AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND 2018 – PART 6

Jakarta: International Transit & Garuda Indonesia Business Class Lounge Review

As previously mentioned there was a ground agent who met 12 people who had a connecting Garuda flight to Australia. Once we were all accounted for, confirmed on the list with our luggage tags, we descended an escalator and stairs to the apron where a separate bus waited for us versus the buses for the passengers where Jakarta was their final destination.

The drive from terminal 2 to 3 was great for me as there were many airplanes to watch en route to terminal 3. The driver certainly enjoyed passing other vehicles, especially the slower aircraft related vehicles. Given our near equatorial latitude the sun set as we were driven to the terminal.

Airlines I’ve never heard of

Field of planes!

Passing the slow vehicles

Terminal 3 planes!

Airlines I’ve never heard pt.2

Saudia Boeing 777

We arrived at terminal 3 and were escorted to the transfer desk. Due to the quantity of staff, or lack there of, we waited approximately 20-30 minutes. Our time with the transfer agent was quick as we were checked in by our helpful Toronto agent. A new copy of our boarding pass was printed and we took the escalator up to a security check. Once through we were near gate 8 in terminal 3. After a quick look around both of us spotted the lounge however the flight of stairs caused us to find security staff who escorted us to a staff elevator, up one level, through a second security check and to the lounge check in.

Garuda Indonesia business class Lounge

Check in to the lounge was quick. This lounge takes up a significant footprint, so much so, there was a map of the lounge at the entrance. We entered and turned left to head to the showers.

Showers are available as a part of the washrooms and you have to hand over your boarding pass.

Showers! (tiny but showers)

Water pressure was good

Sink, nowhere to sit though.

The shower room was okay, however lacked space to sit and didn’t have a chair to help me put my carry on down, nor sit when getting dressed.

Like Kuala Lumpur I didn’t notice any effective air conditioning. If I could have, I would have stood under the shower with full cold on for an hour, however decided not to spend my whole time in the shower.

Freshly showered and cleaned up, we first sat in the far left area of the lounge however we quickly moved as the enclosed part of the lounge had the air conditioning, and I found seats near one of the vents. We settled in for the remaining portion of our 6 hour layover.

Behind main entrance (main buffet to the right)

Magazines in open area

Open area, open to the terminal

A movie room

Seating area

Seating area pt.2

Kids area with a PS!

Food

The buffet was constantly being restocked and I tried some items however I steered clear of any of the local items as I didn’t want to give my stomach something new to digest.

Sandwiches

Cold Buffet items

Hot Buffet items

Made to order Buffet items

Wifi was adequate and we were able to play on social media, I was able to get a quick post onto the blog up and running.

The seating area was good as it had power outlets beside each seat. Although the seats were club style chairs and you can maybe slouch, a gentleman behind us was so tired he snored and sawed logs for at least an hour. It became the background noise quickly that I can’t recall when he woke up and departed from the lounge.

Near our scheduled boarding time we departed the lounge, checked our departure gate and took the escalator to the main departure level. Our gate, 9, was almost directly opposite the escalator and we spent the time before our flight looking at the duty free store, as well as the other few shops located near our gate.

Boarding occurred quietly, as passenger requiring assistance were taken onto the plane before any boarding call was made. As we were huddled under the comfort of an air conditioning vent near the gate, agents waved us forward and we were the first to board through the front door.