True! I got through straight away (GR, just now)!

This is an improvement. I used to have to wait even for Mando. Not so now!

But it doesn't counter the fact that I haven't been able to call through to MPO and make the language selection from the original time of this post til til now (4:57PM)!

Update (7:41PM): on my way to dinner, decided to try Mandarin MPO one more time (this post made me remember a request from parents to check for upgrades for Easter)
Finally got through (I really believe there are TAs calling for customers, and they've gone off work)
Got through to a Mandarin speaking agent within a minute.
Completed my query (nothing going to Sydney before Easter, nothing coming back from Sydney after it ==> time to check VFC)

The agent had a northern Mando accent ("hao lei"), though just to make sure, I asked could she speak Cantonese and she said no. She was nice enough to complement she can understand my Mando okay (how nice of her. After leaving Big4 H-share audit, my Mando has gone nowhere but south).