Ash falls over Jakarta as stranded Australians wait for flights home

Liz Kendall has spent three days in a basic Jakarta hotel, watching ash fall from the sky and waiting to find out when she can return to Australia.

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We got the notification that they weren't going to be coming on Saturday, and here we sit.

Kendall, from Mount Eliza in Victoria, had planned to fly home on Saturday evening after a three-week sailing trip. Her Qantas flight was cancelled after Mount Anak Krakatau erupted and sent volcanic ash across parts of Indonesia.

"We got the notification that they weren't going to be coming on Saturday, and here we sit," she said. Kendall reported a burning throat and scratchy eyes as ash fell over the city. She is paying about $47 a night for her hotel and said she and other travellers were becoming discouraged, struggling with the language and receiving few updates.

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I have a burning throat and scratchy eyes.

Qantas initially kept her informed by text message, she said, but the communication stopped. "I'm a little upset with Qantas because now they've stopped all communication," Kendall said. She spent several hours on hold and was told the airline would make contact when flights resumed. The ABC said Qantas had not immediately responded to a request for comment.

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I'm a little upset with Qantas because now they've stopped all communication.

Some members of Kendall's group were considering travelling by train to another airport and trying to fly through Bali. She decided to stay in Jakarta, saying a shift in the wind could disrupt that plan as well. Indonesia's transport minister, Dudy Purwagandhi, said authorities could not determine when the disruption would end because of changing weather conditions. Qantas cancelled flights QF39, QF40, QF41 and QF42 and offered eligible passengers fee-free refunds, travel credits or date changes. Singapore Airlines also cancelled several Singapore-Jakarta services.

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We cannot ascertain when this will end due to the dynamic weather.