Airline Reviews
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Review: Garuda Indonesia 737 Business Class (CGK-SIN)
Garuda Indonesia flight details With more than 40 active jets, the Boeing 737-800 is unquestionably the backbone of Garuda Indonesia’s fleet. They are the airline’s regional workhorse, shuttling passengers across the archipelago and to nearby international cities. Although Garuda normally operates widebody aircraft on the Singapore route, the airline’s ongoing spare-parts shortage has resulted in…
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Review: TransNusa A321 Economy (CGK-SIN)
TransNusa flight details After relaunching in 2022 as a low-cost carrier, TransNusa has steadily expanded its network to include a small but growing roster of international destinations. Following a sudden shift to a medium-service model last year, the Jakarta-based airline now actively promotes its premium positioning across its various media channels. Previously relying solely on…
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Review: TransNusa C909 Economy (CGK-DPS)
TransNusa flight details After more than two years since TransNusa became the foreign launch customer for Comac, I finally had the chance to fly this intriguing new aircraft, much to my excitement. Since taking delivery of its first Comac C909 (also known as the ARJ21) in December 2022, the airline has shifted its deployment strategy…
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Review: Philippine Airlines 777 Business Class (PVG-MNL)
Philippine Airlines flight details After some two weeks in China, I was certainly looking forward to flying home. Having flown the airline’s older Boeing 777-300ER to Shanghai, I was excited to see that this was being operated by a newer plane, featuring new and supposedly better cabins. Before making its way to Shanghai, our aircraft…
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Review: Philippine Airlines A321 Business Class (MNL-CGK)
Philippine Airlines flight details After flying in from Shanghai on Philippine Airlines’ newer Boeing 777-300ER, it is finally time for the last leg of my journey. Like my outbound flight from Jakarta, this flight is operated by the airline’s fleet of regional Airbus A321ceos. The aircraft features arguably inferior cabin products and is soon due…
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Review: Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Lounge Manila (MNL)
Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Lounge When the Mabuhay Lounge finally opened in November 2023, it ended a four-year wait for Philippine Airlines passengers at Manila’s Terminal 1. Since the carrier shifted part of its operations there in 2019, travellers had been relegated to the lacklustre PAGSS Lounge. Its arrival couldn’t have come at a better time,…
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Review: Philippine Airlines 777 Business Class (MNL-PVG)
Philippine Airlines flight details After spending about four hours in Manila, it was finally time to head to Shanghai! I was particularly excited for this flight as it was operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, which usually flies longer flights to Europe or North America; this would certainly be a contrast to the regional Airbus A321-200…
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Review: Philippine Airlines A321 Business Class (CGK-MNL)
Philippine Airlines flight details Founded in 1941, Philippine Airlines (PAL) holds the distinction of being Asia’s first commercial airline. Over the decades, it has evolved into the Philippines’ flag carrier, maintaining a prominent role in the nation’s aviation landscape. Today, PAL operates a mixed fleet of Airbus A321s, A330s, and Boeing 777s, serving a wide…
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Review: Garuda Indonesia Lounge Jakarta (CGK)
Garuda Indonesia Lounge The Garuda Indonesia International Lounge at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Terminal 3 is the flagship facility for the airline. Being the Indonesian flag carrier’s hub, the terminal is home to two adjacent lounges in the international section – a First Class lounge and a Business Class lounge; this review will focus on…
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Review: ANA 787-9 Business Class (CGK-NRT)
ANA flight details Founded in 1952 as Nippon Helicopters, ANA has steadily grown into Japan’s largest carrier, dwarfing its main rival – Japan Airlines. Today, the airline operates a diverse fleet of aircraft, including A321neos, Boeing 737s, 787s, and 777s, flying to a myriad of international destinations from its hubs in Tokyo Haneda and Narita.…