There are some airports which are notoriously bad for traffic. Two that immediately come to mind are Jakarta and Sao Paulo, where a transfer between the airport and the city can often take several hours. But it seems like there might be a solution which can cut your travel time in half. Yep, you don't…
Continue reading: Would You Like A Police Escorted Convoy With Your Airport Transfer?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I am totally using this next time in Jakarta. Awesome and worth it even at $400.
You'd be surprised how many places in the world you can arrange police escort, and how affordable it can be (though certainly more than $100!). Think ~ $350 in the US for an hour and 3 motorcycles.
Didn't know that Jakarta's traffic is getting that bad. I lived in Jakarta for four years during 2001-2005, and I lived near Senayan, which is in the city center, but it usually takes 45 minutes from the airport to my home
Haha. Does the SUV have bulletproof windows in the event that someone makes the assumption that you are more of a VIP than your really are?
Never used his services but may try, I've used similar services but they are arranged by the hotel. There's a shady French guy in Thailand that provides this service but I've looked at prices and it is more than what I am paying. Plus I do not really trust a foreigner with this sort of stuff I rather a local with good ties and arranges this sort of thing for a living for heads of state than some guy making a buck.
$100 is more than fair IMO. You better sign up for this someday, Lucky. Hopefully the van has a sun roof, so you can stick your head out and go bee-do bee-do the entire way to the airport.
This is a form of corruption and illegal use of authority. In no circumstances would the police legally allow this to happen. As an Indonesian guy who wants to see a cleaner government, I want to have this abolished. Nice to have a bucket list, but when you only visit the country for a few days, you don't look at the consequences of this practice on good governance. And yes, you can boo-hoo me all you want.
I lived in Jakarta from 2010-2013. I become friends with the General who was in charge of the entire national police force. We used to play golf at Royal Jakarta CC. Everything and anything can be bought in Jakarta. Including what this guy sells police escorts.
Isnt this the definition of corruption? That you can literally buy the police?
I live in Jakarta, and the truth is that if you live here, you can basically do anything if you have the money. Police escorts have always been an option, this guy just makes it available for more people who don't undertsnad the system.
Wow Lucky, I didn't realise this would get you so excited. Guess you'll just have to go to CGK to do it. May I recommend the Mandarin Oriental for your stay.
@ Lucky - a much better deal on per-hour basis an escort for the ENTIRE DAY. Only $26/hour for the police bikes (excluding the car).
Not to be a party pooper, but corruption and graft, while cute to outsiders, cause serious oppression to the local population. Think about the pregnant lady in the car next to you, whom you're "squeezing out of traffic" for the thrill of it. And you're not even the problem, it's the local businessman who uses this type of escort on a daily basis.
If I were a local I would not hesitate in reporting it. Of course these a$$holes are powerful, so I'd do it anonymously, just in case. 🙂
Dont expect traffic to move away swiftly. In Jakarta, hardly anyone care about sirens. Not even the ambulances, as they keep their sirens on and are almost just as stuck in traffic as the rest of us. A police escort will slowly crawl it self through traffic.
Probably fun to try anyway. I havent, but I have seen hundreds of them, since I drive to and from CGK several times a week (well, being driven is more correct, since I havent tried driving myself)
And if you want so see a awesome clip about what the Indonesian police is up to, I recommend this for a good laugh:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHT1RKkkS3s
Anyway, when you come to Jakarta next time, try Hotel Mulia. And do try Skye Bar (rooftop outside bar and inside restaurant at the 56th floor).
How come no one's yet commented on the way the police guy immediately ahead of the vehicle drives in a zig-zag way and often with one hand? 😀
I am seeing this from pedestrian/other drivers' view and this is NOT COOL. Inconveniencing locals just so you can be amused? If you are using a siren you better be in urgent need of medical care.
This may sound mean but I am just trying to think like a logical, considerate person.
@Deo -- He seems to be doing it in order to create additional space for the car to drive through. Also, riding in a zig-zag fashion is a common defence technique for motorcyclists as it causes the bike's front light to flash to help catch the eye of drivers ahead.
Abuse of power? Yes, but is it any worse than the special treatment for the Olympic Games?
For the London 2012 games, lanes on several roads were marked to the sole use of Olympic officials. Police motorcycles blocked off junctions so that VIP convoys could get right of way over other traffic. Businesses were forced to change their names as "Olympic" became a protected mark. The local Olympic Cafe which had been around for 20 years suddenly had to become the Millennium Cafe.
If you have the money/power you can do anything. That is not something restricted to any one country.
Having said all that, if I had the chance of a police escort, I would find it very hard not to accept, just for the experience.
In 1988, I was on a guided tour through China, and when the guide realised we wouldn't make the ferry from Guangzhou to Hong Kong on time, we got a police escort. We all thought it was fantastic, and really enjoyed the experience. It didn't cost us any more for this once in a lifetime event.
This is common throughout all of Indonesia, not only Jakarta. If you are in hurry or just want to make a smooth journey, you can have the police to escort you. You can even go through the red-light without the need to stop.
First of all, I think this sounds vaguely sketchy, but as others have said, its also pretty unethical to take advantage of the corruption of the Jakarta police to save an hour of time. I don't think I could do it.