Garuda Indonesia

Food and drink5 answers

Halal meals

Airline policyGaruda's catering company holds an Indonesian state halal certificate covering 2,252 products.

PT Aerofood Indonesia, Garuda Indonesia's catering company, holds Indonesian state halal certificate ID00410007613720223, issued on 2 August 2023 and listed in the BPJPH registry against 2,252 products. We could not load a Garuda Indonesia page stating that its standard meals are halal.

Who certifies them

Airline policyThe caterer's halal certificate is issued by BPJPH, Indonesia's state halal agency.

PT Aerofood Indonesia holds Indonesian state halal certificate ID00410007613720223, issued on 2 August 2023 and listed in the public registry of BPJPH, Indonesia's halal product assurance agency, against 2,252 products. The certificate holder is the caterer, not the airline.

Does the meal turn up

Traveller or press reportThe religion ministry reported many delayed Garuda Hajj flights; one was 7 hours late.

A Canberra Times review of business class from Sydney to Denpasar describes light meals offered at any time during the flight. Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs said that by 26 May, 60 of Garuda Indonesia's 152 Hajj pilgrim groups had been delayed, about 39.47%, against 16 of Saudia's 132, and that an engine fault delayed one group by 7 hours 10 minutes.

Alcohol on board

Traveller or press reportPress reviews say flights to Saudi Arabia are dry, while other international flights serve wine, beer and spirits.

One Mile at a Time reports that Garuda Indonesia doesn't serve alcohol on flights to Saudi Arabia. A Canberra Times review of business class from Sydney to Denpasar lists champagne, wines from the Cotes du Rhone and Bali, Bintang beer, whisky, gin and vodka.

Ramadan

Traveller or press reportIn Ramadan 2019 Garuda offered copies of the Quran on board and added Quran audio.

The Jakarta Post reported in May 2019 that Garuda Indonesia provided copies of the Quran as a special Ramadan in-flight service, at most four per flight, on its 157 domestic and 22 international routes to and from Jakarta, and introduced an audio Quran in its in-flight entertainment. We found no current Ramadan meal service.

Not in Garuda Indonesia's published policies: On partner flights · Amenity kit

Prayer2 answers

Crew and prayer

Traveller or press reportA reviewer on a Jeddah flight heard prayers played before take-off, during the flight and before landing.

A One Mile at a Time review of a Jakarta to Jeddah flight describes a very long pre-flight prayer after the safety video, another later in the flight, a pre-landing prayer played through the entertainment system and another after landing. The seatbelt sign was almost never turned off. We found no Garuda guidance on passengers praying on board.

Water for istinja

Traveller or press reportA business class review found only lotion and fragrance in the lavatories; no bidet was described.

A One Mile at a Time review of business class on the 777 from Jakarta to Jeddah says the lavatories had very little in the way of amenities, other than a little lotion and fragrance. We found no bidet or shattaf described on any Garuda aircraft.

Not in Garuda Indonesia's published policies: Space to pray · Qibla and prayer times · Prayer rooms in lounges

Crew and service2 answers

Hijab in crew uniform

Traveller or press reportThe chief executive said hijab-wearing crew are not banned but are kept off flights that serve alcohol.

Tempo reports that Garuda Indonesia's chief executive, Irfan Setiaputra, told a parliamentary hearing on 13 June 2023 that hijab-wearing flight attendants are not banned but are not rostered on flights that serve alcohol, so that they can keep their faith, and are instead given the chance to work Hajj and Umrah flights. detikNews reported a member of parliament saying Garuda still had a rule against flight attendants wearing hijab, and the Vice President calling such a ban odd; on Hajj services, flight attendants wear an abaya with a hijab.

Crew training

Traveller or press reportA reviewer describes attentive crew; Garuda's crew have won Skytrax's best cabin crew award several times.

A Canberra Times reviewer describes a flight attendant crouching beside him to take drink orders as soon as he was seated, and a bulkhead plaque naming Garuda the Skytrax world's best cabin crew from 2014 to 2018 and again in 2023. The Jakarta Post reported that Garuda offered copies of the Quran on board during Ramadan in 2019. We found no published crew training or cultural-competence policy.

Not in Garuda Indonesia's published policies: Help from women staff · Eid and Ramadan on board · Reported incidents

Seating and familiesNothing published

Not in Garuda Indonesia's published policies: Sitting together as a family · Changing seats

Hajj, Umrah and routes1 answer

Routes to Muslim-majority countries

Traveller or press reportGaruda flies Indonesian Hajj pilgrims; the religion ministry counted 152 Garuda pilgrim groups in one season.

Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs reported that Garuda Indonesia flew 152 Hajj pilgrim groups in the season it reported on, alongside Saudia's 132.

Not in Garuda Indonesia's published policies: Zamzam water