Hello guys! I want to share my experience with Garuda Indonesia's flight from Jakarta to Surabaya last April.
So, I got cheap ticket to Jakarta when Garuda held travel fair, and I chose to fly with B738 and A332 for the flight back. Unfortunately, Garuda changed the aircraft for my flight (GA328) to Boeing 737-800! Feel a bit dissapointed, but I couldn't do anything since my ticket was Eco Promo class. One month before my trip, I saw that my schedule changed to 20.10, and I called the customer service to change my schedule to GA8002 flight. The customer service accepted my request, and finally I can try Garuda's A330!
For your info, GA8002 is an extra (reposition) flight from Jakarta to Surabaya, operated only on Sunday and Monday. The aircrafts served for Umrah flight from Surabaya to Jeddah (every Monday and Wednesday) and Medina (every Tuesday).
Let's start the flight
I arrived at Soekarno Hatta International Airport around 5 PM, and directly printed my boarding pass, because I already done my check in. Here are some views of SHIA Terminal 3
Boarding call begun at 7 PM, and I started to queue. But wait, I didn't see any aircraft at the gate. Hmm, it means we must take a bus to board the aircraft. Yeah!
The bus moved to the other side of T3, and I saw this aircraft already wait the passengers at the remote area
Yeah, A330-300 registered PK-GPE would fly us to Surabaya that night. Just info, PK-GPE was used as Presidential aircraft in the era of Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono (2004-2014).
Look at this huge Rolls Royce engine!
Some people said this is a mandatory shot
Two stewardesses greet us, and directed me to my seat at row 40. When I walked passing row 36-39, I realized these rows have no IFE! Sh*t, I have to fly without IFE in this aircraft :(
I thought that only forward cabin have no IFE, because it was business class seats, and recently Garuda Indonesia have done the reconfiguration for older A330-300 (registered PK-GPA until GPG)
When a stewardess pass my row, I asked her whether they have another empty row which have IFE, and they said that they only have middle seats. Oh, better I didn't move to middle, because I didn't want to seat between other people :(
After 30 minutes, the door closed, the engine started, and the crews started to play safety demonstration. FYI, at the front of the cabin, Garuda installed big screen. Although, my row didn't have IFE, I still could see the safety demo and flying map.
The plane took off from Jakarta at 8 PM, and here are cabin condition after take off. Load factor was very full, only 2 seats in middle were empty.
Not long after, the crews started to serve snacks. The snack box contain cheese bread, cookies, and small water. There were also drinks service which have soft drinks, tea, coffee, and apple juice.
After the snack service, the plane experienced turbulences above Semarang until descending in Surabaya. Finally, the landing gears touched wet runway of Juanda International Airport around 9.30 PM, and parked at gate 6 of Terminal 2. The stewardesses were standing at the door, and gave farewell for all passengers.
THE END
Thanks for reading this report! Waiting your compliment as well as comments below.
Kevin
ig: @kevin_jo00
