If you’re looking for the best airlines to fly to Bali, then we’ve got the 16 best airlines for you to choose from. The best airline for you will depend on where you’re coming from and what your priorities for the trip are.
A direct flight on a national carrier is going to be rather pricey than the cheap flights from some of the budget airlines that require a stopover somewhere.
There is only one international airport in Bali, and that’s Ngurah Rai International Airport, otherwise known as Denpasar Airport (DPS).
So all Bali flights will arrive in the same place no matter whether you take the cheapest flight or the most expensive.
Our Top 16 Airlines That Fly To Bali
All these airlines fly to Bali, they do not all fly from the same places, and if you’re coming from Australia, for example, you probably won’t be flying Turkish Airlines or Emirates.
However, our list covers all the major airlines that fly from Australia as well as those that fly into Bali from Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Middle East and parts of Europe.
That means you can always find international flights that offer the right journey for your needs.
Garuda Indonesia
Skytrax, the online review site for airlines, gives Garuda Indonesia a decent 8 out of 10 for its service from Australia and notes that over 900 passengers have been surveyed to get this data.
This is a huge turnaround for Garuda Indonesia, which was considered to be one of the world’s worst airlines. In fact, it’s not that long ago that the airline was legally forbidden to fly in and out of the European Union!
However, in 2010, Garuda Indonesia received a massive cash investment for both new planes and to overhaul the service that they provide.
Now, they’re part of the SkyTeam Global Alliance program which is a collection of the best airlines in the world which also has an excellent frequent flyer program that you can redeem points on any of their participating airlines.
Garuda Indonesia has won the prestigious IATA Safety Audit (IOSA) operator standard, which means that flying on Garuda Indonesia is very safe, indeed.
Most importantly, its customers have nominated it, and it has won a huge number of awards for its in-flight experience.
We find that their international check-in staff are super friendly and relaxed.
They offer a generous 30 Kg per person luggage allowance and have some of the best economy class legroom of any airline that we’ve been fortunate enough to fly on.
The in-flight meals aren’t the best thing we’ve ever eaten, but they are tasty and filling, and they also offer some decent in-flight entertainment options.
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific does not fly from Australia, but it’s definitely an airline to consider if you’re flying from other parts of Asia and obviously from Hong Kong, its home airport.
Generally speaking, Cathay Pacific tends to offer one of the best business class experiences of any airline, but the economy class is less remarkable.
You can opt for “Premium Economy” on Cathay Pacific, which is sort of halfway between the two and provides more room for your legs if you find that ordinary economy is a bit tight for you.
The in-flight entertainment system is excellent and we like that the chairs are all fully reclinable. In addition, the screens on the seats can be tilted forward to match your angle of recline.
Their Bali flights also provide a single USB plug to every passenger, which can be really helpful if you need to work while you fly.
The in-flight meal services are excellent with Cathay Pacific, and you get a wide range of choices (made pre-flight for the bigger range of choices) to ensure your dietary needs are taken care of.
Their current average Skytrax rating is 7 out of 10, but given this represents all of the airline’s routes not just its flights to Bali, it may be a little harsh.
Their frequent flyer program is very good and worth joining if you regularly fly out of East Asia and Hong Kong.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways is popular with those looking for flights to Bali from Europe, the Middle East and even from the United States.
It’s definitely not an airline that will be of much interest to those flying out of Australia unless you want a very long route via Doha (and Doha probably isn’t interesting enough to justify that kind of detour).
If Singapore Airlines doesn’t top the world’s best airline lists, then Qatar Airways is often in that spot. It regularly receives top marks from passengers for the quality of the onboard amenities and safety.
However, Skytrax has it rated at just 7 out of 10, with over 2,000 reviews left by passengers.
Check-in staff tend to be very professional and helpful on Qatar Airways flights to Bali and particularly out of Doha itself.
We find their inflight meals to be pleasant enough, though they don’t feel like they were created by the world-famous chefs meant to be responsible for the menu.
And while they do serve wine and other alcohol onboard, they’re not very generous with it. The wine glasses are a bit smaller than we’ve seen on other airlines.
The legroom appears to have shrunk on many airlines in the post-pandemic world, and Qatar Airways is as guilty of this as any airline. The seat pitch of 32-33 inches isn’t particularly generous.
However, the entertainment options are state-of-the-art, and the flight crews are genuinely helpful and kind.
If you’re a frequent flyer then you will know that Qatar Airways tends to offer plenty of perks to those on its frequent flyer programs.
Turkish Airlines
Not so long ago, if we had recommended Turkish Airlines, people would have looked at us as though we were crazy, but the last two decades have seen this airline enter the big leagues of travel.
Again, they are not an option for most Australian flyers, but if you’re coming from Europe or the Middle East, Turkish Airlines is well worth considering.
The only downside of this airline is that their check-in staff aren’t the cheeriest, and that can lead to a misleading impression of the airline.
In fact, once you’re onboard, the first thing you will notice is how much more legroom you get even in economy when compared to other airlines offering flights to Bali.
This is great news, given that Turkish Airlines is often one of the cheaper long-haul flight options out of Europe and into Asia. Their business class is also great value for money, and the lounge access in Istanbul is superb.
Our kids loved the fact that the security instructions were relayed by LEGO figurines rather than the usual dull in-flight video.
We also thought the in-flight meals were of a really high standard, and it’s one of the few airlines that we’d actually recommend eating on.
However, they’re not popular on Skytrax, and their current rating is just 4 out of 10.
When we investigated the complaints, they all seemed to be with flights within Europe rather than regarding flights to Bali. Certainly, we’ve never had a bad experience on their flights to Bali.
Singapore Airlines
Currently considered to be the world’s best airline, if you’re looking for flights to Bali out of Southeast Asia or with a bounce in Singapore from Europe, you can’t go wrong with this airline.
Their check-in counters are always a pleasure to visit, and the ground staff are helpful and efficient.
Once onboard, you can see the impact of four weeks of customer service training a year on their cabin crew. Nothing is ever too much trouble when it comes to reasonable requests.
Legroom is reasonably generous, and their business class is absolutely incredible. The business class lounge access in Singapore’s Changi Airport is really good, too.
The pandemic economies are still noticeable, though and they no longer provide an in-flight travel kit as they once did.
The inflight Wi-Fi isn’t great, though, and just 100MB for free in business and no free Wi-Fi at all in the economy seems pretty mean.
We should note, though, that recent reviews have been critical of this airline’s staff at Denpasar International Airport, saying that they’re not as helpful as they are elsewhere in the world.
Their frequent flyer program is one of the best in the industry and offers a range of perks to regular users.
Despite their official status as the world’s best, though, Skytrax has them ranked at just 7 out of 10 by their customers in several thousand reviews 
Emirates Airlines
There was a time when Emirates Airlines was the finest flying experience in the world, but the Dubai-based airline is no longer leading the pack.
If you’re flying out of the Gulf or from Europe, it can still provide decent value for money even if its Skytrax Rating has fallen to 5 out of 10 in recent years.
Certainly, their business class in their A380s to Bali takes some beating with an excellent bar area near the rear of the section.
For economy passengers, the legroom is decent, but the in-flight entertainment options are only OK, and they often have problems with the screens for some reason.
The food is nothing to write home about from a taste perspective, even if the food quality is clearly above average.
The real problem is that in-flight service has been trimmed back, perhaps, a little too far.
It seems odd for a premium-tier airline to require passengers to fetch their own drinks, as happened on a recent flight out of Dubai.
The cabin crew is still pleasant and professional but no longer as attentive and customer-oriented as it once was.
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, like Emirates, flies out of the UAE and is for travellers coming from the Gulf and Europe in the main.
Unlike Emirates, this Abu Dhabi-based carrier has never had the intention of becoming the world’s premier airline preferring to deliver good value and comfortable experiences instead.
However, in the last few years, they have tried to pull off a few gimmicks, such as a $23,000 seat for transatlantic flights, which essentially provides a private bedroom in the sky. Flights to Bali on Etihad have no such frills.
Service on the ground in Abu Dhabi, however, is very good, and the check-in crew will take care to ensure you have the right information while operating efficiently and in a friendly manner.
Make sure that you have the credit card you booked your ticket with on you as they require it for a security check.
Leg room and seat pitch are neither world-leading nor stingy, but if you’re very tall, premium economy or business might be essential to your comfort on a long-haul Etihad flight.
The seats are comfortable, but some of their fleet is a bit past its prime now, and you may find the screens aren’t great compared to other airlines.
We think Etihad deserves more than the 4 out of 10 Skytrax rating that it attracts. It’s comfortable and efficient, and that’s all it has ever claimed to be.
Jetstar
Jetstar is the current market leader when flying from Australia to Bali, and that’s because there are over 70 return flights a week from Ngurah Rai International Airport to various destinations in Australia.
If you fly out of Perth, Darwin, Cairns or Adelaide, you can expect to be on an Airbus A320 (the old-school narrow-bodied plane).
Coming out of Melbourne or Sydney, the airline offers seats on the A321, which is a little wider.
Both sets of planes only have economy seating options, there’s no business class experience on Jetstar unless you can catch one of their infrequent Dreamliner flights, and even then, you get nothing more than a recliner seat with no lie-flat beds.
Not that this matters, because Jetstar is a low-cost carrier, and you don’t fly to Bali with them for comfort. You do it because it’s cheap.
Just remember that their base fares only include seats, and you pay for everything else, such as bags, meals, drinks, entertainment, and even choosing your own seat as an extra cost.
We would also note that their flights often take off and land at awkward times of the day because these slots are the cheapest offered by the airports they fly out of.
AirAsia
If you’re flying out of Australia, this will be Indonesia AirAsia. If you come from most of the rest of Southeast Asia, you may fly the old-school Malay AirAsia (it is a Malaysian airline) or Thai AirAsia instead.
From Australia, the experience is almost identical to flying with Jetstar, you get a very low base fare, and then everything else is added on top, and you may find that the extras really start to add up on AirAsia flights.
AirAsia has probably, the worst legroom of any carrier in the region, and you may want to consider a premium economy seat if you’re tall.
This airline once also had flights from Lombok (the island next to Bali in Indonesia) to Australia, but they were abandoned during the pandemic and have yet to resume operations.
Given that it’s a certified 3-star airline, it won’t come as a surprise to see that its Skytrax rating is just 5 out of 10.
Generally speaking, the flights on AirAsia are pleasant but nothing to get excited about apart from the fact that they can be very cheap, indeed.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
If you’re flying out of Europe and want to use a decent European carrier with a reputation for quality service, then you might want to consider flying with KLM.
Based in Amsterdam, you can get easy connections from most European cities to the Amsterdam – Bali route, and they often break the route in Singapore if you want to explore the region before you arrive in Bali.
Generally speaking, their service tends to be polite and efficient and a little “no nonsense” in typical Dutch style.
The food is good, but the portions aren’t as generous as they are on some other airlines.
We’ve found that the entertainment suite is more than capable of keeping us glued to the screen for a long flight, too.
You should be aware, however, that the customers for this flight are often those heading to Bali to party, and there may be some drunken revelry onboard when you fly with KLM.
It’s not too rowdy, but it might not be ideal for those flying with small children.
Qantas
Qantas is, of course, Australia’s national carrier, and most people who fly to Bali from Australia will, at least, consider Qantas before deciding on which flight to take.
It’s worth noting that Qantas offers a full-service approach to flying to Bali and that you will not have to pay extra for baggage, meals, drinks and entertainment.
It’s very important to compare the Qantas price with the final price offered by other airlines before deciding which offers the best value.
They were using an A330 for a while for their flights to Bali, but sadly, they’re now back to using the Boeing 737 and Boeing 800 jets, which aren’t quite as roomy.
Scoot
Scoot is a budget airline that flies out of Australia on some routes and out of Singapore on others to Bali.
You need to stress the “budget” part of flying with Scoot, and their fares are rock bottom because nothing else is included.
This is fine if you know what you’re getting into when you buy your ticket, but it can come as a nasty shock when they want $8 for a bottle of water and explain that there’s no free water for customers even on an 8-hour flight!
So, if you want the cheapest possible flight, definitely consider Scoot, but if you want a bit more comfort, then just be aware that you will need to pay for it.
Malindo Air
Malindo Air is a brand that comes and goes (it actually overlaps with the Lion Air brand at times), and they offer budget flights to Bali out of Australia.
Most customers of Malindo Air say that they’re better than AirAsia, and we tend to agree, particularly when it comes to legroom.
Sadly, they no longer offer free food on their flights, and you will need to book food in advance and pay extra for it.
Overall, this is a good carrier that delivers value for money.
Lion Air
Lion Air is another basic budget carrier that flies from Australia to Bali.
There’s not much to differentiate it from the other budget airlines in the region, to be fair, though the legroom is not great.
However, we ought to note that their customer service is definitely a work in progress, and you may wish that you’d picked something slightly pricier if things go wrong.
Batik Air
Cheap, no-hassle and no-frills is what they promise at Batik Air, and we think that they deliver just that.
While you won’t get much in the way of entertainment options, you won’t care if you’re a price-sensitive flight shopper.
They are punctual, the seats are comfortable, meals are provided at the ticket price, and most of all, when you reach Denpasar International Airport – they make it really easy to deplane and get out of the airport.
Virgin Australia
Not all of Virgin Australia’s pre-Covid routes have returned from Australia to Bali, but most of them are now back in business.
We find this a comfortable airline but find their decision to remove food and drink from the economy class seat ticket pricing a bit baffling.
Be warned, though, even if you pay for their business class, you won’t get access to the international lounge.
Tips On Flying To Bali
If you want the best deal when you fly to Bali airport, it’s a good idea to use the following tips:
- You don’t have to book direct flights with the airline – you can use a travel agent like Bali Res Centre (see the FAQs for details), and they often have cheaper prices than the airline’s website.
- A budget airline will provide the cheapest seats, but you may find that additional fees such as taxes, baggage, meals, drinks, boarding card fees (yes, this is a real thing, now), etc., make it cheaper to fly with a full-service airline, always compare like for like when shopping for flights to Bali.
- Business class passengers can benefit from shopping around as much as those flying in economy on budget airlines do
- Most airlines offer frequent flyer programs, and even occasional fliers can find that they provide a baggage limit upgrade or access to additional legroom for free or at a lower cost than normal. Make sure to join any frequent flyer program on offer before you book. If you do fly regularly, then you can redeem points for things like business class upgrades or free flights to Bali.
A Note About Connecting Flights And Flights To Bali
If you opt to find cheap flights and choose a trip with a connecting flight rather than direct flights to Bali, we’d strongly recommend that you allow enough time for the transfer at the connecting airport.
15 minutes won’t cut it. If you book with a single airline, then if you miss the connection due to airline or airport problems, you will be put on the next flight for free.
If, on the other hand, you’re trying to use the cheapest flights, which are a combination of flights on different airlines, if you miss the connection for any reason (other than the flight’s cancellation by the airline itself), you will need to purchase another ticket at your own expense.
That means that cheap flights to Bali can quickly become the most expensive flights to Bali when using a connection.
We recommend that you find flights that minimize your risk and book your return flight with a single airline rather than spreading your journey over multiple airlines.
That way, you can be sure you won’t need to find the price of another flight halfway through the journey.
FAQs
What Is The Best Airline To Fly To Bali?
It really depends on where you’re going to be flying from.
Singapore Airlines is regularly considered to be the world’s best when international travellers are surveyed (thanks to its comfortable seating, luxurious amenities and exceptional service), but if you’re flying from Melbourne, then Singapore Airlines don’t fly from Melbourne direct to Bali.
Our list of the best Airlines to fly to Bali is meant to be a starting point so that you can see which airlines fly to Bali and then find one that suits your budget and journey needs.
What Is The Best Airline To Fly To Indonesia?
Again, it depends on where you’re flying from. The list of airlines that fly to Bali is, in fact, a subset of a much longer list of airlines that fly to Indonesia.
You’d need to know where you were starting from and where you intended to finish, what your budget was, how long you were willing to fly for, if you needed to fly direct, what kind of in-flight entertainment you wanted, etc., to make that decision.
Is Batik Air Better Than Jetstar? Is Batik Air A Good Airline?
We don’t have any particular preference between Batik Air and Jetstar, but it’s worth noting that Batik Air is aimed at a slightly higher market than Jetstar.
The prices on Batik Air are higher than on Jetstar, and that goes towards better in-flight entertainment options, extra legroom, etc.
It’s still a low-cost carrier but not one built around shaving off every comfort to deliver the lowest possible pricing.
Certainly, neither airline has any facility for business class passengers.
Whether that makes it better or worse for your holiday often depends on how much the final price matters against the quality of the journey.
Who Flys To Bali From Australia?
There are plenty of airlines that fly from Australia directly to Bali, and they include:
- Garuda Indonesia
- Scoot
- Jetstar
- Virgin Australia
- Air Asia X
- Malindo Air
- Batik Air
- Lion Air
- Qantas
Given that Indonesia lies between Australia and much of the rest of the world, booking indirect flights via another destination is unlikely to save money.
That means if you want the lowest possible average flight time, you should probably book from Australia on one of the airlines above.
Which Airlines Are Flying To Bali Now?
All of the airlines on our list above are currently flying to Bali. There are other airlines that fly to Bali but we’ve not been able to assess their quality or that they represent good value for money.
If you’re flying from a destination not covered by the airlines above, why not contact Bali Res Centre (see contact details below) to explore your options?
What Is The Cheapest Month To Go To Bali?
The cheapest month to visit Bali is February.
That’s because it’s still the worst part of the rainy season, and unlike December and January, it doesn’t benefit from the Christmas and New Year holiday season.
That means you are likely to spend less on flights to Bali at this time of year, as well as getting hotels with modern amenities for bargain prices.
Oh, and we get about 8 hours of sunshine a day on average in the rainy season in Bali. You won’t be sorry that you chose to come in February.
Why Is Jetstar Not Flying To Bali?
Jetstar is flying to Bali. There was a temporary pause on flights from Darwin to Bali in 2023 during some maintenance work on runways scheduled by the Australian Department of Defence.
This is over now, and Jetstar is back to its normal flight schedules to Bali.
Can I Guarantee A Direct Flight To Bali?
Yes. You just need to book a direct flight to Bali. This may cost more from some destinations but if you’re flying out of Australia, you should have no problem flying direct and keeping your ticket costs to a minimum.
How To Book Flights To Bali?
We always recommend that people book their Bali holiday, including flights through the lovely people at the Bali Res Centre.
That’s a fully locally owned and managed travel service here in Bali. They have an amazing understanding of Bali and what’s going on right now to be able to ensure that you have the best possible trip to Bali.
They can also offer competitive pricing thanks to local contacts and their high profile in the travel industry.
Best of all, when you book with the Bali Res Centre, you keep your money in Bali and not in the pockets of a multinational.
We think that’s good for you and good for Bali.
Final Thoughts On Direct Flights, Cheap Flights And Other Flights To Bali
If you’re looking for the right flights to Bali, then you will want to consider the airlines that we’ve listed above carefully.
Each airline offers flights that land at Denpasar Airport and can deliver both comfort and a quality experience to their guests.
Of course, there’s a difference between flying business class on a national carrier compared to the economy on the cheapest airline, but all these flights to Bali will get you to where you want to be with fairly minimal fuss.
We hope to see you in Bali soon and that when you do visit, you come to FINNS, the best beach club in the world.
