21 reviews
Selamat siang from sunny Jakarta! Welcome back to my review here, as I'm back after my hiatus for several months. This pandemic situation have really changed every single thing in our life, including the flights we regularly take and enjoy. But, thankfully the situation is getting slightly better that airports are opened again for regular flights - considering the temporary suspended flights in the beginning of virus spreading.
I joined this trip to accompany my auntie, yet I had never visited Borneo yet and I was glad enough for this opportunity. The flight was scheduled to be at 6.40am, so we arrived dawn at Terminal 3. Fyi, Citilink moved their homebase from T2 to T3 due to this pandemic. So, you will arrive and depart from T3 if you fly QG or its full service sister, Garuda Indonesia. Haven't flown GA for 4 years, but willing to make 1 soon.
This pandemic situation urges us to do rapid Covid-19 screening test before traveling, and of course I did so. The confirmation letter was validated on one of these desks.
We walked through security checking gate to departure gates. Gate 16 for us that day, not that far as the grumble-making 20ish ones LOL. Still empty compared to normal condition though.
The Founding Fathers' pictures whose name were preserved as the airport's name were hung there. This installation was based on their picture on Rp100,000 previous bill - they issued the newer one in 2016 with the fathers smiling brightly.
And this was how the T3 airside looked. Featuring GA with their most common fleets - B738, QZ and a taxiing QG.
Nothing much could be done in such morning flight, personally I just strolled around Periplus, the bookstore right there.
We boarded by bus as our aircraft was kind of remote, but after we disembarked from it, we had to climb to the airbridge as well. Probably this was what we know as double airbridge? I'm not sure. This was the view from our bus, dominated by GA and QG as all domestic flights from T3 are operated by those two.
The airbridge's glass wall was a bit blueish, so this is how it looked from inside during boarding time. Featuring PK-GLQ loading its baggage.
Nothing has changed from QG but the fact that a thing was missing or even removed from seat pocket contents during pandemic: the inflight magazine Linkers. Too bad since I collect them, but GA also removed their Colours and only available online. There was only a safety card, prohibited to bring outside. Good news: they implemented physical distancing on flight, so there would be no passenger on B and E seat. I even put my camera bag on it with no worries. The leg room was average as usual, enough for this medium short flight.
We got no delay and the aircraft flew smoothly. I was planning to enjoy the view, however I fell asleep during the whole flight. I woke up when the plane was above housings approaching BDJ.
The captain made a smooth landing and this was my first time there. Here we can see a Susi Air-owned Cessna (Grand?) Caravan for their route to rural town in Central Borneo I guess, as Wings Air operate the flights from BDJ to Kotabaru.
We disembarked and walked to arrival hall through a spacious, empty building. Probably it was supposed to serve international flights, but postponed due to Covid? I don't know. The airport itself was clean and modern in general.
Nice building, right? Didn't really look like Banjarese house, but still unique.
Good service by Citilink, but no magz and only prebooked meal during pandemic. Not really good for me who is often suddenly craving and didn't think about booking a meal through their website before. Overall, nice flight.
5 Comments
It's also good that Citilink block middle seats (at least on the A320s), which has become rare over the course of the pandemic.
Thanks for sharing!
1. Yes, they should think more on catering on board service although on this pandemic situation - at least by bringing some extras. People still get hungry during pandemic, right?
2. It seems that all flights practice physical distancing now, including Lion Air/JT. It should be mandatory, tho.
QZ on domestic side of T3? Don't they operated from T2? I'm confused
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