Garuda Indonesia has 5 Skytrax stars, but Jakarta lounge is one of the worst in the world

On the return trip from our vacation in Indonesia we passed through Jakarta and, flying business with Qatar, we were invited to use the lounge of Garuda the Indonesian national airline, one of the few in the world to boast Skytrax 5 stars.

Although Garuda is a Skyteam company, it has an agreement to provide access to its lounge in Jakarta's Terminal 3 for premium passengers of the Doha-based company, a member of oneWorld. This is a very common practice at airports around the world, when a carrier wants to offer a superior product it seeks an agreement with the airline that has the best lounge at that airport to better treat its passengers.

Location

That the lounge will be grim is evident from the hallway leading toward the entrance. Past the controls you follow the signs and it looks like a little treasure hunt. One goes down the escalators on the right, then up again in the opposite direction.

One walks down a long corridor, set up with panels on the walls telling the evolution of uniforms in the company's history and current uniforms according to the work done, on board and ashore, for the Asian company.

Access

This is the main lounge in Jakarta's Terminal 3. Few people know it, but Garuda Indonesia is one of the few airlines in the world to offer First Class on board some of its aircraft, seat that is bookable with Flying Blue miles and flies exclusively between Jakarta and Amsterdam.

Access is granted to passengers flying business class with all Skyteam airlines, Syteam Elite+ status holders, and, as in our case, those traveling with airlines that have direct agreements with Garuda.

The lounge

A small premise. When I review lounges, like all other product categories, I always take certain factors into account. In this case. we are in the most important lounge, in the main airport of a national airline, not forgetting that Garuda Indonesia Is one of only 10 companies in the world to have Skytrax 5 stars, that is, the maximum possible.

Expectations were really high, but as soon as I crossed the threshold of the lounge I immediately got my feet back on the ground.

The lounge is a long corridor overlooking the saddest part of the terminal, has no kind of view, zero natural light and a really poor layout in every sense.

Past the reception turning left there is a small lounge, slightly isolated from the rest of the lounge.

There is a door with a small sign, but the door is closed and judging by the size I don't think the word "coworking" is accurate, rather I imagine a closet with a desk.

Then there is a VIP Room, the only room in the lounge, set up as a small lounge is definitely the most elegant room in the lounge (but it is not for First Class passengers, because for the lucky few who travel in F there is a dedicated lounge).

Continuing the journey down the corridor, we return from the lobby where there are some company memorabilia on display.

On the opposite side is the buffet area, one of the saddest in history.

As mentioned, the rest of the lounge is a long hallway set up in 1970s taste. Armchairs and a few outlets here and there.

Is there a room for children, or perhaps it would be better to say that there was unusable space for other purposes and so with an ikea coffee table, a colorful floor and a TV showing cartoons, it was thought to solve the children's issue.

The nap room is a wall in the middle of the hallway that hides two small armchairs, a disarmingly sad thing.

Food & Beverage

Even on the catering side, we are really at the level of independent lounges in the lowest-rated airport, there is absolutely no feeling of being in the main (and perhaps only) lounge in the main airport.

It starts with the corner with the pasta station. Here Checco Zalone might as well reevaluate the Italian restaurant he found in Norway; there is a display case with sauces and pre-cooked pasta. On request, but I didn't have the courage, an attendant heats up on the fly and cooks with cooking show.

The rest is even sadder, the Concord found in Bali, On the contrary, it looks like an ultra-luxury 5-star hotel.

In the end I quenched my thirst with a small (dwarf) bottle of strawberry fanta and ran for my life. PS I refused to take photos of the bathrooms that were in a Delle Alpi stadium-like condition after an early 90s derby.

In conclusion

A company that has 5 Skytrax stars must offer better, and not just on board, but in the entire experience it offers its passengers.

The nicest thing in the lounge were the two display cases showing company memorabilia.

The verdict

Endless sadness, the worst lounge of my life especially since we are talking about the main airport and the official lounge of a carrier that has 5 skytrax stars, not a low-cost carrier from Uzbekistan (with all due respect to Uzbek low-cost carriers)

3

Rated Location

3

F&B

3

Services

3

Pro

• Nothing

Against

• All