Pre-planning for 14 days MIQ

Having secured an MIQ spot, within 48 hours, and before an MIQ voucher could be issued, the flight number (from a drop down list) had to be checked and the booking number input. Cue an email to our wonderful Travel Agent, Caroline.

 

Back in 2020 when Covid first hit, one of the very earliest local casualties was Caroline’s branch of YouTravel, in Birkenhead (Auckland). Her second in command, Rachel, had looked after us so well for several years, but not only did the retail branch have to close, but Rachel’s job went too. Devastating for them but we opted to continue to use Caroline as our TA, as we have found that although we can book fights and cruises on line, there are often some advantages to using a TA, especially with re-booking flights.

 

I’d already given Caroline my MIQ password, as she had also been chasing spaces for me and sure enough, by the following morning, she had not only sorted the flight booking but had input the details for me into the MIQ site and the voucher was issued.

 

What a relief that was.

 

Covid’s impact had been such that the rules and procedures for several countries changed almost daily, so constantly checking for changes was important.  My initial travel plans were via Los Angeles, but as the UK/USA didn’t exactly have an open door, the plans were switched to out and back via Singapore.

 

It wasn’t long before I realised that flying back to Singapore for a planned 2 night stopover, wasn’t going to be possible, due to travel restrictions ex-UK, so the only option was to fly straight through with just a transit stop in Singapore.  With all my flights to and from the UK over the last 38 years, I have never ever flown straight through. I need a break for daylight, fresh air and a decent bed, but if it was the only option, so be it.

 

Then another change to Singapore’s requirements, threw another spanner in the works. As NZ was deemed a ‘Green List’ country, the plan was to fly to Singapore from NZ, have a two day break, then carry on to the UK, arriving 5:55am September 5^th. Singapore then made a ruling that you had a Covid test on arrival Went straight to your hotel and a wait of up to 48 hours for the test result. Not exactly an attractive prospect, so another flight change and another straight through flight.

 

Once again, Caroline to the rescue and a (tiny) bonus for my wife, as my outward flight, now two days later than originally.

 

Then I found a Facebook page for NZ MIQ returnees and another chapter began.