The government has advised New Zealanders travelling to Bali to contact their airlines or tour operators to confirm flight schedules, following increased seismic activity from Mt. Agung Volcano in Bali, Indonesia.
On June 29, ash clouds severely disrupted air travel in and out of Bali. Air New Zealand, according to a report from NZ Herald, cancelled flights to and from Bali as a result of the volcanic activity. Flight Centre also reportedly advised customers to contact their store or travel experts to get the latest advice on their individual itineraries and travel insurance policies.
“There have been a number of events worldwide recently, such as earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes, which highlight the importance of travel insurance and so we recommend anyone soon to travel overseas make sure they have sufficient cover for their trip,” Flight Centre general manager Sue Matson told the publication.
According to safetravel.govt.nz, travellers need to check whether their airline is offering alternative arrangements as most insurance providers do not cover for natural disasters, including volcanic eruptions.
“We advise all New Zealand travellers to carefully review their travel insurance policy before departing,” it said.
Allianz Partners, meanwhile, also issued a travel advisory reminding Kiwis who are currently travelling in Bali to always consider safety first and follow advice from local authorities.
Here are other tips, as outlined by Allianz Partners, that brokers can pass to clients when caught up in travel chaos:
