Review: Garuda Indonesia First Class 777-300ER London To Jakarta

Sounds like a great flight! It's always been my experience that some of the best networking opportunities can be found in Garuda first class.

@ Ben -- "As a result, you really almost feel like the plane has just eight seats." As it should be! The peasantry should only be there to pay for the fuel, and not be seen. 🙂

'While not the most expensive champagne out there, I really do like the Laruent-Perrier rose'

Hate to break it to you Ben, but because something is the most expensive does not mean it has to be the best.......LP Rose is generally touted as one of the best Rose Champagnes on the market

Imagine if an airline had a first class seat with an XBOX One. It has the wrong type of RAM! That would be crazy.

TMI!!
To be fair, it is a really detailled and well written trip report. Also thank you for reviewing Garuda.
But for me I thought it was going way too much into detail. I lost interest while reading it and skipped to bottom line. That's a first with your reports.
but please don't let you down by my humble opinion... happy New Years

How many hours late did you arrive? I'll be doing the same flight, with a connecting one to SIN which is the last one out of Jakarta and really don't want to stay over night! (Now have to book refundable hotels in each city just to be sure).

Thanks again for the review, hotly anticipated review of the year! Can't wait to experience it myself Lucky. Still in awe.

Great to read you enjoyed it throughout!!! I like the touch on closing the curtains during boarding as I recently flew Air France and recall going through La Premiere in order to get to my seat in J.
To my knowledge, the only way to redeem points for this product is through GarudaMiles, right? 190,000 miles (unless there's a 90% promo where it would cost 10% of that amount.) 😉

Really?? You're flying a top-notch, SkyTrax 5-Star Airline in F and the best you can do is wear Asics "sneakers"? Wow. Please tell me you weren't wearing "sweat pants" to match. I'm sure Ford would not be caught dead in such banal.

Awwww, I was hoping you would comment on how garish the color scheme was. That orange/brown is very 70s, though you do see a lot of that in SW Asia so there's that. But you never miss an opportunity to rag on OZ for their color-scheme/pattern so I figured you'd have some commentary on these.

Fabulous review!!! Congrats!

Great review! I read it as you were in a giggling voice, haha. thank you for reviewing Garuda

Congrats on a great flight. You are the best first class passenger.

"which was significantly longer than usual due to light tailwinds."

I am no aeronautical engineer, but wouldn't a tail wind speed you up? Did you mean a head wind?

Great review, Lucky

Lucky, when you are travelling with Ford, do you pick different kinds of food to sample a wider selection or do you have totally different tastes for food?

Amazing review. As a coffee snob, I hope the menu is lying when they say the beans were roasted that very morning! Beans need a few days rest after roasting, to release gases that are activated during roasting. They taste so much worse if you have them right after roasting. I'm sure Gardua doesn't actually use beans that were roasted the same day, and instead are just playing up their coffee service, but still, it's like bragging about doing something wrong!

I know of all the things to want on an airplane star patterns is pretty low on the list, but I really hope UA went for the star feature on their new 773s given their Polaris branding of the J product.

Have had it on a couple carriers and it is quite enjoyable.

Sneakers? Really?

this shouldn't bother me but it does....sneakers? for someone who complains frequently about level of service and attention to detail, you have a role to play too in not dressing like you are going to the gym, and i think you of all people should know to dress better for J/F class flying.

Nice review, and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Nice list of top-notch premium brands on offer, too, until you come to the gin and it's... Gordon's. Really? I love a gin and tonic and, frankly, I've never yet met one I wouldn't drink, but, for what looks like an otherwise wonderfully considered product, it's disappointing that they haven't been a bit more imaginative here than bog-standard, buy-it-in-any-supermarket Gordon's.

Though personally I don't think I could ever get past people kneeling to talk to me. That's what kindergarten teachers do; but we're all grown-ups, right? Or is something else being suggested by the subservience?

Oh god here comes sneakergate again. Didn't everyone flip out about sneakers for a Garuda F review last year? Get yourselves together, people!

@QR - I'm assuming that what they meant to say was that the beans were freshly ground that day, and not actually roasted that day.

QR excellent comment

I experienced similar service on Thai F recently.

By the way, what's the best way to book Garuda F and what is their availability like?

Fantastic trip report! This is why "we" love you Ben!
I felt as if I was on the flight with you.
I will try to fly Garuda F in 2017!

PS: a few minors typo ('Laurent' spelled Laruent, "rose" should be spelled "rosé" and "Wwifi") probably due to your excitement 😉

The comments here are something else, there are probably more passive aggressive potshots than actual constructive comments.

Lucky, next time try the 'Ketoprak' appetizer. That's a traditional Betawi (Batavian - read: old Jakarta) street vendor fare. Thank you for the review. I told my parents about the 90% off promo, and they are booked on my hometown-DPS-NRT round trip itinerary. Unfortunately, only 1 F was available, so dad will sit in Business class, while mom will take the F seat.

@ Drew -- Nothing to "break" to me, that's exactly my point.

@ MattJ -- Arrived just over three hours late. I'm sure you'll be fine, for the most part they seem to have a decent on-time record on this flight. Enjoy the trip, I'm sure you'll love Garuda!

@ Joey -- Thanks! Yes indeed, booking directly through Garuda's program is the only way to redeem miles for this product.

@ Steven -- Since this was an eastbound flight there will almost always be tailwinds, so the point was that the tailwinds were significantly less strong than usual, meaning our flight time was longer than anticipated.

Is there any advantage with row 2 over row 1 when you want the seats in the middle? Both rows are available on my flight. Thanks.

Great review and great product but here are some thoughts and ways Garuda could improve even better their product:
1) I don't like airplane interior and mainly seats in beige and brown tones. That is very personal but gives me the impression of being dirty.
2) If the headsets are not to be taken by the customers from the plane (usually FA's will get them before landing) I don't get why airlines cannot have Bose headsets on first class. It is not a huge cost since they will be used again and again.
3) Why not use a Indonesian or other Asian high end brand for the amenity kits? It would be a way nicer touch that use a Spanish brand that has nothing to do with Indonesia.
4) Both options of champagne are completely fine but not on pair with Krug or Dom. Also, all the red wines were pretty average and very cheap for a first class that costs a lot of money. Nothing impressive.

Regarding your sneakers, you can do whatever you but if you are flying first class (even while not paying for it) you should be dressed accordingly. Sneakers are a no no on first class international in my opinion.

@ Carlos -- Yep, the goal is to always sample as many different things as we can, so we always order different things. He has good taste, so usually in a restaurant I'd just order the same as him, but not when flying!

@ Pauk -- For what it's worth, that's common on many Asian airlines. Heck, it even happens at some restaurants in the U.S. I don't think wanting to talk to someone face-to-face is really "subservience." It's one thing if they were kneeling down while I'm standing up (that would be weird), but talking on eye-level seems reasonable enough to me. To each their own, I guess.

@ R B -- Fixed, thanks! In Cuba with painfully slow wifi, grrr!

@ Bob -- The only way to redeem miles for Garuda first is directly through their program. However, they sometimes have fairly reasonable first class fares.

@ Marvin -- Not really, though row two probably has a bit less foot traffic, given that the galley is in front of the cabin. That's why I chose it.

Great, great review......One of your best.

But Ben, really????? Sneakers or tennis shoes or whatever they call them these days? Really???

Lucky
It looks like the EY seats / suites on the 777 in F.
what is the difference?

You cut out the purser from the picture!
or
the Captain is the Purser on this flight

Thanks!

Ben -

Thanks for the great TR.

I have to ask, though, why the recent repeated use of the term "bougie"? Maybe it's because I spent too long in Berkeley, but I think of (and usually hear ) the term as being used in an insulting manner - sort of a pompous variation on "snob".

Greg

Hi Lucky
Nice review.
I flown Garuda Business many times between Hong Kong and Jakarta and there service is exceptional but not as great as you got on First.
Also there FAST TRACK Immigration is really good for First/Business and also having a special lounge at the Baggage Carousel, where you just relax and wait while they retrieve your bags and put them on a trolley for you.
Exceptional service

Gordon's gin although on the cheap side often comes out above in blind taste tests above some of the more 'premium' gins

Any thoughts on Garuda business class on this airplane and mileage redemption options for J? Thanks

Great and fair report. Been waiting for this . GA crew I believe is one of the best out there. Never flown their F class but definitely top on my list should a special fare comes up.

Great review as always. I enjoyed how detailed the review was especially with how the service was incredible. I really do love those examples as well as the specificity you through when describing food and such. On a side not WTF people why does it matter what shoes he wears? Do you really have nothing else to do but complain about the fact that Ben wore sneakers. He could wear flip flops for all I care. If the sneakers are comfortable why cant he wear sneakers? Honestly I think the problem is your so jealous of Ben's lifestyle that you just dream about what you would wear in Garuda First and thats how you came up with the idea that wearing sneakers are a problem. Get a life besides criticizing the type of sneaker he wore. I see nothing wrong with wearing sneakers if he feels they are more comfortable to wear on a 13 hour flight then f*cking dress shoes. Once again lucky I really enjoyed this review and don't listen to what the haters say keep wearing sneakers and writing detailed trip reports!.

Sneakers is absolutely no issue. But pleas not the disgusting loafers no socks.

so many fashion stylish here lol, they forgot this is an airline review.

@MattJ
I imagine you'll be fine. This was a one off delay, since they had to fly new equipment into SIN on the way in. Also, if you do have to stay the night, fairly sure GA will pay that, since I once missed a connection on CX due to delay, and they paid for a night in a really great hotel in Hong Kong. And that was in economy!

The Laurent-Perrier Rose is made from 100% Pinot Noir and is better matched with red fruit desserts. You should have tried the Billecart-Salmon with the caviar as it translates better in the air.

Hi Ben

Interesting & informative review - I feel very envious.
Just a typo, I think you meant "Garuda Indonesia first class stationery' not "stationary"

@Drew
"Hate to break it to you Ben, but because something is the most expensive does not mean it has to be the best…….LP Rose is generally touted as one of the best Rose Champagnes on the market"

You're perfectly right !!!
So funny not to say a bit ridiculous how some bloggers - mostly American I've to say -always make a direct link in between the quality of a Champagne and its price...

Same as caviar on airlines... Most of it is just extremely salted dark eggs usually coming from China and most of the times served with lemon and onions which is quite of a nonsense because it will completely spoil the taste !!!
Not to mention the lack of a mother of pearl spoon like on EK...
Never flew GA F class and can't talk about the quality of their caviar but, at least, this is the way it has to be served when you REALLY like caviar !

Hey Ben, didn't you recently rate SkyTeam as the weakest of the alliances because they lacked a 'premium' carrier? The alliance of 'leftovers' I believed you called them.

What are your thoughts on this now after your Garuda flight?

Thank you for the detailed review. But I think it is not right to wear sneakers.

- Gustavo Woltmann

Thanks for the awesome reviews and thanks for going into such detail. I am one of those who really likes long detailed reports because it is the details that really give you an idea of what you experienced. Without a lot of details all we would get is just a general idea. So please keep writing long reviews with lots of photos.

As far as Garuda First Class goes, all I can say is WOW!!!. In 2016 I flew SQ First Class SFO-HKG and it was the best flight in my life. I had an exceptional stewardess serve me and thoroughly enjoyed the flight. However after reading your review, as wonderful of an experience as I had with SQ, it looks like GA is even a step above what I experienced.

"Then I took off my shoes, and she placed them in a shoe bag while also placing the slippers on my feet" She even put the slippers on? OMG! lol... now which airline can match that standard of service? Never in a billion years would a US airline crew do that..lol...

"Septi even tucked me in and said “sweet dreams, Mr. Ben.” OMG!...lol... Are you kidding me? She actually tucked you in? "Sweet dreams Mr Ben."? Let me guess that the last time that ever happened to you was when you were a kid and your mom tucked you in. What sweet service. No wonder this was your best flight experience ever. If this is the kind of service that you get from GA, it is now a life goal of mine to experience it too.

They poured the chicken noodle soup broth for you? Wow... I have never seen that happen before anywhere. I have had chicken noodle soup countless times in Asia, including in Indonesia and have never experienced that before. That is First Class service. I know for many readers they will just laugh and think that is no big deal - but it is a big deal because GA is thinking about all the small details and the attention to details is what truly creates an exceptional experience.

For those readers who would like to experience the amazing warmth and level of service that Garuda provides its First Class passengers but don't have the means to fly Garuda First Class, you can get similar level of service from the high end resorts in Bali. This is why I go to Bali every year, just to experience the phenomenal level of service that you can't get anywhere else.

Lucky, good on you for reciprocating the great cabin service by letting them know personally. I've had flights where the J or F seats or food wasn't the best but the cabin crew made the flight excellent. Funny how I recall those flights easier than many others. Cathay, Air New Zealand, ANA, Brussels, JAL, Austrian come to mind where I had great cabin staff and service.

Great review. Great airline too, it seems.

Your comments on the curfew are interesting too. I am for sure no expert but my understanding is that the Heathrow curfew is not a hard and fast total ban on flights after 11.30 pm and before 6am, which are the restricted hours. Certainly, there are scheduled arrivals before 6am and I often used to travel on the first inbound BA Joburg flight that lands around 5.30am. It's all regulated by a Department for Transport ruling and I believe around a dozen or so flights per day are permitted within the curfew period with an annual cap.

What the curfew does do therefore is severely limit flights at those times. Suspect that Garuda were simply and exceptionally given latitude to use one of the available post 11.30pm and pre 6am slots, which I am sure an 11.32pm take off would have counted as. I guess this is what the captain referred to in his comment. My other guess would be that airlines who consistently need to transgress the 11.30pm cut off do find it enforced rigorously on them, and / or may even suffer a charge from Heathrow for using a restricted slot. These last points are pure guesswork though so someone with more knowledge would need to confirm.

“we may not have as much money as some other airlines, but we have heart.”

Damn, that's a tagline Garuda can use. Wonderful review, Ben. Can't wait to read the SIN-LHR leg and SIN transfer service.

after breakfast I headed back to the lavatory to change, and thanked the crew for how incredible they were. I told them that I’ve flown many airlines in first class, but that they were the best. One of them responded with “we may not have as much money as some other airlines, but we have heart.” They sure do!

LOVE IT !!!! I LOVE GARUDA INDONESIA. I'll booked a flight wherever I go as long as Garuda has the route, I'll choose Garuda Indonesia. Wonderful Indonesia.

Awesome. Thanks for your informative review. Have a nice day 🙂

Not like the recent TAAG flight then Ben

I am posting this a long time after your flight Mr Lucky, but we are all in lockdown and I'm feeling very trapped and trying to live/fly vicariously!

Thank you for your reviews, I love them. Your very personal writing style makes me feel like I'm there with you (and your flying partner). I would imagine you to be a pleasant cabin buddy, even if in First one does not really interact with co-passengers. (I'm very friendly and love to say hello to passengers if they make eye contact and smile and have met some lovely people in Biz lounges around the world). I have only ever flown First once as I'm quite poor and have to save up (I'm not poor in the world scheme of things, but have a very average job and can't fly often so can't do the credit card or frequent flyer miles thing). I have flown Garuda but only in cattle but I agree with another poster that Indonesian customer service is often fantastic, even in fairly simple restaurants, accommodation etc.

I would like to comment on the amazing coffee and tea menus. So many premium airline cabins have poor coffee and tea offerings. I would have wanted to try all the beans and teas and been really wired! I think that many airlines are missing a thing with regard to their coffee and tea offerings in premium class, given how marginal the difference would be to offer single estate beans/leaves, compared with the cost of high end wines and spirits. I do remember offered a Tea Forte selection on Oman Air many years ago and of course Dilman on Sri Lankan, but I've had many a very mediocre espresso/Americano even on the top-flight carriers.

The bolster cushion - it amused me to imagine the planning meeting where the designer had to argue for including that. Did you use it and did you find it added to your comfort? I think a bolster is an Asian style of sleeping pillow.

Pre flight concierge - what sort of things did they ask or offer you may I ask?

I'm now going to start plotting how I can afford to fly in Garuda 1st in the future... I need a trip to Indonesia when the pandemic is over!