Flight Review: Indonesia AirAsia A320 Economy Class from Jakarta CGK to Yogyakarta

Flight Report: Indonesia AirAsia A320 from Jakarta CGK to Yogyakarta

Flight Information
Date
: May 7, 2017
Flight No.: QZ7556
Route: Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta to Yogyakarta Adisutjipto
Airline: Indonesia AirAsia
Type: Airbus A320-200
Registration: PK-AXV

On my way back from Slovakia to Japan, I took a bit of a roundabout route. First, I flew from Budapest to Jakarta via Helsinki and Bangkok. Then, the final part of the journey was a JAL flight from Jakarta to Tokyo. However, as I had a full day in Jakarta, I decided to make a little side trip to Yogyakarta. To get there, I flew on an Indonesia AirAsia A320.

Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Airport Terminal 2F

After about two hours of sleep at the d’prima hotel at Jakarta’s terminal 1, the alarm rung at 3:30AM. I left the hotel shortly before 4AM, and go on the 4:04AM (it seems to come rather randomly) inter-terminal shuttle.

I got off at terminal 2F where all AirAsia domestic flights depart from, and headed through the initial security into the domestic check-in area. As I already had my boarding pass printed out, I headed straight through the security and into the small domestic waiting lounge.

Jakarta Airport Entrance

Jakarta airport terminal 2F.
Jakarta Airport Security

Security check area for domestic flights.

The terminal was surprisingly nice. Besides the usual seats, there were also some relaxation chairs, as well as a water fountain and a charging station.

Jakarta Airport Airside

Departure hall of the domestic section of terminal 2.
Jakarta Airport Airside

Relaxation chairs.
Water and Charger

Water fountain and charging station.

I spent some minutes in the main part of the terminal, and then headed to the gate F2 waiting area. Each of the gates is connected to the main waiting area by a walkway. When I got to the gate, a flight to Bali was about to start boarding.

Gate F2

Walkway to gate F2.
Gate F2

Gate F2 waiting area.

Departure of Flight QZ7556

Shortly after the Bali flight departed, it was our turn. Boarding of group 1 started at 5:24AM, and less than five minutes later, my group – 3 – followed. I got on a nice AirAsia bus and was driven to our aircraft – PK-AXV.

Indonesia AirAsia A320

Indonesia AirAsia A320.
Indonesia AirAsia A320

The aircraft operating the flight was PK-AXV.
Indonesia AirAsia A320

One more shot before getting onboard.

Once I got onboard, I settled in my seat – 9F – and had a look in the seat pocket. Besides a generic waste bag and a safety card, it also contained English and Indonesian in-flight magazines, food menu and a shopping catalog.

Indonesia AirAsia A320 Cabin

Typical AirAsia cabin.
Indonesia AirAsia A320 Legroom

More than enough legroom for the short hop.
My Indo Airlines

My Indo Airlines 737.
Seatpocket

Contents of the seat pocket.

The crew closed the door at 5:48AM, and a minute later we were pushed back. Ten minutes of taxiing on a bumpy taxiway followed before we lined up on runway 25R.

Taxiing

Taxiing to runway.
Line-Up

Lining up.

We took off at 6:03AM. A right turn that took us over the airport followed.

Take-Off

View shortly after take-off.
Jakarta Airport Overview

Overview of the distinct Jakarta airport terminal.
Take-Off

Outskirts of Jakarta.

The Short Cruise

Seatbelt signs were switched just three minutes after take-off. A couple of minutes after that, the passengers sitting on the right side of the aircraft got an excellent view of Mount Pangrango and Mount Gede.

Mountains

Mount Pangrango and Mount Gede.

In the meantime, the crew started the in-flight sales. While I did not get anything, below are some sample items from the menu.

Menu

Hot meals.
Menu

Drinks.

The rest of the flight went by very quickly, as at 6:27AM – less than 30 minutes after take-off – the captain asked the cabin crew to prepare for landing. Two minutes later, an announcement mentioning that removing a life vest from the aircraft was an offence punishable with up to two years in prison and a fine of 200 million rupiah followed.

Then, we started descending and at 6:38AM, the seatbelt signs were switched back on. By this time, amazing cloud formations could be seen through the window.

Clouds

It’s always sunny above the clouds.
Clouds

Nice cloud formations…
Clouds

…and some more.

Landing in Yogyakarta

Ten minutes after the seatbelt signs were switched on, the landing gear was extended, and we started our final approach.

Approaching

Getting close to Yogyakarta airport.
Yogyakarta Area

Scenery around Yogyakarta.

About two minutes before landing, we overflew Yogyakarta city.

Yogyakarta

Overflying Yogyakarta city.
Yogyakarta Soccer Stadium

Stadium.
Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta.

Our wheels touched down on Yogyakarta Adisutjipto airport’s runway 09 at 6:53AM. Hard braking action followed before we vacated the runway and taxied past an Azerbaijan Gulfstream to our parking spot, spot 9.

Vacating Yogyakarta Runway

Vacating runway at Yogyakarta.
Azerbaijan Gulfstream

Azerbaijan Gulfstream.

We parked at 6:57AM, and I got off the aircraft enjoying my first view of Mt. Merapi – the most active volcano in Indonesia. Walking past a row of aircraft, I entered the terminal and met up with my guide for the day.

Lion Air 737

Lion Air getting ready for its next flight.
Lion Air 737

Another Lion Air, almost ready to taxi.
Indonesia AirAsia A320 in Yogyakarta

The Indonesia AirAsia A320 that brought me to Yogyakarta being prepared for its flight back to Jakarta.

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