Sri Lanka Attacks: The Latest Information Travelers Should Know
Two days after hotels and churches in Sri Lanka were targeted in a series of bombings that killed more than 300 people on Easter Sunday, officials in the capital city, Colombo, were warned to look out for vehicles carrying explosives on Tuesday.
"All police stations in the Sri Lankan capital ... have been advised to be on high alert for a truck and van suspected to be carrying explosives," CNN reported Tuesday morning, citing a spokesperson for the Colombo police.
Per police orders on Tuesday, "Anyone parking a car on the street and leaving unattended must put a note with their phone number on the windscreen," the AP reported.
On Monday, a booby-trapped van was discovered and detonated by authorities near one of the churches that was attacked by suicide bombers on Sunday, St. Anthony's Shrine, according to CNN.
Security measures have been tightened across the country. Post offices are no longer accepting prewrapped packages, and military officials were also given, "war time powers," according to the AP, as Sri Lanka was put under a state of emergency Tuesday.
The US Department of State issued a new travel warning on Sri Lanka due to the threat of terrorism. "Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Sri Lanka," the warning states. "Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets [and] shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports and other public areas."
The State Department's travel alert on Sri Lanka is "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution" out of a possible four levels. Many countries popular with US tourists have a Level 2 warning for various reasons. These countries include the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, France, Mexico and Spain.
Despite the persistent threats, flights to and from Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) are operating as scheduled. But many airlines are urging passengers departing CMB to arrive at least four hours before their flight departure time due to heightened security.
For example, Emirates issued the following warning to passengers: "Due to heightened security measures at Bandaranaike International Airport, Emirates urges its passengers in Sri Lanka to arrive at the airport at least four hours before their flight departure this week."
And several airlines that fly into Sri Lanka have been offering travel waivers, so that passengers can change or cancel their flights without fees. The following airlines are among those that have issued some form of travel waiver for Sri Lanka: AirAsia, Air India, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad, IndiGo, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.
If you don't see your airline listed but are still interested in changing or cancelling your upcoming flight to Sri Lanka, it might be worth contacting the credit card company with which you booked the tickets to see if the travel protection coverage would apply.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- 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 $8,000 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.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.