Companion Air Fare to Indonesia

Garuda Indonesia is offering its first- and business-class passengers a 50% discount companion fare. Once you buy a one-way or round-trip fare on these two classes of service, a second passenger traveling with you can fly at halffare.

In addition, both passengers get one night free at the Aerowisata Hotel in Bali or a Sahid hotel in Jakarta or Surabaja. The program also includes complimentary breakfasts for two at the hotel, plus a complimentary limousine transfer from the airport in Jakarta or Bali.

Garuda is also continuing its Visit Indonesia Pass program this year. The choices are a pass to visit any four Indonesian cities for $350 within 20 days; eight cities for $500 within 30 days, or 12 cities for $600 within 60 days. The time periods start with the first flight within Indonesia.

Savings over regular economy point-to-point fares can run as high as $370, $720 and $850, respectively, depending on how many cities you choose to visit.

While you have to fly into or out of Indonesia on Garuda to qualify to buy the passes, your flight doesn’t necessarily have to be out of LAX. You could, for example, catch a Garuda flight from another part of the Far East such as Singapore, Tokyo or Hong Kong.

However, you need to arrange your itinerary using the passes within Indonesia before departure from the United States or the foreign city you buy the pass in. While the dates of your travel can be changed at any time, the route has to stay the same.

Out of LAX, your passes can start at Jakarta on Java, Denpasar, Pasar on Bali, or Biak on Irian Jaya. Medan on Sumatra is another entry point if you’re flying in on a Garuda flight from Singapore. Other cities on Garuda’s domestic route system include Padang on Sumatra and Pontianak and Balikpapan on Borneo.

Solomon Airlines, the national carrier of the Solomon Islands, in conjunction with Air Caledonia International, has created a Discover Pacific Pass. You can buy two flight coupons for $399, three coupons for $499 or four coupons for $599. The carriers serve Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and the Wallis Islands. Surcharges are levied on all flights to Australia and New Zealand.

Solomon Airlines also offers a Discover Solomon Pass. You can buy four flight coupons for $199 for flights in the Solomons.

Both passes are good for 30 days and have to be bought in the United States in conjunction with a transpacific air fare, which can be on any airline.

Contact travel agents, Garuda Indonesia at (800) 342-7832 or Solomon Airlines at (800) 677-4277.