration, once through immigration you then have to figure out which luggage round about my luggage is at, you wander out, where’s the taxis, oh ever there, looks a bit chaotic, but I’m thankful I’m sitting down and out of it

On my last return from bali, I landed and met my wife. We then went to the pick up point in this car park and waited for my step son to pick us up. However, he keep on being diverted away from the car park building and the pick up point. This went on for 30 minutes or so and my wife grew impatient and then proceed to the front of the main terminal.

After a lengthy discussion with the security, my stepson pulled up in front of the terminal and we tried to get into the car. I was successful but my wife was detained by a rifle carrying person and the security guard. She told us to leave so eventually found parking and waited. My wife told us on the phone to stay in place as the police had been called.

Anyrate after a further wait of 90 minutes or so and a police telephone conversation with my stepson, she was released. My stepson has vowed never to pick anyone up from the terminal again.

As for the terminal, it is by far the worst I have experience while travel. The design brief was meant to showcase Indonesian culture and art but i have not noticed as I am too busy either trying to find the gate or being moved at the last moment to a new gate.

 

[Davita]

The link looks to integrate the flight into a package deal. Could be very useful for those that sometimes need to take another person to help them travel for medical attention. It would be great if the package could be inclusive from an Indonesia airport to the hospital in Penang.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/trave...s-benefits-for-medical-tourism-to-penang.html

 

[Davita]

Don't know if this is useful info. Doesn't look like a great deal to me especially when it is only offered as seats available....but maybe some might find a deal...

http://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2018/04/06/sriwijaya-air-offers-unlimited-flight-promotion.html

 

[Davita]

Good news is Bali International Arrival now has a duty-free shop before customs....http://www.balidiscovery.com/messages/message.asp?Id=18787

It doesn't mention if this includes duty-free alcohol so will be informative if anyone has news on that...particularly if some prices can be included here for comparison.

I'll be glad if they remove that Dufry store after customs as it seems its intent is to confuse travelers that it is duty-free.

 

[Davita]

http://www.thejakartapost.com/trave...singapore-airlines-stops-serving-peanuts.html

It seems another airline has stopped serving peanuts etc. because a child apparently went into convulsions.

The above infers that the child got the reaction from other passengers opening their packets but this report from The Peanut Institute appears to contradict that....."In those who are severely allergic, reactions to peanuts can occur from ingesting just a trace amount. This can cause anxiety, especially with the parents of peanut allergic children. But did you know that touching, smelling, or inhaling airborne particles from peanuts does not cause a severe reaction. ( Simonte SJ, et al. Relevance of casual contact with peanut butter in children with peanut allergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol.. 2003 Jul:112 (1): 180-2."

Seems to me that sometimes knee-jerk reactions mean that many are inconvenienced when a better solution is available.
I'd think that anyone suffering from allergies should include that fact when applying for tickets under the 'Any special requirements' heading. Then appropriate seating, food, oxygen and immediate access to medicine can be readily availed.
They do that for religious convictions.....why not for medical issues.
BTW I hate those friggin' peanuts...they interfere with my wine-tasting...

 

[vocalneal]

Did you read about the Chinese guy who opened the over wing emergency exit to get some fresh air triggering the slide?

 

[Davita]

Did you read about the Chinese guy who opened the over wing emergency exit to get some fresh air triggering the slide?

I hadn't but thanks for finding that...made me laugh that the airline was LUCKY AIR. I'm not a gambler so probably will never fly on that airline.

http://newsinflight.com/2018/05/01/passenger-opened-the-emergency-exit-door-on-lucky-air-a320/

For those that may be concerned I'd emphasis that this happened when the aircraft was taxying. After take-off, and pressurized, it's impossible to open that exit.

 

[jstar]

Europe is being hit by strikes again. If it’s not the airlines (Lufthansa, Air France, ...) it’s the luggage handlers (Amsterdam, Brussels, ...).

 

[Davita]

Gunung Merapi near Jogjakarta has erupted again today ...
According to Darwin VAAC the aviation code is red but at this time I don't see it affecting overflying aircraft as they are much higher than the forecast ash. It may affect local aircraft traffic or arriving or departing Jogja or other airports in the area.

Edit: Jogjakarta airport is closed.

 

[jstar]

....It may affect local aircraft traffic or arriving or departing Jogja or other airports in the area.

Edit: Jogjakarta airport is closed.

According to a friend there it seems to be open again...

 

[Davita]

News is the search for MH370 will terminate today.
This must be devastating for those relatives of the missing passengers as they are now deprived of finally knowing what happened.
It is also bad news for those in the airline industry as there is no conclusion to how this missing aircraft can have happened. Not only questions about Malaysian Airline System and Malaysian Gov't......but about the B777 aircraft manufactured by Boeing as there are many still in the air.
There are many theories but, so far, not one iota of anything to even consider beyond conspiracies.
This IS the greatest aviation mystery of all times.

Just realized I'm flying to Florida next week...mostly on B777 ER....

 

[Jaime C]

News is the search for MH370 will terminate today.
This must be devastating for those relatives of the missing passengers as they are now deprived of finally knowing what happened.
It is also bad news for those in the airline industry as there is no conclusion to how this missing aircraft can have happened. Not only questions about Malaysian Airline System and Malaysian Gov't......but about the B777 aircraft manufactured by Boeing as there are many still in the air.
There are many theories but, so far, not one iota of anything to even consider beyond conspiracies.
This IS the greatest aviation mystery of all times.

Just realized I'm flying to Florida next week...mostly on B777 ER....

Are you doing the economy or biz routing?

I’ll take a 36 hour biz itinerary over a 30 hour economy one. At least you should get lounge access with the biz flights.

I’ve flown Emirates F and J, and Saudia J and they were all ok. For economy, long haul flights usually felt a bit like torture.

Some, like a JAL CGK-NRT leg last year were actually pretty good. A coach American airlines flight, NRT-DFW was one of the most uncomfortable flights I’ve ever been on.

I’ve flown on Adam Air, Air Wagon, Star and so many other Indonesian airlines. Never really been scared on any of them.

 

[Davita]

Are you doing the economy or biz routing?

I’ll take a 36 hour biz itinerary over a 30 hour economy one. At least you should get lounge access with the biz flights.

I’ve flown Emirates F and J, and Saudia J and they were all ok. For economy, long haul flights usually felt a bit like torture.

Some, like a JAL CGK-NRT leg last year were actually pretty good. A coach American airlines flight, NRT-DFW was one of the most uncomfortable flights I’ve ever been on.

I’ve flown on Adam Air, Air Wagon, Star and so many other Indonesian airlines. Never really been scared on any of them.

Thanks Jaime C.... but I'm using my retiree discount and can only access BIZ with my own ex-employer....CX
So DPS/HKG/LAX..... spend a night in LAX and connect interiine to FLL.

Your info...... it may help others.

 

[ChrisTex]

Some, like a JAL CGK-NRT leg last year were actually pretty good. A coach American airlines flight, NRT-DFW was one of the most uncomfortable flights I’ve ever been on.

Jaime, don't remind for the NRT-DFW flights. I did three of those in less than a year. I hated the American Airlines part of the journey as the the 777s used had outdated in flight entertainment(which can make the difference in a long flight). I always looked forward to flying JAL on those trips.


JAL, Korea Air, and Qatar were fairly good in food, in flight entertainment, and service.

On that note, I'll be flying Singapore Air for the first time later this week. It will be interesting to see if they are as good as I have heard.

 

[Jaime C]

Thanks Jaime C.... but I'm using my retiree discount and can only access BIZ with my own ex-employer....CX
So DPS/HKG/LAX..... spend a night in LAX and connect interiine to FLL.

Your info...... it may help others.

CX is pretty solid.

Their First cabin has gone downhill the last few years in the catering department. I flew them in March LAX-Indonesia, and won’t blow my frequent flyer miles on F with them again. Maybe on JAL, as long as it’s out of NRT and not HND.

 

[Jaime C]

On that note, I'll be flying Singapore Air for the first time later this week. It will be interesting to see if they are as good as I have heard.

Singapore is usually pretty good.

We’re flying them to MEL in July, burning the last of my United miles before their award chart went to hell last year. Then connecting to Air New Zealand for our leg to Auckland.

I’ve found most Asian full service airlines to be much better than any of the North American ones.

 

[Davita]

CX is pretty solid.

Their First cabin has gone downhill the last few years in the catering department. I flew them in March LAX-Indonesia, and won’t blow my frequent flyer miles on F with them again. Maybe on JAL, as long as it’s out of NRT and not HND.

Cathay Pacific (CX) had a 2nd year loss in 2017 and isn't doing too well this year either due to rising fuel costs. Making money in full-service airlines is a tough sell.

https://thepointsguy.com/2018/03/cathay-pacific-posts-financial-loss-for-the-second-year-in-a-row/