Category: Manila

Flight Report: QANTAS QF 19 – Sydney to Manila – Daytime Intercontinental Journey Back to the Philippines [September 2024]

In September 2024, our company organized a trip for us to Sydney, Australia, where we attended workshops and participated in a company trade show. The trip included three full days of work, followed by two additional days for leisure. We traveled to and from Sydney with Qantas, Australia’s national carrier. This flight report will focus on our journey from Sydney to Manila on QF 19.

Join me as I share the details of flying with Qantas, Australia’s largest airline and one of the world’s safest. I will also provide insights into my experience on this daytime intercontinental flight back to Manila.

In case you missed it, I also shared my flight experience with Qantas’ Manila to Sydney on flight QF 20. Check out the flight report here.

Qantas

Qantas is Australia’s national carrier. Founded in 1920, the airline’s first flight took place in November 1922. Initially known as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited, it primarily served Queensland and the Northern Territory. Over the years, Qantas underwent several expansion and transformation programs, eventually becoming Australia’s largest domestic and international airline. It currently operates flights to over 100 domestic and international destinations from its main hubs in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. Qantas also flies to all habitable continents.

Qantas has several subsidiaries, including QantasLink, Qantas Loyalty, Qantas Freight, Jetstar, and Jetconnect. The airline and its subsidiaries operate a fleet that includes Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer, and Fokker aircraft. As of March 2025, the parent company, Qantas, has over 120 active aircraft, with an additional 60+ on order.

Qantas is a full-service airline offering a range of amenities, including free checked luggage, meals and snacks, personal entertainment screens, and more onboard. It is also one of the founding members of Oneworld, a major global alliance that includes airlines like Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, and American Airlines. Additionally, Qantas has a loyalty program called Qantas Frequent Flyer, allowing members to earn status points and miles when flying with the airline or through its non-airline partners.

As the third-oldest airline in the world, based on its foundation date (behind only KLM and Avianca), Qantas consistently ranks among the World’s Safest Airlines, a distinction it has maintained since the awards’ inception in 2014.

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.

Airfare & Inclusions

Since this was a work trip, I did not pay for the flights. The company booked our tickets a little over three months in advance and paid ₱XX,XXX for the roundtrip. They chose a higher fare class that allows for a refund with a small fee, rather than opting for the cheaper non-refundable option.

The Qantas ticket included a 7-kilogram carry-on allowance, 30 kilograms of checked baggage, inflight meals and snacks, inflight amenities, personal entertainment screens on both flights, and excellent service from the cabin crew.

The ticket price was typical for flights to Australia—while it is not as cheap as Cebu Pacific Air, it is slightly higher than fares with Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific.

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

Travel Requirements

Philippine passport holders only need to present their valid passports and the E-Travel QR code when entering the country. Non-Philippine passport holders may be required to present additional documents, such as a valid visa or an onward departure ticket. These requirements can vary depending on nationality. It is always best to check with the relevant authorities for the most up-to-date entry requirements.

I have applied for an Australian visa several times and explained the process in a previous Tuesday Tips post. You can find the details on how to apply for an Australian visa here.

Before The Flight

Four days before the flight, Qantas sent an email to remind passengers about the upcoming trip. The email included flight details, travel document requirements such as passport and visa, baggage information, and other services like seat selection, special requests, a Qantas Frequent Flyer reminder, and information about the Qantas mobile app.

24 hours before the flight, the airline sent another email informing passengers that online check-in was now available. The email also outlined step-by-step procedures at Sydney Airport, from check-in to boarding. We all completed online check-in and received our mobile boarding passes immediately.

Aircraft & Flight Information

The Sydney to Manila Qantas flight was operated by a 20.4-year-old Airbus A330-303 (at the time of the flight). Delivered to the airline in June 2004, the aircraft is registered as VH-QPE and is named Port Lincoln. It features 28 lie-flat business class seats and 269 regular economy seats.

Flight QF 19 took off from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport at 12:33 p.m. local time, cruised at an altitude of up to 38,000 feet, and landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 6:32 p.m. local time. The flight duration was 7 hours and 59 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

International Qantas flights depart from the International Terminal at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.

CHECK-IN & BAG DROP

Qantas check-in kiosks are located at Counter C. Passengers are required to check in using the kiosks, print their boarding passes and bag tags, and then proceed to the bag drop area to check in their luggage for the cargo hold.

The check-in and bag drop process took less than 5 minutes. The Qantas check-in area was well-staffed, and one of the attendants kindly assisted my friend/colleague with checking in his luggage.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in and bag drop, we proceeded through immigration and security. My friend and I stopped by The House Lounge by Aspire to grab a bite before the flight. The lounge offered a great selection of food and drinks, along with an excellent view of the tarmac. It even had unlimited sparkling wine and Aperol spritz, which the Filipina bartender recommended.

Around 11:30 a.m., we left the lounge and walked to our assigned boarding gate, Gate 31.

BOARDING

At 11:35 a.m., the ground staff announced boarding for premium passengers and status holders. Economy class passengers were called to board next, organized by row.

The cabin crew closed the airplane doors at 12:15 p.m. The entire boarding process took 40 minutes. The plane was pushed back at 12:20 p.m., five minutes later, and made its way to the runway for takeoff.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Sydney to Manila flight was operated by a 20.4-year-old Airbus A330-300 (at the time of the flight). The aircraft features 28 lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration and 269 standard economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout.

According to SeatGuru, each lie-flat business class seat offers a seat pitch of 73 inches and a seat width of 23 inches. The seats provide spacious legroom, a large entertainment screen, a seat console, and several storage compartments. Additionally, passengers are provided with a large pillow, blanket, and noise-canceling headphones. The business class cabin consists of 7 rows arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, ensuring that each passenger has direct aisle access.

The middle and rear sections of the aircraft are equipped with 269 economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout. Each economy seat offers a seat pitch of 31 inches and a seat width of 17 inches. Amenities include a personal entertainment screen, a foldable tray table, a coat hook, a USB charging port, a power outlet beneath the seat, and small under-screen storage. The seats also come with an adjustable headrest, a pillow, a blanket, and a seatback pocket containing an aircraft safety card, a magazine, duty-free pamphlets, and headphones. Additional features include individual air vents and a cabin crew call button.

For my daytime flight to Manila, I chose seat 46B in the rear economy cabin. I found Qantas’ seats to be quite comfortable, and I appreciated the provided pillow and blanket. The recline function worked well, making the flight more relaxing.

INFLIGHT MEAL & SNACKS

Once we reached cruising altitude, the cabin crew distributed a bottle of water to each economy class passenger. The pre-lunch service began with a pack of crackers and a drink of choice, and I opted for a small bottle of white wine.

About an hour after takeoff, the cabin crew started serving lunch. They offered three meal options: Sichuan tofu with oyster mushrooms and rice, chicken schnitzel parmigiana with mashed potatoes, and stir-fried black bean beef with capsicum and rice. Each main meal came with rosemary garlic focaccia bread, ice cream, wooden cutlery, and a drink of choice. The crew also went around for a second drink service, offering coffee, tea, or water, along with Tim Tam chocolates.

I chose the chicken schnitzel parmigiana and paired it with apple juice. Unfortunately, I found the chicken a bit bland. However, the caramel maple ice cream helped redeem the meal, providing a sweet and enjoyable finish.

Throughout the flight, the cabin crew made several rounds offering random snacks like chocolates, cookies, and crackers. About an hour and a half before arrival, they served the pre-landing snack, which included veggie pizza and a butter chicken puff. I chose the butter chicken puff and had another glass of apple juice. While it was not exactly to my taste, it was decent and filling.

Qantas certainly ensured that passengers would not go hungry on this daytime flight to Manila.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

All Qantas aircraft used on international flights are equipped with entertainment screens. The airline offers a wide range of entertainment options, including movies, television shows, audiobooks, and music playlists.

The entertainment system also features an inflight map that tracks the flight path and provides details about the journey to Manila. I tried to watch a movie during this daytime flight, but I did not manage to finish it. Instead, I spent most of the flight chatting with my friend.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

The aircraft used for this flight was not equipped with Wi-Fi at the time, which means we did not have Wi-Fi connectivity during this flight to Manila.

LAVATORY

I used the middle lavatory twice and found it to be spotlessly clean. It had the basic amenities, though it was missing the toothbrush and napkin provided on our Manila to Sydney flight. Additionally, it did not have moisturizer or perfume, which are available on some other airlines.

Cabin Crew Encounters

Just like on our Manila to Sydney QF 20 flight, the cabin crew on this flight was friendly and chatty. I also noticed that during boarding, the crew welcomed us aboard and addressed each passenger by their last name. Additionally, the cabin crew made inflight announcements in both English and Filipino.

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

The plane landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 6:32 p.m. local time. Disembarkation and immigration took less than 30 minutes, and we were at the luggage claim area by 7:00 p.m.

Flight Experience

It was another pleasant flight experience with Qantas, this time on a daytime intercontinental flight from Sydney to Manila. The positives of the flight certainly outweighed the negatives. Allow me to list them below.

I mentioned this in my previous QF 20 flight report, and I will mention it again here: In a world where checked luggage allowances are often limited to 23 or 25 kilograms, Qantas offers a generous 30-kilogram checked luggage allowance, regardless of fare class.

Secondly, the seat comfort and amenities on this flight were top-notch. While the seat may not have the thick padding of Cathay Pacific’s, it still provided a comfortable experience on this nearly 8-hour flight to Manila. Third, the seats featured individual air vents, allowing passengers to control the airflow at their seats—a feature that is slowly disappearing in many new aircraft.

Fourth, the cabin crew ensured that all passengers stayed well-fed throughout the flight. They made several rounds offering snacks between meals. For me, the caramel maple ice cream was the highlight of the lunch service. Lastly, despite handling numerous requests from passengers, the cabin crew remained friendly and chatty. The service was relaxed and not rushed.

Now, for the aspects that felt lacking. First, the lunch meal did not include an appetizer (such as a salad) or a fruit bowl. Airlines like Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific often include these items even on shorter flights. Additionally, I found the chicken parmigiana to be bland and not to my liking.

Second, the middle lavatory lacked some essential amenities, such as dental kits, which are especially useful on long flights like this. While these can easily be requested from the crew, it would have been more convenient to have them available for use from the start.

In summary, this daytime intercontinental flight was pleasant. While it may not have been perfect, it was definitely an improvement over my QF 20 experience to Sydney. Though I would consider flying with Qantas again if the price is right, I am more likely to choose another airline for a better overall experience.

Here are more details about my flight from Sydney to Manila on Qantas QF 19:

Airline: Qantas
Flight Date: 29 September 2024
Flight Number: QF 19
Route: Sydney, Australia (SYD) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Duration: 7 hours and 59 minutes
Seat Number: Seat 46B (aisle)
Aircraft: Airbus A330-303
Aircraft Registration: VH-QPE
Engines: 2 x General Electric CF6-80E1A3
Age: 20.4-years-old
Delivered: June 2004

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. I hope I gave you a comprehensive review of my first time flying with Qantas on their QF 19 route from Sydney to Manila. From the generous luggage allowance to the friendly crew and the comfort of their Airbus A330, I have shared the highlights and areas for improvement during my flight experience.

Have you flown with Qantas before? How was your experience with the airline? Are you considering booking a ticket with them for your next trip to Australia or beyond? If you have any questions or would like to know more, feel free to post them in the comments section below, or send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I would be happy to respond!

I hope you will check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines, as well as other airlines like Emirates, EVA Air, Cathay Pacific, Air France, Vietnam Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and Philippine Airlines. I also hope you look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, please consider liking, following, and sharing my social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. This will help increase my reach and keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries, and flight reports on this website. Thank you, and I will see you in the next flight report!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: QANTAS QF 20 – Manila to Sydney – First Time Flying the Spirit of Australia [September 2024]

In September 2024, my colleagues and I flew to Sydney, Australia, to attend workshops and a company trade show. We stayed for three days of work, followed by two additional days of leisure. We flew with Australia’s flag carrier, Qantas. Our flight from Manila to Sydney on QF 20 will be the focus of today’s flight report.

I have visited Sydney twice before, flying with Cebu Pacific Air and Singapore Airlines. Join me as I share my experience flying with the Spirit of Australia and compare it to the other airlines I have flown with.

Qantas

Qantas is Australia’s national carrier. Founded in 1920, the airline’s first flight took place in November 1922. Initially known as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited, it primarily served Queensland and the Northern Territory. Over the years, Qantas underwent several expansion and transformation programs, eventually becoming Australia’s largest domestic and international airline. It currently operates flights to over 100 domestic and international destinations from its main hubs in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne. Qantas also flies to all habitable continents.

Qantas has several subsidiaries, including QantasLink, Qantas Loyalty, Qantas Freight, Jetstar, and Jetconnect. The airline and its subsidiaries operate a fleet that includes Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer, and Fokker aircraft. As of March 2025, the parent company, Qantas, has over 120 active aircraft, with an additional 60+ on order.

Qantas is a full-service airline offering a range of amenities, including free checked luggage, meals and snacks, personal entertainment screens, and more onboard. It is also one of the founding members of Oneworld, a major global alliance that includes airlines like Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, and American Airlines. Additionally, Qantas has a loyalty program called Qantas Frequent Flyer, allowing members to earn status points and miles when flying with the airline or through its non-airline partners.

As the third-oldest airline in the world, based on its foundation date (behind only KLM and Avianca), Qantas consistently ranks among the World’s Safest Airlines, a distinction it has maintained since the awards’ inception in 2014.

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.

Airfare & Inclusions

Since this was a work trip, I did not pay for the flights. The company booked my ticket a little over three months before the planned trip and paid around ₱XX,XXX for the round trip. The fare was on the expensive side because it included a cancellation option for a minimal charge. Our company opted not to choose the cheaper, non-refundable fare.

The Qantas ticket included a 7-kilogram carry-on allowance, a 30-kilogram checked baggage allowance, inflight meals and snacks, inflight amenities, personal entertainment screens on both flights, and excellent service from the onboard cabin crew.

This was the usual Qantas fare for a round trip to and from Sydney. I have flown with other airlines, like Cebu Pacific Air and Singapore Airlines, which sometimes offer cheaper fares to Sydney.

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

Travel Requirements

Regular Philippine passport holders are required to obtain a visa to enter Australia. Since I was traveling for work, I applied for the Visitor visa (subclass 600) under the Business Visitor visa stream. I submitted my visa application in July and was granted a visa with a five-year validity in less than 14 hours after the online submission, and within an hour of my biometrics appointment. The business visitor visa process is nearly identical to the tourist visa process, except for some additional required documents.

All departing Filipino passengers from Manila are required to fill out their details and obtain a QR code from the eTravel website.

I have applied for an Australian visa several times and explained the process in a previous Tuesday Tips post. You can find the details on how to apply for an Australian visa here.

Before The Flight

Four days before the flight, Qantas sent an email reminding passengers about the upcoming trip. The email included flight details, travel document requirements such as passport and visa, baggage information, and other ancillary services like seat selection, special requests, a reminder about Qantas Frequent Flyer, and information about the Qantas mobile application.

24 hours before the flight, I received a notification from the mobile app that online check-in was now open for my flight. I did not check in online, as I was flying with a group of work colleagues, and we all agreed to check in together at the airport.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Manila to Sydney Qantas flight was operated by a 20-year-old Airbus A330-303 aircraft (at the time of the flight). Delivered to the airline in October 2004, the plane is registered as VH-QPD and is named Port Macquarie. It features 28 lie-flat business class seats and 269 regular economy seats.

Flight QF 20 took off from Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 9:08 p.m. local time, cruised at an altitude of up to 39,000 feet, and landed at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport at 6:26 a.m. local time. The flight lasted 7 hours and 18 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

Qantas operates out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

CHECK-IN & BAG DROP

My colleagues and I began lining up for check-in at 4:40 p.m. Due to Australia’s strict border policies, all our luggage underwent a security check before we were allowed to proceed to the check-in and bag drop counters.

Check-in and bag drop were quick and easy after the security check. It took me less than 5 minutes to complete everything. The entire check-in process, from lining up to receiving my boarding pass, took 20 minutes.

PRE-DEPARTURE

My colleagues and I cleared immigration and security (which took an hour) after the bag drop and headed straight to the PAGGS Lounge for dinner. My locally issued credit cards grant complimentary access to this lounge—no payment needed.

After dinner, we went directly to Gate 115. There, we underwent another security check and discovered that liquids, such as bottled water, are not allowed. We sat down and waited for boarding.

BOARDING

At 7:55 p.m., the ground staff announced boarding for premium passengers and status holders. They also called those traveling with infants and senior citizens.

Economy class passengers were asked to board by row. At 8:25 p.m., the cabin crew closed the airplane doors. The entire boarding process took 30 minutes. The plane was pushed back at 8:41 p.m. and made its way to the runway for takeoff.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Manila to Sydney flight was operated by a 20-year-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A330-300 aircraft. It features 28 lie-flat business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration and 269 regular economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout.

According to SeatGuru, each lie-flat business class seat has a seat pitch of 73 inches and a seat width of 23 inches. Each seat offers spacious legroom, a large entertainment screen, a seat console, and several storage spaces. It also includes a large pillow, blanket, and noise-canceling headphones. The business class section consists of 7 rows in a 1-2-1 configuration, providing each passenger with aisle access.

The middle and rear sections of the aircraft have 269 standard economy seats in a 2-4-2 layout. Each economy seat has a seat pitch of 31 inches and a seat width of 17 inches. Each seat is equipped with a personal entertainment screen, a foldable tray table, a coat hook, a USB charging port, a power outlet beneath the seats, and small under-screen storage space. Each seat also features an adjustable headrest, a pillow, a blanket, and a seatback pocket containing an aircraft safety card, magazine, duty-free pamphlets, and headphones. Additionally, the seats have individual air vents and a cabin crew call button.

For this overnight flight to Sydney, I was assigned seat 48A in the rear economy cabin. I found Qantas’ seats to be just right. I appreciated having a pillow and blanket on the seat, though I was not pleased with my seat’s faulty recline function.

INFLIGHT MEAL & SNACKS

The cabin crew began dinner service immediately after reaching cruising altitude. They first served cashew nuts and a bottle of water to each economy class passenger. The dinner service was briefly paused due to turbulence.

Once the seatbelt sign was turned off, the crew quickly resumed service. They offered three options: noodles with vegetables, pork with rice, and chicken with tomatoes. Each main meal came with a hot garlic bread roll, ice cream, wooden cutlery, and a drink of choice. I chose the pork with rice and apple juice as my drink. The cabin crew did not conduct a second drink service; instead, it was available upon request.

Midway through the flight, the cabin crew went around offering chocolates and drinks to those who were awake. An hour and a half before landing, they offered a breakfast snack to passengers still awake. They served a hot mango turnover and a drink of choice, which for me was apple juice.

Qantas ensured that passengers were well-fed throughout this overnight flight to Sydney.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

All Qantas aircraft used on international flights are equipped with entertainment screens. The airline offers a wide variety of entertainment options, including movies, television shows, audiobooks, and music playlists.

The entertainment system also displays the inflight map, flight path, and updated flight details leading to arrival in Sydney. I found the touchscreen system to be responsive throughout the flight. I did not watch anything, but instead, I kept the inflight map displayed for the duration of the flight.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

The aircraft used for this flight was not equipped with Wi-Fi at the time, which means we did not have Wi-Fi connectivity during the flight to Sydney.

LAVATORY

I visited the rear lavatory and found it to be spotlessly clean. The lavatory had toothbrushes and sanitary napkins available for guests who needed them. However, it did not have moisturizer, sanitizer, or perfume, which are typically provided by other airlines, like Singapore Airlines.

Cabin Crew Encounters

The cabin crew on this flight were friendly and relaxed. They even engaged in casual conversations with some of the passengers during the meal service.

One cabin crew member accidentally spilled water on my friend during the breakfast snack service. She immediately apologized and offered napkins to clean up the spill.

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

The plane touched down at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport at 6:25 a.m. local time. Disembarkation and immigration took about 25 minutes.

We were already at the baggage claim area before 7:00 a.m. and received our bags in no time.

Flight Experience

I had a generally pleasant experience on this overnight Qantas flight from Manila to Sydney. The flight had both positive and not-so-positive aspects. Allow me to break it down for you.

Let us start with the good aspects. First, in a world where checked luggage allowances are often limited to 23 or 25 kilograms, Qantas offers a generous 30-kilogram allowance for checked luggage, regardless of fare class.

Second, the seat amenities on their Airbus A330 provided the right comfort for an overnight flight like this. Although the seats were not as thickly padded as those on Cathay Pacific, they included a pillow and a warm blanket. Additionally, each seat had individual air vents that passengers could adjust during the flight.

Third, the airline made sure passengers had access to snacks in case they got hungry during the flight. Lastly, the cabin crew service was relaxed and friendly. The crew were not rushed and even engaged in small talk with passengers during the meal service.

Now, for the not-so-good aspects. The cabin temperature was on the warmer side during boarding and until takeoff. It only normalized once we were airborne. Second, my seat did not recline at all, which made it difficult to sleep comfortably during the flight.

Lastly, I expected more from the dinner service. They only served the main dish, a bread roll, ice cream, and a drink of choice, after offering nuts and water as a pre-dinner snack. Other airlines like Singapore Airlines, on their flights to Sydney, include a salad or fruit bowl and butter for the bread roll in their meal service. I recently flew Cathay Pacific from Tokyo Haneda to Hong Kong on a 4-hour flight, and I noticed the airline served more (in the main meal service) than what Qantas provided on this 7-hour flight to Sydney. Stay tuned for that flight report!

In summary, my first experience with Qantas was a mix of positives and areas for improvement. The generous 30-kg luggage allowance, comfortable seating, and friendly crew were highlights, but the warm cabin temperature and limited dinner service were drawbacks. While I would consider flying with them again if the price is right, I am more likely to choose another airline for a better overall experience.

Here are the geeky details of this flight from Manila to Sydney on Qantas QF 20:

Airline: Qantas
Flight Date: 24 September 2024
Flight Number: QF 20
Route: Manila, Philippines (MNL) to Sydney, Australia (SYD)
Duration: 7 hours and 18 minutes
Seat Number: Seat 48A (window)
Aircraft: Airbus A330-303
Aircraft Registration: VH-QPD
Engines: 2 x General Electric CF6-80E1A3
Age: 20-years-old
Delivered: October 2004

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. I hope I gave you a comprehensive review of my first time flying with Qantas on their QF 20 route from Manila to Sydney. From the generous luggage allowance to the friendly crew and the comfort of their Airbus A330, I have shared the highlights and areas for improvement during my flight experience.

Have you flown with Qantas before? How was your experience with the airline? Are you considering booking a ticket with them for your next trip to Australia or beyond? If you have any questions or would like to know more, feel free to post them in the comments section below, or send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I would be happy to respond!

I hope you will check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines, as well as other airlines like Emirates, EVA Air, Cathay Pacific, Air France, Vietnam Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and Philippine Airlines. I also hope you look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, please consider liking, following, and sharing my social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. This will help increase my reach and keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries, and flight reports on this website. Thank you, and I will see you in the next flight report!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: PHILIPPINE AIRLINES PR 2853 – Manila to Cebu – First PAL Domestic Comfort Class Experience – Was the Last-Minute Booking Worth It? [October 2024]

A few months ago, I ended up booking a last-minute flight with Philippine Airlines to get from Manila to Legazpi (Daraga) via Cebu. I went for their premium economy option, Comfort Class. This was not the original plan, but I had been stuck in Manila for days because of canceled bus trips and major flooding near our province, which made road travel impossible. With my tight schedule, flying was my only real choice.

In this post, I will share how the first leg of the trip went—from Manila to Mactan, Cebu. I will break down the ticket price, talk about what you get with Comfort Class, and let you know if I thought it was worth it.

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 Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Airfare & Inclusions

This Manila to Legazpi (Daraga) via Cebu comfort class ticket was booked 5 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, Mabuhay Lounge access (both in Manila and Cebu airports), priority boarding on both legs, a priority baggage tag, a dedicated onboard cabin, and an onboard gourmet sandwich snack selection.

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

The comfort class ticket was still expensive but a great deal compared to the regular economy prices at the time of booking. It included most of the perks of business class passengers, minus the onboard cabin and meal experience.

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 immediately 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 date.

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

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Manila to Cebu Philippine Airlines flight PR 2853 was operated by a 9.4-year-old Airbus A321ceo (at the time of the flight). The plane was delivered to the airline in June 2015. It features 12 business class seats, 18 comfort class seats, and 169 regular economy class seats.

Flight PR 2853 took off from Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 12:37 p.m., cruised at an altitude of 31,000 feet, and touched down at Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu at 1:34 p.m. This short domestic flight took only 57 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

Philippine Airlines’ domestic flights depart from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.

CHECK-IN & BAG DROP

Comfort class passengers have dedicated check-in counters on the right side of the terminal.

I arrived at the airport a little past 9:00 a.m. and was surprised to see a deserted comfort class check-in area. I was immediately attended to, and I completed the bag drop process in less than 5 minutes. The ground staff were all cheerful and helpful.

DOMESTIC MABUHAY LOUNGE EXPERIENCE

After check-in, I cleared security and went to the pre-departure area. I checked our assigned gate and then went to the lounge to eat and work. Comfort class passengers have access to the Mabuhay Lounge near Boarding Gate 10.

The lounge offered a variety of snacks, drinks, and, of course, Philippine Airlines’ famous arroz caldo. The food options were just right for a short domestic flight. The lounge became busy after 10:00 a.m., with almost all seats occupied by passengers. It also featured fast Wi-Fi, clean toilets, and a shower.

BOARDING

At 11:25 a.m., the ground staff announced that our flight would be delayed by a few minutes due to additional ground servicing of the assigned aircraft. Thirty-five minutes later, the staff announced boarding for business class passengers and status holders. Comfort class passengers (us) followed, and economy class passengers boarded last.

At 12:20 p.m., the cabin crew closed the airplane doors. The entire boarding process took only 20 minutes. The plane was pushed back at 12:22 p.m. and headed to the runway for takeoff.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Manila to Cebu flight was operated by a 9.4-year-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A321ceo aircraft. The aircraft features 12 business class seats in a 2-2 layout, 18 comfort class seats in a 3-3 layout, and 169 regular economy seats in a 3-3 layout.

According to the Philippine Airlines website, each business class seat has a seat pitch of 37 inches, a seat width of 22 inches, and 6 inches of recline. Both comfort class and regular economy seats have a seat width of 18.1 inches and 5 inches of recline. Comfort class seats offer more legroom at 34 inches, while regular economy class seats have 30 inches of legroom.

Each comfort class seat has a front seat pocket containing an aircraft safety card, an air sickness bag, and an inflight magazine. It also comes with a pillow, a blanket, and a bottle of water. The seat also includes an assigned air vent, a reading light, and an adjustable headrest. Each row has cabin crew call buttons and two universal power outlets. These outlets are available for free use after takeoff. The cabin also features the older overhead compartments, which can only accommodate limited luggage.

I had seat 21A for this short flight to Cebu. The seat was comfortable, with generous legroom. The additional amenities (pillow, blanket, and bottle of water) provided extra comfort during the flight.

INFLIGHT SNACK

Comfort class passengers are given gourmet sandwiches and a drink of their choice as inflight snacks. Our flight had two sandwich options: Chicken Waldorf Sandwich or Crunchy Salmon Sandwich. I chose the chicken option and enjoyed the fresh and tasty treat. I also had apple juice as my beverage.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Philippine Airlines’ Airbus A321ceo aircraft do not feature in-seat entertainment screens. The airline offers a wireless entertainment system accessible via passengers’ mobile devices through the aircraft’s wireless connection.

I do not know if this wireless entertainment system was available on this domestic flight. I didn’t bother to check, given the short duration of the flight.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

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

LAVATORY

I did not have the chance to visit the lavatory on this flight to Cebu.

Cabin Crew Encounters

I had limited interactions with the cabin crew on this flight, but I found the service to be warm and hospitable. The crew served the snack with her warmest smile.

I saw the cabin crew helping the elderly lady in seat 21C from the time she boarded the plane, during meal service, and upon disembarkation.

Disembarkation

The plane touched down at Mactan-Cebu International Airport at 1:34 p.m. and headed straight to Terminal 1, Gate 10, for disembarkation. Business class passengers got off the plane first. Comfort class passengers followed, while regular economy passengers left the plane last.

Passengers with connecting flights were escorted through transit security and made their way to the domestic pre-departure area. Those arriving in Cebu collected their luggage at carousel 5.

Flight Experience

It was a memorable domestic comfort class experience with Philippine Airlines. It was unexpected (due to the typhoon and bus cancellations), but I am glad I decided to give it a try to stick to my planned schedule.

Philippine Airlines’ domestic comfort class excels in the following areas. First, the ticket price was reasonable, considering it was booked 5 days before the intended flight date. It was even cheaper than the available direct flights to Legazpi. It also included perks that I have discussed above.

Second, the comfort class experience included dedicated airport check-in counters and domestic Mabuhay Lounge access. Third, the ticket also included business-class-like perks, such as priority boarding and priority luggage tagging.

Fourth, the onboard amenities included a pillow, a blanket, and a bottle of water for a domestic flight. Lastly, the onboard snack service included a gourmet sandwich and a drink of choice, which was very welcome for a short domestic hop to Cebu.

On the other hand, I noticed that the aircraft’s age is starting to show in the plane’s interiors. I believe it is time for Philippine Airlines to refit the cabins across its entire fleet. Also, I want to mention the cost of the plane ticket. While I mentioned above that it was reasonable, I believe it is still on the higher end of the price range. For someone who always flies on cheap economy tickets, the ticket price is still expensive – but worth it. 😉

I enjoyed my first-ever domestic 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 on trying their retrofitted widebody business class product on the Airbus A330.

Here is a summary of our flight and the aircraft used for this flight from Manila to Mactan, Cebu:

Airline: Philippines Airlines
Flight Date: 29 October 2024
Flight Number: PR 2853
Route: Manila, Philippines (MNL) to Cebu, Philippines (CEB)
Duration: 57 minutes
Seat Number: Seat 21A
Aircraft: Airbus A321-200
Aircraft Registration: RP-C9924
Engines: 2 x International Aero Engines V2500
Age: 9.4-years-old
Delivered: June 2015

Thank you for joining me in this flight report. 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 Emirates, EVA Air, Air France, Vietnam 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 5039 – Nagoya to Manila – Unexpected Inflight Treats on our Expensive Flight Back to Manila [April 2024]

A few months ago, my friends and I flew to Japan for the cherry blossom season. We flew in and out of Nagoya, but we mostly went around the Kansai Region. We flew with Cebu Pacific Air on both flights to and from Nagoya.

Previously, I shared with you how our 5J 5038 Manila to Nagoya went. Today, I will share details about our outbound flight on Cebu Pacific Air’s flight 5J 5039 from Nagoya to Manila. Join me in today’s flight report to know how my friends and I got unexpected inflight treats on this flight back to Manila.

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 and has been flying for over 28 years. Together with its subsidiary, Cebgo (previously Tiger Air Philippines), the airline flies to over 60 destinations across the country, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. It operates over 70 young and fuel-efficient jet and propeller aircraft. Cebu Pacific Air operates the narrow-body and wide-body aircraft while its subsidiary operates the propeller passenger and cargo aircraft.

The airline has a lifestyle and loyalty program called Go Rewards. The airline has opened the opportunity for every Filipino to fly domestic and 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 and features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Philippine Airlines. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Airfare & Inclusions

Promotional fares are nonexistent for peak seasons like Sakura or Golden Week in Japan. In fact, airfares are priced double or triple compared to regular day fares.

My friends and I had no choice but to book regular fares on our flight back to Manila. We booked our return ticket with Cebu Pacific Air and paid ₱10,691.49 one-way. We booked this in Japanese Yen, so the final ticket price includes foreign currency transaction fees charged by my local bank.

This expensive one-way outbound ticket included 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 2 x 20 kilograms (40 kilograms in total) of checked baggage allowance, and a standard seat of choice. This ticket is on the higher end of the price range because it falls during the peak Sakura time in Nagoya and during a public holiday in the Philippines. The tickets on competing airlines are priced 1.5 times, if not double, the price we got.

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.

Travel Requirements

Philippine passport holders are only required to present their valid passports and the E-Travel QR code when entering the country’s borders. Non-Philippine passport holders may be required to present other requirements, such as a valid visa or onward departure ticket. These requirements vary from one nationality to the next. It is always best to check with the relevant authorities regarding the updated entry requirements.

A few years ago, I wrote about how to apply for a Japan tourist visa. Click here to learn more about getting one for yourself.

BEFORE THE FLIGHT

Cebu Pacific Air sends three email reminders to all its passengers for every upcoming flight.

72 hours before the flight, the airline sent an email reminder about the luggage allowance and the travel requirements for the Philippines. 48 hours before the flight, the airline sent us an email informing us that online check-in is now available for our flight. The airline also included a step-by-step process on how to check in online.

24 hours before the flight, Cebu Pacific Air sent another email detailing the airport check-in process as well as reminding us about the required online departure card. The airline does a good job of keeping their passengers informed about everything that is needed for an upcoming flight. Kudos, CEB!

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Nagoya-to-Manila Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J 5039 was operated by a 3.4-year-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A321neo aircraft. The plane was delivered to the airline in November 2020. Features a single economy class cabin with 235 pre-reclined seats.

Flight 5J 5039 took off from Chubu Centrair International Airport at 1:29 p.m. local time, cruised an altitude of 36,000 feet, and touched down at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 4:42 p.m. local time.  The flight took 4 hours and 13 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

Cebu Pacific Air operates out of Chubu Centrair International Airport Terminal 2, the terminal where many low-cost airlines are assigned to.

Terminal 2 is deserted compared to Terminal 1, with only a handful of flights operating daily. During our flight, only 5 international flights (including our flight) were expected to fly out of the terminal for the rest of the day. This makes the ground and airport experience quick and efficient.

CHECK IN & BAG DROP

Passengers flying Cebu Pacific Air must check-in and print their boarding passes and bag tags using the kiosks. Those with checked baggage then proceed to the bag drop counters, where their carry-on and hold luggage are weighed and checked.

My friends and I arrived at Terminal 2 at 10:00 a.m., did our check-in, and finished the whole process by 10:07 a.m. Everything happened in 7 minutes. There were no queues everywhere.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, my friends and I cleared immigration and airport security. We walked to our assigned Gate 71, where we will board our flight to Manila.

Airside shops and restaurants do not open until around 10:30 or 11:00 a.m. Upon opening, we did our last-minute chocolate shopping. We also had lunch in one of the restaurants while waiting for boarding. The airport terminal does not have a lounge. All lounges are in Terminal 1.

BOARDING

The ground staff commenced boarding at 12:15 p.m. First, they called passengers flying with kids and persons with disabilities to board the airline. Then, the staff implemented a ‘by row’ boarding process.

They asked passengers assigned at rows 31 to 41 to board the plane next. After a few minutes, they asked those seated in rows 21 to 41 to board the plane, then those seated from rows 11 to 20. They called the passengers seated in rows 1 to 10 to board the plane last.

 

At 12:48 p.m., the cabin crew closed the airplane doors. The whole boarding process took 33 minutes.

The plane was pushed back at 1:07 p.m. and headed over to the runway for takeoff. It took off at 1:29 p.m. local time.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Nagoya to Manila Cebu Pacific Air flight was operated by 3.4-year-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A321neo aircraft. The aircraft features 236 pre-reclined Recaro seats in a 3-3 economy class configuration. According to SeatMaps, each regular economy seat has a seat width of 17 inches and a seat pitch of 28 inches.

Each seat features decent legroom with no recline. It also has a seat pocket, which contains the aircraft safety card, inflight magazine, onboard café menu, and air sickness bag. Each seat has an assigned individual air vent and reading light. Each row has two cabin crew call buttons, two USB-C ports, and two regular USB charging ports. These charging ports can be used for free after takeoff. The cabin also features the old overhead cabins, which can only fit limited luggage.

I exchanged seats with my friend and got seat 12D (aisle) for this short-haul flight to Manila. I believe the airline has comfortable seats for short international flights like this. I do not know if I will survive the pre-reclined set-up on a long-haul flight.

INFLIGHT SNACKS

Cebu Pacific Air does not offer complimentary snacks or meals on all their flights. Instead, the airline offers pre-purchased meals and snacks at the time of booking or up to 48 hours before the flight. The airline also offers buy-on-board snack and drink service for those who get hungry during the flight.

The cabin crew went around twice to offer snacks and drinks to those who wanted to purchase. The first snack service happened immediately after takeoff, while the second one happened an hour before landing.

The head cabin crew was luckily my friend’s cousin-in-law. She gave us complimentary snacks and drinks, which we enjoyed even if we were still full from our lunch. The rice meal had the right portions and tasted great! It came with a bottle of fruit tea and small chips. If you are reading this, thank you, Ate, for the snacks! 😊

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Cebu Pacific Air does not feature personal entertainment screens on their planes. They only provide inflight magazines named Smile Magazine, which passengers can read through during the flight. Also, the airline is known for conducting inflight games in exchange for airline-branded items.

The cabin crew conducted an inflight game during this flight. My friend won one of three prizes. They also went around to offer airline merchandise after the game.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

The airline does not offer inflight Wi-Fi services on all its flights.

LAVATORY

I used the front lavatory midway through the flight and found it clean and fragrant. The cabin crew made sure the lavatory was clean throughout the flight by checking and cleaning it occasionally.

Cabin Crew Encounters

It may be a special situation, but it was evident that the team took care of us during the flight. Aside from the usual greetings and complimentary meals, they made sure we had a fun flight with them. The crew also occasionally checked on us and asked us if we needed anything or if we were okay.

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

We touched down at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 4:42 p.m. local time.  We disembarked from the plane, cleared immigration, and claimed our baggage. Our bags went out of the conveyor belt shortly after we arrived at the arrival hall.

Flight Experience

It was an unexpected but fun flight with Cebu Pacific Air. The complimentary inflight meals and the special service my friends and I got made this flight special and memorable.

This flight was excellent in many ways. First, my friends and I received complimentary inflight meals and tailored service because my friend’s cousin-in-law was the head cabin crew. Second, the airline’s flight schedule is perfect for an afternoon flight back home. It gives the passengers time to rest before going back to their daily schedules the next day.

 

Third, the airline sent out multiple reminders via email days before the flight. They sent emails about the passenger processes, entry requirements, and even check-in or bag-drop instructions. Fourth, the check-in and bag-drop process at Chubu International Airport Terminal 2 was easy, quick, and efficient. My friends and I finished everything in 7 minutes.

Fifth, the airline offered complimentary gadget charging to passengers. The seats were equipped with USB charging outlets, which can be used free of charge. Lastly, my friends and I experienced an unusual but quick arrival process upon landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. We got our checked luggage immediately; we did not wait a long time for it to come out of the conveyor belts.

This homebound flight also had its drawbacks. First, the one-way fare was expensive. It was probably the most expensive one-way Cebu Pacific Air ticket I bought. The flight was on a local public holiday and a peak season in Japan. My friends and I could have saved a few thousands if we booked our return flight immediately after getting our onward flight.

Second, I am not a fan, and I will continue to go against the pre-reclined seats on Cebu Pacific Air’s new planes. I miss the old recline function, which aids in better inflight sleeping experiences. Nevertheless, my friends and I still had a great flight with Cebu Pacific Air. We will continue to fly them as long as their fares remain affordable and reasonable.

Here is a summary of our flight and the aircraft used for this flight from Nagoya to Manila:

Airline: Cebu Pacific Air
Flight Date: 9 April 2024
Flight Number: 5J 5039
Route: Nagoya, Japan (NGO) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Duration: 4 hours and 13 minutes
Seat Number: Seat 12D
Aircraft: Airbus A321-271NX
Aircraft Registration: RP-C4124
Engines: 2 x Pratt and Whitney 1133G Engines
Age: 3.4-years-old
Delivered: November 2020

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. I hope I gave you a comprehensive review of how it is flying with Cebu Pacific Air on their Nagoya to Manila route.

Have you flown with Cebu Pacific Air in the past? How was your flight experience? Are you looking to book a ticket with the airline soon? If yes, let me know if you have questions so I can respond to them. post your questions in the comments section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you can check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines and other airlines like Emirates, EVA Air, Air France, Vietnam Airlines, and Philippine Airlines. 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 OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: CEBU PACIFIC AIR 5J 5038 – Manila to Nagoya – Perfectly-Timed Low-Cost Flight to Central Japan [March 2024]

Early this year, my friends and I flew to Japan for the Sakura season. We flew in and out of Nagoya, but we mostly went around the Kansai Region. We flew with our favorite local low-cost airline, Cebu Pacific Air, on our inbound flight to Japan on flight 5J 5038. This Manila-Nagoya flight will be the subject of today’s flight report.

Read on below as I share with you the details of this perfectly timed, low-cost flight to Central Japan. In the latter part of this flight report, I will also share how the flight went and what I liked and disliked about it.

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 and has been flying for over 28 years. Together with its subsidiary, Cebgo (previously Tiger Air Philippines), the airline flies to over 60 destinations across the country, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. It operates close to 70 young and fuel-efficient jet and propeller aircraft. Cebu Pacific Air operates the narrow-body and wide-body aircraft while its subsidiary operates the propeller passenger and cargo aircraft.

The airline has a lifestyle and loyalty program called Go Rewards. The airline has opened the opportunity for every Filipino to fly domestic and 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 and features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Philippine Airlines. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Airfare & Inclusions

Affordable plane fares are rare during the anticipated Sakura season. My friends and I decided to book two one-way tickets instead of a return ticket. We booked our inbound ticket nine months before the intended schedule during an ₱88 base fare sale. We paid for only ₱3,068 per person.

This one-way inbound ticket included 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 20 kilograms of checked baggage allowance, and a standard seat of choice. This ticket is a steal considering it was booked during a time of very high fuel surcharges and it is booked for a peak season like Sakura season.

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.

Travel Requirements

Regular Philippine passport holders are required to get a tourist visa to enter Japan for leisure purposes. Those who plan to enter Japan for tourism are required to apply for a tourist visa through the embassy’s accredited travel agencies. The embassy does not accept direct tourist visa applications.

A few years ago, I wrote about how to apply for a Japan tourist visa. Click here to learn more about getting one for yourself.

Additionally, the Japanese government requires all incoming passengers to perform immigration and customs arrival procedures via the Visit Japan website. Upon arrival, all passengers are required to present the issued QR codes at immigration and customs for scanning. Incoming tourists can get their QR codes up to 2 weeks before the intended arrival date.

Locally, the Philippine government requires all departing passengers to fill out the online departure cards and obtain a departure QR code from the eTravel website.

Before The Flight

Cebu Pacific Air sends three email reminders to all its passengers for every upcoming flight.

72 hours before the flight, the airline sent an email reminder about the luggage allowance and the travel requirements for both the Philippines and Japan. 48 hours before the flight, the airline sent us an email informing us that online check-in is now available for our flight. The airline also included a step-by-step process on how to check in online.

24 hours before the flight, Cebu Pacific Air sent another email detailing the airport check-in process as well as reminding us about the required online departure card. The airline does a good job of keeping their passengers informed about everything that is needed for an upcoming flight. Kudos, CEB!

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Manila-to-Nagoya Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J 5038 was operated by a 2.8-year-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A321neo aircraft. The plane, delivered to the airline in May 2021, features a single economy class cabin with 236 pre-reclined seats.

Flight 5J 5038 took off from Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 7:34 a.m. local time, cruised to an altitude of 38,000 feet, and touched down at Chubu Centrair International Airport in Nagoya at 11:50 a.m. local time. The flight took 3 hours and 16 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

All international Cebu Pacific Air flights depart from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

CHECK IN & BAG DROP

I checked in online a day before our flight. Upon arrival at the airport, I went to Counter E, the designated check-in counter for guests who checked in online. I printed the bag luggage tag and lined up for bag drop.

I lined up for bag drop at 3:12 a.m. and finished the process at 4:11 a.m. The bag drop process at the counter took less than 5 minutes, but the queue for it took almost an hour. The online check-in did not really help speed up the bag drop process. It became the usual check-in process.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, I went ahead of my friends and cleared immigration and security. I immediately went to the PAGGS Lounge and met my friends for breakfast. I used my RCBC JCB Platinum credit card, which allows unlimited access, including a companion.

My friends and I stayed in the lounge for about an hour and waited for our scheduled boarding time.

BOARDING

A little past 6:00 a.m., my friends and I left the lounge and walked towards Gate 115. At 6:35 a.m., the staff announced priority boarding for our flight. They asked passengers flying infants, children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and those who availed of priority boarding to board the plane first.

Passengers assigned to the rear cabin seats boarded the plane next. Passengers seated in the middle and front parts of the cabin came in last. At 7:08 a.m., the cabin crew closed the airplane doors. The entire boarding process took 33 minutes.

The plane was pushed back at 7:18 a.m. and headed over to the runway for take-off. It took off at 7:34 a.m.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Manila to Nagoya-Cebu Pacific Air flight was operated by 2.8-year-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A321neo aircraft. The aircraft features 236 pre-reclined Recaro seats in a 3-3 economy class configuration. According to SeatMaps, each regular economy seat has a seat width of 17 inches and a seat pitch of 28 inches.

Each seat features decent legroom with no recline. It also has a seat pocket, which contains the aircraft safety card, inflight magazine, onboard café menu, and air sickness bag. Each seat has an assigned individual air vent and reading light. Each row has two cabin crew call buttons, two USB-C ports, and two regular USB charging ports. These charging ports can be used for free after take-off. The cabin also features the old overhead cabins, which can only fit limited luggage.

I got seat 11B on this short-haul flight. I believe the seat comfort and features are just right for short-haul flights to Japan. Even if the USB-C ports near me did not work during the flight, I find it nice that the airline provides complimentary charging features on their newer aircraft.

INFLIGHT SNACKS

Cebu Pacific Air does not offer complimentary snacks or meals on all their flights. Instead, the airline offers pre-purchased meals and snacks at the time of booking or up to 48 hours before the flight. The airline also offers buy-on-board snack and drink service for those who get hungry during the flight.

The cabin crew served inflight snacks 10 minutes after take-off. They served the pre-booked first before offering the buy-on-board service.

My friends and I skipped the inflight snack service because we were still full from our PAGGS lounge visit. We slept through the snack service and woke up about 1-2 hours later.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Cebu Pacific Air does not feature personal entertainment screens on their planes. They only provide inflight magazines named Smile Magazine, which passengers can read through during the flight. Also, the airline is known for conducting inflight games in exchange for airline-branded items.

My friends and I slept through after take-off, and we did not notice if the crew conducted a fun game.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

The airline does not offer inflight Wi-Fi services on all its flights.

LAVATORY

I visited the front lavatory midway through the flight, and I found it spot-clean. It has toilet paper and a small bottle of hand soap for those who need to use them.

The cabin crew made sure the cleanliness was maintained throughout the flight.

Cabin Crew Encounters

I only encountered the cabin crew during boarding and disembarkation. I can tell they welcomed and sent off the guests with their best smiles.

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

After landing, our plane taxied to Chubu Centrair International Airport Terminal 2 (LCC Terminal) Gate 71 for disembarkation. The whole disembarkation process, from the plane door to immigration, baggage claim, customs check, and arrivals area, only took us less than 30 minutes.

Japan’s airports are known to be efficient. Chubu Centrair International Airport in Nagoya is one of these airports that upholds a high standard of efficiency.

Flight Experience

It was another great flight with Cebu Pacific Air from Manila, Philippines to Nagoya, Japan on flight 5J 5038. This flight stood out in so many ways. Allow me to elaborate on them one by one.

Cebu Pacific Air is my go-to airline for my trips because of its affordable and reasonable fares. This flight to Nagoya was not an exception. My friends and I paid only ₱3,068 one-way for a 3.25-hour international flight to Japan during Sakura season. On top of that, the fare bundle already included a standard seat and 20 kilograms of checked luggage allowance. It was definitely a steal.

Second, the flight schedule to Nagoya is perfect for tourists. The flight leaves Manila in the morning and arrives in Japan at noon. It is perfect for the afternoon accommodation check-ins in Nagoya. It also gives the passengers time to explore the city in the afternoon.

Third, Cebu Pacific Air never failed to keep their passengers informed. The airline sent multiple email reminders about the flight add-ons, travel requirements, online check-in, and counter check-in processes. Fourth, the airline deployed a modern aircraft on this flight to Japan. It is nice to see the airline using their modern aircraft for short-haul international destinations like Nagoya.

Fifth, the airline offered complimentary charging onboard with their USB power outlets. I hope they continue to provide this amenity or feature in the many years to come. Lastly, the arrival process at Chubu Centrair International Airport was fast and efficient. Everything, from disembarkation to luggage claim and customs, happened in less than 30 minutes.

This flight was not all good. It also had its misses. First, I had a horrible bag drop experience at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. I already checked in online and hoped for a quicker bag drop process. Lo and behold, I queued for almost an hour only to drop my bag. I hope the airline does something about this.

Second, I am not a fan of the airline’s pre-reclined seats. While it is acceptable on short-haul flights like this to Nagoya, I still prefer the reclining seats for better comfort and sleeping posture. Lastly, both USB-C charting ports on our row did not work throughout the flight. Good thing I brought my regular USB adapter, and I was still able to charge my phone.

Overall, it was still a fun flight with Cebu Pacific Air. I do not think an airline comes close to how Cebu Pacific Air offers their affordable and reasonably priced flights across their network. I will continue to fly the airline as long as they keep on offering inexpensive flights to every Juan.

For those who want to know more about the flight and the aircraft used, I have prepared some details for you below:

Airline: Cebu Pacific Air
Flight Date: 21 March 2024
Flight Number: 5J 5038
Route: Manila, Philippines (MNL) to Nagoya, Japan (NGO)
Duration: 3 hours and 16 minutes
Seat Number: 11B
Aircraft: Airbus A321-271NX
Aircraft Registration: RP-C4126
Engines: 2 x Pratt and Whitney 1133G Engines
Age: 2.8 years old
Delivered: May 2021

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. I hope I gave you a comprehensive review of how it is flying with Cebu Pacific Air on their Manila to Nagoya route.

Have you flown with Cebu Pacific Air in the past? How was your flight experience? Are you looking to book a ticket with the airline soon? If yes, let me know if you have questions so I can respond to them. post your questions in the comments section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you can check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines and other airlines like Emirates, EVA Air, Air France, Vietnam Airlines, and Philippine Airlines. I hope you also look forward to more flight reports in the future.

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PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.