In the meantime, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand had all closed its borders to foreigners. Covid-19 cases climbed rapidly in many countries.
Travel was no longer wise. Travel restrictions and low demand meant that many flights had been cancelled. The risk of getting stranded was very high, in addition to the risk of getting an infection. Most insurance do not cover the cost of getting stranded in an epidemic, only the medical costs.
Within the space of a few days, the world had changed so much. If I had embarked a week earlier, I would be a deep shit. I felt so lucky that I wasn’t on the road already.
About three days before my departure from Auckland, my flight to Kuala Lumpur was cancelled no replacement available, and no onward connection to Manila as well. Then my return to Auckland was cancelled with the new date being two days later.
Fortunately I had held off cancelling my Malaysia Airlines itinerary for AKL-KUL-MNL-KUL-KCH-AKL, even though I knew full well that my trip was no longer going ahead. The airline’s cancellation meant that I would be eligible for a full refund. If I had initiated the cancellation, their Covid-19 flexibility policy would only give me a credit.