#031 Near DISASTROUS Experience: Garuda Indonesia A330 Business Class Tokyo to Denpasar Bali

Summary

In this detailed flight review, Andrew shares his experience with Garuda Indonesia on a flight from Narita to Bali. Despite booking a window seat months in advance, his seat was unexpectedly changed to an aisle seat without notice, which led to frustration. He offers insights into the lounge, cabin amenities, and the in-flight experience, including food, IFE, and cabin crew performance. While the flight had some positives, such as the new amenity kit and welcoming crew, it was marred by service delays, outdated cabin features, and the seating mishap. Ultimately, Andrew expresses his disappointment with the service, especially regarding seat changes and slow meal service.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker, Andrew, shares his personal experience traveling with Garuda Indonesia, focusing on a disrupted seating situation during a flight from Narita to Bali.
• 😀 Andrew had pre-selected his preferred window seat (9K) eight months before the flight, but upon check-in, his seat was changed to a less desirable aisle seat (9G) without prior notice.
• 😀 After some negotiation, Andrew was assigned seat 8K, but he expressed frustration with Garuda's lack of communication and the inconvenience of seat reassignment.
• 😀 The speaker provides an honest review of Garuda Indonesia's Business Class, pointing out both positives and areas for improvement, including cabin maintenance and service speed.
• 😀 The Korean Air Lounge offered to Garuda Business Class passengers at Narita was described as underwhelming, with limited food options and uncomfortable temperatures.
• 😀 Despite the airline's attempt to refresh the seat covers, the cabin on the A330-300 felt outdated, showing signs of wear after 15 years of service.
• 😀 Although the flight crew remained polite, Andrew noted a slight decrease in service quality compared to previous experiences with Garuda, including less personal interaction.
• 😀 The in-flight entertainment (IFE) system was described as outdated and not very responsive, with limited film choices, although there were a decent selection of TV shows and music.
• 😀 The meal service was slow, with delays in both the appetizer and main course, and the food quality varied, with some dishes like salmon with yuzu sauce falling short of expectations.
• 😀 A major point of disappointment was the unnotified seat change and the slow meal service, which led to Andrew giving a low rating for Garuda's ground service and overall flight experience.

Q & A

Why was Andrew disappointed with his seat change during the flight?

Andrew was disappointed because his seat, 9K (a window seat), was changed to 9G (an aisle seat) without prior notice or consent. Despite his efforts to resolve the issue, he couldn't return to his original seat, which significantly impacted his overall experience.

What is Andrew's opinion about the Korean Air Lounge at Narita?

Andrew found the Korean Air Lounge underwhelming. It was small, sauna-like in temperature, and lacked hot meals. He felt that the gate area was more comfortable and better for relaxation.

What is Andrew's view on the Garuda Indonesia A330-300 aircraft?

Andrew found the A330-300 aircraft to be quite old, with a cabin showing signs of wear and tear, despite having new seat covers. The plane's age (15 years old) was evident in its outdated cabin and small maintenance issues.

How did Andrew feel about the cabin crew service during the flight?

While Andrew generally praised the cabin crew for being friendly, he noticed a difference in their performance compared to previous flights. The crew appeared somewhat stiff, and the usual personalized greetings were missing.

What did Andrew think about the food and beverage service during the flight?

Andrew was critical of the food service. The meal service was slow, with some items served cold, and he was left without a drink for over 30 minutes. He also mentioned that the food options were limited and not up to par for a Business Class experience.

How did Andrew rate the in-flight entertainment (IFE)?

Andrew found the IFE disappointing, with a touch screen that was not very responsive. He noted the limited selection of films and the outdated flight map system. The overall IFE experience did not meet the standards of other major airlines.

What were Andrew's thoughts on the new amenity kit?

Andrew appreciated the new amenity kit, particularly the case, which was a collaboration with Porsche Design. He felt it was a significant improvement compared to the previous kit, though the sandals provided were not the best.

What did Andrew observe about the seat comfort and sleeping arrangement?

Andrew found the seat comfortable but noted that it did not fully recline into a flat bed. The seat's curvature was uncomfortable for side sleepers, and there was a noticeable gap at the lower back when reclining, which could affect sleep quality.

What was the issue with the toilet during the flight?

Andrew encountered a malfunctioning toilet flush system. It took multiple attempts to get the flush to work, and when it did, it continued running for a full minute. Fortunately, no one was affected by the prolonged flush.

What was Andrew's final evaluation of the flight experience?

Andrew gave the flight a mixed review. While he appreciated some aspects, such as the seat cover upgrade and the new amenity kit, he was deeply disappointed by the seat change drama and the overall lack of attention to detail. He rated the ground service particularly poorly and felt that Garuda did not meet the expectations of a 5-star airline.