General Info

[Golfinho]

Hi everyone I'm a bit confused can you fly into Jakarta or do you have to go to Bali.

Yes. Internationally, you can fly into Bali. It's usually cheaper to land there than CGK -- sometimes, but sometimes not. Most of the times the price difference is nominal. It mostly depends from where you're flying.

[Menteng]

Your PM box is full. Couldn't send you an answer.

[BenderOver]

Hi everyone I'm a bit confused can you fly into Jakarta or do you have to go to Bali.

Yes. Internationally, you can fly into CGK. It's usually cheaper to land there than Bali.

[TravelingMan3]

Hi everyone I'm a bit confused can you fly into Jakarta or do you have to go to Bali.

[Madvic]

The old paper forms you had till fill in at customs are gone and you need to complete it online which can be done in your home country before flying. You receive a QR code which they scan and it is quick.

But there were a lot of people trying to do it at the customs check point on the dodgy airport WiFi and were struggling to connect.

https://ecd.beacukai.go.id

One interesting thing is if you are staying longer than 90 days they want the IMEI number for all you devices, phone's, tablets etc.

Also getting a SIM seems to have changed. They take your IMEI when getting a SIM and you are only allowed one month (with no topping up). After one month you have to buy a new SIM and they told me you can only have 2 Sims per trip (although I've not reached this yet).

Yes, I already have the website saved and ready to use before entering.

My T-mobile sim card works ok here (using it now to get around local block), and I usually find wifi when out. So, no need for local SIM card.

I have basically been here for almost a year (my little birdwatcher keeps me well tended to), but coming and going. Never registered my laptop.

What kept me from trying to get around the round trip flight and ask airport staff, was that previously, I have had VOA officers ask to see boarding pass of my flight into Jakarta. I had the AirAsia electronic copy, but that was for later that night.

But dammit, when I did come back later that night / early morning, the VOA officer did not even talk to me or ask to see the boarding pass. He just did his thing and sent me on my way.

Ah well. At least, I finally got to see KLIA2.

MadVic.

[Jingo10]

The old paper forms you had till fill in at customs are gone and you need to complete it online which can be done in your home country before flying. You receive a QR code which they scan and it is quick.

But there were a lot of people trying to do it at the customs check point on the dodgy airport WiFi and were struggling to connect.

https://ecd.beacukai.go.id

One interesting thing is if you are staying longer than 90 days they want the IMEI number for all you devices, phone's, tablets etc.

Also getting a SIM seems to have changed. They take your IMEI when getting a SIM and you are only allowed one month (with no topping up). After one month you have to buy a new SIM and they told me you can only have 2 Sims per trip (although I've not reached this yet).

[FriendlyPlanet]

You could tell a staff member at the departure gate that you left some vital medicine at home- more likely than not, they'd just send you back out through arrivals. Still run the risk that the immigration officer asks for an inbound boarding pass, but that happens rarely. I left my carryon bag in a restaurant landside once in Singapore, went back out through arrivals immigration, grabbed the bag and went back in airside through emigration again. They did notice the short round trip, but when I explained about the bag, they had no issue with it.

I guess you missed my comment about maybe asking an airport staff member if they could help me.

I have been to quite a few airports all around the world, do you want to compare lists? LOL.

MadVic.

[Madvic]

No big concern at all, I just can't believe that you thought you could access the immigration line from the arrivals area.

To even try to do so would set off so many security alerts that you'd probably spend a couple of nights in the airport holding cell in handcuffs before being deported back to your home country.

Have you been in many airports? Have you seen how they are laid out?

I guess you missed my comment about maybe asking an airport staff member if they could help me.

I have been to quite a few airports all around the world, do you want to compare lists? LOL.

MadVic.

[Hilo77]

Arrivals come in downstairs. I was thinking there would be a stairwell or just go to a gate and go down the Arrivals route. Worse case, ask an airport staff member.

Not sure why it's a big concern still. As I said, I took the flight to KL and back. I just was thinking if it is possible while waiting for my flight to KL.

MadVic.

No big concern at all, I just can't believe that you thought you could access the immigration line from the arrivals area.

To even try to do so would set off so many security alerts that you'd probably spend a couple of nights in the airport holding cell in handcuffs before being deported back to your home country.

Have you been in many airports? Have you seen how they are laid out?

[Madvic]

How did you think you were going to get into the immigration line for arriving passengers from the arrivals concourse?

Arrivals come in downstairs. I was thinking there would be a stairwell or just go to a gate and go down the Arrivals route. Worse case, ask an airport staff member.

Not sure why it's a big concern still. As I said, I took the flight to KL and back. I just was thinking if it is possible while waiting for my flight to KL.

MadVic.

[Hilo77]

I thought it was pretty clear, as I had mentioned getting to KL. And getting back to CGK.

I did debate on just trying to find a way downstairs to Arrivals, in CGK, and skip flying to KL and back (not sure if it's even possible). But, as I had said before, a while back, a VOA officer wanted to see my boarding pass from my Arriving flight. So. I went ahead flew up to KL and back.

MadVic.

How did you think you were going to get into the immigration line for arriving passengers from the arrivals concourse?

[Madvic]

Sorry I'm not clear whether you flew to KL or did you stay in CGK the whole time? So did you go to the boarding area on CGK then come back through the connecting gate without flying away?

Or did you fly to KL and came back?

I thought it was pretty clear, as I had mentioned getting to KL. And getting back to CGK.

I did debate on just trying to find a way downstairs to Arrivals, in CGK, and skip flying to KL and back (not sure if it's even possible). But, as I had said before, a while back, a VOA officer wanted to see my boarding pass from my Arriving flight. So. I went ahead flew up to KL and back.

MadVic.

[HelloYou]

It's been a long time since I have had to do a visa run, but had no choice recently.

So, checked AirAsia and found the cheapest flight was up to KL and back the same day. I also checked flights to Singapore and BKK. Booked it about 3 weeks out.

When time came, I did online check in and boarding passes. While in CGK Departure, I was thinking that maybe I can just get downstairs to Arrivals and save the hassle of flying to / from KL. But, I remember one time, the Indo VOA officer wanted to see my boarding pass. So decided to head out to KL.

Get to KL and was thinking, "I have no checked bags and already have my boarding pass. ". So, instead of going through immigration, I went to connecting flights.

Worked out no problem. Super easy..

Sorry I'm not clear whether you flew to KL or did you stay in CGK the whole time? So did you go to the boarding area on CGK then come back through the connecting gate without flying away?

Or did you fly to KL and came back?

[Madvic]

It's been a long time since I have had to do a visa run, but had no choice recently.

So, checked AirAsia and found the cheapest flight was up to KL and back the same day. I also checked flights to Singapore and BKK. Booked it about 3 weeks out.

When time came, I did online check in and boarding passes. While in CGK Departure, I was thinking that maybe I can just get downstairs to Arrivals and save the hassle of flying to / from KL. But, I remember one time, the Indo VOA officer wanted to see my boarding pass. So decided to head out to KL.

Get to KL and was thinking, "I have no checked bags and already have my boarding pass. ". So, instead of going through immigration, I went to connecting flights.

Worked out no problem. Super easy.

And when I got back to CGK, in early morning, the VOA officer had no interest in my boarding pass. He didn't even ask me any questions. Just applied the stickers & time stamp, then sent me on my way.

MadVic.

[Menteng]

Hey Menteng, nice to see that you are still around.

Likewise big guy!

I'm curious as to whether the authorities would ever enforce that proposed law in Bali itself, precisely because Bali is the main tourism draw for Indonesia (I think it's the #1 tourism spot in all of Southeast Asia) and a lot of tourism dollars flow through there.

The article is also mixing apples and oranges by ending with a couple of scary paragraphs on Aceh, as that province has been run differently from the rest of Indonesia for a fairly long time (and has very few tourists as a result).

We'll see.

Well, I hope the family of the friend where I stay when in Jakarta, keep liking me, since they are the ones who could tell on us. LOL!