This time I'll report my experience on fly Xpress Air (XN/XAR) one of the smallest airline in Indonesia founded in 2003, back then Xpress Air flown to eastern part of Indonesia and now as part of their restructuration program to keep flying with high competition between airlines in Indonesia Xpress Air flies to western part of Indonesia. On current situation Xpress Air operates Boeing 737-300/500, Dornier Do-328, and ATR 42 with the average fleet age at 24.6 Years. Thanks to Planespotters.net.
As Eric V P already talk about Xpress Do-328 on TKG to PLM route on this Flight Report now my turn to talk a lil bit about their services on BDO to PLM route on their Boeing 737. Let's the story begin!
At The Airport
Arrived at the airport at 7:00 A.M. and reaching the check-in hall area around 7:01 A.M. Compared if we arrived around 5 A.M. this Departure hall is so empty, no long line, no crowd, no hustle and bustle. We need to wait around an hour to checked-in since Xpress Air didn't have any mobile/website check-in and the self check-in kiosk at the airport didn't have Xpress Air as an option. Supposedly XN-740 scheduled to be departed at 6 A.M.-ish, as an aviation enthusiast I looked at and thanks to Flight Radar24 to showing me that a night before the flight from Padang to Bandung with the same aircraft (PK-TZD) was holded up about more than one hour before it can land and its flight paths till make a loop around Purwakarta area. So maybe thats one of the reason to reschedule the flight??
The FIDS and check-in desks that XN will use. At first I'm pretty surprised why in the world Garuda cancelled the Bali(Denpasar) flight, then I remember it was Nyepi or "Day of Silence" that is commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka New Year) It is a Hindu celebration mainly celebrated in Bali, Indonesia where there's no activities allowed outside the houses even DPS airport need to be shut down!
As usual we need to go thru the Second Security Checkpoint at the 2nd floor and here we are at the BDO Domestic Boarding lounges.
PK-TZD is way over there, not really sure what happened or probably they just started up the engine? Maybe?
BDO facilities
Gate number 5 and XN's Boarding Passes.
Boarding called way late from its actual schedule.
The Flight!
Our plane! Long time not onboard Boeing 737 classic. To be honest Boeing 737-500 is one of my favorite aircraft IDK why. Hahaha.
The XpressAir fuselage and that hamster pouch!
Wings Air bound to Jakarta? Not quite sure.
Boarding still underway with the lead cabin crew welcoming every pax onboard. I'm pretty sure it'll be full pax since a day before when they reschedule due some issues, the local representative office for XN convince me that the flight won't be cancelled because it's full pax during the long weekend holiday for Nyepi or "Day of Silence" that is commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka New Year) It is a Hindu celebration mainly celebrated in Bali, Indonesia. But since its a national holiday so people took an advantages for short vacation…
A lil bit funny things for me, so to broke the ice during boarding the lead cabin crew put music on the audio system but since its 26 years old aircraft there's no such a thing to put the music with USB or prerecorded boarding music etc. but what she did was pretty cool tho! She use this car cassette adapter! I remember that my father used to do it to when I was still in elementary school! Hahaha such a nostalgic things. Source
Taxing and take offf…
Old cabin feature.
As soon as we reached the cruising altitude and the seat belt sign is off all four cabin crew started to distribute in-flight snacks! Well I know its only a bread filled with jam or something and mineral water packed in unbranded packaging but you know really less airlines doing it again in Indonesia.
We can spot CGK down there
The seats, leg rooms, and seat back pocket contains:
So long time ago XN flew to several destination in the eastern part of Indonesia and have a pretty big hub at Makassar UPG Airport but as shown in this route map there's no more flight to/from UPG.
Entering Sumatra Island.
Cabin throught the flight, pretty lucky I'm not seated on 6F or 6A! Dang No Window!
Damaged arm rest, not sure why it can happened.
Landing process and welcome to Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport Palembang, Sumatra Selatan, Indonesia.
Make a U-turn at the runway and backtrack to the apron since the taxiway was still under improvement projects.
Batik Air take off to Jakarta I guess, parked next to brother, and pretty long walk at the service road to the baggage reclaim area because the walkway still under construction for accommodate Asian Games 2018.
Ath the terminal building, yes same with BDO as the co-host of Asian Games 2018(AG2018) for sure the AG2018 branding is everywhereee!
Palembang
Outside of PLM terminal building, The construction of Palembang LRT still on track, and we went to our hotel. We stayed at The Excelton Hotel Palembang.
Ampera Bridge at night.
So here is the end of my stories about short escape during Saka New Year to Palembang with Xpress Air.
Thank you so much for stopping by and read my flight report!
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Verdict
Xpressair
7.4/10
Cabin7.5
Cabin crew8.5
Entertainment/wifi6.5
Meal/catering7.0
Bandung-Java Island - BDO
8.5/10
Efficiency9.0
Access8.0
Services8.0
Cleanliness9.0
Palembang-Sumatra Island - PLM
7.0/10
Efficiency8.0
Access6.0
Services7.0
Cleanliness7.0
Conclusion
I thought XN can be another options to fly out and in to Bandung to several destination that they offers. As one of the smallest airline in Indonesia they've must been struggling with a tight competitions with other big carriers that offers wide routes, newer aircrafts, comparable cheaper fares, etc. but I hope and wish the best that XN can survive with this situation and always improve their service both on the ground and on board services.
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Yup, their services was like old Y6, MZ, SJ, etc. with snack boxes and such a things. But XN need to be careful with their operations because current aviation situation is pretty fragile.
Nice report! I remember when Xpress Air still fly UPG-SUB-JOG vv with their old Boeing 737-200, I missed those old days. Do you know where is the other 735 (in PLM) come from? Is it come from Yogyakarta?
Thanks ItsKevin, actually I don't really know where that Boeing 737-300 I believe PK-TXZ from or heading to. but looking to its map that utilise Boeing probably from JOG. Thanks for visiting!
What a fantastic idea you gave me with that cassette adaptor!! I have an old record vinyl/cassette player and I love vinyl records but have no cassettes to play. I already purchased the adaptor online while reading your report. I hope it will work! :D
Thanks for sharing this report, and for the beautiful aerials!
Hey again Nechus! yes yes I hope it'll work. Nowadays you can find everything easily online from a seat belts from former aircraft to a cassete adapto. hahaha Thanks for visiting!
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Do you know where is the other 735 (in PLM) come from? Is it come from Yogyakarta?
What a fantastic idea you gave me with that cassette adaptor!! I have an old record vinyl/cassette player and I love vinyl records but have no cassettes to play. I already purchased the adaptor online while reading your report. I hope it will work! :D
Thanks for sharing this report, and for the beautiful aerials!
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