The status of traveling to the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Hurricane Dorian has wreaked havoc on everything in its path — especially the islands of the Bahamas. The then-Category 5 storm — which had sustained winds reaching 185 miles per hour — stalled over the island for days. The images and videos of the destruction now emerging are harrowing. At least seven people died from the storm, according to NPR, and the toll is expected to rise.
Grand Bahama International Airport (FPO) in Freeport was hit especially hard. Reports are surfacing that it's "completely destroyed" and totally underwater.
According to Patrick Oppmann, international correspondent and Havana bureau chief at CNN: "There is not a wall left ... The level of devastation is breathtaking ... Part of a plane is deposited in the middle of the terminal."
Additionally, Bahamian Prime Minster Hubert Minnis said the area surrounding the Leonard M. Thompson International Airport (MHH) that serves the Abaco Islands "looks like a lake," according to NPR. "It is going to require a massive coordinated effort to rebuild our communities."
As far as Lynden Pindling International in Nassau (NAS), home to popular resorts such as Atlantis and Baha Mar, flooding has reportedly been minor. USA Today reported that the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation has been given an "all-clear" for New Providence Island, although flooding and power outages are present in parts of Nassau.
If you have travel booked to the Bahamas in the coming weeks or months, your credit card may be able to help you out if your plans were disrupted by Hurricane Dorian. The Chase Sapphire Reserve, for example, has some of the best travel protections around, including trip cancellation insurance. This type of insurance reimburses you if a covered loss (think: devastating storm) prevents you or your immediate family members from traveling on or before the departure date, and results in cancellation of the trip.
It also covers you if the loss causes interruption of a trip on the way to the point of departure or after departure. There are two types of covered losses that may apply if your trip is cancelled or interrupted, including severe weather, or finding that your dwelling is uninhabitable.
And even if your credit card doesn't offer any form of trip protection, you may still have some coverage. Your best bet is to call the hotel or airline you are booked with and ask for a refund; if they can't issue one, you might want to file a credit card dispute.
And though it may be easy to reschedule your travel plan, for many residents of the Bahamas, the nightmare is just beginning. For travelers interested in getting involved, there are plenty of ways to help. Various airlines and hospitality companies are offering bonus miles incentives for donating to the Red Cross, for example, and you can even open your home or apartment to people who have been displaced.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.