In 2008, Forbes Traveller listed Jakarta, or to be precise Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, as the 6th most punctual airport in the world. By 2009 it had risen to become No 2. A huge accolade, especially when you are handling in excess of 36 million passengers a year.

Unfortunately, the accolades gained by the airside operation is not mirrored by the sheer chaos that awaits those arriving foreign travellers and tourists in the arrivals hall.

The arrivals procedure is torturous - with long queues to obtain your visa on arrival, a process that is then all but repeated in having to re-queue and re-giving the same passport and personal information to actually clear immigration itself. Add to this the new finger-printing process, and the picture gets worse.The better news is the shopping on offer, and whilst the normal run-of-the-mill gift kiosks seen worldwide are always on hand, Jakarta’s Plaza Bali duty free operator located in terminals D and E is really where you need to go for choice.

Jakarta airports biggest duty free store, and boasting the worlds longest airport shop front, this is where you will find a comprehensive selection of fashion, cosmetics, fragrances and gifts.

Ready to wear ranges such as Diesel and Ralph Lauren are well represented here as well as a growing number of designer boutiques with Fendi, Burberry and Hermes leading the way.

For fragrances, cosmetics and perfumes the duty free choice continues to hold strong with extensive ranges from YSL, Chanel, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Clarins, Bvlgari, Aramis, DKNY, Gucci, Anna Sui, Gaultier, and Calvin Klein.

Like many airports in Asia, the outlets here have a good selection of arts and crafts. Some of these locally made Indonesian products are truly stunning. They vary from the small and intricately made handwoven items, to beautifull carved (and sometimes giant) Balinese wood. It is always a disappointing that these are often displayed next to tourist tak !

For those on business or needing to keep in touch, Jakarta Airport needs to move up a gear with its internet access which is currently only available in the Skynet cafe located next to the well stocked bar and restaurant, the Sky Lounge.

For those cash carrying travellers, well Jakarta has ATM’s just about everywhere, but for those like to personalize the experience, try one of the 8 money changers .... so brush up on your bartering skills.

• Airport Code: CJK
• Terminals: 3 (with 4th to follow)
• Airlines: Cebu Pacific Air, Indonesia AirAsia, Lion Air, Garuda Indonesia, Batavia Air and Aviastar.
• Visa on Arrival: Yes
• Departure Tax: Yes (since March 2009)
• Currency: Rupiah (IDR)
• Local Time: GMT+7

Check our airport shopping guide to ....

• Bali Denpasar Airport

And our arrivals allowance guide

• Indonesia Duty Free Allowances