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Melbourne to London Gatwick from $1532 - $1543 with Garuda Indonesia @ Christmas / New Year

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Melbourne to London Gatwick from $1532 - $1543 with Garuda Indonesia @ Christmas / New Year
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dodgydarji on 02/04/2015 - 10:27 garuda-indonesia.com (89 clicks)
Last edited 02/04/2015 - 14:21

Hi - We just booked our flights back to London during the Christmas period for $1539! Been holding out for a good deal and this one takes it for us. It is a two stop flight though with a long layover in Jakarta on the way back. Hope this helps and saves some people money over whats usually a very expensive time to travel.

We booked our flights from 17/12/2015 - 02/01/2016 - Various Dates Available

Some things to be aware of

  • This is a 2 stop flight
  • London Gatwick only
  • Flight to London is 28 hours
  • Flight back to Melbourne is 33 hours. This includes a 10 hour stop in Jakarta where you can leave the airport and go into the city, which is what we will do.

Departure flight details Melbourne to London

  • Flight 1 Thu, 17 Dec 2015
  • Departure: 17:35 Melbourne, Australia - Melbourne Airport, terminal 2
  • Arrival: 20:55 Jakarta, Indonesia - Soekarno Hatta International, terminal 2

Change of plane required. Time between flights : 2:35.

  • Flight 2 Thu, 17 Dec 2015
  • Departure: 23:30 Jakarta, Indonesia - Soekarno Hatta International, terminal 2
  • Arrival: 10:35 +1 day(s) London, United Kingdom - Gatwick, terminal N | Note: includes 1 stop(s) :Schiphol Airport

Arrival flight details London to Melbourne

  • Flight 1 Sat, 2 Jan 2016
  • Departure: 12:25 London, United Kingdom - Gatwick, terminal N
  • Arrival: 11:50 +1 day(s) Jakarta, Indonesia - Soekarno Hatta International, terminal 2 | Note: includes 1 stop(s) :Schiphol Airport

Change of plane required. Time between flights : 10:40.

  • Flight 2 Sun, 3 Jan 2016
  • Departure: 22:30 Jakarta, Indonesia - Soekarno Hatta International, terminal 2
  • Arrival: 09:00 +1 day(s) Melbourne, Australia - Melbourne Airport, terminal 2

Layover options in Jakarta for 9 hours

Having been through peoples experiences on tripadvisor here some options/opnions for the layover:

Hotels Nearby
In your case the best thing is to book ONE night in one of the airport hotels, all have direct free shuttle to/ from airport:

  • Amaris Bandara
  • Sheraton Bandara
  • Aston Chenkareng
  • POP hotel bandara
  • F7 Resort (I checked prices for the F7 and its $60 for a room, or a transfer/facilities without a room use package for $30)

At the Airport Option
There are a number of lounges where you can pay to get in (prices were reasonable) - more comfortable chairs with food and drinks supplied as well as free internet so easy to while a way a few hours there. I loaded my ipad with movies so watched a couple of them in the lounge. Also there is a massage place in the departure hall and very reasonable prices - ended by doing a 2 hrs back & head massage as soon as we landed and before I got on the plane - did another 1 hr foot massage.

Shopping Malls
The nearest mall to the airport - Emporium Pluit and pluit Junction - about 20 min from the airport, taxi fare - 40 k IDR ( depends on traffic). I would suggest going to malls in Pluit such as Pluit Junction and Emporium Pluit if you want to avoid the traffic.. They are relatively near the airport.. You can have dinner and catch a movie to kill time

City Center
Having read peoples feedback on ozbargain and tripadvisor - I would recommend avoiding this option. Which is what I was originally planning. The traffic, and the amount of time spent in the city doesn't make it worthwhile.

Travel Airfare

Related Stores

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closed Comments

  • punkman on 02/04/2015 - 10:35

    This is one of the worst flights ever with garuda having one of the poorest services, too it last year on boxing day.

    When got to Jakarta, no one knew where the connecting plan/gate was taking off from, wasnt on the boards and there was no information desk

    This plane lands in Amsterdam as well for 2-3hrs google the flight numbers you'll see they get delayed nearly every day. They say 1 stop, but the plane will stop in Amsterdam

    I booked well in advance, I should have waited and gone emirates, as they had a sale that was within $50 one stop and land in heathrow.. much easier to get in and out of

    • DealzEddy123 on 02/04/2015 - 10:39
      +1

      OP did say it was a TwO STOP flight… and it does note the stop in Amsterdam..

      also u booked "well in advance" so it's not comparable…

      • punkman on 02/04/2015 - 11:47

        I'd consider an april booking for a december flight "Well in Advance" as well. Noted on the OP mentioning 2 stop, the ticket wont mention the stop in Amsterdam, well the ones last Christmas didn't

        Its just information, take it of leave it.

    • JohnHowardsEyebrows on 02/04/2015 - 10:42
      +2

      Gatwick>Heathrow IMHO

    • drpants on 02/04/2015 - 11:13
      +3

      I fly garuda monthly and I'd rate it as pretty decent.
      It's no SQ or ANA, but way better than any budget airline and I'd even rate it above Qantas.

      Jakarta airport, not so great. I'd say that's the source of your delay not the airline.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/04/2015 - 10:38

    They say half the fun of a holiday is getting there and back. You are up for one hell of a holiday. Enjoy!!

  • punkman on 02/04/2015 - 10:39

    The other one is, the computer system switched my partners name ie ms Last name, then First name. this caused us grief at take off. in Aus they said they would let us on the plane, but we should change it on the phone when we land. On the phone they couldn't change stating they shouldn't have let her on the plane, and that to make the correction for the return trip would cost ~900…

    Prepare for headaches

  • DealzEddy123 on 02/04/2015 - 10:43

    Also in recent Skytrax reviews of Garuda, it seems they have picked up their game in recent years… (not my experience just looking at reviews)

  • brongz on 02/04/2015 - 11:09

    tell me what will you do with 10 hours stop over in Jakarta?

    • dodgydarji on 02/04/2015 - 11:25
      +1

      Will get a taxi into the city center.. get a massage and some dinner. Not ideal I know, but our next best option was Royal Brunei for $2000

      • ChickenTalon on 06/04/2015 - 21:48

        As others have said, I would highly recommend against this! There is no exaggerating the traffic, 5 hours is not uncommon for the return trip. And it's a nasty way to spend your day. Find something very close to the airport

    • unicorn888 on 02/04/2015 - 11:30
      +1

      Nothing mate, Jakarta has the worst traffic in the world
      http://time.com/3695068/worst-cities-traffic-jams/
      Please note, there isn't a train from airport to city.
      return trip from airport to city itself can take 3-5 hours.

      • tanastra on 02/04/2015 - 11:57
        +1

        Absolutely agree. You won't risk your life or your flight going out from the Jakarta airport to get stuck in traffic jam for at least 1-2 hours one way in a taxi or lost and robbed in the middle of nowhere in Jakarta . It is not SINGAPORE …. But if you have to , make sure you get on Bluebird taxi , the safest and honest taxi in Jakarta .

        • unicorn888 on 02/04/2015 - 12:17
          +1

          Agree with this…if you want to use Blue bird, you can use this apps..it will help you to be monitored from their reservation center. It will add more security for you

          Android : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.seatech.bl…
          Apple : https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/blue-bird-group-taxi-mobile/…

        • dodgydarji on 02/04/2015 - 13:38

          @unicorn888: Thanks for all the extra info guys. Will be sure to use a bluebird taxi

        • st33p on 02/04/2015 - 17:15

          @dodgydarji:

          You may need to pay the visa on arrival which is USD$35 per person as holyplai mentioned below.
          Then 30 mins to get out of terminal and get taxi (make sure it's Bluebird/Silverbird)
          1 hour to get to the city
          1-2 hours to get back to the airport
          check in 2 hours before flight (maybe)
          That's around 5 hours already.

          The unpredictable bit is the traffic.
          Yes you will arrive on Sunday, but sometimes traffic in Jakarta could be a choker on Sunday.

          On the other note, there's nothing - absolutely nothing to do at the airport.
          Maybe you can pay to use one of the lounge, at least you get better seats and food.
          Or check in at the airport hotel and sleep.

        • JohnHowardsEyebrows on 02/04/2015 - 17:41

          @st33p: Nah, they'll check bags all the way through to London, as it's not a dodgy budget carrier, and they're selling the ticket the whole way through.

          Means you'd want to be there no later than an hour before.

  • ss281 on 02/04/2015 - 11:13
    -3

    Rubbish airline, i remember few years ago when this plane crashed somewhere in Indonesia. They painted the tail of the plane to hide what airline it was. Who does that after a plane crashes?

  • TravelKon on 02/04/2015 - 12:57

    Note that Garuda is one of the few 5 star airlines (Emirates is not even 5 star) by skytrax.

    But I do agree 10 hours stopover in Jakarta is not great (probably have to pay visa on arrival too $35 USD).

  • dodgydarji on 02/04/2015 - 14:21
    +1

    Having been through peoples experiences on tripadvisor here some options/opinions for the layover:

    Hotels Nearby
    In your case the best thing is to book ONE night in one of the airport hotels, all have direct free shuttle to/ from airport:
    Amaris Bandara
    Sheraton Bandara
    Aston Chenkareng
    POP hotel bandara
    F7 Resort (I checked prices for the F7 and its $60 for a room, or a transfer/facilities without a room use package for $30)

    At the Airport Option
    There are a number of lounges where you can pay to get in (prices were reasonable) - more comfortable chairs with food and drinks supplied as well as free internet so easy to while a way a few hours there. I loaded my ipad with movies so watched a couple of them in the lounge. Also there is a massage place in the departure hall and very reasonable prices - ended by doing a 2 hrs back & head massage as soon as we landed and before I got on the plane - did another 1 hr foot massage.

    Shopping Malls
    The nearest mall to the airport - Emporium Pluit and pluit Junction - about 20 min from the airport, taxi fare - 40 k IDR ( depends on traffic). I would suggest going to malls in Pluit such as Pluit Junction and Emporium Pluit if you want to avoid the traffic.. They are relatively near the airport.. You can have dinner and catch a movie to kill time

    City Center
    Having read peoples feedback on ozbargain and tripadvisor - I would recommend avoiding this option. Which is what I was originally planning. The traffic, and the amount of time spent in the city doesn't make it worthwhile.

    Thanks Everyone - Will add this to description. From experience my options here sound a lot better then when I flew with Royal Brunei. We were delayed at the airport for 9 hours, but couldn't leave and the only thing open was one cafe in what is arguably one of the worse airport terminals I have been to.

    • joannatan on 02/04/2015 - 19:47
      +1

      honestly with 10 hours stop over, i might prefer shopping around their duty free shop first for 1-2 hours, then go to the lounge, when you arrive most likely delay due to afternoon traffic in Jakarta, take taxi outside the airport during peak hours is not good idea. But you arrived in Jakarta on Sunday, so most likely the traffic is very light. My last waiting time to get bluebird taxi is 90 minutes, it was during weekdays. Shopping is good if you like shopping and massage or spa also good choice, much cheaper in Indo compare to Australia. It cost me IDR 80k for body and foot massage - 1 hr, compare than in Australia after the rebate that cost me $9, I only got 1/2 hour back massage.

  • joannatan on 02/04/2015 - 14:47
    +5

    After 10 years never flown with Garuda, finally I did try early this year when I flown to Bali, new aircraft, new entertainment system, good food, good service, flight schedule is on time, rate 8.5 out of 10, still below than SQ a bit, but it is better than Emirates

    On the way back was flying from Jakarta, old airplane, old entertainment system , service is good, rate 6.5/10.

    Overall rating 7.5

    In my opinions, this airline has improved a lot compare to my last flight in 2005. Would I fly again with Garuda? Sure as long as their fare is cheap, sometimes their fare same or more expensive than SQ, so I prefer flying with SQ.

    Everyone got their budget, some people got more money, then you can fly with any airlines that you like, but some people on budget, they have limited choice, if they have to stay 10 hours stop ovAer, do they have a choice? or you guys that criticized would help this guy the different to pick other airline? most likely the answer is no.

    This airline has accident, tell me which airline has 0 accident, even Qantas - remember their A380 almost crash in Batam Island couple years back, it is not about the pilot skills, for me it is pure luck when I saw the aircraft condition. Not a single pilot want their flight crash, except if the pilot/co-pilot want do kamikaze.

    So for people in here that always posting the crash rating of airline, would you still flying within domestic flight if all those 3 airlines in Australia has crash history or you will prefer driving your car around the continent ?

    • timhobart on 02/04/2015 - 17:58
      +2

      @joannatan: never have I read superbly written unbiased review as yours, that is an awesome opinion on the airline crash chances & debacles in this site. thx for an eye opener

  • ChickenTalon on 06/04/2015 - 21:59

    Have flown a few Garuda, all economy, great airline!

    There is something about it I can't fully put my finger on, they're pretty chilled, relaxed and helpful. Makes a big difference.

    Admin can be improved (re-booking a flight is impossible for people outside Indonesia if you need to pay a change fee), and their website is a little irritating, but they're not that bad. Could have been the fact that I'd recently flown with Air China (and I vow never to make that mistake again), so my expectations were reset as to how bad air travel can be with on the ground administration (and horrid in-air experience too).

    • joannatan on 08/04/2015 - 01:00

      i did change my return flight without any cost at Garuda office :)

      • ChickenTalon on 08/04/2015 - 08:34

        yeah, they can do some changes. I had three people booked on two separate bookings, one was flex and they could change, one was a different rate that they wouldn't change. Called their Indonesia line, they told me I had to make the payment locally in in Indonesia.

        Might just be inter-Indonesia flights they can't change. here in aus.

  • joannatan on 08/04/2015 - 10:30

    my one was the promo fare, i was advised by travel agent in Australia I have to pay $100 to change the date + fare differences, but when I went there I talked to them nicely then they changed my flight without any cost :)

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