As a SkyTeam Elite member and regular long-haul traveler, I’ve come to recognize quality service and comfort when I see it. My recent flight on Garuda Indonesia’s GA718 from Denpasar (DPS) to Melbourne (MEL) was an excellent example of how economy class, when done right, can still feel premium. Garuda’s consistent reputation for hospitality and attention to detail was clearly reflected in this experience.
Check-in at Ngurah Rai International Airport was efficient, with SkyTeam Elite benefits providing access to a dedicated counter and priority boarding. Staff were polite and professional, making the process smooth and stress-free from the beginning.
Once onboard the Airbus A330, I was welcomed into a warm and understated cabin. The economy class featured dark brown fabric seats. The choice of fabric gave the cabin a cozy, refined feel, and the seat itself offered more comfort than I’ve experienced on many other carriers in the same class. There was a noticeable sense of spaciousness, particularly in terms of legroom, which felt more generous than average even for a widebody aircraft.
Garuda Indonesia has earned its title of World’s Best Cabin Crew from Skytrax for good reason. The crew on this flight were outstanding: friendly, professional, and consistently attentive without being intrusive. Every interaction—from welcome greetings to post-meal checks—was handled with genuine warmth and care.
The in-flight meal was another pleasant surprise. I opted for the seafood noodle dish, and it exceeded expectations. The noodles were fresh and flavorful, and the seafood was tender and well-prepared. The tray also included a fresh fruit salad, a bread roll, and a light dessert—each component well-presented and enjoyable. The drinks cart included a good selection of soft drinks, juices, and Indonesian coffee, which added a nice local touch.
Entertainment options were solid, with a user-friendly touchscreen system offering an acceptable range of movies, shows, and music. While the headphones provided were fairly basic, the content selection was more than enough to keep me entertained during the seven-hour overnight journey.
Despite being a red-eye, I managed to get some rest thanks to the comfortable seat and relatively quiet cabin environment. The cabin lighting was appropriately dimmed after meal service, and the crew moved quietly through the aisles with water and other offerings without disturbing resting passengers.
Overall, Garuda Indonesia’s GA718 flight delivered a truly enjoyable economy class experience. The combination of comfortable seating, flavorful food, a clean and welcoming cabin, and some of the best service in the skies made it feel more like a premium product than a typical long-haul economy flight. For SkyTeam Elite members especially, the added perks make this route even more appealing.
Garuda continues to prove why it holds a top-tier reputation among international carriers. If you’re flying from Bali to Melbourne, this flight is an excellent choice.
