Behind the Economic versus Executive Choice for Eid Homecoming

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Rina (24) sat alone on one of the seats in the departure waiting area at Gambir Station, Central Jakarta, that afternoon. There was still about an hour left before the train that would take her to Purwokerto departed. She used the time to simply check her phone and stare silently at the large screen displaying the train schedule.

The shoulder-length haired woman has been migrating to Jakarta for the past few years and always returns to her hometown ahead of Eid by train. Her reason is that the station is closer to her home compared to the bus terminal or even the airport.

Additionally, the train takes a relatively short time to reach the destination and is free from traffic jams. It takes her around four hours to get to Purwokerto. Rina estimated she would arrive before breaking the fast.

Considering her departure from Gambir Station, she clearly chose the executive class. It turned out this was her second choice, as she had run out of economy class tickets for the departure date she wanted. In ticket world terms, Rina lost the battle this time.

For Rina, rather than failing to go home for Eid, choosing another train class became the primary option. She shelled out around Rp390,000, which is about Rp100,000 more expensive than economy class.

In terms of facilities, she could enjoy wider and more comfortable seats, with footrests and more spacious legroom. Meanwhile, in economy class, there are types of seats that face each other and are more upright, making them uncomfortable for some people.

However, the discomfort typically experienced by economy class passengers is mitigated by the introduction of the new generation (NG) train series.

The seats on this train are no longer at a 90-degree upright angle and facing each other, but instead feature ergonomic captain seats that can be adjusted for recline (reclining) and rotated to follow the direction of the train (revolving).

The interior resembles executive class with a bright ambience, modern overhead luggage racks, soft lighting, and elegant wooden accents in the window areas.