I totally feel your pain with the connectivity issues. It is the worst when you are working on a commission and your gear just decides to quit. I was in the same boat a few months ago and finally decided to try the Logitech Crayon Digital Pencil after reading a bunch of reviews. Honestly, I have been very satisfied with it so far. It is super reliable since it basically uses the same tech as the Apple one but without the constant pairing headaches. You just turn it on and it works, no bluetooth settings to fiddle with at all. Here is why I think it is a solid choice:

• It feels really sturdy in the hand and not like cheap plastic.
• Palm rejection works perfectly for me while sketching.
• The battery life is impressive and it charges super fast. While it does lack pressure sensitivity, I have found that I dont really miss it for most of my work unless I am doing really complex shading. It is a much more professional feel than those generic 30 dollar pens you find online. I am pretty conservative with my gear, but this has been a great investment for my workflow. If you need something that just works every time you pick it up, this is the way to go. Good luck with your deadline this weekend, hope you get your setup sorted.

If you are tired of the constant Bluetooth drama, you should look into the Zagg Pro Stylus 2 Active Stylus. It is a solid middle ground between the cheap generic pens and the official Apple hardware. It connects instantly without the pairing headache, and honestly, the palm rejection works surprisingly well for the price point. The magnetic charging is a nice touch too, especially since it stays pretty secure while you are working. If you want something even cheaper, the Adonit Note-M Digital Stylus is another decent option that feels a bit more robust than those flimsy 20 dollar pens. It uses a fine tip which is great for detail work on your Air 5. Definitely stop stressing over the Apple one and just grab one of these so you can finish that commission.