Is this flight itinerary to Sorong ok?

[Dogbowl]

I'm piecing together a flight itinerary from Toronto to Sorong for a possible liveaboard. Is this ok? Any thoughts or suggestions? Assume Toronto to Hong Kong on Air Canada is not changeable.

Day 1 - Toronto to Hong Kong on Air Canada
Day 2 - Arrive in Hong Kong @ 2:45pm, depart Hong Kong on Garuda to Jakarta @ 5:10pm, arrive Jakarta @ 9:10pm
Day 3 - (3h10min after arriving in Jakarta) Depart Jakarta to Sorong @ 12:20am, arrive Sorong @ 6:35am, board liveaboard

My concerns are:

1. Is 2h25min sufficient time between landing in HK and departing to Jakarta? (probably not)
2. Is arriving and boarding liveaboard on the same day too risky? I really don't want to be spending any days in Jakarta or Sorong as I was told there's nothing there.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Tight connection in HKG. I can't specifically address this itinerary, but I try to leave something like 5+ hours or so between arriving on a major international flight and departing on a regional flight, or vice versa.

Others may have greater risk tolerance, but I would never arrive the same day as a liveaboard departs. On my recent trip, I went the other extreme and arrived TWO days early. If nothing else, being jetlagged on the first day you dive sucks, and for all we know jetlag or related air travel effects, such as dehydration, could be a factor in DCS. There may be "nothing" in Jakarta, but you could probably find a hotel with a pool. That's an odd time for the Jakarta-Sorong flight, but I guess it's conducive to just what you're trying to do.

I know this isn't your first rodeo as far as liveaboards, so take it as just my 2 PSI.

 

[stepfen]

Day 3 - (3h10min after arriving in Jakarta) Depart Jakarta to Sorong @ 12:20am, arrive Sorong @ 6:35am

I can see more potential problems here than in HK. You have to go through immigration and IF you need to change terminal in Jakarta 3 hours are definitely not enough.

 

[Dogbowl]

Tight connection in HKG. I can't specifically address this itinerary, but I try to leave something like 5+ hours or so between arriving on a major international flight and departing on a regional flight, or vice versa.

Others may have greater risk tolerance, but I would never arrive the same day as a liveaboard departs. On my recent trip, I went the other extreme and arrived TWO days early. If nothing else, being jetlagged on the first day you dive sucks, and for all we know jetlag or related air travel effects, such as dehydration, could be a factor in DCS. There may be "nothing" in Jakarta, but you could probably find a hotel with a pool. That's an odd time for the Jakarta-Sorong flight, but I guess it's conducive to just what you're trying to do.

I know this isn't your first rodeo as far as liveaboards, so take it as just my 2 PSI.

It's my 2nd rodeo lol!

This was exactly what I was trying to avoid...wasting days...but it might be the only option. If I stay one night in HK, and then stay one night in Sorong...then 2 extra days...oh well.

Unfortunately, it seems like the only direct flight from Jakarta to Sorong on Garuda arrives at 6:35am - what an awkward time - too early to check in to a hotel.

 

[WetPup]

Depends if you need to clear immigration and re-check for the Garuda flight. If they're booked on separate tickets, then no, I don't think that is nearly enough time.

For major international airports, I always factor in a 1 hour airport traffic delay, then another hour for immigration, baggage claim, and customs upon landing, another hour for re-checking in and clearing security, and then 45 mins to an hour for flight boarding. I wouldn't do a transit in much under 4 hours if I couldn't check straight through. I would do a transit in Hong Kong in under an hour if I didn't need to deal with immigration, rechecking bags, etc.

 

[Dogbowl]

Yes, upon arrival in HK, I need to clear immigration and re-check for Garuda as they will be booked on separate tickets. So...it's not going to work.

With the HKG-CGK-SOQ flight, this will be booked on one ticket with Garuda. This is what they (the website) suggested so maybe 3h10min will be enough?

 

[Dan]

I have never been going from home to Sorong via Hong Kong. So, I can’t say anything about that leg of your trip. However, from Jakarta to Sorong and to the boat at the same day, I have done it 4 times without any problem. That red-eye flights were all on time.

I usually fly with Singapore Airlines eastbound over Europe to Singapore and arriving in Jakarta early in the morning before 10am. So I have >12 hours in Jakarta before continuing to Sorong. After 24 hours international flight, the layover in Jakarta is best used for resting in the airport hotel like FM7 because your body is still at home clock (bed time).

 

[WetPup]

Yes, upon arrival in HK, I need to clear immigration and re-check for Garuda as they will be booked on separate tickets. So...it's not going to work.

With the HKG-CGK-SOQ flight, this will be booked on one ticket with Garuda. This is what they (the website) suggested so maybe 3h10min will be enough?

I've done a similar connection in CGK. You should be ok assuming there's no major flight delays. Your transit will involve clearing immigration and using the transfer desk, but your bags should be checked through to SOQ from HKG. The flights will both be in the same terminal at CGK, just opposite ends.

 

[Dan]

I can see more potential problems here than in HK. You have to go through immigration and IF you need to change terminal in Jakarta 3 hours are definitely not enough.

Luckily Garuda international & domestic flights are now in the same terminal 3. But if the flight from Hong Kong were delayed, you would still get screwed.

 

[Dan]

Since you live in Toronto, why not fly to Jakarta via New York, Paris, Singapore with Singapore Airlines?