Garuda Airways, Business Class – Boeing B 737-800: Hong Kong to Jakarta

Date: 22 December 2016
Departure: 09:30
Arrival: 13:00
Flight time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Seat: 8K, window

Getting to the Airport

Transport: Complimentary hotel shuttle.
Journey time: 10 minutes.
Arrives: Terminal 1, departures level.
Frequency: There is a shuttle every 15 minutes that runs on a first come, first served basis.

Check-in

Terminal: Terminal 1.
Row: Row G.
Airport check-in:

1. One counter for SkyPriority passengers.
2. Three counters for all other passengers.

The SkyTeam Lounge

Location: Near gate 15, one floor down.
Name of Lounge: SkyTeam lounge.
Type of Lounge: First & Business Class lounge for all SkyTeam carriers.
Access: Passengers flying in Business Class and passengers with status in a frequent flyer programme of one of the SkyTeam airlines.
Toilets: Available in the lounge.
Showers: Available in the lounge
Food & Beverages: There is a buffet with hot and cold dishes. In addition, there is also a noodle bar where you can choose between three different types of noodle soups.
Connectivity: Wifi is available in the lounge, password required. There are also workstations with Apple computers.
Newspapers & Magazines: There is a selection of international magazines and newspapers at the entrance to the lounge.
Comment: The SkyTeam lounge in Hong Kong opened just over a year ago and is the common purpose lounge for First and Business Class passengers of all the SkyTeam carriers.

The place is pretty empty when I arrive. It is a very nice lounge, with many comfortable seating options and a bright decor. From what I can tell, power plugs are available at all seats in the lounge. The only drawback is that there are no views of the apron from the lounge. However, if you get bored, there is also a Yoga room for you to do something good for both body and spirit.

Boarding

There is a separate lane for SkyPriority passengers.

The Cabin

Configuration: 2 + 2
Capacity:

1. Business Class, 12 seats.
2. Economy Class, 144 seats

Seat layout: The seat is not fully lie flat. It is more of a recliner, which is perfectly adequate for a day flight of only five hours. The material covering the seats has an intricate pattern design. The seats are kept in grey and dark red and give the whole cabin a very elegant look and feel.
Pitch: 42 inches.
Width: 19 inches.
AC Power: There is a 110 V power port in every seat in Business Class.
Audio and Video: Audio and Video on demand.
Earphones: No name brand.
Connectivity: No wifi available.

The Crew

The crew are friendly and all smiles. As soon as I enter the cabin the young lady working the Business Class section shows me to my seats and offers to help me with my hand luggage. Once I am seated, she takes my order for a welcome drink. She returns a short while later with the fresh orange juice, which is served in a tall champagne glass, the vanity kit and a warm, scented towel with a really nice fragrance.

Amenities

A pillow, blanket and the earphones have already been placed at every seat.

The vanity kit is by L’Occitane and contains:

1. Eye shades.
2. Socks.
3. Slippers.
4. A comb.
5. Earplugs:
6. A toothbrush.
7. Toothpaste.
8. Eau de toilette.
9. Lip balm.
10. Body lotion.

The Meal

Welcome drink on the ground: Fresh orange juice.
Towel before the meal: Scented hot towel served before departure.
Pre-meal drink: Bintang, Indonesian beer.
Amuse bouche: Crab meat on water melon.
Choice: There are three choices for the main course.
Delivery: Individual tray service.
Type of meal: Lunch.
First course: Smoked salmon with capers and Waldorf salad.
Main course: Beef with peppercorn sauce, potatoes and vegetables.
Dessert: Pear tart.
Beverages: Still water, coffee with dessert.
Breadbasket: A small bowl with a selection of bread is provided with butter.
Hot towel after the meal:
Comment: The meal is served on a lacquer tray. The presentation of the food is nice and the crockery Garuda uses is very unusual and different to what you usually get on a plane. The tray arrives with the first course, bread and the dessert. Once I am finished with the starter, the plate is removed and the main course is served, again in very nice tableware.

The quality of the food is good and the presentation is very nice. It looks more like a First Class product than a Business Class one.

After the meal service the crew are quick to remove the trays to allow passengers to spread out. Even so, they pass through the cabin regularly with snack and drinks.

Arrival

We land in Jakarta pretty much on time after a flying time of four hours and thirty minutes. Our aircraft parks at a remote stand, which I think is always a good idea. There is even a dedicated minibus for Business Class passengers to take us to the terminal. The terminal complex of Jakarta airport has an interesting design, which I suspect is intended to reflect local building traditions.

I now have one hour and ten minutes to make my onward connection…