Travel time warning re: Kuala Namu International Airport

Medan
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Travel time warning re: Kuala Namu International Airport
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seems like there are a lot of confusion in regards to the new airport KNIA (yes its KNIA as in Kuala Namu International Airport. KNO is the destination calling code. when its Polonia the code is MES but we don't call it MES we call it polonia arent we, because that is the airport name)

traffic to and from KNIA is absolutely CRAZY. major traffic jam affecting traffic on jalan raya tanjung morawa, this is the road going to perapat (so even if you are not going to KNIA but going to perapat you still gonna taste a piece of this crazy traffic pie)

on sunday a relative of mine is taking a guest to the airport and it took them 2hr 17min (he had his GPS on smartphone on to track the journey) . on the last sunday before the airport operate this journey took me only 40min.

so all vehicle option going in and out of KNIA (with the exception of the train) is going to be over 2hour.

and with not all the exit gates fully operating a friend is reporting that it took him 50min just to get out of the airport itself.

so i would suggest everyone to leave for the airport 4 hour before your departure time and maybe more if its on a sunday because there will be a huge increase in non flying people taking the trip

EVERYBODY is trying to go and have a taste of the hottest hangout place in town. yes its now the no 1 destination in medan. all the media been reporting how a lot of non flying people having a picnic inside the terminal. sitting on a piece of newspaper and eating out of a lunch box they bring from home. kids playing with the trolley. snack seller being allow inside to sell their product. all this somehow "third world behaviour" is the hottest debated issue on social media right now

Medan
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27 reviews
39 helpful votes
1. Re: Travel time warning re: Kuala Namu International Airport
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public transport option to and from KNIA is as follow:

TRAIN: depart and arrive at/from stasiun kereta besar. its located at jalan stasiun right next to Merdeka square (merdeka walk). another landmarks in this area will be the post office, balai kota (town hall) or grand aston hotel, bank indonesia. 10min walk away from JW Marriot hotel and TipTop restaurant (the no1 rated restaurant on TA in medan)

not far at all from jalan sisingamangaraja (centre for backpackers) a becak to the train station (railink city station) is about IDR 15.000

train cost IDR 80.000 one way

departure time (i get off the banner inside the station) is

from Medan: 04.00, 04.50, 06.15, 08.20, 11.10, 13.45, 15.15, 17.15, 19.20, 20.00

from KNIA: 05.05, 06.30, 08.00, 09.25, 12.25, 14.45, 16.25, 18.30, 20.45, 00.15

there is a report that some train are not departing according to schedule because there isnt enough passenger on it to cover the cost (this is very unprofessional but hey welcome to medan) but i can't confirm on it.

the train being short on passenger is being well covered by the media though, stating that all the train only have around 50% occupancy rate, blaming the high price as the culprit.

TAXI: bluebird taxi will be the most recommended. figure being tossed around is IDR 130.000 but thats was before counting in the crazy traffic jam

DAMRI BUS: depart and arrive at:

Terminal Amplas, cost IDR 10.000. this is the bus terminal to take the public bus to perapat (lake toba) its about 12km outside of medan city

Medan fair plaza, cost IDR 15.000. its about 15min by car away from terminal pinang baris, bus terminal for bus to bukit lawang. about 20min walk to cambridge mall (swiss bell hotel), 30min to sun plaza

Edited: 7 years ago
Samosir
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2. Re: Travel time warning re: Kuala Namu International Airport
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Report from Parapat Transporters.

Starting early morning from Parapat to Kualanamu is not too bad. Travel time from Parapat to the Airport is some 4 hr, when taking the Kampung Kampung Road from Lubuk Pakam. In the afternoon this road cannot be used for reason of the smoke. Whatever can burn will be used to make the message clear and make traffic impossible. In the afternoon travel time from Parapat to Kualanamu is now some 5.5 to 6 hrs, via Tanjung Morawa. This is with chartered private car, transportation only, so only one restroom stop and no sightseeing. Cost is now Rp 550.000,-- one way. This may go up in the coming days. Parapat Transporters pick up only Special Guests from the Airport to drop in Medan at a cost of Rp 250.000,--. Also likely to go up in the coming days. In principle, as per information today, the Parapat Transporters will not enter into the competition providing transportation from the Airport to Medan and from Medan to the Airport. Accepting that they can not compete with regular Taxi Prices and Public Transport.

Any information on good Non-Budget Hotels between Siantar and Kualanamu to safe travelling time in the morning from Parapat to Kualanamu will be appreciated. It seems that travelling from Tuk Tuk to Kualanamu may require a night stay over along the way, to beat midday and afternoon traffic to Kualanamu.

HORAS !!!! HORAS !!!! HORAS !!!! WELCOME TO LAKE TOBA.

Australia
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3. Re: Travel time warning re: Kuala Namu International Airport
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Australian contacts of mine - 2 adults and 2 children flew out of Medan yesterday and could not believe the amount of Indonesian sight seers to the airport.

My contacts were treated like royalty at the airport and had over 100 photos taken with different Indonesian families - they had an absolute ball.

Pamela.

Asia
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4. Re: Travel time warning re: Kuala Namu International Airport
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Artemio, I already have a clear visual of what I have to expect when I arrive there. If you have nothing to do that day do me the favor and pick me up and bring some food for our picnic. I may be starving before I reach the city, haha.

Honestly, thank you all for the updates.

Q

Medan
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5. Re: Travel time warning re: Kuala Namu International Airport
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its good to have you back Q!

tell me, which local paper that you fancy to seat on?? i'll bring those along with some rice and rendang

Asia
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6. Re: Travel time warning re: Kuala Namu International Airport
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After watching the art of killing just spare me the Medan Pos. The other papers should be comfortable enough for me, haha. See you soon!

Samosir
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604 posts
32 reviews
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7. Re: Travel time warning re: Kuala Namu International Airport
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Additional Travel Warning KNIA.

Just getting back some reports in Tuk Tuk, enjoying my sunset beer in the Warung. It seems that not only the 'non flying guests' are making KNIA as a Holiday Destination causing some traffic problems later in the day. It also seems that some other guys changed their place of operation.

As Artemio already said. Travel Wise and from now on keep two or better three eyes on your belongings at KNIA.

HORAS !!! HORAS !!! HORAS !!! WELCOME TO LAKE TOBA.

Kuala Lumpur...
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8. Re: Travel time warning re: Kuala Namu International Airport
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Will be coming to Medan on 9 September morning. Is the traffic jam going to and out of the airport still bad. Kindly let me know whether its better to take the train to town or just taxi? I dont mind to spend 1 hour travelling time each way. 2) Is the train station in Medan far from Tiara Hotel.

Thank you.

Medan
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1,067 posts
27 reviews
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9. Re: Travel time warning re: Kuala Namu International Airport
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all the hype on the new airport has die down a lil bit. i would say traffic wont be as bad in sept as it was few weeks ago.

Tiara hotel is not far at all from train station. a 10 min taxi ride that cost around IDR 15.000 will get you there.

if you are by yourself then this is the cheaper option than taxi. IDR 80.000 for train and then another IDR 15.000 for taxi. if you get taxi all the way from KNIA it will set you back around IDR 130.000

Perth, Australia
1 post
10. Re: Travel time warning re: Kuala Namu International Airport
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Hi Folks,

I'm transferring at KNIA from an international flight to a domestic flight with only an hour of transit time. I've been looking for a map to let me know how I'm going to go, but to no avail. Any kind people out there with some on site knowledge they could impart to ease my mind (or create chaos!) Cheers, Dave

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