This airport is hot, humid, dated and underwhelming

The airport

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta

The flight

Qantas flight QF42 from Jakarta to Sydney, departing 8.45pm.

CGK Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta.Credit: Alamy

The arrival

I’m arriving from Jakarta Airport Hotel, where I killed six hours before my onward flight home, altogether avoiding the city’s notorious traffic that can make getting to the airport on time one of life’s greatest gambles. The transit hotel is a short drive away and slightly Wes Anderson-esque – comfortable albeit quirky and extremely well priced with a complimentary shuttle to terminal 3.

The look

Jakarta’s notorious traffic can make getting to the airport on time one of life’s greatest gambles. Credit: Getty Images

If the airport is not going to win any beauty contests, even less appealing is the temperature inside. The modern design struggles in the hot climate, and its abyss-like architecture, high ceilings and columns of windows seem to be effective only in undermining the air-conditioning. It’s uncomfortably hot and humid in the terminal, and thankfully, supersized standalone AC units blowing jets of cool air have been placed at random.

Check-in

The Qantas check-in is in terminal 3 and, as I’ve upgraded to business class using points, I’m dealt with promptly and efficiently. A young Indonesian staff member goes the extra mile to make conversation; first thanking me for being a frequent flyer and then asking how my stay was. It’s refreshing to interact with a human, and in stark contrast to the often staff-less procedure in Sydney, for example.

Security

It’s a dawdle rather than a sprint through due to several travellers up ahead who appear to be unaware of the no-liquids rule and slow down the process. Although the e-gates are set up in immigration, they don’t function with my brand-new Aussie passport. Instead, I make my way to one of the immigration counters where there are, fortunately, no queues.

Food + drink

Options are light on, apart from the dubious Indonesian donut chain, Starbucks and a nondescript cafe. If you need one last nasi goreng or sop buntut, Great Indonesia Cafe serves up local options. I’d recommend accessing a paid-for lounge, such as the Saphire Plaza Premium Lounge or the Saphire First Class Lounge, which serve food and alcohol and accept walk-ins. Pre-book online here.

Retail therapy

There’s the odd souvenir shop selling wood carvings and batik textiles, but overall the shops are dated and underwhelming. Unless you’re in the market for a Polo or Lacoste shirt or a Samsonite carry-on, save your dough.

Passing time

There’s not much of a vibe at this airport (and that’s putting it nicely), so a lounge is the only way to go. My business-class ticket gives me complimentary access to Saphire Plaza Premium Lounge near gate 7, but I would have paid for entry regardless. According to the website, a three-hour visit to the Saphire Plaza Premium Lounge costs from about $70 depending on the time, and it offers all the trappings of a business-class lounge, including private cocoon seats, soto ayam station, dumplings and beer and wine. Access to the Saphire First Class Lounge starts from about $130.

The verdict

It’s not the world’s most exciting airport and the facilities are lacking, but the friendly staff and value-for-money lounge options make it more than bearable.

Our rating out of five

★★★½

The writer flew as a guest of Atzaro Group and upgraded with points.