This mediocre airport could do with a personality transplant

The flight

Citilink Indonesia flight QG1671 from Lombok Praya to Denpasar Bali, departing at 8.15am.

The arrival

Lombok – the island has more appeal than its airport.Credit: iStock

Lombok airport’s domestic and international flights are serviced by the same terminal and the drop-off area is not busy when I arrive about 7.15am for my domestic flight. I walk down a long white corridor to a sparse, somewhat sterile wide open space with high ceilings. It houses a large wooden sculpture – of what, I’m still trying to work out. There’s also a small local restaurant and the dreaded Baggage Services, which offers plastic wrapping of luggage, an unnecessary security measure that’s frustratingly popular in this part of the world.

The look

Plenty of seating, but few dining options.Credit: iStock

It’s a largely nondescript building in need of a personality transplant. The exterior is a mix of blue reflective windows and steel beams with a wooden arch on the top that mimics the shape of the island’s traditional Sasak villages. Inside, wide spaces are sprinkled with the odd souvenir shop and a handful of mediocre dining options.

Check-in

The self-check-in kiosk is not co-operating, so I line up at a desk. Despite being at the front of the queue, another gentleman is served ahead of me. I’ve purchased 15 kilograms of checked luggage, but I’m about three kilos over, albeit with minimal carry-on. Staff won’t allow me to shuffle things around to make the weight limit, so I pay the 150,000 rupiah ($15).

Security

Given the time of day and how quiet the airport is, the line is short and moves swiftly. I’m through in about three minutes and with only a handful of gates within the same part of the airport, I find mine quickly.

Food + drink

Once through security, there are a couple of coffee shops, such as Starbucks (steer clear of the chai latte, which is undrinkable) and Danti Coffee. If you’re hungry, you’re better off eating local fare at Nasi Balap Puyung (if it’s open) in the area before check-in. It serves one local Lombok breakfast dish: steamed rice with shredded chicken, chillies, long beans and roasted peanuts. Lombok is a Muslim-majority island, and there are no bars inside the airport.

Retail therapy

It may not be the world’s best terminal, but it’s not a bad place to pick up local souvenirs. Check out the colourful men’s songkok or peci truncated cone hats at Lombok Living or head to Kayu Manis Oleh-Oleh for wooden sculptures, Indonesian textiles and T-shirts.

Passing time

There’s lots of seating at the gates, but not much else to do. And that’s fine by me, with just an hour to kill before my flight, which departs on time, and arrives in Bali at 8.55am just 40 minutes later. The airport offers free public Wi-Fi, which is an impressive feat for an airport of this size.

The verdict

A decent island airport, but lacking in atmosphere and dining options. However, with most Aussies flying domestically to Bali rather than internationally, an hour is the most you’ll have to spend here unless there is a delay (which does tend to happen quite a lot between the islands). See lombok-airport.co.id

Our rating out of five

★★★

The writer flew with the assistance of Meno House Gili. See menohousegili.com