Mumbai05 Jan 23 1 Traveller Economy
Showing International Flight from Jakarta
About Jakarta
When you think of Indonesia, Bali is the first place that comes to mind. Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, is an underrated vacation spot that you must consider. The speciality of Jakarta is its diverse culture. The city has a diverse culture, and you will love to explore the food, tourist attractions, and temples in the city. You will also be amazed at and learn more about Balinese customs and traditions. Apart from the diversity in Jakarta, you will also enjoy the culinary scene in the city. You can try the local food joints or dine at high-end, luxury restaurants here. Jakarta is also known as a shopping paradise for all you shopaholics out there. While Bali is known for its beaches, waterfalls and mountains, Jakarta is a concrete jungle with a view of breathtaking skylines at night. You will also find yourself admiring the art and historical scene here. Even if you are planning a trip to Bali, you must add Jakarta to your itinerary. You will not regret visiting the city one bit, and that is certain.
Best Time to Visit Jakarta
Jakarta majorly experiences only two types of seasons, dry and wet. May to September is the dry season in the city and one of the best times to visit Jakarta. The city sees a lot of tourists during these months. Since the weather is also pleasant, your sightseeing or any other outdoor plans will not be affected. It is the busiest time for the city and makes sure you book your hotel in Jakarta well in advance. The prices for hotels start surging and finding an accommodation that fits your budget can be a tad difficult. The warmest month in Jakarta in October and the temperature reaches up to a maximum of 34 degree Celsius. The possibility of rainfalls during the dry season is high, but it doesn't rain as heavily as it does during the wet season. Make sure you plan your trip in July or August to make the most of the city and its pleasant weather.
Jakarta receives heavy rainfall from October to April, and it is not the best time to visit Jakarta. The wet season also sees a dip in the number of tourists in Jakarta. You will have cheaper hotel accommodations and cheap flight tickets to Jakarta in the wet season. The temperature ranges from 25 to 28 degree Celsius. Indonesia witnesses a lot of earthquakes, but this does not affect its tourism a lot. However, it is advisable that you check the situation in the city before you board your flight. There are a lot of activities that you can indulge in if you visit during the dry season. The incessant rainfall in the wet seasons will certainly put a damper on all of your sightseeing plans or if you have any outdoor activities planned for the day. However, if you have only indoor activities planned like indulging in spa treatments or visiting museums, you can head to the city whenever you want.
Places to Visit in Jakarta
The National Monument is an iconic landmark in the city and a highly recommended place to visit. The 132-meter high structure was built to pay tribute to the Independence struggle. It is an architectural marvel with a rich history and attracts a lot of tourists to it. The Istigal Mosque, constructed in 1978, is the largest in Southeast Asia. It has the capacity to accommodate about 2 lakh people. The stunning marble courtyard and minarets will leave you amazed. Merdeka Square is a popular tourist spot in the city where you can take a stroll and explore the place. This is like the perfect break from a hectic day of sightseeing. It is spread over 1 km and is a little bit like the Tiananmen Square in Beijing, only bigger. It is open 24 hours, and the entry is free for all. Before you decide that Bali is a better holiday destination because of its proximity to the ocean, head over to Thousand Islands located on the north coast of Jakarta, you can book a hotel in Jakarta that is near Thousand Islands or overlooks the spot. The secluded beaches and restaurants add to the breathtaking experience of visiting the place.
Visit the National Museum of Indonesia if you are a history buff. You will learn more about the cultural heritage of Indonesia and come across Hindu-Buddhist artwork. Jakarta Cathedral is yet another marvellous place to visit that reflects Roman architecture. If you are an art lover, you can also visit the National Gallery that flaunts the works of several known Indonesian artists. Jakarta Chinatown is another famous place in the city where you will find a lot of immigrant Chinese people, traditional Chinese architecture, temples, markets, foods and so on. You can also go on a shopping spree here and be assured that you will find the best items at a lesser cost. If you are on a shopping spree, you can also visit the Menteng, Flea Market. Visit the Ragunan Zoo that houses over 3600 species of animals including orangutans and Komodo Dragons. Setu Babakan or the Babakan lake is another popular attraction in Jakarta's Betawi Culture Village. You will also find several amusement parks in Jakarta that you can go to with your family.
Things to do in Jakarta
Sign up for a sightseeing tour of the city, or you can go exploring the main tourist attractions all by yourself. If you are travelling during peak season, you will come across several tourists. Jakarta is also quite popular for shopping, and you must certainly try the several marketplaces in the city to buy souvenirs for your friends or yourself. The city is also known for its vibrant and active nightlife. You can explore the several nightclubs in the city and party till wee hours. Dragonfly is one of the best nightclubs in the city and worth every penny. Try your hand at water sports available in Thousand Islands or the Babakan lake. You can also sign up for a food tour of the city and try authentic Indonesian food at the best restaurants in the city. You can also take up a cooking class and learn how to cook certain Indonesian cuisines. The city is also known for its top-class spas, and you must indulge in a rejuvenating massage therapy at the ayurvedic or regular spas in the city. A lot of monuments and parks in the city also make for the perfect pictures and will be like a treat to the photographer in you.
Foods and Restaurants in Jakarta
From local street food to fine dining at some of the classiest restaurants, you have a lot of options to choose from in Jakarta. You can try the local food that includes Bakso, Satay Ayam, Indo Soto Mie and Gorengan or head over to restaurants that serve other types of cuisines. You will also come across a lot of Indian restaurants in the city. However, finding restaurants that serve vegetarian food can be a tad difficult. Even though there are various options available in the city, with respect to cuisines, seafood remains the staple foods of Indonesia. You can head to Bandar Djakarta for some delicious seafood. OKU is a popular restaurant and bar that serves Japanese cuisine. The lavish setting and impeccable service are add ons at this restaurant. Le Quartier is a popular French restaurant in Jakarta that is the perfect blend of fine dining and casual. If you are in the mood to give authentic Indonesian food a chance, head over to Lara Djonggrang, Namaaz Dining or Bunga Rampai.
How to reach Jakarta
Soekarno–Hatta International Airport is the main airport in Jakarta is about 20 km from the city centre. The flight connectivity to Jakarta from India is excellent. Singapore Airlines runs the maximum number of flights to Jakarta from India with a layover at Singapore's Changi Airport. If you book way in advance, you might come across some decent flight deals to Jakarta online that won't burn a hole in your pocket. Getting a car rental or taxi service from the airport is also quite easy. You can book a taxi for yourself from the counters inside the airport itself to avoid bargaining with the drivers outside. If you want to kill time till you board your flight, you can head to the golf course at the Jakarta airport. It has over 18 holes, and the golf course was used for the Indonesia Open during the PGA European Tour. You can also crash at the airport hotels if you are scared of reaching the airport late to board your flight. The airport also has lounges for you to wait in, shopping areas, restaurants, cafes, duty-free shops and free WiFi. If your flight is delayed or if you have reached the airport way too early, you will certainly not get bored at the airport. You can finish your security check and chill in one of the lounges.
About Gulf Air
Gulf Air is the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain with its headquarters located in Muharraq. The airline operates services to connect to about 52 destinations across 28 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. Gulf Air's main hub is Bahrain International Airport. The airline is the official sponsor of a slew of events including the Bahrain Grand Prix as well as Bahrain International Airshow. Initially, the airline was jointly owned by Bahrain, Oman, Abu Dhabi and Qatar before the Kingdom of Bahrain took over complete ownership of Gulf Air. In 2005, a decision was made to make Emirates of Abu Dhabi withdraw from Gulf Air and instead establish the United Arab Emirates flag carrier Etihad Airways. Gulf Air's operations were changed to a dual-hub based between Bahrain and Muscat (Oman) airports. Despite the omission of the United Arab Emirates from the picture, Gulf Air continued to extend its appreciation and support to the said Middle East nation. Claiming how the country has been quite supportive and thanking them for the contribution for more than 35 years.
Gulf Air's large customer base is derived from Abu Dhabi, and hence, the airline has reserved special flights to Abu Dhabi as well as Muscat. This act has further strengthened Gulf Air's network. In 2007, Gulf Air saw another tremendous management switch as the government of Bahrain claimed complete ownership of the airline following the withdrawal of Oman to focus on its flag carrie3r, Oman Air. The change in ownership brought forth a second restructuring program to cease the losses it had been facing a whopping USD 1 million in a day. While Gulf Air's battles in the management continued, in terms of operations, they introduced a non-stop daily direct flight to London Heathrow Airport in 2007. Following the autonomy of falling just under the government of Bahrain instead of varied partners as investors, Gulf Air started acquiring many aircraft to expand its fleet and to enhance its domestic and international routes. They took in a bunch of Boeing flights as well as Airbus A319s and A330-200s as part of their expansion strategy.
Further, as part of the restructuring plans, Gulf Air introduced its Falcon Gold cabin, basically a premium cabin that combined the business and first-class. The same came into existence in 2010 and offered higher standards of comfort during transit. The airline also made a few changes in the cabin's amenities to bring forth world-class services and make it perfect for premium fliers. Despite working on several methods to expand the business, Gulf Air has been recorded to be a loss-making venture, owing to the political unrest in the country of Bahrain. Further, the airline also changed its approach to become a boutique airline, making it stand out from its competition. Basically, as a boutique airline, the focus for the airline is on lifestyle and branding that fall in the lines of upscale hospitality. The experiences offered by Gulf Air are no short of luxury.
Fleet size of Gulf Air
Gulf Air is known to accommodate a fleet of 34 aircraft, as of 2020. The airline only has Airbus and Boeing as part of its fleet. They have about 27 aircraft of Airbus family while seven aircraft manufactured by Boeing. Currently, the airline has Airbus A321ER, Airbus A320-200, Airbus A320ER, Boeing 787-9, Airbus A320Neo and Airbus A320DNeo. In the past, Gulf Air did accommodate a slew of aircraft from various manufacturers. However, with tremendous changes in expansion strategies, the airline now only has Airbus and Boeing.
Gulf Air Baggage Allowance
Gulf Air's baggage allowance varies from the ticket fare family and the possible airline membership. Falcon Gold, which is part of Gulf Air's frequent flyer plan, allow two checked baggage which can weigh no more than 32 kg each. This means travellers who are using the Falcon Gold are allowed to carry a total of 64 kg, which can be divided into two pieces of luggage. Travellers who are going from the economy are allowed to carry not more than 23 kg. The airline accommodates two pieces of luggage which add to a total of 46 kg. These provisions are only available for Falcon frequent flyers. The baggage allowance for economy class is perfect for those who are travelling on budget tickets. In case there is additional checked-in baggage, you will need to purchase at the airport's World Wide Contact Centre. You can also purchase on the website of Gulf Air as they also have some extra details about the deal. Despite the standards set by the airline, the rules and protocols do have some exceptions. These exceptions can be found on the official website of Gulf Air.
As for the cabin baggage, the rules applied include 9 kg weight for Falcon Gold members and 6 kg for Economy passengers. The airline allows one bag out of which Falcon Gold gets an additional small bag which could be a handbag or a briefcase or a laptop bag. However, the dimensions of the cabin baggage must be adhered to as they need to fit in the overhead bin and under the seat space. For Falcon Gold, the airline allows dimensions of 55 x 40 x 30 cm. Meanwhile, the dimensions for economy bags are 45 x 40 x 30 cm. Gulf Air does offer a deal where additional personal items, including a purse, laptop, umbrella, reading book, etc., are permitted in the cabin. The airline has also shared a list of personal items that can be carried in the cabin baggage for free. These include a crutch, an overcoat, a blanket, a laptop, pocketbook or handbag, bag with camera, pair of binoculars, reading matter and more. Travellers with infants also get some perks as they can carry additional bags with baby products for changing, feeding and more.
Gulf Air In-flight services
Gulf Air's in-flight services are quite amazing as they cater to the cabin class with good hospitality. They recently came up with a brand new flatbed for their premium class cabins. The reclining seats also have features such as built-in massage. Further, you can put on the noise-cancelling headsets that are available with the seat. Tune out the noise around you and enjoy the unlimited entertainment that the airline has to the office with its 22-inch screen. The beds are large and can extend up to accommodate 6 ft, tall individuals. The in-flight meals are complimentary for premium members. This also includes a priority for check-in and boarding. Not to mention how the airline also enables access to the passengers to their lounges. The economy class seats are also quite comfortable. They provide decent legroom and recline. The airline also offers a personal entertainment system for all passengers to have a good time. They do have a slew of entertaining content that one can enjoy. You can pick any content from their screen and put on the headset to be entertained during the flight.
Interestingly, Gulf Air's in-flight services include a Sky Nanny, for travellers with infants. The sky nanny would take care of your children on board and keep them entertained, so they do not disturb the other passengers in the flight. The meals provided on the flight come from Gulf Air's multi-award winning catering service, Sky Chef. The airline offers a slew of meals on their menu that one can pick from. This ranges from non-vegetarian to vegan food. You can pre-book the meals ahead of the flight on their official website. The airline's Boeing Dreamliner 787 is the most exquisite aircraft in their fleet. The Falcon Gold cabin, as well as the Economy class cabin, are both gifted with impeccable interiors and great facilities at the same time. Some of the in-flight services in Gulf Air's Dreamliner include 22-inch of an entertainment system with power supply attached to the seats. They also have a decent seat pitch for the first class as well as the economy class that would enable a comfortable journey for the passengers.
Popular routes and top cities for Gulf Air
As of 2020, Gulf Air connects to 52 international cities sprawled across 28 countries. The airline is well-connected and has services to quite a few domestic routes and international routes. These include Africa, Europe and Asian continents. Cairo, Paris, Frankfurt, Athens, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Dublin, Amman, Rome, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait City, Nairobi, Muscat, Karachi, Manila, Moscow, Doha, Colombo, Istanbul, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok and London. The airline's airport lounge is also prevalent in three of the international airports including, Dubai, Bahrain and London-Heathrow.
Why travel by Gulf Air?
Gulf Air's phenomenal flight connectivity to the cities in three continents is what makes it a perfect choice for travellers. The airline has exemplary connectivity with several Middle Eastern cities and sees a strong flight activity in the domestic routes and international routes. Not to mention how the airline's website has also been upgraded to cater to some of the needs of the travellers. You can book your Gulf Air flight online and even get a web check-in done for efficiency. The flight status and Gulf Air's flight schedules are also present on the website as well as other travel portals.
