Even though I fly a couple of times a week — and should be sick of traveling by now — I’ve never lost my childhood fascination with airplanes and airlines. (I can still remember long-departed carriers such as MSA, BOAC and Pan Am.) So when I read that Garuda was undergoing a transformation, I became curious. Of course, the changes were taking place on many levels: new routes, new planes and a new image as seen in the moody and evocative TV ads by Dentsu Start, not to mention the more prosaic but intriguing ads on print. (You know, the photo of the fully reclining seats and the list of international destinations being served by the new wide-bodied, Airbus 330-200 planes.) Given that Garuda has been underwhelming for years, I was intrigued by the idea of a rejuvenated national carrier. Frankly, was it possible? Since I had to make a quick trip to Hong Kong to speak at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club, I decided to test the Indonesian flag carrier by booking a business class seat — just for good measure.
Since I had to make a quick trip to Hong Kong to speak at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club, I decided to test the Indonesian flag carrier by booking a business class seat — just for good measure.
The past few months have witnessed a major shift in the way I travel, and I suspect I’m not alone in this respect. Trading down has become a fact of life for most of us. Before the financial crisis, I used to be a certified full-fare paying, business-class passenger. I would sit at the front of the plane, nibbling on roasted peanuts and sipping my orange juice. Nowadays, I’m a low-cost carrier man. I book online, select my seat then order my nasi lemak or sandwich (or pandesal when I’m on the Philippines’ Cebu Pacific Airlines) before I fly. It’s a very different experience, sitting alongside squalling kids, overseas-based workers and a photography club from Bogor going on its annual trip.
I’ve also started noticing minute differences among the carriers. The food on Jetstar sucks. Mandala’s planes are amazing. Cebu Pacific’s schedule is weird. (Its Jakarta-Manila flights depart after midnight, arrive at dawn and leave you jet-lagged.) And Air Asia’s flight attendants appear to wear the tightest of uniforms.
Even the terminals they use are different, reflecting their more plebeian market. Landing at Kuala Lumpur’s low-cost carrier terminal is not unlike stopping at a cheery, if crowded, suburban mall on a Saturday afternoon, except that there are a lot of people sleeping everywhere. (I haven’t tried Jakarta’s Terminal 3, but it looks sleek from the outside.)
While the flights aren’t so rarified, most of the crew are incredibly friendly. There’s a real buzz when you step onto the planes and the youthful zeal is infectious. By way of comparison, the legacy carriers — Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Garuda — are more restrained and at times, plain boring and listless.
Having said that, my Jakarta-Hong Kong trip on the new Garuda A330-200 was a pleasant surprise. The attendants were more energized and enthusiastic. One of them even took the time to explain to me how my seat and the in-flight video system worked, while I was served countless espressos and hors d’oeurves. When I mumbled disparagingly about the meal service, she looked downcast but insisted that I fill out a form “so that we can learn and improve, Pak .” Huh? That was new.
The seat was far more comfortable than either the Malaysia Airlines or even Cathay Pacific’s claustrophobic cabin set-up. (And yes, it really was flat.) The Airbus’s internal design was understated and subdued. If anything, the elegance was overly international and insufficiently Indonesian. Sadly, the stewardesses’ uniforms have not been updated, as they should be wearing kebayas instead. As I settled in to watch the in-flight movies, I soon forgot about the minor hitches and enjoyed the flight.
Even in the age of Ryanair and easyJet, a national carrier still plays an important role. It is a country’s flagship, embodying and, in turn, expressing the social, cultural and historical attributes of a people. Given the Indonesian culture’s diversity and scale, the responsibilities of a national carrier aren’t easy. Nevertheless, as the republic emerges from a “lost” decade, it is important that Garuda captures the enthusiasm and the warmth of its people. The airline needs to project itself as the “face” of its nation.
Garuda’s new planes and its new livery are great. But for me, the change in attitude, as demonstrated by the flight attendants, is far more important. They exuded pride and were genuinely excited with what they were doing. This kind of enthusiasm is infectious. It’s also transformational.
Source: Jakarta Globe
Karim Raslan is a columnist who divides his time between Malaysia and Indonesia.
Popularity: 100% [?]
Sitonmylap
10 months ago
the limelight for Garuda is NOW! let’s hope that they allow online booking as soon as possible… it’s kinda troublesome to get tickets from travel agents.
loormatop
2 days ago
megavideo streaming services
create calendar online
vaulted roof projector mount
what is manilia stool
ltcg on property
birthday stones
midwest dog crates
beautiful agony stream free
bmx paint edit
fresh young lolas
coupons for feria
mount and blade sreial
articles on drug abuse
chicago commodity trading
how to rid body of benign breast lumps
dj male name
tech deck sweet tour
primary headache
?™? alt code
24 inch rims silverado
fill in diagram of a boat
monsoon rainfall charts
matte lips
edges trench coat
silicone compression garment
worldpillehd
2 days ago
emergency medicine ked http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax-Generic#335 – zithromax generic price ross university school of veternarian medicine
upenn vet pharmacy http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax-Generic-name#183 – generic name online buy zithromax western medicine methods of treatment
national pharmacy technicians association http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax-Pack#803 – pack zithromax tr cvs drugstore flu shots
wall drugstore south dakota http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax-Price#068 – zithromax price bargain pharmacy tech meeting
connecticut non resident pharmacy http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax-side-effects#787 – zithromax side effects in dogs yeast infection over the counter medicine
archives of physical medicine 1993 disler http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax-Uses#681 – zithromax doses alternative medicines for dogs
muscle aches cholestorel medicine http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax+Z-pak#857 – zithromax z-pak generic azithromycin information on prescription medicine
online pharmacy membership premium owners reps http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax-Z-Pak#731 – zithromax z pak sinus infection internal medicine doctors michigan
pharmacy technician state board http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zitromax#526 – zitromax and alcohol interaction walgreens pharmacy locations in las vegas
narberth family medicine center narberth http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Z-Pac#345 – z pac side effects crystal reporting and medicine
university of iowa school of pharmacy <a href=http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax-Generic#575 – zithromax generic value prescription raleigh pharmacy solutions
alabama medicine school sleep <a href=http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax-Generic-name#517 – generic zithromax dosage brand name pharmacies bruxelles
equine veterinary osteopathic medicine <a href=http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax-Pack#182 – zithromax pack five day pharmacist school of pharmacy
target pharmacy tretinoin <a href=http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax-Price#169 – zithromax price ebay joshua cox strong medicine
walgreen’s mail order pharmacy <a href=http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax-side-effects#790 – zithromax side effects in cats pre pharmacy programs colleges georgia
nacds pharm and tech <a href=http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax-Uses#249 – uses order infection zithromax a herbal medicine in mexico
melrose pharmacy bornx ny <a href=http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax+Z-pak#430 – zithromax z-pak coupon prescription pcca pharmacy
school of medicine south carolina <a href=http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zithromax-Z-Pak#514 – z pak alcohol buy zithromax online antique medicine dispenser
semprex allergy medicine <a href=http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Zitromax#891 – zitromax dosage for dogs methylphenidate indian pharmacy
auburn school of veterinary medicine <a href=http://zithromaxrx.pbworks.com/Z-Pac#091 – z pac and side effects university nevada reno school medicine
loormatop
2 days ago
paty navidad video
obraczki
obraczki
hearing aids and cochlear implants
olive oil cooking sprays ok to eat
nose; herpes; photos
timeshift free serial
most expensive airsoft gun
painting your bathtub
pree teen poic
dark green pedestal mat
chicken waterer
pictures of large vigina lips
200 pounds door gym
registry of deeds contact number phil
cant delete vuze
kindey transplant hospital in china
code for planetary pinball
wedgie torture
feet deformed high heels
guys with vajinas
i lost my receipt radio shack
pcod more condition_symptoms
license keys in java
loormatop
1 day ago
sle lupus more condition_symptoms
digital foto club codes
yahoo news, local news keep resetting to sunnyvale
line voltage programmable thermostat
what happens when ur period is black
pree teen
lactose intolerance medication
psoriasis baby
camel rock casino
vietnamese movies to watch online
dishwasher connector
top lola sites
congratulations baby wording
adult video arcades in orange county area
what is the strongest wood
golf demo days
candy hostel
laser procedures
jenna jameson pierced
camera flash newborn baby
what does cm look like before periods
cruisy areas gay nj
watch how to tech deck
apple quotes wedding favor
girls sun hats
loormatop
1 day ago
women water polo wedgie
email marketing server
pattycake free videos
fruit and vegetable wholesalers
collectible bears
truck rv clipart
jason face cream
mouth smell
low calorie lasagna
ceramic sculpture artists
pictures small vigina
talbot autosleeper
cream ultimate cream site, blogspot.com
hatchet heads
long dong silver free movie
ativan fat cells
how long does it take to recover from a lower spinal fusion
autism essay
dreaming that my girlfriend is taking a shower with my friend
great dslr bags
expression lines on forehead
carpet detergent alternatives
sample request letter to disconnect connection
im feeling weak what can it be
loormatop
13 hours ago
natural cures for epididymitis
my hair is dry
bang bus grace video
wooden alphabet blocks
how to pick a good video poker machine in vegas
lakai skate shoes
dress front too low
ny state moped licence
how do i obtain a organ donor bracelet
asus supreme fx driver
woman in girdle pictures
lotta topp
straight sexy hair
2008 honda pilot front license plate bracket instructions
newport beach dentist
danger is my bag baby
south park megavideo streaming stagione
latest desktop
shingles and food allergies
send video text
challenger seats
pcr temperature calculation
high heel prom shoes
iron towel rack
goal bladder
loormatop
moments ago
[url=http://goog-produc-atkin.blogspot.com/2009/12/mirena-more-drugwarningsrecalls-which.html]mirena more drug_warnings_recalls[/url]
[url=http://martilotigoogl.blogspot.com/2009/12/detachable-luggage-wheels-does-anyone.html]detachable luggage wheels[/url]
[url=http://mcafemerchantinfa.blogspot.com/2010/01/denise-milani-parent-what-is-your.html]denise milani parent[/url]
[url=http://aviatchipbil.blogspot.com/2010/01/license-name-and-code-registry-mechanic.html]license name and code registry mechanic[/url]
[url=http://napkcessentia.blogspot.com/2009/12/atv-action-repos-should-i-spend-money.html]atv action repos[/url]
[url=http://rowisathrowba.blogspot.com/2010/01/park-city-last-minute-deals-last-joke.html]park city last minute deals[/url]
[url=http://sonbetaz.blogspot.com/2010/01/no-prior-installation-if-i-install.html]no prior installation[/url]
[url=http://sho-radi-advance.blogspot.com/2009/12/emerson-microwave-oven-does-any.html]emerson microwave oven[/url]
[url=http://blacseainfa.blogspot.com/2009/12/bmi-averages-whats-my-average-bmi-and.html]bmi averages[/url]
[url=http://informatio-came-informatio.blogspot.com/2009/12/weighted-tape-shower-curtains-how-much.html]weighted tape shower curtains[/url]
[url=http://doub-fo-cordur.blogspot.com/2010/01/alcoholic-rehab-snacking-how-long-does.html]alcoholic rehab snacking[/url]
[url=http://joggimerchantparabol.blogspot.com/2010/01/asian-stream-electro-torture-for-how.html]asian stream electro torture[/url]
[url=http://picni-mailb-hawaiia.blogspot.com/2010/02/inspire-ice-vs-damon-3-inspired-by.html]inspire ice vs damon 3[/url]
[url=http://milmerchantmil.blogspot.com/2010/02/brazzers-bangbros-i-have-brazzerscom.html]brazzers bangbros[/url]
[url=http://windohombo.blogspot.com/2010/02/audi-cd-changer-error-code-2-does.html]audi cd changer error code 2[/url]
[url=http://psystflas.blogspot.com/2010/02/biella-crib-bed-rails-does-anyone-have.html]biella crib bed rails[/url]
[url=http://advanc-trail-micke.blogspot.com/2010/02/serial-x-blades-x-blades-game-serial.html]serial x blades[/url]
[url=http://whit-b-whi.blogspot.com/2010/01/food-guide-pyramid-for-children.html]food guide pyramid for children[/url]
[url=http://computlapoo.blogspot.com/2010/02/pitcures-of-planters-peanut-i-am-trying.html]pitcures of planters peanut[/url]
[url=http://compacphoglos.blogspot.com/2010/02/watch-p90x-why-i-can-watch-p90x-extreme.html]watch-p90x[/url]
[url=http://spac-b-ir.blogspot.com/2010/02/getting-pregnant-after-polyp-removal.html]getting pregnant after polyp removal[/url]
[url=http://nehomswingli.blogspot.com/2010/02/leg-extensions-bad-are-leg-extensions.html]leg extensions bad[/url]
[url=http://informatio-ve-sho.blogspot.com/2010/02/tiger-stripe-desert-eagle-pellet-gun-hi.html]tiger stripe desert eagle pellet gun[/url]
[url=http://thansearcches.blogspot.com/2010/01/why-is-there-lump-in-my-dogs-stomach.html]why is there a lump in my dogs stomach area[/url]