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TPG Stranded as Bali Airport Closes Due to Volcanic Ash

Nov. 27, 2017
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4 min read
Mount Agung Volcano In Indonesia Close to Eruption
TPG Stranded as Bali Airport Closes Due to Volcanic Ash
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Since Bali's aging volcano Mt. Agung began erupting five days ago, authorities have advised residents and those visiting to remain calm. However, on Monday morning local time, Denpasar's Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) was forced to close due to the volcano's ash — and TPG himself is stuck on the island. You can follow along with him on both Instagram and Facebook as he navigates the situation. He also did a Facebook Live from the airport to show how the closure is affecting both him and the folks at Denpasar:

TPG also posted a number of photos from Denpasar showing the activity there during the closure:

According to The Telegraph, the alert for Mt. Agung has been raised to its highest level, just days after it first erupted. As a result, those within 10 kilometers of the volcano have been ordered to evacuate. At this point, Denpasar is closed for incoming and departing flights. Based on the airport's latest report, more than 7,000 passengers are stranded.

The head of Bali's geological agency, Kasbani, said the island doesn't expect a big eruption; however, the government is forced to remain alert and anticipate anything. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency reports that the airport will consider reopening operations on Tuesday after evaluating the situation. The airport said that it would "make it easier" for passengers to get refunds for their travel or to make alternative arrangements.

Of course, each airline has its own rules on rebooking travel:

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  • Singapore Airlines has issued an announcement informing passengers of cancelled flights. Customers with travel booked between November 27 and December 4, 2017, to or from DPS, can contact their nearest Singapore Airlines ticket office for rebooking. The new travel date must commence on or before January 31, 2018.
  • AirAsia cancelled its flights on Sunday afternoon into DPS and Lombok (LOP). Affected customers will be allowed to either change to a new travel time on the same route within 30 calendar days of the original flight time without additional charge, or retain the value of their fare in an AirAsia credit for future travel. The airline did not provide an update on its Monday flight schedule.
  • Qantas said flights were continuing as of Sunday afternoon but were subject to immediate change without much warning. It has not yet updated its info for Monday.

We have yet to hear anything from Qatar Airways as of this writing, but will update this post when we receive new information from Qatar and from any of the affected carriers.

If you have travel booked to Bali in the coming days, weeks or months, it could be a good idea to rethink those plans. At this time, it's not known how the Mt. Agung situation will continue to evolve, but follow TPG on both Instagram and Facebook as he navigates the eruption and airport closure.

Featured image by NurPhoto via Getty Images

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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