ThaiA345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 6390 times:
Reason For Trip:
This time it’s a quick 24hr hop to a town called Palembang in South Sumatra to attend a friend’s business opening ceremony. (Palembang was where Silk Air B733 flight 187 crashed into the Musi river back in 1997)
Managed to finish half a days work at the office before leaving at 1205 for the airport. Arrived with 1 hour to spare. After a valet check in, I spent all my time with my colleagues at the Garuda Executive Lounge and also had a bite to eat there.
Nice at this time of the day as the lounge was not too packed. We left the lounge and got to the gate 15mins before departure.
In Flight
My 1st time on board PK-GWK
Seats and interior are really looking their age on this aircraft.
Just took off from CGK, note the QF B763ER
Current month’s Garuda inflight mag
The sausage bread really wasn’t that bad
On approach to Palambang
As with many of GA’s domestic route, this aircraft is 100% full in both J and Y. Flight itself was uneventful till final approach where we really had to avoid a huge storm front coming in, landing was pretty scary with the aircraft being pushed by crosswinds, thank got we got on the tarmac with no further issues. By the way, on this very same day, an Adam Air B734 (Yes Again!) broke a landing gear upon landing in Batam and skidded off the runway.
Service: 8/10
Food: 3/10
Aircraft: 4/10
Hotel Stay
Novotel Palembang (One of the nicest Novotels I have been to)
Room: Superior King Bed
Service: 6/10
Room: 7/10
Food: 5/10
Location: 7/10
Pre Flight
After a sleepless night in Palembang, it was soon off to the airport and off to Jakarta, I must say that I am very surprised at Palembang Airport as its really nice and modern,
really not what I had expected, heck, it even has aerobridges! The town itself was nothing much to talk about being a small town. After a quick check in it was off to the lounge and a wait for another delayed GA flight! At the same time, Sriwijaya, Adam, Merpati, and Mandala all took off on schedule.
A rare sight, Linus Air BAE 146
Shame on you Garuda! The only part of this was that the Garuda Lounge was pretty small and disappointing being shoved right in the corner of the departure lounge.
In Flight
By the time boarding was called, I was happy to finally be going back home to Jakarta. Again this is my first time on PK-GZA,
interesting part of this trip was that I flew on 2 of GA’s oldest B734’s! Although the seats on this aircraft are more comfy than the one I took the previous day, nothing much to talk about the flight, it was pretty smooth all the way back to Jakarta.
Final Approach into CGK
Thanks again for reading guys!
15 March to Bali with Garuda in J
20 March to Hong Kong with Garuda in J
6 April to Frankfurt / Leipzig with Thai in F and LH in J
22 April to Beijing with Malaysia Airlines in J
30 April to Delhi with Malaysia Airlines in J
6 July to Frankfurt with TG in F and on to Sevilla with a private jet
16 July to Osaka / Hiroshima with TG and NH in J
End July to Brisbane with Malaysia Airlines in F
I don't understand why they can't remove the plastic wrapper before serving it on the trey... It would look SO much better.
I must say that I do think Garuda domestic business class looks pretty good, but probably it's not?? Still I think that there is something special about 2+2 seating on a 737 The lounge in CGK does look very nice
ThaiA345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Reply 2, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 5909 times:
Quoting SASDC8 (Reply 1): I don't understand why they can't remove the plastic wrapper before serving it on the trey... It would look SO much better.
Hahaahh....Hi Stein! Well, this is Indonesia, and they are pretty lazy sometimes, presentation does not mean much here, but I can predict if one should complain regarding that, they would just reply, the plastic wrapper is there for hygiene reasons
Quoting SASDC8 (Reply 1): must say that I do think Garuda domestic business class looks pretty good,
Well, I do have to admit that on all airlines J class on the B737 classics, I have to do admit GA so far has the best space and layout, even better than MH B734's!
Thanks again for reading Stein! WIll definitely try to make a trip to Oslo in the near future!
Buck3y3nut From United States of America, joined Jul 2006, 864 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 5607 times:
Great report and pictures again... really enjoyed your report.
thanks a bunch for writing the report...