Emergency Travel Overseas - Any Tips

CMH on 01/11/2017 - 14:14

Long story short, I will pick up my passport tomorrow (2/11), but unfortunately the passport office cannot confirm pickup time. Passport has been printed and apparently on route to passport office right now.
Visa is sorted (none required)
Travel insurance will be through credit card (and that will suffice for me)
Not worried about accomodation

I NEED to be in Malaysia ASAP, and I'm thinking the earliest flight probably will be MH148 leaving 15:10 2/11. Flight is NOT booked. If I can't make this there's a flight out at midnight with Jetstar, which would possibly be too late.

I don't like doing things in a rush as I will forget important stuff, so I'm putting this here to see if anyone has tips (not worried about packing) on such travel (ie, calling up airport to hold the plane <lols>, whats the latest I can book before a flight <4 hours before?>, etc.).

Travel

Comments

  • dcep on 01/11/2017 - 14:21
    +4

    just collect passport and turn up on airport to buy ticket for next available flight and fly straight away.

    if $ is not an issue, there will always be seats available be it business or 1st class.

    • Seraphin7 on 01/11/2017 - 14:37

      Yep, the airport is always the fastest way to make it happen. It may cost you though …

    • CMH on 01/11/2017 - 16:07
      +1

      Not rich enough for business :(

      But good to know it's an option though.

  • Cluster on 01/11/2017 - 14:43
    +1

    Air Asia X flies from MEL to KUL at 10:35am tomorrow morning so you would get there a little earlier. AirAsia X 215. MH148 gets into KUL at 20:25. If it's fully booked you could do Scoot at 12:15, getting into KUL at 20:35, but there's a 2.5 hr stopover in Singapore so the potential for a late/canceled flight.

    • CMH on 01/11/2017 - 16:06

      Thanks.

      But 10:35 doesn't allow enough time to pick up the passport so that is not a valid option.

      Scoot sounds good, I might even be able to fly into Singapore and bus it if needed. As long as I get to my destination on time.

  • tsunamisurfer on 01/11/2017 - 14:49
    -2

    Suggesting "calling up airport to hold the plane", even with the disclaimer LOLZ on the end, does not endear readers to your flight.

    It makes me think that you believe every other traveller on that flight is happy to put their lives on hold for you.

    • Cluster on 01/11/2017 - 14:53

      It made me think of something like this sad case:

      http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/man-delays-fl…

      Man delays flight by calling in bomb scare, gets arrested, still misses flight

      Hopefully the OP gets on board the 3pm flight and arrives in time, or the passport is there very early in the morning and they can make the 10:35am flight.

      • CMH on 01/11/2017 - 16:08

        Thanks. I hope I make it too.

    • CMH on 01/11/2017 - 16:03

      Chill dude. That's the first thought I had for an example, and the lol at the end to show it wasn't a serious suggestion.

      Sounds like you just wanted your "voice" heard so congratulations for having successfully done so.

  • toniyellow on 01/11/2017 - 15:25
    +1

    I would just go wait in the foyer of the passport office from the time it opens, and once it shows up go straight from there to the airport.

    If Malaysian doesn’t have a ticketing office at the airport (I imagine they do or an arrangement with somewhere that does) there is a flight centre there http://melbourneairport.com.au/flight-passenger-info/aiport-… If you are cutting it close you could call them from the cab and get them to book for you while you are on the way. You could give either them or the airline a call today and pre warn them / get their advice so it is less like an episode of the Amazing Race.

    • CMH on 01/11/2017 - 16:04

      That was the plan, but there's more hiccups and I've been trying to sort them. At this point it is still likely I won't make either flight :(

  • retiredfeline on 01/11/2017 - 15:38
    +1

    Collect passport and book with your mobile phone while heading to the airport to ask there also, airline ticketing sites can handle mobiles now. Or load the airline apps now.

    • CMH on 01/11/2017 - 16:05

      I'll see what those apps do.

      But yes, will be booking with the mobile as I now know what the flight options are.

      • Love a bargain on 02/11/2017 - 14:15

        Make sure you have downloaded & installed the airlines' apps on your phone beforehand.

        Ticketing should be pretty much instantaneous for bookings made directly with the airline.

        Just go to the passport office with your bags and once you know your passport has arrived (even if you're still waiting for them to physically give it to you), you can start booking your flight.

        Make sure you've more than 1 credit/ debit card on hand in case if 1 doesn't work.

  • oscargamer on 01/11/2017 - 16:47
    -2

    remember to pack your 16 pairs of emergency headphones

    • oscargamer on 01/11/2017 - 18:02
      -1

      neg?
      seriously?
      the world has changed…….WAY too serious nowadays
      remember when we had fun?
      took the piss?
      smiled?
      laughed?
      chuckled?
      told jokes and no-one was offended and we all lived through the night without being murdered because we said a naughty word….

      • Cluster on 01/11/2017 - 18:09

        I'm speculating here, but it sounds like the OP's sudden and very urgent need to travel is something serious. Maybe a relative dying in hospital. If that is the case they may not see the humour in your comment. Btw, I didn't neg you.

        • oscargamer on 01/11/2017 - 18:10
          +1

          totally get that from the post, but……..a bit of levity, isn't disrespectful…..

        • CMH on 02/11/2017 - 02:04

          @oscargamer:

          I don't mind a bit of a laugh.

          I would have packed 2 pairs of emergency headphones. It is an 8 hour flight after all.

          And yes, I would've made sure they weren't packed in black plastic.

  • Cluster on 01/11/2017 - 16:54
    +1

    Please let us know sometime how you went with the flights. Best of luck for tomorrow.

  • CMH on 02/11/2017 - 16:03
    +1

    Due to the passport being in the mail, the staff at the passport office weren't able to retrieve it and I will have to wait for it to arrive, which means I am not able to make the flights.

    The staff on the phone were helpful and I understand I might have been asking a bit much (I might've sounded stressed, but I told them I appreciate everything they're doing/have done at any opportunity), so in the end there's not much else that could be done.

    Thanks all for the suggestions

  • tendliya on 06/11/2017 - 20:32

    What happened in the end mate?

    • CMH on 07/11/2017 - 19:59

      Post right above yours :D

      Sorry I can't give a happy ending.

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