Be real with me: Flying in Indonesia

[amberlyrose]

DH and I are perfectly fine with flying Air Asia but our traveling friend is a little worried. Would you spend an extra $50-$100 pp to fly Garuda over the other two? 
We really need to buy tickets and we're not sure what to do. 

[meowmaps]

I've never flown Air Asia but I have flown Garuda. I lived in Jakarta for two years in the 90s and I went on two school-sponsored trips to Yogyakarta and Bali. We flew Garuda and clapped when we landed. Maybe it's improved since then.

[kpol]

We flew Air Asia often when we lived in Korea (2012-2015). Our flights were often delayed and they are certainly a "no frills" airline, but we never encountered any safety issues and always felt fine. Most of the planes we were on seemed really new, too.

[rupertpenny]

If you are checking a bag the $50-100 difference in ticket prices will disappear pretty quickly. I wouldn't be afraid to fly air Asia, but considering the extra fees I doubt it will end up being much of a deal.

[origami]

Nope. I would not fly Air Asia Indonesia for any price. Discount SEA airlines terrify me, but I have a huge fear of flying so it's not all rational. It's not all in my head either though. AAI's safety rating is terrible. I would not be thrilled about flying Garuda either but if I had to fly an indonesian airline it would be that one.
ETA: if you mean AirAsia X (long haul) I believe that has a better safety rating than AAI, but I would still not choose it. (1) because I would still be too wary and (2) because flying long haul on a budget airline seems extremely uncomfortable.

[idiotabroad]

Will you be flying within Indonesia?

I fly AirAsia quite a bit and in general have had good experiences and on time flights. But I haven't flown AirAsia Indonesia so can't speak to that branch of the airline. It's a personal choice for me, but I avoid flying Indonesian airlines like Lion and Garuda. However if you are flying within the country you probably don't have a choice.

[rupertpenny]

I know this is just a blog post, but Garuda really isn't as bad as it used to be!

airlinesairports.wordpress.com/2013/09/04/comeback-kid-garuda-indonesia-is-aseans-rising-star/

[amberlyrose]

Jan 20, 2016 21:36:40 GMT -5 idiotabroad said:

Will you be flying within Indonesia?

I fly AirAsia quite a bit and in general have had good experiences and on time flights. But I haven't flown AirAsia Indonesia so can't speak to that branch of the airline. It's a personal choice for me, but I avoid flying Indonesian airlines like Lion and Garuda. However if you are flying within the country you probably don't have a choice.

Jakarta to Bali, so not many options

[SJ]

We leave for Indonesia tomorrow.

We are flying Air Asia, Lion, and Sri Wijaya for inter-Indonesia travel. I guess my IL's (who live there) aren't worried, so neither am I?

[phillyrunner]

We are flying Jakarta to Bali in March (round trip) and I booked Air Asia. I really didn't see too many other options.

[mabillon]

I fly AirAsia but haven't tried AirAsia Indonesia and would be a bit more wary there. For $50 pp r/t I'd do it for your friend, maybe not for $100.

Honestly, I care more about the timing of the flight - I'd pay more to travel before afternoon/evening storms during the rainy season, for example.

[iammalcolmx]

Jan 20, 2016 18:21:24 GMT -5 origami said:

Nope. I would not fly Air Asia Indonesia for any price. Discount SEA airlines terrify me, but I have a huge fear of flying so it's not all rational. It's not all in my head either though. AAI's safety rating is terrible. I would not be thrilled about flying Garuda either but if I had to fly an indonesian airline it would be that one.
ETA: if you mean AirAsia X (long haul) I believe that has a better safety rating than AAI, but I would still not choose it. (1) because I would still be too wary and (2) because flying long haul on a budget airline seems extremely uncomfortable.

I am here. What did the wife of the pilot on CEP say? Something about these airlines expanding too fast and compromising safety? But I am another nervous flier so......

[Cicero]

I'd be more worried to fly Garuda to be honest. Air Asia has a newer fleet and despite the one crash has really good safety records. Geruda does not--and was only recently removed from the list of airlines banned from European airspace.

ETA: My opinion of Air Asia is based partially on experience (they're the only discount airline I have ever happily flown extensively) and partially based ipon talking with one of their pilots (an expat who moved there from the states because their package was so good) who had no qualms about their safety procedures. Air Asia makes money because they are better than the alternitive, not because they cut corners.

[origami]

Jan 25, 2016 8:07:54 GMT -5 Cicero said:

I'd be more worried to fly Garuda to be honest. Air Asia has a newer fleet and despite the one crash has really good safety records. Geruda does not--and was only recently removed from the list of airlines banned from European airspace.

ETA: My opinion of Air Asia is based partially on experience (they're the only discount airline I have ever happily flown extensively) and partially based ipon talking with one of their pilots (an expat who moved there from the states because their package was so good) who had no qualms about their safety procedures. Air Asia makes money because they are better than the alternitive, not because they cut corners.

Last year AirlineRatings listed is as one of the most dangerous airlines in the world. Not worst 5, but in the bottom 40-ish airlines (out of 449) so I don't know that its safety ratings are good. I'm not saying you're at a high risk of a crash on this airline. I don't want to scare people or be alarmist. Air travel is still incredibly safe. Just comparatively speaking I think it fares poorly. Lion Air was in the worst 5 by the way. While I'm sure the risks are still very low, I would never ever get on a Lion Air flight in inclement weather and I hope no one here does either! 

[Cicero]

Jan 25, 2016 10:05:29 GMT -5 origami said:

Jan 25, 2016 8:07:54 GMT -5 Cicero said:

I'd be more worried to fly Garuda to be honest. Air Asia has a newer fleet and despite the one crash has really good safety records. Geruda does not--and was only recently removed from the list of airlines banned from European airspace.

ETA: My opinion of Air Asia is based partially on experience (they're the only discount airline I have ever happily flown extensively) and partially based ipon talking with one of their pilots (an expat who moved there from the states because their package was so good) who had no qualms about their safety procedures. Air Asia makes money because they are better than the alternitive, not because they cut corners.

Last year AirlineRatings listed is as one of the most dangerous airlines in the world. Not worst 5, but in the bottom 40-ish airlines (out of 449) so I don't know that its safety ratings are good. I'm not saying you're at a high risk of a crash on this airline. I don't want to scare people or be alarmist. Air travel is still incredibly safe. Just comparatively speaking I think it fares poorly. Lion Air was in the worst 5 by the way. While I'm sure the risks are still very low, I would never ever get on a Lion Air flight in inclement weather and I hope no one here does either! 

I didnt realize that the Indonesian domestic carrier was significantly different than the main company based in Malaysia--which has a 4 out of 5 rating. They don't seem all that forthcoming wih the reasons behind their ratings though, which makes me wonder how much of AirAsia Indonesia's two star safety rating came from the crash last year. I do find it suspect that they name an airline that has not been banned from European airspace as being one of the 5 least safe when there are several dozen airlines that have been banned because they are unsafe.

[origami]

Jan 25, 2016 14:22:45 GMT -5 Cicero said:

Jan 25, 2016 10:05:29 GMT -5 origami said:

Last year AirlineRatings listed is as one of the most dangerous airlines in the world. Not worst 5, but in the bottom 40-ish airlines (out of 449) so I don't know that its safety ratings are good. I'm not saying you're at a high risk of a crash on this airline. I don't want to scare people or be alarmist. Air travel is still incredibly safe. Just comparatively speaking I think it fares poorly. Lion Air was in the worst 5 by the way. While I'm sure the risks are still very low, I would never ever get on a Lion Air flight in inclement weather and I hope no one here does either! 

I didnt realize that the Indonesian domestic carrier was significantly different than the main company based in Malaysia--which has a 4 out of 5 rating. They don't seem all that forthcoming wih the reasons behind their ratings though, which makes me wonder how much of AirAsia Indonesia's two star safety rating came from the crash last year. I do find it suspect that they name an airline that has not been banned from European airspace as being one of the 5 least safe when there are several dozen airlines that have been banned because they are unsafe.

I think Lion Air is banned from EU airspace. I think all of worst 5 are banned. AAI is not banned. A little more on their safety rating methodology here:
www.airlineratings.com/safety_rating_criteria.php

The banned list:

ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/air/safety/air-ban/doc/list_en.pdf

[amberlyrose]

We're going with Air Asia Indonesia. Hopefully we'll be safe!