CMB-MEL at short notice

[tuapekastar]

A workmate is laid up in hospital in CMB with food poisoning (been sick for 6 days, in hospital for 3 I think) and no net access. Texted me, has missed his flight to India and decided, partly on doctor's advice and partly because he is feeling @#$%, to most likely abandon the trip.

He's reasonably keen to salvage something from the trip and fly the A380 for the first time, so was asking me for flight options CMB-SIN-MEL departing 24/3.

The best I could quickly come up with was UL312 CMB-KUL-SIN (0701 - 1455, 24/3 ~AUD270), then QF10 SIN-MEL (2020-0640 24/3, ~AUD524). There is an EK flight CMB-SIN that departs at a more civilised hour but too late to connect to QF10 - I guess he could overnight in SIN.

Anyone experienced with CMB-SIN flights (or anyone at all for that matter ) have any ideas on options. I just quickly looked through EF and ITA for these, and there may be other carriers (LCCs?) I haven't seen.

Thanks

 

[sr81]

Cheapoair is returning a few things in the sub $700 range but nothing with QF or SQ. MH seems to happily the cheapest and QR is around as well.

You could look at UL to KUL then Air Asia to MEL but this seems overkill given MH do the same run with IFE for about $550.

Ohh and, what is his travel insurance? He should be covered for trip disruption etc and repariation.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Can travel insurance repatriate him. He seems to have all the perquisites sorted?

What ticket does he currently have?

 

[tuapekastar]

I'm reasonably sure his travel is primarily with Air Asia, but I'm really not sure of the detail for this trip. I also believe he has Trav Ins but again I don't know the detail, and what options are available to him..

Conversation by text is a little limiting in what I can convey (not to mention a PITA :shock.

I think the best I can do is convey the options to him, let him decide what is best for him given what his TI will/won't cover, and assist with the bookings if he needs that.

The CMB-KUL-SIN on UL is actually around AUD200 (not the 270 I quoted, that was a different flight), so all up on UL and QF (given he wants to try out the bloatbus), assuming I haven't blundered, he is looking at ~AUD725 which isn't so bad I guess, especially if TI will cover it.

I'm glad I'm not in his shoes.

Thanks for the responses.

EDit: PS sr81, how did you get Cheapoair to return results (assuming you are not in the country where it is based)? I got this message and a refusal to do a search:

Dear Customer: Since you are traveling from a foreign country, we need to perform a full Credit Card Verification on your credit card. We would need a minimum of 3 days advanced notice for all foreign departures.