My Unexpected 6 hours in Jakarta

My unexpected 6 hours in Jakarta

What should have been an easy and perfect 3 hour connection turned into a complete mess thanks to Garuda delaying their CGK-MEL nonstop by a mere 18 hours!   "Sorry for the inconvenience"  LOL.   I had already done research for backup options but absolutely everything from SE Asia to Melbourne was sold out.  

And then there is dysfunctional Garuda.  After I cleared immigration, I headed upstairs to the Garuda counters for find out exactly what the problem was. I was directed to the far end of the departures check-in to Garuda "customer service".  Found out that the issue was our inbound A339 was still in... Melbourne.  Apparently, they only have one A339 and it's not departing Melbourne... until the next morning.  Maybe.

Since the departure monitors showed a CGK-SYD Garuda flight departing in 75 minutes, I asked to be moved to that flight.  LOL.  Agent pulled up my booking and said "oh, you're on a free award ticket for Air France. You'll have to call them".  After I refused and pointed out that it was their plane, their delay and their responsibility to get me to Australia.  Tap-tap-tap.  "There are no awards seats left on that flight so I can't move you."  During the 15 minutes he disappeard to find a supervisor, I checked Google flights and EF on more time.  And amazingly, a single Business Class seat had gopened on Malaysia's 9:40am A339neo from Kuala Lumpur for "only" $1,700.  Even more amazing was that Malaysia had a 4:25am Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur connecting flight.  Book it Danno!

At the same time, I declined Garuda's offer of a hotel room at an unnamed hotel and just booked a room for free... using Amex FHR program.  Using my semi-annual $300 Platinum hotel credit.

Yes, 5 star hotels in Jakarta are amazingly inexpensive.

Booked a Grab Premium and I was on the road.

Rain in Jakarta??  LOL.  When does it not rain?

First time at the Mandarin Oriental and it was very nice.

Lovely suite...

Tossed my bags and headed downstairs to the bar for a much needed drink, or two.  Compliments of Amex and my $100 food and beverage credit.  So they are paying me to stay here tonight.  LOL

At these prices (USD$12), I need 8 drinks before I hit my $100 F&B credit allowance.  Sadly, the MO bar closed at midnight.

Meanwhile, credit for my EK flights posted and my status updated to Gold.  Only 2 more roundtrips for Platinum.

Back up to my room for a much needed shower and power nap, before heading back ot the airport.