Another flight cancellation
Yesterday, 11 November, I had notification from Malaysia Airlines that my flight of 6 December had been cancelled. I wasn’t surprised; why would they fly when there’s no way passengers can secure Managed Isolation spots.
Rebooking on another airline
I had been relaxed about staying in Kuching till March next year. But now that I had the idea of returning to New Zealand in early December, I really wanted to go.
I sat on the Managed Isolation website and booked whatever available spots that came up momentarily as people cancelled them and before they were snapped up by others. I then checked for matching flights. If no flights were available, I’d then cancel the isolation spot. Grab, check, release!
This sounds easier than it actually was. Often there are flights but no isolation spots or vice versa. Trying to line up two rare events is hard!
I repeated this process again and again until the next day on 12 November, I found and booked a flight to arrive in Auckland on 22 December and a matching isolation spot. That would give me two-thirds of the Kiwi summer. This was my light at the end of the tunnel, finally!
Further rebooking
There’s always room for improvement, right? I was wary that isolation spots come and go momentarily. Knowing that my ticket (as with most in the new Covid world) allows for free changes, I kept looking for earlier options.
Checking repeatedly, I found an isolation spot for 17 November with matching flights on Singapore Airlines ex-Kuala Lumpur.
Even though there was a flight that would have constituted a legal connection from Kuching on that day, the airline wasn’t selling it. It was the Scoot Kuching – Singapore, with approximately 22h transit before the Singapore – Auckland.
That left me with having to fly Kuching – Kuala Lumpur and overnighting, before flying Kuala Lumpur – Singapore – Auckland with a 7h connection in Singapore. In these days, it’s actually the best possible connection, believe it or not!
With lockdowns within Malaysia the domestic flight from Kuching – Kuala Lumpur isn’t even daily, with risk of cancellation. Fingers crossed!
Rush, rush, stress, stress
Having rebooked my flight late tonight on 12 November and flying domestically to Kuala Lumpur on 15 November, I only have two full days to prepare. I had unpacked completely, accumulated lots of stuff, and had more to acquire in terms of food to bring back to New Zealand. Gotta make full use of the 35kg baggage allowance that I have!
And very importantly, I also had to go to the police station to apply for a permit to leave the city. With current travel restrictions, no one can leave or enter the city without such a permit.
And in the time before I leave, I have to appear relaxed and spend quality time with Mum before I fly out.