For many Australians, Bali is a slice of paradise.

For just a short flight away, holiday goers get to experience sun-soaked beaches, vibrant culture and an escape from the daily.

However,the getaway plans of numerous Aussies have been thrown into disarray due to the powerful forces of nature.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, located in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province, has had a series of volcanic eruptions over the past week.

The eruptions spewed thick, black ash and smoke into the sky.

These eruptions created an ash blanket that has spread for several kilometres.

Blanket aside, the volcanic ash also reached altitudes of up to 10 metres, and the eruptions had fireballs and debris raining down on nearby villages.

Bali is a popular beach destination in Indonesia. Image Credit: Pexels/El Jusuf

The impact of volcanic activity on air travel has been evident.

Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia flights have cancelled multiple flights to and from Bali.

The volcanic ash could damage engines and affect visibility, making flying through or near the ash cloud extremely dangerous.

The sudden flight cancellations left many Aussie travellers stranded and frustrated.

Many travellers have been stuck at airports, sitting on the floor with their luggage and grappling with reality.

'We could not get our tickets refunded because they were sale flights,' lamented one traveller.

The situation is equally challenging for those already in Bali as they wait for a chance to come home.

'It's just ridiculous,' one traveller shared due to the lack of communication from her booked airline.

Accommodation also became a pressing concern for the stranded tourists.

In response to the chaos, Jetstar announced that it would run two flights between Bali and Australia to help clear the backlog of stranded customers.

These flights would use their larger 787 aircraft to accommodate more passengers and expedite their return.

Virgin Australia cancelled four flights and has prioritised the safety of their guests and crew.

'We regret the inconvenience this has caused our passengers, and our team is working hard to ensure all passengers booked on our services get to their destination safely and as soon as possible,' a Virgin Australia spokesperson stated.

Qantas flights were initially less affected as their flights went ahead as scheduled on Tuesday.

However, one Qantas flight had to return to the airport due to the deteriorating flight conditions.

The airline has since offered accommodation to those affected as they anticipate a rescheduled departure.

This incident became a reminder of the unpredictability of international travel.

It also highlighted the importance of travel insurance and choosing flexible ticket options whenever possible.

For those planning a trip to Bali in the near future, it is vital to stay updated about the situation.

Key Takeaways

• Multiple flights to Bali have been cancelled due to volcanic eruptions from Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki.
• The eruptions have emitted thick black ash and smoke. Volcanic ash also rose to 10 metres in altitude, affecting air travel.
• Flights from Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia have been impacted. Jetstar started adding new flights to help clear the backlog of stranded passengers.
• Passengers have faced cancellations and delays, with some unable to obtain refunds due to sale conditions.

Have you or someone you know been affected by the recent Bali flight cancellations? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

 

[CliffE]

This is not the first time this has happened, a few years ago and some years before that.
For those who do not know, the ash turns to a glass like substance inside the jet engine and literally gums up the engine and turns the plane into a brick with paper wings.

The glide ratio of an Airbus A320 with total engine failure is approximately 15:1. This means that for every 1,000 feet of altitude, the A320 can glide approximately 15,000 feet (or roughly 2.8 miles) horizontally in optimal conditions, assuming a clean configuration (gear and flaps retracted) and proper speed management.

In real-world conditions, factors such as weather, aircraft weight, and descent speed will affect this glide ratio. However, 15:1 is a generally accepted figure for the A320 in a glide scenario.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Volcanoes don't care about humans and rightly so....

 

[DLHM]

Volcanoes don't care about humans and rightly so....

Mother Nature always wins with her natural disasters, commanding respect.

 

[Pridar]

the volcanic ash also reached altitudes of up to 10 KILOMETRES not just metres as in the story

 

[Ebby]

This is not the first time this has happened, a few years ago and some years before that.
For those who do not know, the ash turns to a glass like substance inside the jet engine and literally gums up the engine and turns the plane into a brick with paper wings.

The glide ratio of an Airbus A320 with total engine failure is approximately 15:1. This means that for every 1,000 feet of altitude, the A320 can glide approximately 15,000 feet (or roughly 2.8 miles) horizontally in optimal conditions, assuming a clean configuration (gear and flaps retracted) and proper speed management.

In real-world conditions, factors such as weather, aircraft weight, and descent speed will affect this glide ratio. However, 15:1 is a generally accepted figure for the A320 in a glide scenario.

The people should get their money back its not their fault

 

[mylittletibbies]

The people should get their money back its not their fault

It's also not the airlines fault.
Nobody is to blame except Mother Nature.
All these people will get home eventually, requiring a flight, so why should they get their money back.
As per usual many people do not take out travel insurance. If they did out of pocket expenses would be covered, so that is their own silly fault.
This is not the first time this has happened and won't be the last.
Travel insurance folks, it's not that expensive.

 

[DLHM]

It's also not the airlines fault.
Nobody is to blame except Mother Nature.
All these people will get home eventually, requiring a flight, so why should they get their money back.
As per usual many people do not take out travel insurance. If they did out of pocket expenses would be covered, so that is their own silly fault.
This is not the first time this has happened and won't be the last.
Travel insurance folks, it's not that expensive.

Yes, what you say is true.

 

[elaine41]

The people should get their money back its not their fault

That's why they should have had travel insurance. The rule of thumb is never, ever travel overseas without taking out travel insurance covering both travel & health.

 

[mylittletibbies]

That's why they should have had travel insurance. The rule of thumb is never, ever travel overseas without taking out travel insurance covering both travel & health.

They should make travel insurance compulsory when purchasing your ticket. It's a very minimal cost and then you are covered for things like this.
I just purchased travel insurance for my upcoming trip to NSW, it was less than $60, worth it for peace of mind.
When I've travelled to Bali it has never been more than $100.
If you can't afford to pay travel insurance then you obviously can't afford to travel.
I can never understand how people can have the audacity to set up GoFundMe pages, expecting complete strangers to pay for things that travel insurance would have covered.

 

[Veggiepatch]

In 1983, I took out travel insurance when travelling to New Zealand. On the third day, I broke my leg in five places snow skiing. Did I need insurance? Not really as there is (or was) a reciprocal agreement between the Australian and New Zealand governments for free medical treatment for tourists from either country.

I did not know this at the time and was not asked for any payment at the time or later.

 

[Veggiepatch]

If you can't afford to pay travel insurance then you obviously can't afford to travel.
I can never understand how people can have the audacity to set up GoFundMe pages, expecting complete strangers to pay for things that travel insurance would have covered.

Do people really have the audacity to do this? Pay for your own expenses!

Mongrels!

 

[mylittletibbies]

In 1983, I took out travel insurance when travelling to New Zealand. On the third day, I broke my leg in five places snow skiing. Did I need insurance? Not really as there is (or was) a reciprocal agreement between the Australian and New Zealand governments for free medical treatment for tourists from either country.

I did not know this at the time and was not asked for any payment at the time or later.

I didn't know that, is that still the case?

 

[Veggiepatch]

I didn't know that, is that still the case?

I don't know if it still exists. That was the last time I travelled overseas.

 

[Veggiepatch]

I didn't know that, is that still the case?

This will clarify things.

New Zealand has reciprocal health agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom (UK). Under each, certain services may be publicly funded for people covered by the agreements. Those services may be funded to the same extent as for a national of the country they’re visiting or staying in temporarily.

Source: https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/corporate-information/our-health-system/eligibility-for-publicly-funded-health-services/reciprocal-health-agreements#:~:text=reciprocal health agreements-,New Zealand has reciprocal health agreements with Australia and the,visiting or staying in temporarily.

 

[DLHM]

One time that I took out travel insurance, it seems I didn’t read the fine print very well. I thought it covered both flight insurance and medical insurance.

It was in Canada and I’d had an ambulance called for me and taken to hospital after suffering a heart “episode”. Ambulance cost me Cdn$400 and couple of hours in emergency cost me Cdn$800.

After returning to Australia, I tried to get compensation from the insurance company, but it was ignored. Lesson learnt. That was in January 2019.

 

[mylittletibbies]

Do people really have the audacity to do this? Pay for your own expenses!

Mongrels!

You bet they do, all the time.
Also people need to know that your travel insurance usually doesn't cover you for what is classed as dangerous activities.
Particularly in Bali if you hire a motorbike and drive around on what can be quite dangerous roads. Young guys tend to drink too much and then do this, sometimes with disastrous consequences.
You are not covered for things like bungie jumping, white water rafting, even horse riding in some cases. Pays to read through your policy.
If you have an accident after what is considered to be excessive alcohol consumption you won't be covered.

 

[mylittletibbies]

This will clarify things.

New Zealand has reciprocal health agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom (UK). Under each, certain services may be publicly funded for people covered by the agreements. Those services may be funded to the same extent as for a national of the country they’re visiting or staying in temporarily.

Source: https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/corporate-information/our-health-system/eligibility-for-publicly-funded-health-services/reciprocal-health-agreements#:~:text=reciprocal health agreements-,New Zealand has reciprocal health agreements with Australia and the,visiting or staying in temporarily.

Thank you.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Particularly in Bali if you hire a motorbike and drive around on what can be quite dangerous roads. Young guys tend to drink too much and then do this, sometimes with disastrous consequences.

I did exactly the same thing in Bali in 1981. Except I was a relatively experienced motorcyclist with a severely underpowered 125 cc two stroke Yamaha!

 

[magpie1]

If people want to travel overseas without travel insurance that's their problem.....especially when something happens to them that may cost them a lot of money to rectify.....you can take your chances but do not complain if something untoward happens to you that you never thought of beforehand and be prepared to shell out who knows how much to fix your problem......we constantly read about people being caught out overseas because of unforeseen events when travelling.....how many more times do travelers have to be told.
No sympathy for such foolishness.