Blog

01.04.2023

Getting to Padang

The list of direct international flights to Padang is very limited. So how best to get there?

Flight connections to Padang

What major airport to connect flights at?

The two most common airports western travelers will encounter when flying to Indonesia are Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta(CGK) and Denpasar’s Ngurah Rai(DPS). However, unless you’re planning to also stay in Bali, flying to Denpasar is probably not your best option, as there are no direct flights to Padang. The better option by far will be traveling via Jakarta, where you’ll be spoiled for choice with flights and airlines bringing you to Padang. Flying via Jakarta is also the most common connection you’ll find when searching for flights. Tickets are often separate, so you’ll have to collect your luggage and check in for your domestic flight.

Domestic flights to Padang 

International flights to Jakarta usually arrive at Terminal 3, which is also the departure terminal for domestic flights of Garuda Indonesia and the Garuda subsidiary Citilink. Garuda flight 148, Citilink 952 and 958 are your daily options to Padang. Be aware when planning to take Citilink, as Citilink 46 which also connects Jakarta to Padang departs from Jakarta Halim Perdanakusuma Int’l airport(HLP), which is located on the other side of the city and will take at best 45 minutes to get to.

Other domestic carriers like Lion Air or Batik Air will usually depart from Terminal 1 & 2, Lion Air 250, 254, Batik Air 6810, 6814 and Super Air Jet 810, 812, 816 as well as 904 are possible options. Batik Air 7109 also departs from Jakarta Halim Perdanakusuma Int’l airport(HLP).

As Jakarta’s Terminal 1 and 2 are not directly connected to Terminal 3 you’ll have to get the free airport shuttle bus or Skytrain to catch your flights from there. Shuttle buses should be easy to spot, they are mostly white with some green, yellow and red in the back and say “Free Shuttle Bus” in bold letters. To find the train station, follow the signs when you leave the terminal, they will guide you left, to the escalators and up one level. 

All the airlines mentioned apart from Garuda Indonesia can be considered low-cost carriers and have less in-flight service, the flight however is relativly short at about 1h 45min.

Unorthodox Options

You might also encounter two options which don’t necessitate flying via Jakarta, one being via Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia 406, or Citilink 535. The other Lion Air 69 via Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is mostly for travelers on Hadj and almost impossible to find when looking for flights online. Both flight routings are also not sold as connecting flights, so you’ll have to familiarize yourself with options for connecting at these airports and might need a separate visa.

Personal experiences

As I’m flying from Europe there is only one non-stop option to Indonesia which is Garuda 89 from Amsterdam, which I have not yet had the pleasure to fly with, as it was temporarily discontinued during the pandemic and has only recently been reinstated. It would however be an ideal flight to take, especially if you want to get to Padang fast and with the minimal amount of layovers.

Otherwise, I’m pretty agnostic when choosing airlines for the leg to Jakarta, I’m usually just looking to find the cheapest second best options with one layover.  So far I’ve usually arrived to Jakarta in the evening, so I usually have an overnight layover there. I’m still young enough to not need a hotel for that, especially since I usually don’t get tired until the sun comes back up in Jakarta. There are however the typical Airport hotels near the airport and even in the terminal, as well as a lot of small Indonesian inns within about ten minutes from the airport. 

If the money changers in the West Lobby, where you’ll get out of the terminal, are still open and I don’t have leftover Rupiah with me, I’ll usually exchange some money there, the exchange rate is usually ok. I’ll also buy another sim card, the tourist ones are usually valid for a month or two, to have access to mobile internet immediately. Being a “new” customer also gives you discounts in the Telcomsel app. There are two phone stores outside the building, the one you won’t be able to miss is an independent store and open for longer, to your left is an official Telcomsel store. When you’re traveling to the Mentawais you’ll have to get a Telcomsel card as other providers don’t work there. You can buy sim cards with a credit card as well, keep your passport at the ready you’ll need that and make sure to tell them you’re traveling on, otherwise they might sell you a local card which won’t work outside of Java.

After getting everything I need, I like to leave the airport to get some Martabak somewhere in Tangerang or west Jakarta, don’t stray too far from the airport though traffic usually isn’t too bad in the middle of the night, so it’s possible to get well into Jakarta. My transportation of choice to get away is usually a motorbike taxi booked, with Gojek though Grab is also an option. It’s cheap, quick, transparent in its pricing and you see more of your surroundings. It is however not a good option if you can’t wear your luggage on your back and you won’t be able to get picked up in front of the terminal. If you want to take a taxi/ book a car with an app, use the app, don’t get upsold by the taxi salesmen in front of the terminal. Taking a car on your way back to the airport is always the better option, so you can get dropped off at the departure area. 

My choice to fly to Padang is usually Garuda’s morning flight, GA 148, so I’ll go back to Terminal 3. Domestic check-in is on the east side of the terminal, the other end of the one you’ll leave it at when arriving. Flying with Garuda is especially great for travelers with sporting equipment, as it travels for free and there are also in-flight meals and entertainment.

The airport in Padang is relatively small, so there shouldn’t be any problems getting around, you’ll be approached by “helpers” inside and taxi drivers outside though. The helpers inside are easy to get rid of if you don’t wish to use their services, it’s often good enough to carry your luggage in a way that looks like you don’t need help with it. Have a little cash ready separately if you want to take advantage of their service, to avoid having to barter, as there’s no fixed price, 20-30 thousend Rupiah should be enough though. The drivers outside are a little worse, I usually just order a car inside the airport. It’ll be easiest if you use Grab as the airport has some sort of deal with them, so the drivers awaiting you outside the door are grab drivers and regular taxi drivers. If you use Gojek your driver will be in the parking lot. No matter which service you prefer, I’d always recommend using it. Once you’re in the car it’ll be about an half hour drive to Padang’s city center and to your well deserved break from traveling. :)