Garuda Jakarta to London stopover in Singapore

[Terry MacArsey]

Hi,

I have a flight booked with Garuda from Jakarta to London Heathrow which has a layover in Singapore for 1 hour 25 minutes.

From what I read, the stopover in Singapore is needed to refuel because the runway in Jakarta is not strong enough to support a plane full of enough fuel to get to London.

I was just wondering if anyone else has flown the same route because I want to know if passengers have to wait on the plane or go into the terminal at Singapore.

I'm hoping I'll have time to go to duty-free in Singapore.

I've tried contacting Garuda but they don't seem to know possibly because the people I've contacted are based in London ?

They are telling me that there is a possibility passengers go into the terminal but they can't guarantee it. They suggest I ask their staff at the airport but I was hoping someone here might know ?

Thanks for any info.

 

[Jaime C]

I'd hope with only a 1:25 stop, that they wouldn't try to unload everyone.

 

[kimdub]

They are telling me that there is a possibility passengers go into the terminal but they can't guarantee it. They suggest I ask their staff at the airport but I was hoping someone here might know ?

Thanks for any info.

Did you look at the details on your ticket? Usually flights from Jakarta to Singapore are on a different type of aircraft than the ones used for the longer legs. If there is a different type of plane listed, then of course you will be offloaded.

Also, many times additional security is involved.

 

[Bad_azz]

When I have done the stop in KL they let us off the plane- indeed we are not permitted to stay on it as they usually clean it too (KLM/Air France).
You are given a set time to be back at the gate & your bags get scanned before going back on- so no sneaking liquids and so on in your bags. It is usually long enough to go grab a quick drink/snack/have a stroll around- some just choose to sit by the gate.
Now if Garuda does that or not , I don't know.

 

[Smallworld]

Hi,

I have a flight booked with Garuda from Jakarta to London Heathrow which has a layover in Singapore for 1 hour 25 minutes.

From what I read, the stopover in Singapore is needed to refuel because the runway in Jakarta is not strong enough to support a plane full of enough fuel to get to London.

I was just wondering if anyone else has flown the same route because I want to know if passengers have to wait on the plane or go into the terminal at Singapore.

I'm hoping I'll have time to go to duty-free in Singapore.

I've tried contacting Garuda but they don't seem to know possibly because the people I've contacted are based in London ?

They are telling me that there is a possibility passengers go into the terminal but they can't guarantee it. They suggest I ask their staff at the airport but I was hoping someone here might know ?

Thanks for any info.

I flew few times to Europe and it is always with either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore airport for transit. The plane from Jakarta to Singapore / KL is smaller than what we usually get for journey from Singapore to Manchester, London or Frankfurt. Also going via Dubai or Abu Dabi you will get one of those bigger planes from Emirates or Qatar Airlines.

85 min assuming there are no delays and the plane will land on time will not give you that much time to do some duty free shopping as your main goal should be to find your gate of departure.

 

[Scooterindo]

How many cigarettes could be smoked in 1hr 25 mins ?? I am sure they will let you off the plane, which I reckon would be a different aircraft to the one that actually does the long haul flight to London

 

[Bad_azz]

I haven't used Garuda, but we have been put back on the same plane at the same gate more often than not for the mini-stop.

 

[Davita]

According to Garuda website they change planes from A B777-200 to a B777-300 in Singapore so a transit will be necessary. I'd get off as soon as you can because not much time to transfer if the gates are distant from one to another.....so time for duty-free may be limited.

 

[Terry MacArsey]

Thanks for everyone's input, much appreciated.

I looked at my ticket but no hints there. Arrive + depart Changi Terminal 3 on a Boeing 777. No more info.

I asked the company that sold me the ticket and they think passengers disembark (as a few of you have indicated) so I hope, taking into account Smallworlds advice, I'll have enough time to buy some tobacco and get straight to the departure gate.

Just hope I won't be in a holding area with no access to duty free.

A few years ago I found a place near Jl Jaksa (one of the few places I know in Jakarta) that sold tobacco already mixed with kretek so I don't know if any places still exist. I suppose I should ask in another thread ?

 

[john madden]

.... tobacco already mixed with kretek so I don't know if any places still exist. I suppose I should ask in another thread ?

You could follow the example of the old blokes around here:
1. Sack of the local-grown, hot-as-hell tobacco
2. Tiny paper box of crushed cengkeh
3. Pack of oversize ungummed cigarette papers
4. Combine to form large, loose cone of a ciggy and smoke half of it.

 

[Davita]

I looked at my ticket but no hints there. Arrive + depart Changi Terminal 3 on a Boeing 777. No more info.

If you look at their schedules on the website it shows some days JKT-SIN is an Airbus 330 or a Boeing777-200 series and from SIN-LHR it's a B777-300. Either way you will change aircraft in Singapore and probably many more passengers will get on. I suggest you look at your seat number on both flights....and see if it's different.

I believe they are in process to strengthen (Load Classification) the runway in Jakarta to enable those direct flights in future.....and they plan a 3rd runway.

 

[Terry MacArsey]

"I suggest you look at your seat number on both flights....and see if it's different."

Yes, thanks Davita, it's another good idea but my seats aren't allocated yet.

I suppose I should add that I don't fly to Indo until November and my return flight isn't until May next year.

"I believe they are in process to strengthen (Load Classification) the runway in Jakarta to enable those direct flights in future.....and they plan a 3rd runway."

In that case the runway might have been strengthened before I return and I might not even end up going to Singapore. However, I'm feeling a bit more confident that (assuming I go to Singapore) I'll at least get into the terminal.

Sorry, I don't know how to reply with the quotes box so apologies if this post is a bit confusing

 

[Davita]

RE" Post #12
Not till Nov. then you have time to search Garuda's website and attempt a fake booking on the same flight on the same day and click schedule...you should find which A/C is used from JKT-SIN and which from SIN-LHR. In any event it would be unusual to refuel with passengers still on the A/C as it requires many safety precautions.

There is a 'reply with quote' button on any previous post you wish to reply to....click and the post will be in quotation marks....then you can delete any info that is extraneous to your response

 

[Scooterindo]

Irrespective of where Garuda flies - given the choice I am on Singapore Air every time.

 

[Bad_azz]

"I suggest you look at your seat number on both flights....and see if it's different."

Yes, thanks Davita, it's another good idea but my seats aren't allocated yet.

I suppose I should add that I don't fly to Indo until November and my return flight isn't until May next year.

"I believe they are in process to strengthen (Load Classification) the runway in Jakarta to enable those direct flights in future.....and they plan a 3rd runway."

In that case the runway might have been strengthened before I return and I might not even end up going to Singapore. However, I'm feeling a bit more confident that (assuming I go to Singapore) I'll at least get into the terminal.

Sorry, I don't know how to reply with the quotes box so apologies if this post is a bit confusing

if you look at the bottom of each post on the right you will see 3 options
Reply: basic reply- no quote
Reply with quote: creates a quote of that one post
"+ : multiple quotes- click this on each post you wish to respond to & then on the last post you wish to quote click the reply with quote too and it adds them all into one post - but separates each one in your post into individual sections.
Did that make sense?? lol

 

[phiss]

I vaguely remember something like this happening to me some years ago. On getting off the plane, we were all herded into the departure gate waiting area and were not allowed to actually enter the rest of the terminal. There was an added delay for some technical reason, so we were there for some time. With no toilet facilities and no food offered, passengers, especially those with small children, started to get quite fractious. Eventually, a few passengers were allowed through to use toilets, etc, with a dire warning that they must not stray far from the departure gate, and if they were not back within a specified period of time (can't remember what it was) they would not be permitted to reboard.

I don't know whether this would apply in your case, but with such a short layover time, I would suspect that the airline would not want passengers meandering all over the terminal and returning in dribs and drabs. They would want reboarding to take place as quickly as possible. Also, with the added security measures in place nowadays, it may possibly be even more difficult to venture far.

 

[sumyunggai]

I took this flight when the stopover was in Amsterdam, and there was more like 2 hours hanging around in the airport, and ample time to do whatever you could possibly want to do.

 

[Terry MacArsey]

RE" Post #12
Not till Nov. then you have time to search Garuda's website and attempt a fake booking on the same flight on the same day and click schedule...you should find which A/C is used from JKT-SIN and which from SIN-LHR. In any event it would be unusual to refuel with passengers still on the A/C as it requires many safety precautions.

There is a 'reply with quote' button on any previous post you wish to reply to....click and the post will be in quotation marks....then you can delete any info that is extraneous to your response

I've now checked on the Garuda website and even if I search for JKT to SIN or SIN to LHR it just says Boeing 777 200/300 so it seems like they're not sure which of the two types of aircraft will be used. Either way I'm more convinced now that passengers will go into the terminal.

Thanks for the tip on replying as well.

Irrespective of where Garuda flies - given the choice I am on Singapore Air every time.

Yes, I like Singapore Airlines as well but I normally just fly with whoever is cheapest. I managed to get a return flight LHR to Manado for £558 which I thought was amazing. The cheapest flight I can find now is £651 but with Lufthansa and Silk Air.

Last year I booked with Lufthansa and Silk Air but the day before the flight I tried to check in online only to find out that the flight was cancelled due to Lufthansa strikes so had to arrange another flight (I flew with Singapore Airlines) which cost me an extra £160.

The cheapest flight I can find now for Singapore Airlines is £775.

if you look at the bottom of each post on the right you will see 3 options
Reply: basic reply- no quote
Reply with quote: creates a quote of that one post
"+ : multiple quotes- click this on each post you wish to respond to & then on the last post you wish to quote click the reply with quote too and it adds them all into one post - but separates each one in your post into individual sections.

Yes thanks, makes sense, just trying this for the first time so I hope it comes out alright. I've never noticed that button before. Looks like you have to copy/paste if you want to split a single post into multiple quotes. Not sure if that makes sense. What I mean is if you want to go through a post replying to a part of it then have another part of the original post and your reply again. I'm going to try it and hope it works

Did that make sense?? lol

Yes thanks

I vaguely remember something like this happening to me some years ago. On getting off the plane, we were all herded into the departure gate waiting area and were not allowed to actually enter the rest of the terminal. There was an added delay for some technical reason, so we were there for some time. With no toilet facilities and no food offered, passengers, especially those with small children, started to get quite fractious. Eventually, a few passengers were allowed through to use toilets, etc, with a dire warning that they must not stray far from the departure gate, and if they were not back within a specified period of time (can't remember what it was) they would not be permitted to reboard.

I don't know whether this would apply in your case, but with such a short layover time, I would suspect that the airline would not want passengers meandering all over the terminal and returning in dribs and drabs. They would want reboarding to take place as quickly as possible. Also, with the added security measures in place nowadays, it may possibly be even more difficult to venture far.

Yes, my main concern would be that passengers may be in a holding area so the airline can avoid going through all the security checks again to save time.

I took this flight when the stopover was in Amsterdam, and there was more like 2 hours hanging around in the airport, and ample time to do whatever you could possibly want to do.

That's the most encouraging answer I've had so far. Just hope I don't get stopped by customs when I get back !

 

[jstar]

It should be noted that while flights departing the UK will be a nonstop service to Indonesia, the direct flights from Jakarta to London will necessitate a brief refuelling stop in Singapore. This is due to runway limitations at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport - the runway being unable to support the weight of the operational aircraft with a full fuel tank. However, the route is still classed as a direct service, as passengers destined for London are not allowed to disembark.

 

[Terry MacArsey]

Thanks for the info though jstar, at least I know now. Even Garuda couldn't tell me what would happen in Singapore.
I verified your quote by putting the whole thing into Google because I wasn't sure what to search for.

I was told on Tuesday that I had to change my flight because I'd booked it for a Thursday from Heathrow but Garuda won't be flying direct on Thursdays now so I've changed it to the Tuesday.

Other options were to go on the same day I'd booked for via Amsterdam but would have meant leaving home at 3am or going direct on Tues, Sat or Sun if I remember correctly - could be wrong on the days if anyone is relying on this for info.

Also changed internal flight Jkt to Manado (all for free because enforced change) so will now have extra time in Manado because I've already booked Manado to Gorontalo.

Also takes my time in Indo from 180 days to 182 days so will force me to arrange my Kitas which I think will be better for me anyway.

Just means I'll be looking for more info on buying tobacco already mixed with kretek. Bought some in Gorontalo a couple of years ago for 90,000 a Kg but I'll look for a milder tobacco because the stuff I've got is pretty keras and that's according to Indonesians that are used to smoking the tobacco that looks like cow pats