Travel insurance and volcano

[Greshamst]

I’m supposed to be flying to Indonesia (Jakarta) tomorrow night.
On Saturday I have an internal flight booked to Komodo Island Airport.

Komodo Island Airport is currently closed down due to an ash cloud from a volcano on the east of the island. My internal flight has not been cancelled yet.


I called my travel insurance company to ask if I could just cancel the whole trip and get refunded, as I’m likely to get stuck in Jakarta and be unable to use the hotel or boat trip booked in Komodo, or risk getting stuck in Komodo and missing my return flight home.

They said until my internal flight gets cancelled, I’m not covered and would not get refunded for £3k flight I did not take.

I spent £5k on this holiday, and I think I’m going to have to go all the way to Jakarta to then get stuck.
Flights were booked on a credit card. Hotels were booked on Amex. None of them are flexible/refundable bookings by this point in time.

Anyone with any better knowledge of insurance or any thoughts on what to do on this predicament?

[abzmike]

Unfortunate situation - Are you on a single booking to the final destination?

[Greshamst]

abzmike said:

Unfortunate situation - Are you on a single booking to the final destination?

No unfortunately there wasn’t the option to have as all one booking, so the internal flight (Jakarta to Komodo) was booked separately.

With a low cost carrier as well as that was the only option. Oh dear.

[abzmike]

Greshamst said:

abzmike said:

Unfortunate situation - Are you on a single booking to the final destination?

No unfortunately there wasn’t the option to have as all one booking, so the internal flight (Jakarta to Komodo) was booked separately.

With a low cost carrier as well as that was the only option. Oh dear.

I doubt there is a lot you can do. I'd go to Jakarta, see whats happening and develop a plan B. You should be able to recover what you were not able to access on Komodo.

[djc206]

abzmike said:

I doubt there is a lot you can do. I'd go to Jakarta, see whats happening and develop a plan B. You should be able to recover what you were not able to access on Komodo.

That would be my plan as well.

Having been in Bali when Agung went off and had to leave by car and ferry things change quite quickly with these situations. There’s every chance that’s it’s all blown over by Saturday, pun intended.

Shame as it’s sounds like a cool trip!

[Greshamst]

Staying on West Java (where Jakarta airport is) and trying to find a new resort doesn’t look like a go-er there’s not too much that appeals.

Could potentially fly to Singapore or Malaysia, but then that changes the nature/resort style holiday to a city break, and the whole point of this was relaxation!

Could potentially fly to Bangkok, and then Phuket and find somewhere coastal. Only have 7 days so it’s not ideal.

The missus is an anxious traveller so all these options come with their additional stress.

[djc206]

Who are you flying to Jakarta with? Will they let you amend your destination to somewhere else in Asia?

[TeamD]

Greshamst said:

Staying on West Java (where Jakarta airport is) and trying to find a new resort doesn’t look like a go-er there’s not too much that appeals.

Could potentially fly to Singapore or Malaysia, but then that changes the nature/resort style holiday to a city break, and the whole point of this was relaxation!

Could potentially fly to Bangkok, and then Phuket and find somewhere coastal. Only have 7 days so it’s not ideal.

The missus is an anxious traveller so all these options come with their additional stress.

Penang or Langkawi?

[AndyAudi]

My method of figuring out a plan if I’m headed somewhere.

Wikipedia destination airport & then read “destination & airlines” to figure where I can go from there.
(Short notice also consider visa requirements though)

Best of luck, & let us know