What Are the Best Airlines for Indonesia?

There are many airlines flying to Indonesia, and it isn't always easy to know which one to choose. Beyond ticket prices and routes, they're all fairly similar. Comfort on board, food quality, and staff friendliness vary very little between the main players in the industry. Let's still try to pin down the few differences between them to help you make your decision.

Choosing the right flight to Indonesia

You already have some dates in mind for your next trip to the Indonesian archipelago, and you've carefully planned your itinerary. All that's left is to head to an online flight comparison site like Skyscanner to book your tickets. Generally speaking, the cheapest times to travel to Java and Bali, while avoiding the rainy season, are from April to June or from early September to mid-October. In July and August, fares triple or even quadruple, and the final bill gets pretty steep. Whatever time of year you fly, the two cheapest airlines remain Saudia and Etihad. Be careful with the latter, as the prices shown don't include checked baggage, so make sure to check that option before booking. For our part, we favour Saudia over all the others, since their service is excellent and tickets are affordable. Another advantage of flying via Saudi Arabia is that the stopover falls roughly halfway through the journey: six hours to reach Jeddah, then nine more to Jakarta. This balanced setup lets you stretch your legs and catch your breath. If you go with KLM and Garuda instead, you'll fly one hour to Amsterdam, then fourteen hours to Jakarta. That second leg can be tough to handle, especially if you're not used to long-haul flights, but this route has the advantage of avoiding the Middle East and the conflicts currently unfolding there. One last thing: always try to book through the airlines' official websites. Resellers like Mytrip or Opodo often have tempting deals but tend to go silent if something goes wrong or you need a refund.

Domestic flights

Booking domestic flights between the archipelago's different islands is even simpler than buying long-haul tickets. In short, you can choose between several low-cost airlines like Citilink or Lion Air, as well as Garuda Indonesia, the country's national flag carrier. Garuda is part of the SkyTeam alliance, which also includes Air France and KLM. Onboard safety standards and service quality are excellent, as the airline follows strict requirements. As a result, ticket prices are higher than the competition, but the peace of mind is worth it. If you're on a tight budget and aren't afraid of flying, Citilink, Lion Air, or AirAsia will do the job — just expect a lower standard of service and frequent delays. Keep in mind that domestic flights are often only open for booking two or three months before departure, so head to Traveloka to buy your tickets.

What to know before flying

Here are answers to the questions travellers heading to Indonesia ask most often. First, two hours is the minimum layover time to avoid a desperate sprint to reach the gate before the doors close; three hours is the safer bet. If you fly the same airline the whole way, you won't have to handle your luggage yourself between flights, saving you precious minutes. Second, remember that batteries aren't allowed in checked baggage — keep your e-cigarette and laptop in your carry-on. Drones are also allowed in the cabin, except for the propellers, which must be removed and packed in your checked bag. Finally, you're allowed to bring back cigarettes — the clove-flavoured ones are a local speciality — up to a limit of one carton per person.