Used to fly Garuda regularly (Singapore - Pekanbaru) many moons ago. Won't say they were frightening but...................it is the only airline I have ever been on when the passengers burst into spontaneous applause when a (relatively) safe landing was accomplished!
Was on one flight where the pilot 'forgot' to decend along conventional lines and almost did a 'wing over'. The decent was VERY rapid!
On another my 12 year old son was standing in the doorway to the flight deck talking to the flight crew and we got on to finals when I told him to sit down and 'buckle up'. I think the crew would have let him stand there during landing!
Knew many Bristow pilots who would not use Garuda to fly at all.
Could go on with even more hair raising stories, all perfectly true.
Please feel free to use Garuda...............I know I won't if almost any other carrier goes where I need to get.
Look on the bright side, they may have improved in the last 20 years.........but then again.......they might not!
Enjoy!