spicyayam
I was checking flights back to Australia and Garuda seem pretty cheap.
Anyone have experience flying with them recently?
scout
Hi Spicy, yes I often fly with them, helpful staff, comfortable seats, not squeezed in like jetstar et al and u get fed!!!
Mark
I have flown Garuda twice from Singapore to Bali and a few times from Jakarta to Bali. I have had no complaints at all. Aircraft were new, service was friendly, food ok, flights on time etc. One suggestion for taller travellers is to try and score an exit row seat (especially on the 737-800 aircraft), which have much more leg room. Regular seats were a bit cramped for me compared to Singapore Airlines, but Garuda's prices were lower and overall good value for money.
borborigmus
I fly Garuda now whenever I can. The staff are friendly and efficient, flights are generally on time, food and drinks are included - and the standard baggage allowance is 30kg. Their regular 'specials' are cheaper than supposed 'low-cost carriers such as Jetstar or Virgin, and the overall experience is incomparably better.
I say go for it!
hanzrobby
have never had problems with them
matsaleh
I also only fly Garuda to and from Australia. I buy a 360 day open return ticket and change the return date several times before I fly. No charge to change the return date. Better service, more leg room and polite cabin crew.
kiwi
Used them when they used to be direct out of Auckland NZ and when direct into Brisbane, would still use and recommend them.
There was talk they were going to start the Brisbane run again but so far nothing.
hmbphd
I use them several times a year to Makassar and have also flown to Bali from Singapore. They are great compared to the low-cost alternatives, and cheaper than Lion to Makassar.
I think they may have recently changed policies on the "open ticket" change charges. A friend flew back to Perth last month and I remember him having to haggle and still have to pay a fee. But I don't know the specifics of that - just a heads up that it might not be so flexible now.
matsaleh
heathermboylan wrote.....
I think they may have recently changed policies on the "open ticket" change charges. A friend flew back to Perth last month and I remember him having to haggle and still have to pay a fee. But I don't know the specifics of that - just a heads up that it might not be so flexible now.
I went to Garuda office last week and changed my return date from July this year to January next year. No charge for the change. I think it depends on the terms on the ticket when you purchase.
gymrat
I fly garuda to Bali every couple weeks and find them good, you get all your food, blanket, tv etc that all these budget airlines make you pay for. Also have good baggage limits
I fly air Asia back to Perth just because it ties in flying to work and I've had delays, paid for red carpet checkin that wasn't even operating when I checked in :/
Mark
A big caveat to my earlier post on this thread. Recently took two GA flights, one Singapore to Bali and the other from Jakarta to Singapore, and on both the flight deck crew were smoking cigarettes in the cockpit. The odor naturally got into the plane's aircon system, and we passengers (including several infants) got the benefit of second-hand smoke, arriving at our destinations smelling like we just left a smoky cocktail bar. Pretty disgusting actually and for me it undoes a lot of the improvement that Garuda has made recently.
mament
I like Garuda pretty well overall. I've used them a lot between Bali and Singapore and find them friendly, reliable and professional. Much better than many of the airlines where I'm from in the U.S. I would use Garuda again. Only thing is that for Bali to Singapore -AirAsia is usually much cheaper.
tintin
I used to fly Garuda between Los Angeles and Denpasar, until it went bankrupt and stopped the service. First, LA - Honolulu - Biak -DPS, and then bypassing Biak. Excellent service, great food, top labels alcohols, the whole works. On the way back, thanks to a Balinese colleague with the right connections, an upgrade to Business or First Class for an extra $100-150. Can't beat that! :highly_amused: Also flew several times, Frankfurt - DPS, with the same great service (including the return flight).
mugwump
But that was in the 1960's when you were here.
SHoggard
scout wroteHi Spicy, yes I often fly with them, helpful staff, comfortable seats, not squeezed in like jetstar et al and u get fed!!!
Don't forget their [I]Revitalized[/I] fleet ;)
davee
i have never travelled any other carrier to bali other than garuda and will probably never change. they are the only airline that is cheap that feeds you, entertains you (used to be in flight movie, now everyone has their own personal entertainment unit) and wakes you up when you arrive to your destination (in indonesian!).
i have flown jestar to darwin and it was appauling. waiting time and delays. luckily i didnt pay for it. but with garuda cheap isnt always a bad thing. i would recommend anyone flying to indonesia especially bali to fly the main carrier.
alex margou
I used to fly Garuda to/from Bali/S'pore for many years 3 or 4 times a year. They were OK, not great but OK.
But I've switched to AirAsia because Garuda have just got hugely expensive on the Bali-S'pore route. I've done the trip now 5 times on AirAsia and they're OK and around half Garuda's price IF YOU BOOK AROUND 6 WEEKS IN ADVANCE! If you leave it until the last week or so the price is about the same. The flights are OK, not seriously late, no lost bags etc.
The "price" I'm talking about includes all the "extras" such as food, seat, luggage etc.
I'd be happy to go back to Garuda, but they are just too expensive now on the routes I might fly.
SHoggard
Mark
alex margou wroteI'd be happy to go back to Garuda, but they are just too expensive now on the routes I might fly.
Totally agree with this. Garuda has priced themselves too high - they had a product that was good for its price, but now is way too expensive for what you get. Air Asia is fine but the best value for my money from SIN to DPS is KLM. We've been getting S$250 returns (all in) and have had great flights. As the aircraft is coming from Amsterdam and meant for transcontinental flights, the leg room is great. The food is good and the wine plentiful (and free). Also plenty of on demand movies, so even if you can't finish the movie on the way to Bali, you can on the way back :)
ronb
Well, I smiled, of course. :-)
