Flight Report: PHILIPPINE AIRLINES PR 2927 – Cebu to Daraga (Legazpi) – Domestic Comfort Class Experience on a Turboprop Aircraft [October 2024]

A few months ago, I decided to book a last-minute flight with Philippine Airlines from Manila to Daraga (Legazpi) via Cebu. I opted for the airline’s domestic premium economy service, Comfort Class. This was the best option available to me, as I had been stuck in Manila for a few days due to flooding near our province.

In this post, I will discuss the second leg of my Comfort Class ticket – from Cebu to Daraga (Legazpi) aboard the airline’s DH8 turboprop aircraft. I will share details about the ticket price, the ground experience at Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and the inflight experience on this premium economy service.

I have already written about the first leg of the journey, from Manila to Cebu on PR 2853, also in Comfort Class. I hope you will check out the flight report here.

Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines, commonly known as PAL, is the Philippines’ flag carrier. The airline began operations in 1941 and is currently the region’s oldest commercial airline. It is part of the Lucio Tan Group of Companies and is also partly owned by ANA Holdings, the parent company of All Nippon Airways.

Philippine Airlines operates a fleet of nearly 50 Airbus, Boeing, and De Havilland aircraft, serving over 70 domestic and international destinations across Asia, Australia, North America, and the Middle East. The airline has a wholly owned subsidiary, PAL Express, which operates its domestic regional routes. PAL flies out of its hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Davao.

PAL is the country’s largest full-service airline, offering a premium experience to its passengers. It provides business class, premium economy, and economy class on most of its routes. Although it is not a member of any airline alliance, it has codeshare agreements with major carriers such as All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines, Gulf Air, and many others.

The airline also offers a lifestyle and loyalty program called Mabuhay Miles. It is the only Philippine-based carrier to receive a 4-star rating from the world-renowned air transport rating organization Skytrax. Philippine Airlines is known for its warm and heartfelt hospitality, which is uniquely rooted in Filipino culture.

In case you missed it, I post reviews and features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA AirIndonesia Air AsiaEmiratesSingapore Airlines, and Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Airfare & Inclusions

I booked this Manila to Daraga (Legazpi) via Cebu Comfort Class ticket five days before the intended flight date. It cost ₱7,281 for one person. The ticket included a 25-kilogram checked luggage allowance, a 7-kilogram carry-on allowance, dedicated airport check-in counters, complimentary seat selection, access to the Mabuhay Lounge (at both Manila and Cebu airports), priority boarding on both legs, a priority baggage tag, a dedicated onboard cabin, and an onboard selection of gourmet sandwich snacks.

For context, direct Manila to Legazpi (Daraga) regular economy class tickets were priced over ₱9,000 per person at the time of booking. These regular economy tickets did not include any special perks. The other competitor, Cebu Pacific Air, offered a fare almost identical to the regular PAL economy ticket, but without a checked baggage allowance.

While the Comfort Class ticket was still relatively expensive, it was a great deal compared to regular economy prices at the time of booking. It included most of the perks of business class, minus the onboard cabin and meal service.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Before The Flight

Three hours after booking the ticket, I received an email offering me the opportunity to bid for a business class upgrade. I received another upgrade offer email three days before the flight.

Twenty-four hours before the Manila to Cebu flight, I received an email notifying me that online check-in was now available. I checked in for both the Manila to Cebu and Cebu to Legazpi (Daraga) flights and received my mobile boarding passes.

Aircraft & Flight Information

Philippine Airlines flight PR 2927, from Cebu to Daraga (Legazpi), was operated by a 6-year-old (at the time of the flight) De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 Next Generation turboprop aircraft. The plane was delivered to the airline in November 2018 but was sold to another company in August 2022. It was leased back by the airline in November 2023 and re-delivered the same month. The aircraft features 6 Comfort Class seats and 80 regular economy class seats.

Flight PR 2927 took off from Mactan-Cebu International Airport at 4:31 p.m., cruised at an altitude of 14,000 feet, and landed at Bicol International Airport in Daraga at exactly 5:30 p.m. This short domestic turboprop flight lasted 59 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

CEBU DOMESTIC TRANSFER PROCESS

Philippine Airlines passengers connecting to another PAL domestic flight at Mactan-Cebu International Airport have access to a dedicated transfer and security area that leads directly to the Terminal 1 domestic pre-departure area. Passengers do not need to go to the arrival hall to retrieve their checked luggage, as it will be transferred by the airline to their next flight.

This dedicated transfer lane and security area made the domestic transfer experience quick and easy. I arrived at the domestic pre-departure area in less than 5 minutes after disembarking.

CEBU DOMESTIC MABUHAY LOUNGE EXPERIENCE

Domestic Comfort Class passengers are granted access to the domestic Mabuhay Lounge at Cebu Airport.

The lounge was spacious, with plenty of seating options. It also featured a dedicated work area for those needing to open their laptops and get some work done. Additionally, it offered more food and snack options compared to the Manila lounge.

I visited the lounge a few minutes before 2:00 p.m. and settled into one of the available workstations. I got some work done while enjoying snacks and drinks.

BOARDING

Flights operated by turboprop aircraft typically board from Gates 26A and 26B at Mactan-Cebu International Airport. This flight to Daraga (Legazpi) boarded from Gate 26B.

At 3:41 p.m., the ground staff announced boarding for all passengers. Comfort Class passengers, status holders, and those traveling with children, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens had a separate boarding queue from regular economy class passengers.

We boarded a bus to the assigned aircraft. However, after waiting for a few minutes, we returned to the boarding gate. Apparently, the Daraga station was experiencing ramp and tarmac congestion, which caused a slight delay in our boarding. At 4:10 p.m., we went back to the aircraft and the boarding process resumed.

Ten minutes later, the cabin crew closed the airplane doors. The boarding process was completed in 10 minutes. The plane pushed back at 4:22 p.m. and headed to the runway for takeoff.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Cebu to Daraga (Legazpi) flight was operated by a 6-year-old DH8 aircraft (at the time of the flight). The aircraft features 6 Comfort Class (domestic premium economy) seats and 80 regular economy class seats in a 2-2 layout. The cabin does not include the airline’s business class product.

According to the Philippine Airlines website, each Comfort Class seat has a pitch of 33 inches, while each regular economy seat has a pitch of 29 inches. All seats on this aircraft have a width of 16.92 inches and a recline of 3 inches.

Each Comfort Class seat is equipped with a seat pocket containing the aircraft safety card, an airsickness bag, and an inflight magazine. It also includes a pillow, a blanket, and a bottle of water. Additional features include an assigned air vent, a cabin crew call button, and a reading light.

I was assigned seat 2A for this flight to Daraga (Legazpi). The seat was comfortable, offering the most generous legroom on the flight. The extra amenities (pillow, blanket, and bottle of water) added to the overall comfort during the flight.

INFLIGHT SNACK

Comfort Class passengers are served gourmet sandwiches and a drink of their choice as inflight snacks. On our flight, the only option available was the beef sandwich. The cabin crew served the snack alongside a pack of peas and a drink, with the choice of apple or orange juice.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Philippine Airlines’ DH8 aircraft do not feature in-seat entertainment screens or inflight entertainment systems.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Philippine Airlines does not offer inflight Wi-Fi on its domestic flights.

LAVATORY

The aircraft has only one lavatory, located in the front section of the cabin. The cabin crew regularly checked its cleanliness and ensured it was well-maintained throughout the flight.

I visited the lavatory before landing and found it to be spotless and fragrant.

Cabin Crew Encounters

The cabin crew on this flight paid special attention to Comfort Class passengers, even going so far as to open our tray tables during the snack service. They were very attentive, regularly checking in to see if we wanted more snacks or drinks.

They also greeted us with their best smiles from the moment we boarded until disembarkation.

Disembarkation

I was the first to disembark the plane due to my proximity to the aircraft door. I also received my checked luggage first, thanks to the priority tag for Comfort Class passengers.

Flight Experience

It turned out to be a memorable domestic Comfort Class experience with Philippine Airlines. Despite the unexpected challenges caused by the typhoon and bus cancellations, I’m glad I decided to stick to my planned schedule and give it a try.

Philippine Airlines’ domestic Comfort Class stands out in several ways. First, the ticket price was reasonable, especially considering it was booked just five days before the flight. It was even more affordable than the direct flights to Legazpi. Additionally, it included the perks I mentioned earlier.

Second, the domestic transfer experience at Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 1 was quick and efficient. It did not take long for all connecting passengers to reach the pre-departure area. Third, the Comfort Class ticket offered business class-like perks, such as domestic lounge access at Cebu Airport, priority boarding, and priority luggage services.

Fourth, the onboard experience was superb—from the pillow, blanket, and bottled water in the seat to the onboard sandwich service with a drink of choice. Fifth, the cabin crew on this flight was outstanding. They truly embodied the ‘Heart of the Filipino’ service, as advertised by Philippine Airlines.

On the other hand, I did notice that the aircraft’s age was becoming apparent in the plane’s interiors. I think it is time for Philippine Airlines to consider refitting the cabins across its entire fleet. Additionally, while I previously mentioned that the ticket price was reasonable, I still feel it is on the higher end of the price range. As someone who typically flies budget economy, the fare still felt expensive—but it was worth it.

Lastly, the boarding process took longer than usual. The bus had to return to the terminal due to tarmac congestion at the destination airport. It would have been ideal if the boarding process had been delayed slightly to accommodate the issue at Daraga Airport.

Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed my Comfort Class experience with Philippine Airlines. Will I try it again? Maybe yes, maybe no. It will always depend on the circumstances. I am keen to try their retrofitted widebody business class product on the Airbus A330 or the newer cabins on the Airbus A350 aircraft.

Here is a summary of our flight and the aircraft used for the journey from Mactan, Cebu to Daraga (Legazpi):

Airline: Philippines Airlines
Flight Date: 29 October 2024
Flight Number: PR 2927
Route: Cebu, Philippines (CEB) to Daraga (DRP) (Legazpi), Philippines
Duration: 59 minutes
Seat Number: Seat 2A
Aircraft: De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 Next Generation
Aircraft Registration: RP-C5912
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada Engines
Age: 6-years-old
Delivered: November 2018


Overall, my experience with Philippine Airlines’ Comfort Class was a positive one. Despite a few minor setbacks, the service and comfort made it worth the price. If you are considering a more comfortable domestic flight, I would recommend giving it a try.

Have you flown Philippine Airlines in their Domestic Comfort Class? How was your experience? Will you fly with them again in that class? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Post your questions in the comments section below, or send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you can check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines and other airlines like EmiratesEVA AirAir FranceVietnam Airlines, and Cebu Pacific Air. I hope you also look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next flight report!

PS. Photos were taken using my Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Flight Report: CEBU PACIFIC AIR 5J 325 – Manila to Legazpi – Last-Minute Cheap Jet Flight Back to Bicolandia [May 2022]

Yes, you read the title right! Jet flights are back in Bicol. Just last month, May 2022, Cebu Pacific Air & Philippine Airlines restarted their Airbus A320 services to & from Legazpi at the newly-opened Bicol International Airport.

Since this new airport opened in October 2021, Cebu Pacific Air utilized their ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft on their daily flights to & from Legazpi, while Philippine Airlines flew their De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400 aircraft on the same route. I have had the pleasure of flying these propeller planes from both airlines in the last few months. Check out the following flight reports to know more: DG6194 Legazpi to Manila, DG6193 Legazpi to Manila, PR2922 Legazpi to Manila, PR2919 Manila to Legazpi & DG6192 Legazpi to Manila.

If you have been following me in the last few weeks, you know that I’ve been to Cebu with my friends for a quick 4 days & 3 nights around Cebu City & Bantayan Island. From Cebu, I flew to Manila to fulfill some work obligations. After a quick 1-day trip in Manila, I then flew back home to Legazpi – this time on Cebu Pacific Air’s Airbus A320 jet service on 5J 325. Join me in today’s flight report as I share with you my experience flying with a jet back to Bicolandia.

Cebu Pacific Air

Cebu Pacific Air is not a new airline in this website; it is actually my most-reviewed airline here. Cebu Pacific Air is the country’s largest low-cost carrier. The airline is owned by Cebu Air Inc which is part of one of the country’s biggest conglomerates, JG Summit Holdings. The airline commenced its first flight in 1996 & has been flying for over 26 years. Together with its subsidiary, Cebgo (previously Tiger Air Philippines), the airline flies to over 60 destinations across the country, Asia Pacific & the Middle East. It operates close to 70 young & fuel-efficient jet & propeller aircraft. Cebu Pacific Air operates the narrow-body & wide-body aircraft while its subsidiary operates the propeller passenger & cargo aircraft.

The airline has a lifestyle & loyalty program called Go Rewards. It is also a founding member of Value Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of low-cost carriers. The airline has opened the opportunity for every Filipino to fly domestic & international at extremely low prices compared to its industry rivals. It is known for its ₱1-base fare promotions offered a few times a year.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA AirIndonesia Air AsiaSingapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Airfare

I had initial plans of traveling by land with my parents back to Bicol after the short work trip in Manila. Last-minute changes in plans forced me to take this flight back to Legazpi. I’m super thankful for Cebu Pacific Air’s CEB Super Pass I got a one-way ticket a week before the scheduled flight for only ₱1,234.88. I paid ₱390.88 for the CEB Super Pass & added ₱844.00 for the flight taxes & 20-kilograms check-in baggage allowance. Not bad for a last-minute ticket, eh?

Travel Requirements

Albay is open to tourism & returning residents since late last year. Fully-vaccinated individuals only need to provide a valid ID & their vaccination card or vaccination certificate. Partially & unvaccinated passengers need to provide a negative antigen result taken 48 hours before the flight.

I have been fully-vaccinated since October last year, so I only had to show my vaccination card. Please take note that these requirements may change from time to time. For Cebu Pacific Air passengers, the airline has compiled on their website & is regularly updating the requirements for all their destinations. Feel free to check out the updated Covid-19 Information Page here.

Before The Flight

Even with more lax restrictions & border controls, Cebu Pacific Air still kept their passengers informed by sending e-mail reminders days before the scheduled flight. The e-mail contained contactless flight protocols, check-in & bag drop schedules & mask reminders.

Just like the reminders we got for our recent flight from Legazpi to Cebu, I noticed that the airline has removed the item about the Traze mobile application. I believe the authorities have stopped using this application for contact-tracing purposes. It would have been nicer if contact-tracing procedures were still being practiced in order to curb any possible surge in cases.

I still commend Cebu Pacific Air for keeping their passengers informed & prepared for what they may experience from check-in to the flight itself.

Flight Information

Cebu Pacific Air has brought their Airbus 320 aircraft back to Legazpi Airport just last May 2022. This 5J 325 flight was operated by a 6.5-year-old Airbus A320-200 Sharklet aircraft with registration RP-C4106. This 320 sharklet aircraft has an all-economy class configuration with 180 seats. The flight left Manila station at 9:20am, cruised to an altitude of 25,000 ft & then touched down at Bicol International Airport at 10:01am. This Manila to Legazpi flight only took 41 minutes; it departed on time & arrived at its destination a few minutes ahead of schedule.

Airport & Ground Experience

CHECK-IN

I arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport around 6:30am; I expected long queues from going into the terminal & to the check-in counters. I was so surprised to see a rather empty Cebu Pacific Air check-in counters. I noticed that the counters were sorted by destination for the first time in years. I also noticed that the document check section, which I mentioned on my November 2021 Cebgo Manila to Legazpi flight, was already removed.

I took me exactly 7 minutes to finish the whole check-in process. This included checking-in & printing my boarding pass & bag tags in the self-service check-in machines, queuing for bag drop & the bag drop process itself. The guy at the check-in counter was very friendly.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, I went through security & walked to our assigned gate – Gate 131. I was surprised to see a not-so-crowded boarding gate. There were a lot of available seats & there were no people seated on the floor. The gate started to get packed when it was near our boarding schedule.

At exactly 8:00am, I received a text message from Cebu Pacific Air confirming Gate 131 as my assigned boarding gate. Props to Cebu Pacific Air for keeping the passengers well-informed. It’s these small details that make the flights enjoyable & worth the price.

BOARDING

Boarding commenced at exactly 8:15am. Priority passengers, those traveling with kids, senior citizens & persons with disabilities boarded first. After a few minutes, the crew called the rest of the passengers for boarding. All passengers took the bus to the assigned aircraft.

Passengers board from both the front & rear cabin doors. Those seated from rows 1 to 15 boarded through the front door, while those seated from rows 16 to 31 boarded through the rear door. I was assigned seat 25F, so I boarded through the rear door. The boarding process took 45 minutes; the cabin crew closed the aircraft doors at 9:00am.

Inflight Product & Experience

SEAT

Cebu Pacific Air’s Airbus A320-200 aircraft has 180 passenger seats in an all-economy class cabin. It has a 3 x 3 configuration across 30 rows. Each row has 6 seats. All seats, except the exit row seats, have a seat width of 17 inches & a seat pitch of 29 inches. This 6.5-year-old aircraft had the old & thick seat design which can still be reclined.

I got a window seat (25F) for this quick flight to Legazpi. Each seat features an industry-standard leg room, a foldable tray table & a seat pocket with the aircraft safety card. Each passenger also has access to individual air vents & individual reading lights. The seats do not feature USB power outlets, unlike those from the Airbus A321neos I flew with to Davao & from Davao last March. I will choose the seat recline over the USB power outlet any time!

INFLIGHT SNACKS

Cebu Pacific Air does not offer complimentary snacks or meals on all of their flights. Instead, the airline offers buy on board light snacks & drinks during the flight. This paid snack service was only re-introduced recently when cases have gone down.

For this flight to Legazpi, the cabin crew offered light snacks & drinks to passengers shortly after take-off. Choices were limited to chips, light snacks & drinks. Rice / heavy meals & alcoholic beverages were not yet offered during this flight. Inflight menus are not yet available on this flight.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Cebu Pacific Air aircraft do not feature personal entertainment screens. Pre-pandemic, they had inflight magazines found in every seat pocket. These magazines were still not available on this flight.

The airline is known for conducting inflight games in exchange for airline-branded merchandise. For this flight, the crew asked for 3 items; the passengers who raised their hand first & showed the requested items first won Cebu Pacific Air-branded pouches. I got the 2nd question correct & won an airline branded pouch. Thank you, Cebu Pacific Air!

LAVATORY

I didn’t have the chance to visit the rear lavatory during the flight. I was seated by the window; the couple beside me were mostly asleep during the flight.

Cabin Crew Service

I had close to no encounter with the cabin crew on this flight, but I noticed that they were attentive to the questions & requests of the guests during the snack service. They also greeted all passengers during boarding & disembarkation.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

We arrived at Bicol International Airport at 10:01am & disembarked from the aircraft minutes later. Passengers use both front & rear doors for disembarkation. Our check-in baggage took longer than usual because a Philippine Airlines flight arrived ahead of us. The bags from that PAL flight came out first & were followed by those from our flight. Bicol International Airport authorities have removed the arrival forms & Traze App QR code checks they had months before.

Final Thoughts

This Cebu Pacific Air Manila to Legazpi flight on 5J 325 l took last 19 May 2022 was an excellent flight. In fact, it’s probably one of the best ones I’ve had with the airline. Everything on this flight, from ticket price, to check-in, boarding to inflight experience, went right.

The price I paid for this one-way flight was definitely the highlight of the trip. Imagine, I only paid that cheap for a flight in 7 days. Take note, the ticket even included 20 kilograms of check-in baggage allowance. Thanks to my CEB Super Pass, I got this great deal.

I was surprised to see the check-in counters & pre-departure gates empty on a Thursday morning. I enjoyed the quick check-in & bag drop process, the efficient boarding process & the on-time departure & arrival of this flight. I also won a Cebu Pacific Air-branded pouch during the inflight games.

Flights like this make me more excited to fly again with Cebu Pacific Air in the future. I am looking forward to taking them again on my future domestic & international flights. Thank you, Cebu Pacific Air for such an enjoyable flight experience.

PS. I am also delighted to see bigger jet aircraft being used again for the Manila to Legazpi route!

For those who are interested, here are the technical details of this flight:

Airline: Cebu Pacific Air
Flight Date: 19 May 2022
Flight Number: 5J 325
Route: Manila (MNL) to Legazpi (LGP)
Duration: 41 minutes
Seat Number: 25F
Aircraft: Airbus A320-200
Aircraft Registration: RP-C4106
Engines: 2 x CFM International Jet Engines
Age: 6.5 years old
Delivered: January 2016


Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. Do you have any questions about flying with Cebu Pacific Air or flying in to Legazpi? Feel free to post your questions in the comments section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Stay tuned for upcoming flight reports & posts! In the meantime, you may check out my previous flight reports here. Before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: CEBGO DG 6207 – Legazpi to Cebu – My First-Ever Regional Flight Out of Bicol [May 2022]

Recently, my friends & I flew to Cebu for a quick weekend getaway. We flew from Bicol International Airport (Airport code: LGP) to Mactan-Cebu International Airport (Airport code: CEB) on Cebgo DG 6207. It was my first ever regional flight that’s not out of or arriving in Manila. All my past domestic flights are either leaving from or arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Join me in today’s flight report as I share with you my first ever regional sector experience with Cebgo from Legazpi to Cebu.

CEBGO

Cebgo is not a new airline in this website. In fact, it is the most reviewed airline including its parent company Cebu Pacific Air. Formerly South East Asian Airlines (SEAir) & Tigerair Philippines, Cebgo joined Cebu Pacific Air in 2014. Since then, Cebgo has been flying to most of the country’s smaller airports, connecting these regional airports to the rest of Cebu Pacific Air’s wide domestic airport.

The airline flies an all-turboprop fleet accommodating up to 78 passengers per flight on a single-class configuration. If I’m not mistaken, it also operates 2 all-cargo turboprop aircrafts. It’s the only turboprop cargo plane in the Philippines.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA AirIndonesia Air AsiaSingapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

AIRFARE

Cebgo’s Cebu-Legazpi-Cebu sector only happens a few times a week. Given this limitation, my friends & I booked tickets from Legazpi to Cebu, Cebu to Manila & another ticket from Manila to Legazpi. This one-way Legazpi to Cebu ticket cost us ₱1,803.56 each. I added 20 kilograms baggage allowance a few hours into the flight & I paid an additional ₱651.73.

This is the screenshot of the ticket including the Cebu to Manila leg I took days after this flight. 🙂

This one-way ticket to Cebu with baggage allowance cost me ₱2,455.29. It may not be the usual less than ₱1,000 ticket, but it is still worth every peso. Take note, the tickets were booked 2 months before the intended dates; it was during the post-election & summer peak & it allowed us to fly directly to Cebu without having to transit via Manila.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Cebu is & has been open to tourists for a while now. Fully-vaccinated individuals only need to provide a valid ID & their vaccination card or vaccination certificate. Partially & unvaccinated passengers need to provide a negative RT-PCR test result taken 72 hours before the flight or a negative antigen test result taken 48 hours before the flight. Some municipalities & cities in Cebu Province require a medical certificate from partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travelers stating that they do not exhibit any Covid-19 symptoms. This medical certificate must be issued within 24 hours before arrival in Cebu.

Please take note that these travel requirements may change from time to time without prior notice. For the latest requirements to Cebu, please feel free to check Cebu Pacific Air’s Covid-19 Information Page or the page of the Local Government Unit you are heading to.

BEFORE THE FLIGHT

Even with more relaxed travel restrictions, Cebgo & Cebu Pacific Air continued to send flight reminders to all its passengers via e-mail, Viber & text messages. The airline also kept us passengers well-informed of the minor changes in flight schedules via the mentioned means of communication. They also sent a reminder about buying baggage ahead of time & the updated carry-on baggage rules.

I noticed that the airline has removed the item about the Traze mobile application. I believe the authorities have stopped using this application for contact-tracing purposes. It would have been nicer if contact-tracing procedures were still being practiced in order to curb any possible surge in cases.

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Cebgo, Cebu Pacific Air’s regional subsidiary, used a 5.6-year-old ATR 72-600 propeller aircraft for this Legazpi (LGP) to Cebu (CEB) regional sector. The propeller plane is registered under RP-C7281 & has 78 economy seats in a 2-2 configuration. The aircraft took off from Bicol International Airport at exactly 8:05am, flew at 17,000 ft above the ground & touched down at Mactan-Cebu International Airport at 9:02am. The whole flight only took 57 minutes.

AIRPORT & GROUND EXPERIENCE

CHECK-IN

I arrived at Bicol International Airport quarter before 7:00am & immediately headed to the check-in counters. I noticed that the airport staff no longer required the Traze App upon entering the airport terminal. I was the only person in the Cebgo check-in area. The whole check-in & bag drop process literally took a minute. The ground staff did not even bother to check my vaccination card / certificate.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, I headed upstairs to submit myself to a final security check & to stay in the pre-departure area. The terminal is spacious & the 2 operating airlines, Cebu Pacific Air / Cebgo & Philippine Airlines have their own boarding gates. Some souvenir & food shops were already open when I got there. Smart Communications offers free WiFi to its subscribers waiting for their flight. Oh boy, the internet speed went as high as 410 Mbps.

A few minutes before boarding, the airline sent another text message informing us that our assigned boarding gate is Gate 8. What a lovely gesture by the airline! I stayed in the pre-departure area & waited for my friends to arrive.

BOARDING

The boarding process started on-time at 7:30am. Priority passengers & those needing special assistance boarded the aircraft first. The remaining passengers came next. The boarding process only took 20 minutes. The crew closed the aircraft doors at 7:50am; the plane was pushed back 3 minutes later. The cabin temperature was hot during boarding & did not improve until the engines started.

INFLIGHT PRODUCT & EXPERIENCE

SEAT

Cebgo’s ATR 72-600 aircraft has 78 seats in an all-economy class cabin. Each row has 4 seats in a 2-2 configuration. That means that each seat either has a window or aisle access. This 5.6-year-old aircraft is fitted with the old individual seat design. All seats have a decent-sized tray table. It also has 2 seat pockets – one for the safety card & supposed to be inflight magazine & the other for the air sickness bag.

All seats feature an individual reading light & air nozzle. Seat 17C, the seat beside me, has a broken left arm rest. I was surprised to see it wrapped in clear tape. Each seat has a pitch of 29 inches & a width of 17 inches. The seat dimensions are acceptable for a low-cost airline. Take note that these seats cannot be reclined.

INFLIGHT SNACKS

Cebgo does not offer complimentary snacks to their passengers. Instead, they offer buy-on-board snacks (called Fun Café) to those who wish to get some snack / drink during the flight. This buy-on-board service started 15 minutes after take-off and was finished in 10 minutes. I did not avail of any snack or drink on this short hop to Cebu.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Cebgo is a no-fills airline & does not offer entertainment options on all of its flights. They used to have inflight magazines, but they haven’t brought it back. On some of its daytime flights, they conduct a game where passengers can win some airline-branded merchandise. Unfortunately, the crew did not conduct the Fun Game on this Legazpi to Cebu flight

LAVATORY

Midway into the flight, I decided to visit the lavatory found at the rear part of the aircraft. The lavatory is clean & it smells good. It was basic & it had everything you needed. Unfortunately, it was so small to the point where I could barely move inside.

CABIN CREW SERVICE

The cabin crew gave all passengers a warm welcome during boarding. They made sure all passengers were wearing their masks & following the flight protocols. They attended to all passenger requests during the snack service. Unfortunately, I had close to no interaction with the crew on this flight.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

The aircraft parked near Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 1’s arrival area. We only walked for a few meters & headed to the baggage claim & arrival hall. The whole disembarkation & baggage claim process took 20 minutes.

Final Thoughts

It was another enjoyable flight with Cebgo – this time with their Legazpi to Cebu regional sector. It felt weird not flying from or to Manila, but it also felt nice to be flying inter-island to Cebu. I am very happy that these smaller routes exist. It makes inter-island connectivity easier & faster for those who have business or those who want to go on vacation in Cebu or in the nearby islands.

It’s great to see the airline continuing the pre-flight reminders & announcements even with relaxed restrictions all over the country. Ground experience was great! Check-in, security checks & boarding processes were fast & efficient. It’s sad to see that the contact tracing & requirements check measures were omitted for this flight. We are still in a pandemic & we need to still be strict on these measures.

My flight experience on DG 6207 was also good. The cabin product is still good, even if it’s a bit outdated. Seats were comfortable for a short hop. The flight left Legazpi Airport & arrived Cebu Airport ahead of schedule & the lavatory was tight but spot clean. The only downside I noticed is the ageing aircraft & the dirt in Seats 17C & 17D. This specific aircraft needs some serious cleaning. Dust is starting to pile up near the safety card pocket.

This minor observation won’t hinder me from flying with Cebgo in the future. They still provide the best value on flights around the Philippines. In fact, I can no longer wait for the next one! Let me share with you some technical details of this flight:

Airline: Cebgo
Flight Date: 13 May 2022
Flight Number: DG 6207
Route: Legazpi (LGP) to Cebu (CEB)
Duration: 57 minutes
Seat Number: 17D
Aircraft: ATR 72-600
Aircraft Registration: RP-C7281
Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M Engines
Age: 5.6 years old
Delivered: September 2016


Have you tried a regional flight with one of our local airlines? If yes, how was your experience? If not, is there a specific regional flight you want to try? Feel free to share your experiences & thoughts in the comments section below. Do you have a question about this flight or anything related to Cebu or Cebgo? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Stay tuned for upcoming flight reports & posts! In the meantime, you may check out my previous flight reports here. Before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: CEBGO DG 6192 – Legazpi to Manila – Delayed First DG Flight Out of BIA [March 2022]

Some of you know that I moved back to my hometown in Albay during the pandemic. This move has made me take Legazpi-Manila-Legazpi flights more than usual in the last few months. I’ve shared with you my flights with Cebgo last November 2021, from Legazpi to Manila & Manila to Legazpi & with Philippine Airlines in early March 2022 on the same route from Legazpi to Manila & Manila to Legazpi.

Just a few weeks ago, my friends & I decided to fly to Davao & visit another friend. There are no direct flights from Legazpi to Davao at the moment. This meant that I had to fly again to Manila before taking that flight to Davao. Join me for today’s flight report as I share with you my recent experience with Cebgo & see if anything has changed from the flight I took back in November.

CEBGO

Cebgo is not a new airline in this website. In fact, it is the most reviewed airline including its parent company Cebu Pacific Air. Formerly South East Asian Airlines (SEAir) & Tigerair Philippines, Cebgo joined Cebu Pacific Air in 2014. Since then, Cebgo has been flying to most of the country’s smaller airports, connecting these regional airports to the rest of Cebu Pacific Air’s wide domestic airport.

The airline flies an all-turboprop fleet accommodating up to 78 passengers per flight on a single-class configuration. If I’m not mistaken, it also operates 2 all-cargo turboprop aircrafts. It’s the only turboprop cargo plane in the Philippines.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA AirIndonesia Air AsiaSingapore Airlines & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Airfare

At the time of booking, a one-way Legazpi to Manila ticket on this flight cost over ₱3,000 – expensive! To save some cash & like my previous Legazpi-Manila & Manila-Legazpi Cebgo flights, I used the CEB Super Pass I bought back in September 2021.

I paid ₱390.88 for the CEB Super Pass & added ₱288.88 for the airport taxes & fees at the time of booking. This one-way ticket cost me only ₱679.76 – that’s over ₱2,000 less than the advertised price in the website. What a steal! I did not any add-ons since it was only a short weekend trip & the 7 kilogram carry allowance was enough. In case you want to know more of the airline’s add-ons, feel free to check them here.

Travel requirements

Metro Manila was placed under Alert Level 1 last March 2022. This meant that the region is open to anyone; no requirements are needed to enter the metro.

Travel requirements change once in a while. Cebu Pacific Air, Cebgo’s parent company, keeps their travel information section up-to-date. Feel free to check out the page here.

Before The Flight

Even with more lax restrictions in Metro Manila, Cebu Pacific Air still sent out e-mail & Viber reminders to all passengers a few days before the scheduled flight. The reminder included a note to check local government regulations, to download the Traze mobile application & to wear a face mask during the duration of the flight.

The airline also sent passengers pre-flight reminders to ensure a safe & contactless flight. This included protocols & reminders before the flight, at the airport & even during the flight. These e-mail reminders from airlines are appreciated given the endless changes in requirements & protocols. Kudos to Cebu Pacific Air & Cebgo!

Flight Information

Cebu Pacific Air has delayed the deployment of jet planes to Legazpi Airport & has continued to utilize Cebgo’s propeller planes. This Legazpi (LGP) to Manila (MNL) flight was operated by a 5.6-year-old ATR 72-600 aircraft with registration number RP-C7280. The plane has 78 economy seats in a 2-2 configuration. The plane left Bicol International Airport (BIA) at 10:55am, cruised at 16,000 ft above sea level & arrived Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 11:59am. The flight was delayed by an hour but only took 1 hour & 4 minutes in the air.

Airport & Ground Experience

DG 6912 was Cebgo’s first flight out of Bicol International Airport that day. Know more about the airport & ground experience below.

CHECK-IN

I arrived at the airport a few minutes past 8:00 in the morning. After finishing the initial security check, the airport staff scanned my Traze mobile application QR code & asked me to proceed to check-in. I was at the end of the queue at 8:08am & finished checking in at 8:28am. I noticed that many passengers had connections to other destinations like Cebu & Caticlan (Boracay); the ground staff had to strictly check the passengers’ requirements & travel documents. It was a reasonable 20-minute check-in process. Glad the staff who checked me in me was nice & accommodating.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, I headed upstairs to submit myself to a final security check & to stay in the pre-departure area. The pre-departure area has a spectacular view of Mayon Volcano; only that the volcano was shy that morning. The terminal is spacious & the 2 operating airlines, Cebu Pacific Air / Cebgo & Philippine Airlines have their own boarding gates. I noticed that new restaurants & food kiosks have opened in the pre-departure area. Passengers now have more options to choose on what to have before the flight.

The aircraft arrived from Manila at a little over 9:30am. Most of the passengers anticipated boarding to commence a few minutes after but the gate remained closed. Time passed & no boarding announcements & flight updates were made. At 10:18am, a little over 30 minutes after the scheduled departure, I checked with the ground staff & I was informed that our flight would be delayed by a few minutes due to air traffic in Manila.

BOARDING

At exactly 10:23am, the ground staff announced boarding for priority passengers. Regular passengers followed. The process only took 19 minutes; the aircraft’s door was closed at 10:42am. The boarding process was fast considering our flight was full & only 1 ground staff managed the whole boarding process.

Inflight Product & Experience

SEAT

Cebgo’s ATR 72-600 aircraft has an all-economy class cabin with 78 seats in a 2 x 2 configuration. Each seat is either a window or an aisle seat. This 5.6-year-old aircraft is fitted with the old individual seat design. All seats have a decent-sized tray table. It also has 2 seat pockets – one for the safety card & supposed to be inflight magazine & the other for the air sickness bag.

All seats feature an individual reading light & air nozzle. Seat 6A has a broken left arm rest. I was surprised to see it wrapped in clear tape. Each seat has a pitch of 29 inches & a width of 17 inches. The seat dimensions are acceptable for a low-cost airline.

Disclaimer: Seat 6A is the closest seat to the propellers. You’ll hear a louder noise from the propellers during the flight.

INFLIGHT SNACKS

Cebgo is a no-frills airline. They do not offer complimentary snacks or meals on their flights. Instead, they offer snacks for purchase during booking or on-board during the flight. Snack service was temporarily suspended from the early days of the pandemic but has been recently restored due to lower alert levels. Shortly after the seatbelt sign was turned off, the crew offered snacks & drinks to passengers. Choices were limited to chips, light snacks & drinks. Rice / heavy meals & alcoholic beverages were not yet offered during this flight. Inflight menus are not yet available on this flight.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Cebgo aircraft do not feature entertainment screens. Inflight magazines were still not yet offered for this flight. However, the airline has brought back its inflight games just last March. The crew asked 3 questions; the passengers who raised their hand first & answered the questions first won Cebu Pacific Air-branded pouches. I participated in the game but didn’t win anything. How unlucky. The airline also brought back their Change for Good program in partnership with UNICEF. Passengers can donate cash to be turned over by Cebu Pacific Air to UNICEF.

LAVATORY

The aircraft’s only lavatory is found at the back of the plane, near the main passenger door. I decided not to use the lavatory on this flight.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew gave all passengers a warm welcome during boarding. They made sure all passengers were wearing their masks & following the flight protocols. They attended to all passenger requests during the snack service. Unfortunately, I had close to no interaction with the crew on this flight.

Disembarkation

Upon arriving at our assigned bus gate, the cabin crew announced an orderly disembarkation process. Unfortunately, the passengers did not follow the by-row disembarkation process. Most passengers stood up as soon as they were allowed to. Shuttle buses took us back to the Terminal 3 building for arrival & baggage claim.

Final Thoughts

This DG 6912 flight from Legazpi to Manila was just right. I won’t say it’s an excellent flight because it surely had its misses.

Here are the things I liked about this flight. First is the ticket price. Booking this using the CEB Super Pass was definitely a steal. From the regular ticket price of over ₱3,000, it went down to around ₱700 because of the ticket voucher. Second, the airline sent reminders before the flight to make sure that passengers are well-informed of the destination requirements & flight contactless protocols. Third, inflight snack service & games are offered again onboard. It gives the impression that travel is slowly getting back to what it used to be. Fourth, the check-in process took a while than usual but it was reasonable. The ground staff made sure passengers comply with all the requirements & documents needed on their destinations.

There are also some areas in which I believe the flight experience can be improved. First, ground staff should have provided flight updates at the pre-departure area. No announcements were made on why the flight was delayed & on what’s the updated time of departure. Second, you’ll notice that the aircraft needs repair on some parts. Lastly, the flight delay almost made me miss my next flight to Davao. It was not the airline’s fault, but it still somehow affected the flight experience.

Don’t worry, I will surely fly with Cebgo & Cebu Pacific Air in the future. They still offer the best valued fares to almost everywhere in the Philippines & internationally.

Here are the specific / geeky details of this flight:

Airline: Cebgo
Flight Date: 24 March 2022
Flight Number: DG 6192
Route: Legazpi (LGP) Albay to Manila (MNL)
Duration: 1 hour & 4 minutes
Seat Number: 6A
Aircraft: ATR 72-600
Aircraft Registration: RP-C7280
Age: 5.6 years old
Year Delivered: October 2016


Have you taken any domestic flight recently? How was your experience? Did you notice that the passenger level is nearing pre-pandemic numbers? Share your recent experiences & observations in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about this flight? You can also send those questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I will try to get back to them as soon as I can.

Thanks for joining me in today’s flight report. I have a few flights lined up in the coming weeks & months. Please stay tuned! Before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: CEBGO DG 6193 – Manila to Legazpi – Flying Back Home to Albay During the Pandemic

A little over a week ago, I shared with you my November 2021 flight experience with Cebgo on their DG 6194 flight from Legazpi to Manila. It was my first flight in 21 months & since the pandemic started. A lot has changed from the pre-pandemic flying experience but these changes are for the passengers’ safety & well-being.

Today, I will run you through my return flight from Manila to Legazpi. After a few days around Metro Manila, I had to go home & get back to my usual ‘probinsya’ work from home set-up. What has changed in the process of flying from Manila to Legazpi? We’ll know in the detailed report below.

March 2022 UPDATE: I flew with Cebu Pacific Air’s main competitor in the Legazpi sector – Philippine Airlines – recently. Feel free to also check out my PAL Legazpi to Manila flight PR 2922 & PAL Manila to Legazpi flight PR 2919 flight reports!

Disclaimer: The reviewer is fully vaccinated during the trip. Travel requirements & procedures may change anytime. Everything mentioned below were valid during the day of the flight. For updated requirements & procedures, please check Cebu Pacific Air’s Travel Reminders page.

Cebgo

Cebgo is not a new airline in this website. In fact, it is the most reviewed airline including its parent company Cebu Pacific Air. Formerly South East Asian Airlines (SEAir) & Tigerair Philippines, Cebgo joined Cebu Pacific Air in 2014. Since then, Cebgo has been flying to most of the country’s smaller airports, connecting these regional airports to the rest of Cebu Pacific Air’s wide domestic airport.

The airline flies an all-turboprop fleet accommodating up to 78 passengers per flight on a single-class configuration. If I’m not mistaken, it also operates 2 all-cargo turboprop aircrafts. It’s the only turboprop cargo plane in the Philippines.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA AirIndonesia Air AsiaSingapore Airlines & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Airfare & Inclusions

Like my recent Legazpi to Manila flight, I used my CEB Super Pass voucher on this flight back to Legazpi. This pass costs ₱99 base fare plus taxes valid for one-way domestic trip. The pass is valid for one year & can be booked at least a week before the planned trip.

I paid ₱390.88 for this pass & added ₱1,494.72 for the final ticket booking. The ticket cost ₱1,885.6 one-way; it included a 20-kilogram checked baggage allowance, pre-selected window seat & the CEB Flexi option. I availed of the CEB Flexi option because at the time of booking, I was unsure if I will extend my stay in Manila or I will fly out to somewhere with my friends. Know more about the CEB Flexi add-on & other add-ons available on your Cebu Pacific Air / Cebgo flight here.

The return journey from Legazpi to Manila & back to Legazpi cost me ₱3,162.32 all-in. This included pre-selected seats & 20-kilogram baggage allowance per sector & that add-on on the way back. I think this return fare is still a steal considering fares have shoot up during the pandemic & tickets were booked just a week before the intended flight.

Travel Requirements

Travel requirements these days change more often than before. I flew to Manila last 11 November 2021 knowing that I will need to take an RT-PCR test for my flight back home. Luckily, the Provincial Government of Albay changed the requirements for inbound passengers last 12 November 2021.

All passengers need to download the Traze & Albay Get-Pass mobile applications for contact-tracing purposes. Fully-vaccinated passengers are only required to show their vaccination cards upon check in. Partially-vaccinated or unvaccinated passengers need to present a negative antigen or RT-PCR test result taken at least 48 hours before the flight. Children are also required to present this test result.

I was happy the provincial government removed the test requirement for fully-vaccinated travelers; I also got to save some money. Please take note that these travel requirements can change anytime. For the updated ones, please check out Cebu Pacific Air’s Covid-19 Information Page.

Before The Flight

One of the changes I noticed this pandemic is the e-mail reminder sent by Cebu Pacific Air to their passengers before the flight. Passengers previously only get online check in reminders. This time, the airline sends e-mails requesting the passengers to update emergency contact information, reminding them about the contactless protocols for the flight & the updated destination requirements.

I applaud Cebu Pacific Air for sending these reminders to all passengers; I can see that they are making sure that all passengers are informed & are aware of the updated protocols.

Flight Information

This Manila (MNL) to Legazpi (LGP) flight was operated by a 3.1-year-old ATR 72-600 aircraft with registration RP-C7260. The plane has 78 economy seats in a 2-2 configuration. The plane left Ninoy Aquino International Airport via Runway 13/31 at 10:54 am & arrived Bicol International Airport a minute ahead of schedule at 11:59 am. The flight took 1 hour & 5 minutes.

NAIA Terminal 3 Check-In Process

Cebu Pacific Air / Cebgo’s check-in process in Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 is now contactless.

Self-Service Check-In

Passengers are required to check-in online or use the check-in kiosks found outside the bag drop counters. All boarding passes & baggage tags must be printed in these check-in kiosks.

Documents Check

After printing the boarding pass & baggage tags, passengers need to fall in line in the document check counters. Airline staff will check the passenger’s travel requirements & documents before they are allowed to drop their bags. Vaccination cards & antigen/ RT-PCR test results are also checked here.

Bag Drop

After document check, the passengers queue in the bag drop counters for their check-in luggage. The airline staff checks the bag’s weight & conduct last-minute checks. The airline staff asks the passenger to add the luggage tags to their own baggage. He/she also reminds the passengers that only 1 carry-on bag is allowed per person. Additional bags are subject to crew’s evaluation upon boarding & may incur additional charges.

The whole check-in process only took me 15-20 minutes considering the busy passenger airport load that day. It was nice seeing NAIA Terminal 3 relatively busy; it means that travel is starting to pick-up. It is, however, still far off from the pre-pandemic levels.

Boarding

Prior to boarding, Cebgo ground staff advised passengers to fill out the health declaration form required by the City Government of Legazpi & the passenger locator form required by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. The smaller passenger locator form was collected by the ground staff during boarding.

DG 6193 boarded from the super crowded Gate 134B. Due to the overwhelming number of passengers, social distancing protocols where not observed. The seats were not enough for all the passengers; there’s barely a space for a person to move around.

The boarding process started on time. Passengers with infants, senior citizens, those requiring special assistance & those who availed the GO Ahead add-on boarded first. The general passengers followed. The bus took all the passengers to the assigned aircraft near Terminal 4.

All passengers boarded from the rear door of the ATR 72-600 aircraft & were welcomed by the crew. Passengers were also offered alcohol / hand sanitizer before getting in the plane.

Seat & Inflight Experience

Cebgo’s ATR 72-700 aircraft has 78 seats in a 2 x 2 configuration. Each row has 2 window & 2 aisle seats. The seat pitch was alright; not that spacious but all good for a short flight. The seats only have armrests as dividers & no ‘individual’ seat space unlike those from jet planes. Each seat pocket has a passenger safety card & an air sickness bag. Inflight magazines were removed because of the pandemic. Each seat also has a foldable table, dedicated manual air vents & reading lights. I was lucky I had the C & D seats to myself.

This flight to Legazpi was basic as expected. There were no additional services offered during the flight. Meals were offered to those who pre-booked snacks. The flight left Manila station behind scheduled but managed to arrive at Bicol International Airport ahead of schedule.

All passengers were required to wear face masks & face shields (at that time) throughout the flight. Face shields are no longer required inflight as of writing. The cabin crew constantly reminded the passengers of the inflight safety protocols observed by the airline.

Lavatory

The aircraft’s only lavatory is found at the back of the plane, near the main passenger door. I decided not to use the lavatory on this flight.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew on this flight were on full personal protective equipment, face mask & face shield. They gave a warm welcome to all the passengers; they made sure that everyone complies to all the safety protocols throughout the flight. One of the attendants even helped a passenger look for an overhead compartment for a bag. The same crew even answered the questions of one passenger. The crew took care of us passengers from boarding to disembarkation.

Disembarkation

The cabin crew followed an orderly disembarkation process for this flight. Passengers were only allowed to stand up & get their bags once their rows were called. Upon disembarkation, all passengers headed to the arrival hall. Each passenger was asked to fill out a border control monitoring form. After getting the checked luggage, all passengers lined up in a booth to surrender all the forms (including those given in Manila) & to check-in using the Traze mobile application. After this, passengers are free to leave the terminal building & airport.

FINAL Thoughts

It was another pleasant flight with Cebgo. I’d say this was a more pleasant flight than my Legazpi to Manila leg. The pandemic has changed the aviation industry. The ever-changing destination requirements & flight protocols make flying more stressful; however, we have no choice but to comply to all these rules. Props to the airline staff for making flying even safer at these strange times.

The flight from Manila to Legazpi made me happy for a few reasons: eased flight requirements to Legazpi for fully-vaccinated passengers, removal of home or facility-based quarantine for returning passengers, Albay now opening up to tourists & the Philippine aviation industry slowly going back to life. We may be far off from how things were before the pandemic but at least we can see people starting to crowd the airports & tourist destinations again.

Allow me to share with you the technical details of my flight:

Airline: Cebgo
Flight Date: 16 November 2021
Flight Number: DG 6193
Route: Manila (MNL) to Legazpi (LGP) Albay
Duration: 1 hour & 5 minutes
Seat Number: 8D
Aircraft: ATR 72-600
Aircraft Registration: RP-C7290
Age: 3.1 years
Year Delivered: 2018


You all know how much I love flying. Before the pandemic, I’m used to taking 25 to 30 flights in a year. When the pandemic hit, that went down to 0. I was so happy I finally got to fly again after so long. It may not be as frequent as before but at least I got to step on an airport again, board an aircraft & hear the aircraft engines after so long. Flying makes me happy; how I wish I can fly more in the coming months.

Have you been on a flight recently? How has the pandemic changed your flying experience? Feel free to share your personal experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about flying into Legazpi or anything about flying during the pandemic? You may post them below or you may send an e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s flight report. This may be the last one for now & for this year. I hope take more flights next year. For now, let’s all do our part in making this pandemic an endemic. Please wear your masks properly, observe proper social distancing & get vaccinated. Before you go, can you visit my social media channels – Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Please stay safe & stay tuned for the next one.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.