South Island on Wheels: Crisis

Click the link to see the summary of the trip!

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I booked our tickets on Sky scanner for S$1108. The flight was sold as a China Eastern Flight, but was coach shared and operated by Qantas for our flight from Singapore to Melbourne. Transiting in Melbourne, we took Air New Zealand to Christchurch.

Crisis #1
There was a lot of commotion at the airport when we were trying to check in for our flight. I understood that since I booked with an OTA for my flight, and that both Qantas and Air New Zealand were not part of an alliance group, I had a good chance that my luggage may very well have a problem reaching my final destination. That being said, it also meant that I may have to go through immigration at Melbourne, collect my luggages and recheck-in for my Air New Zealand flight. Which meant that I had to get a Visa for Australia.

Keep in mind that I have never experienced something like this before as I've also transited with the same airline company.

I didn't want to pay AUD$20 for a Visa that I wouldn't need. So, Gilbert and I got our dusty backpacks out from the store and decided to just hand carry all our stuff up the plane. No lost luggage, no Visa, no trouble.

Right?

Wrong!

Because I flew with difference airlines and that my itinerary was not a through itinerary to New Zealand, the system refused to allow the counter staff check us in, because in the system "eyes", our final destination is Melbourne and we didn't get Visas. We spent a while discussing with the Indian Qantas Gentleman Agent that our ultimate destination was New Zealand and if he could just combine our itineraries to reflect that. He refused and just asked us to purchase our Visas over the counter for S$70!! We stood there gaping at him while he threw our passports back at us.

I started a panic a little.

We moved to the side and another Qantas lady overheard our heated discussion and plight and advised us to just buy the Visa online on the Australia's Immigration Website for AUD $20. This kind angel even gave us the website to go and told us that being Singaporean, it's an auto approval, so not to worry us. While we were frantically trying to purchase our Visas on our mobile phones, her colleague and her were discussing how they could have added our itineraries together to reflect our ultimate destination (it can't be done in the end).

I really have to thank these 2 ladies who helped us out. Even though we purchased the bloody Visa in the end, they really tried their best to help us in every way they could think of. They could have just shrugged us aside like the Indian Gentleman, but they didn't. So, thank you. The world need more people like you two angels.

We eventually got on the flight on our way to Melbourne...

Crisis #2

After two awesome meals and several movies on board Qantas QF36, we finally reached Melbourne! Being a first world English speaking country, we'd expect transiting in Melbourne International Airport to be a breeze.

After disembarking, we followed the signs of "International Transit" to this quiet corridor and the walls were made of sturdy cardboard. Similar to temporary walls you'd find here on the streets of Singapore when there's construction/renovation taking place. I'm not kidding.

At the end of the corridor, there was a bag scanner and out we came into the departure lounge. At this point, we have not received our tickets for our Air New Zealand flight and were combing the whole departure lounge with 10kg on our backs for a transfer desk. We couldn't find one. We started looking then for an information desk. We also couldn't find one.

We were so tired and frustrated that after all we've been through in Singapore, we just wanted to relax and just wait for our next flight. We eventually saw an open gate with Airport staff and Gilbert went to ask them for assistance. They told us that we could just check in at our gate and receive a boarding pass there.

Come on, first world country with no transfer information desk? Seriously?

Or it might be the fact that we're so spoilt with Singapore Changi Airport's world class infrastructure and every 10 mins you'd see a help desk. We're not #1 for nothing!

Crisis #3

Finally we're in Christchurch, New Zealand! It was about 3pm and we wanted to collect our car, put everything down and start our epic journey.

Stepping past immigration, I felt a sense of freedom. I was looking forward to all the open fields, beautiful mountains and millions of sheep! I was leaving behind all the stress of everyday operation of work and the false appearance I have to put up to all the guests everyday. I was truly free! For the next 10 days at least.

We did not plan anything at all for this trip. We just booked our flights and our car and decided which cities/towns/village we wanted to visit. We never expected nor plan to do all the activities we eventually did, nor did we expect ourselves to be so spontaneous as well. It was so refreshing!

Well, I knew the Spaceship (the rental company we rented with) depot  was close to the airport, but not close enough to walk. Plus, the weather was HOT HOT HOT. At that point, I regretted bringing all my inner-wear and heatec clothes. (I eventually regretted having that thought)

We decided to just take a taxi to the depot, I mean how much could it cost right? Well, the depot was so near that that taxi drivers refused to send us! We eventually asked the elderly lady at the help desk (Hallelujah!) for help. She told us to call the depot for assistance because she wasn't very familiar with Spaceship rentals.

Payphones at the airport costs $0.50 per minute/call.

After several tries, Lisa from the depot told us to catch Super Shuttles (basically a van with a cargo wagon attached to it) from another exit. They would pay for that transfer.

Finally, we're on our way!

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Read All About:

• Timaru
• Oamaru
• Hampden
• Dunedin
• Queenstown
• Lake Wanaka
• Fox Glacier
• Franz Josef
• Arthur's Pass