Flying from Bajawa to Kupang with Wings Air

Travelling from Bajawa to Kupang can be done by a combination of road and sea transport, but we decided to fly with Wings Air to save time.

We travelled on Wings Air flight IW1926, originally scheduled to leave Bajawa at 16:05 and arrive in Kupang at 17:10.

The actual journey turned out to be a little different because our flight was rescheduled, and then delayed again.

The biggest concern for us, however, was not the flight itself. It was the baggage allowance.

Here is what happened when we flew from Bajawa to Kupang with Wings Air.

🇯🇵 この記事を日本語で読む：BajawaからKupangへWings Airで移動｜IW1926搭乗記

Flying Wings Air from Bajawa to Kupang

Our flight details were:

• Airline: Wings Air
• Flight: IW1926
• Route: Bajawa to Kupang
• Scheduled departure: 16:05
• Scheduled arrival: 17:10

The flight was operated by a small turboprop aircraft, which meant that the carry-on baggage restrictions were particularly important for us.

We were travelling with two backpacks which were bigger than the Wings prescribed sizes, so we were not sure whether we would be allowed to take them into the cabin.

Wings Air carry-on baggage restrictions

The carry-on baggage limit stated on our ticket was 35 x 35 x 30 cm and 7 kg.

Our backpacks were larger than the stated dimensions.

There was another issue too: our ticket did not include checked baggage.

If we wanted to check a bag, we had to pay separately. Buying additional baggage in advance was cheaper than paying for it at the airport.

Normally, we would have considered checking one of our backpacks.

However, there was something inside that we really did not want to put into checked baggage: our snorkelling fins.

Why we wanted to keep our snorkelling fins in the cabin

We were carrying our snorkelling equipment because we planned to continue travelling around eastern Indonesia.

I have large feet, so finding another pair of fins of the same size in Indonesia would not have been easy if mine were lost or damaged.

For that reason, we decided not to purchase checked baggage in advance and simply went to the airport with our backpacks.

We knew there was a chance we would have to check one of them, but we wanted to try taking everything into the cabin first.

Getting to Bajawa Airport

Our guesthouse owner drove us to the airport.

The transfer cost IDR 200,000.

We arrived shortly after 14:00, giving ourselves plenty of time before the scheduled departure.

When we checked in, we discovered that the flight time had already changed.

Our flight was rescheduled from 16:05 to 17:25

The original departure time was 16:05, but at check-in we were told that the new departure time was 17:25.

The staff specifically described this as a reschedule, rather than a delay.

At least we had arrived early, so the change was not a major problem for us.

The bigger question was whether we would be allowed to take our backpacks on board.

Would our backpacks be allowed in the cabin?

At check-in, Mai’s backpack was accepted as cabin baggage without much difficulty.

However, when the staff saw my snorkelling fins, they told me that the bag should be checked.

I explained that I have large feet and that replacing the fins in Indonesia would be very difficult if they were lost or damaged. 

After a bit of persuading, the staff allowed me to take them on board as cabin baggage.

So we were able to keep both backpacks with us.

It was a relief, but the whole baggage situation was more stressful than we had expected.

To be honest, after dealing with the baggage restrictions, I started to think that travelling by boat might actually be less stressful for us.

Why our Wings Air flight was delayed further

The aircraft operating our flight was not simply flying from Bajawa to Kupang.

It had been operating between Bajawa and Labuan Bajo before continuing to Kupang.

The previous flight to Labuan Bajo departed later than scheduled, so our flight was also affected.

Although our flight had already been rescheduled to 17:25, boarding did not begin until 17:34.

Boarding the turboprop aircraft at Bajawa

We walked from the gate to the aircraft.

Our seats were 1A and 1C, right at the front of the aircraft.

Because we were among the first passengers to board, we had no problem finding space for our bags because we could put them in sideways.

Interestingly, there were already passengers sitting in the aircraft when we boarded.

They were presumably travelling from Labuan Bajo to Kupang on the same aircraft.

The small turboprop aircraft gave us a very different experience from flying on a larger jet as we had often done in Indonesia.  I seem to recall flying Wings Air from Tual to Ambon about 8 years ago.

Our actual flight from Bajawa to Kupang

We finally took off at 17:53.

Once we were in the air, the flight was very smooth.

We landed at Kupang at 18:52.

That was considerably later than the original scheduled arrival time of 17:10, but there were no problems with the flight itself.

After all the uncertainty at Bajawa Airport, it was good simply to be in Kupang.

From Kupang Airport to our hotel

We had booked a hotel close to Kupang Airport: Sahid T More Hotel.

The hotel offered an airport pick-up service, so their vehicle came to collect us after we landed.

After the journey from Bajawa, having a hotel transfer waiting at the airport made things much easier.

➡ Sahid T-More Hotel Kupang Review: Free Airport Transfer and Spacious Rooms

Our experience flying from Bajawa to Kupang

Overall, the actual flight from Bajawa to Kupang was smooth and straightforward.

The part that caused us the most stress was the baggage situation.

The 35 x 35 x 30 cm carry-on size restriction is worth paying attention to if you are travelling with a larger backpack.

Our backpacks were over the stated dimensions, but we were ultimately allowed to take them on board.

However, we would not assume that another passenger would necessarily receive the same treatment. If your luggage is clearly over the stated limit, there is always a possibility that you will be asked to check it.

If you think you will need checked baggage, it is also worth looking at the additional baggage options when booking your ticket, as buying it in advance is normally cheaper than paying at the airport.

For us, flying from Bajawa to Kupang was convenient and much quicker than travelling overland and by sea. However, with our backpacks being bigger than thr Wings limit and snorkelling equipment, the baggage rules are something we would definitely consider when planning the journey.

In the end, we made it to Kupang safely, collected our bags, and were soon on our way to our hotel.

➡ Kupang Travel Guide: What We Did During a 2-Night Transit Stay