An Australian holidaymaker has pointed out a problem at Bali’s Denpasar airport that could cause travellers to miss their flights home.
In a recent TikTok video by model Dasha Daley following a two-and-a-half week trip to Bali, she said getting out of the airport was a ‘nightmare’ with people lining up for two hours to get through immigration.
‘People are missing their flights… and there’s literally nothing you can do about it,’ the Perth resident said, holding up her phone to show the gathered crowd.
The Indonesian holiday island earlier this year brought in electronic passport scanners which have significantly sped up the process for arrivals to get through immigration.
But when departing the old system is still used, which can result in long delays.
In a separate video, Ms Daley said to skip the line on arrival there a still a couple of things tourists need to do.
‘When you go to Bali make sure you get a visa online and pay the tourist levy (beforehand) because there is a huge line for immigration when you land.’
For those who have done this, the process is cut down to under one minute by simply scanning their passport at the gates and walking through.
Perth woman Dasha Daley (pictured) said when leaving Denpasar airport in Bali she ran into trouble following a short holiday
She said there was a huge crowd waiting to get through immigration, many of whom were concerned they would miss their flights (pictured)
The electronic gates are available for e-Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) holders and for those from ASEAN nations with electronic passports.
There is also a recently introduced tourist tax of A$15 to help the government pay for public services and upkeep of tourist sites on the island.
The gates, which connect to international immigration databases, were brought in to ease the load as about 18,000 tourists a day arrive at the airport – up to 36,000 a day in the peak season.
Denpasar airport brought in e-gates for arrivals to speed up the process but they are not available for those departing the holiday island for other countries
Ms Daley said she talked to other travellers while waiting to leave Denpasar airport and many were ‘super annoyed’ they were running late to get to their flight.
She said she was just able to make her Jetstar plane but ran into another issue on the flight when she was controversially refused free water by the cabin crew.
‘When you buy a bottle of water at the departure gate and they take it off you when you board as it’s not allowed,’ she said.
‘But then also refuse to serve free water when you’re suffering with Bali belly. Should be illegal.’
Ms Daley explained she’d bought the bottle of water after passing the first security checkpoint but had it confiscated at a second before she boarded the flight.
She claimed she asked flight attendants for water twice during the flight but was refused both times, despite struggling with an upset stomach.
It’s understood Denpasar International Airport requires all travellers to dispose of liquid containers larger than 100ml before boarding their flight.