Stuck in Bali!
 

Hello Fellow Emirati,
I am in the (enviable?!) position of potentially being stuck on Bali, with DPS closed and emirates having canceled it's daily flights until further notice.
I am due to depart on EK399 on the 30th.
If our flight is canceled or massively delayed, what can I expect from Emirates? Guess it would be asking a bit much for them to foot the bill for our current hotel?
I reached out to EK via Twitter and they have offered to rebook us via Jakarta, but 26+ hours on a bus/ferry/train doesn't sound like the best way to end a holiday!
Any tips, hints and suggestions most welcome!

Your Bali pics in Insta look good, how was the snorkelling?

They won't pay for hotel, due to force majeure, that's what travel insurance is for. If you used an FNB Gold or above credit card you could've had travel insurance for free but need to issue policy before trip starts.

Personally I wouldn't mind exploring an Indonesian ferry trip.

Snorkeling was amazing! Tons of turtles in the waters around Gili Meno!

That explains why they seems to unhelpful on Twitter. I've already opened a case with my travel insurer (AIG, via EK) and they seem very happy to pay costs of we are delayed. Might give that a few days before making the trek to Jakarta!

Have already tried a ferry or two on this trip, slightly scary experience for the most part.. the worse bit is the 16h+ train trip after the ferry..

whats your insta?

Take a hint from his username ;)

I'm due to arrive in East Java this weekend coming so hoping that effects are minimal if any at that end of the island.

One option is to take a road trip to the North East West of the island and get a ferry across to Banyuwangi then road trip it to SUB where, hopefully all being well, there will still be domestic flights operating to CGK. Another option from East Java is Malang although they don't have as many flights to CGK and are also load restricted as far as I'm aware due to the size of the airport/runway.

Hope you're not impacted too much but I suppose there are worse places to be stuck.

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Have you looked into a flight from BWX to CGK? Blimbingsari Airport in Banyuwangi is quite a bit closer to DPS than SUB.

Wow....They finally opened it to commercial traffic. I remember them talking about this a few years ago but I think it was put on hold at the time indefinitely due to issues with the runway.

Good to hear there is another option for East Java (as long as GA run some of the services ;))

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I live in Bali for the moment and have to travel in 12 days from now, hopefully the airport can reopen by then, but hard to predict as it's up to the wind direction..

I am looking in rebooking through CGK, and found out BWX has several flights a day! So that saves the long trek to Lombok or Surabaya.

I might have to take the NAM Air flight as my schedule doesn't work with the GA flights.. Anyone have any experience on NAM? I'd be flying J but not a clue how they are..

Hi Folks, an update and a plea for advice!
My flight this evening (EK399) has been canceled. I have been rebooked on the 1745 flight out of Jakarta on Friday (the 1st).

Now I just need to get to Jakarta. I originally book to fly from Surabaya Airport, but am starting to dread the cost and hassle of traveling the whole way there overland. BWX is an option, but I'm worried it gets closed again due to its proximity to DPS. To add a further spanner to the works, DPS has reopened, but who knows how long for?!

It is going to depend on the prevailing winds. I used to travel on the road between Banyuwangi and Surabaya when I went to East Java and it wasn’t the best of roads but I believe it has improved quite a bit. If you fancy a bit of an adventure, I think there is still an option of getting the train from Banyuwangi to Surabaya. Sure someone at your hotel/resort could advise but a lot of people will be in the same boat now.

I would at at least get to Banyuwangi first and probably sooner rather than later. My wife stays in East Java about 2 hours away from Banyuwangi and there is no effects there at present. If you get there first, then you can weigh the options up better.

S

I would take a chance in flying to CGK from DPS today if you can find any availability.. The chance of the airport closing again is still real

Reports from the road are that the drive between Bali and Surabaya is chaos. Tons of busses with stranded tourists and a cyclone is not a great combination.
We have managed to secure a spot on a Lion Air flight to Jakarta this evening (paying for that ticket was a whole nother adventure), so hoping the airport stays open and we actually get on the flight!

Let me know how Lion was, I haven't dared fly with them yet lol.

And yeah I've read about that before, a pain without an Indonesian debit card, which I luckily have. Did you have to go to one of the ATM's to make the payment?

For any long voyage on Java, I’d take the train over driving any day.

Hopefully my last update!
Currently in CGK, sitting in the Premier Lounge (top Tip: there are two lounge options. Only the premier has booze), waiting for the 1745 flight out.
Lion air was surprisingly pleasant, brand new plane and I even managed to score a emergency exit without trying.
News is that lots of international flights out of DPS are being canceled despite the airport being open, so very happy with our decision to fly to Jakarta.
Anyone due in Dubai between 2300-0400 tonight/tomorrow?

Makes sense, EK won't want a 777 stuck in DPS if the airport closes while they're on the ground, or have to divert to CGK with a plane-load full of pax if it closes while they are enroute. domestic flights with shorter flight times are more flexible in that regard.