Manila – The Wknd Travel

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 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

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.

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 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.

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

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

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.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: CEBU PACIFIC AIR 5J 5055 – Tokyo Narita to Manila – From Long Check-In Lines to Chaotic Boarding Process | Full Low-Cost Flight Back to Manila [October 2023]

After spending a few days walking around the beautiful city of Tokyo, my friends and I took the train to the airport and hopped on our Cebu Pacific Air flight back to Manila. This flight, 5J 5055, which flew out of Tokyo Narita International Airport Terminal 2, will be the subject of today’s flight report.

Join me as I share with you the details of this full low-cost flight onboard Cebu Pacific Air’s flight 5J 5055 from Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Manila, Philippines (MNL).

In case you missed it, I previously shared the details of our onward flight to Tokyo from Manila onboard Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J 5056. Click on this link to learn more about that ideal flight.

Cebu Pacific Air

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. 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 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.

Airfare

As shared in my previous 5J 5056 flight report, my friends and I paid ₱7,116.72 each for the Manila-Tokyo-Manila tickets with Cebu Pacific Air. We got the fare bundle that includes a standard seat, 7 kilograms of carry-on baggage allowance, and 20 kilograms of checked luggage allowance.

I booked this ticket during Cebu Pacific Air’s ₱1 base fare anniversary sale back in March 2023. I honestly think these ₱1 base fare tickets are the cheapest and most valuable ticket purchases in this age of surging air ticket prices.

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 other. It is always best to check with the relevant authorities regarding the updated entry requirements.

Before The Flight

Cebu Pacific Air sent email reminders as early as 3 days before our intended flight schedule. 72 hours before the flight, the airline sent an email containing reminders about prepaid baggage, important travel documents, and online arrival cards.

48 hours before the flight, Cebu Pacific Air sent another email about the check-in process and reminders. The email also advised that online check-in is now open for our flight to Manila. 24 hours before the flight, the airline sent another email detailing the airport check-in process, times, and reminders.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Tokyo Narita to Manila Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J 5055 was operated by a 4.1-year-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A321neo aircraft. The plane, delivered to the airline in October 2019, features a single economy class configuration with 236 pre-reclined seats.

Flight 5J 5055 left Tokyo Narita International Airport at 1:48 p.m. local time, cruised at an altitude of 34,000 feet, and touched down Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 5:14 p.m. local time. The flight only took 4 hours and 26 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

Cebu Pacific Air flies out of Narita International Airport Terminal 2.

CHECK-IN

My friends and I arrived at the airport a few minutes after 10:00 a.m. We went straight to the R check-in counters and saw long and slow-moving check-in queues, both for online check-in and regular counters. We noticed the empty kiosk check-in counter and immediately looked for the kiosk check-in machines.

We found one near the escalators, a few check-in counters away from counter R. We checked in using the kiosks, scanned our passports, printed our boarding passes and bag tags. We walked back to counter R and lined up at the kiosk check-in section. We finished our check-in process in less than 5 minutes. Whew!

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, we checked the shops on the second floor and bought some last-minute treats. We quickly went through immigration and security and dropped by the duty-free stores to get tax-free chocolates and treats. We had lunch at Yoshinoya, near our boarding gate, while waiting for the boarding process to start.

BOARDING

After lunch, we walked towards Gate 97 and saw that boarding had commenced earlier than 12:30 p.m. schedule. Also, the passengers were all over the place with no clear lines. I am pretty sure the ground staff made some pre-boarding announcements, but I do not think these instructions were followed.

We chose a random line and eventually made it to the plane. We settled into our seats and waited for a long time before the cabin doors were closed. The cabin crew had trouble fitting all carry-on bags in the overhead bins. They eventually sent luggage and bags to cargo hold, which they had to prepare additional documents for.

Cabin doors closed at 1:25 p.m., 10 minutes after the scheduled departure time. The plane was pushed back at 1:28 p.m. and headed over to the runway for take-off. It took off at 1:48 p.m.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Tokyo Narita to Manila Cebu Pacific Air flight was operated by one of the airline’s newest (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 and four 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 11D on this flight back to Manila. I think the seat is alright for short haul flights like this. I just miss its recline feature.

INFLIGHT SNACK SERVICE

The cabin crew served inflight snacks 25 minutes after take-off. They served the pre-booked first before offering the buy-on-board service.

My friend and I skipped the inflight snack service because we were still full from our Yoshinoya lunch. We also brought snacks from the convenience stores and ate them midway through the flight.

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. For this flight, the crew asked for 3 items; the passengers who raised their hands first and showed the requested items first won Cebu Pacific Air-branded pouches.

After the snack service, the crew conducted the CEB Fun Game. After that, they went around for the UNICEF Change for Good donation program.

I did not participate in either of the two and decided to take a short nap during the flight.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

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

LAVATORY

I visited the front lavatory once during the flight; I found it clean and well-maintained. It has toilet papers and a small bottle of hand soap for those who need to use them.

CABIN CREW INTERACTIONS

I had minimal encounters with the assigned cabin crew on this flight. I can tell that they performed their work and duty to the best of their abilities. They assisted people in fixing the bags in the overhead cabins, and they served the snacks and meals with their best smiles.

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

Disembarkation and immigration were quick and efficient. It did not take long before we finished both processes. The checked luggage took a while before it came out of Luggage Belt 5. My friends and I got our luggage 30 minutes after we disembarked from the plane.

Flight Experience

It was a full low-cost airline flight with Cebu Pacific Air on this 5J 5055 service from Tokyo, Japan, to Manila, Philippines. It was nothing fancy, but surely a bang for the buck.

The flight stood out in many ways. First, the best part of this journey is the affordable return ticket we booked during the airline’s anniversary sale. My friends and I only paid a little over ₱7,000 for a return ticket to Tokyo, including standard seats and checked baggage for both sectors. Incomparable! Second, the airline never failed to keep their passengers informed of everything before the flight. They sent out emails about travel requirements, check-in reminders, and even the check-in process. Props to Cebu Pacific Air for continuously doing this on all their flights.

Third, the aircraft has modern seats with complimentary UBS charging ports. It is quite rare to see a low-cost airline offering complimentary charging facilities on their flights. Please do not change this anytime soon, Cebu Pacific Air. Lastly, the kiosk check-in option at Narita International Airport was a lifesaver. My friends and I skipped the regular and online check-in lines and opted for the kiosk check-in and bag-drop process. We finished the whole check-in process in less than five minutes.

This flight was not all good; it also had its misses. First, there was no difference in the online check-in and regular check-in queues. Both lines moved slowly, leading to longer check-in times for most passengers. Second, the boarding process was chaotic in so many ways, from random boarding lines to a longer boarding process due to the full overhead cabin storage spaces.

Lastly, the pre-reclined seats, which may be the future of airline seats, are something I am not comfortable with on flights longer than three hours. Unfortunately, most of Cebu Pacific Air’s aircraft are equipped with these pre-reclined Recaro seats. Too bad.

I still had a wonderful time flying Cebu Pacific Air on this Tokyo-to-Manila sector. I will always consider the airline my favorite local carrier, and I cannot wait to fly with them again to many destinations in the future.

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

Airline: Cebu Pacific Air
Flight Date: 17 October 2023
Flight Number: 5J 5055
Route: Tokyo Narita, Japan (NRT) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Duration: 4 hours and 26 minutes
Seat Number: 11D
Aircraft: Airbus A321-271NX
Aircraft Registration: RP-C4120
Engines: 2 x Pratt and Whitney Engines
Age: 4.1 years old
Delivered: October 2019

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 Tokyo to Manila route.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: CEBU PACIFIC AIR 5J 5056 – Manila to Tokyo Narita – Ideal International Low-Cost Flight Onboard a 3-Month-Old Modern Aircraft [October 2023]

Late last year, my friends and I flew to Tokyo, Japan, for a few days to rediscover the city. We have been to Tokyo in 2015, but we wanted to see more of the city. As usual, we flew with our favorite budget carrier, Cebu Pacific Air, to and from Tokyo. We booked our tickets during the airline’s ₱1 base fare sale back in March 2023.

Today’s flight report will feature our Manila to Tokyo Narita International Airport journey onboard Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J 5056. Read on below to learn why I think this flight was an ideal one.

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.

Airfare

My friend and I booked our return tickets during the airline’s anniversary ₱1 base fare sale back in March 2023. We paid ₱14,233.44 for 2 people, around ₱7,116.72 per person.

This ₱7,116.72 return ticket included complimentary standard seats, 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, and 20 kilograms of checked luggage on both sectors. Without the add-on bundle, the ticket will only cost around ₱5,500-₱6,000 return.

These ₱1 base fare tickets always provide the best possible value for plane fares. Imagine paying the lowest possible fare at the time of booking to a destination like Japan. Absolutely worth it!

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 require a tourist visa when entering Japan for leisure purposes. People planning to visit Japan for holiday need to secure a tourist visa through accredited travel agencies.

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

All departing passengers from Manila are required to fill out the online departure card and obtain a QR code from the eTravel website.

Before The Flight

48 hours before the flight, Cebu Pacific Air sent another email about the check-in process and reminders. The email also advised that online check-in is now open for our flight to Narita. 24 hours before the flight, the airline sent another email detailing the airport check-in process, times, and reminders.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Manila to Tokyo Narita Cebu Pacific Air flight 5J 5056 was operated by a 3-month-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A321neo aircraft. The plane, delivered to the airline in July 2023, features a single economy class configuration with 236 pre-reclined seats.

Flight 5J 5056 took off from Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 2:41 p.m. local time and touched down Tokyo Narita International Airport at 7:34 p.m. local time. The flight took 3 hours and 43 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

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

CHECK-IN

We arrived at the airport four hours before our flight schedule. We paid the travel tax and went straight to check-in. We spent 10–15 minutes at the check-in counter because the ground staff took some time confirming my friend’s travel documents. We got our boarding passes and went straight to immigration and security.

If not for the additional document check, we could have finished the check-in process in less than 5 minutes. There was no line at the regular international check-in counters at that time.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After clearing immigration and security, we went straight to the PAGGS Lounge. My friend used her credit card to go in and tag me along. We stuffed ourselves with food and stayed at the lounge for 2.5 hours. We left the lounge at 1:30 p.m. and walked straight to our assigned boarding gate, Gate 103.

BOARDING

At 1:38 p.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 2:18 p.m., the cabin crew closed the airplane doors. The entire boarding process took 40 minutes, longer than the usual 20–30 minutes.

The plane was pushed back at 2:26 p.m. and headed over to the runway for take-off.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Manila to Tokyo Narita Cebu Pacific Air flight was operated by one of the airline’s newest (at the time of the flight) Airbus A321neo aircraft. The aircraft features 236 pre-reclined 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 regular USB ports, and two USB-C charging ports. These charging ports can be used for free after take-off. The cabin also features spacious overhead lockers, which can fit more carry-on luggage.

My friend and I swapped seats; I got seat 11B and an empty seat 11C beside me. The pre-reclined seats were comfortable enough for a short-haul international flight like this.

INFLIGHT SNACK SERVICE

The cabin crew went around twice during the flight. They served the pre-booked meals first before offering the buy-on-board service. The first snack service commenced 25 minutes after takeoff and the second one started an hour before landing.

My friend and I skipped the inflight snack service because we were still full from our PAGGS lounge visit.

SMILE MAGAZINES & CEB FUN GAMES

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.

I got the first question correct and won an airline-branded pouch. Thank you, Cebu Pacific Air!

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

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

LAVATORY

I visited the front section lavatory and found it to be fragrant and spotlessly clean. I only found a clogged sink, and I immediately informed the crew about it. I was told they would clean it after me, which they gladly did.

Cabin Crew Interactions

I had minimal interactions with the crew during the flight. I was happy they immediately cleaned the clogged sink after I used the front lavatory. I also saw them serving the other passengers with their best smiles. I found the cabin crew on this flight to be pleasant and friendly to passengers.

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

After landing, our plane taxied to Narita Airport Terminal 2 for disembarkation. The whole disembarkation process, from the plane door to immigration, customs check, baggage claim, and arrivals area, only took us less than 20 minutes. My friend and I managed to take the local train a few minutes past 8:30 p.m. Everything went by fast and efficiently.

Flight Experience

It was an ideal low-cost international flight with Cebu Pacific Air on this almost 4-hour journey from Manila, Philippines to Tokyo, Japan. The flight was impressive in so many ways. Allow me to share them below.

First, the ₱1 base fare ticket made it undeniably affordable. The return ticket only cost us ₱7,116.72, including a standard seat and 20 kilograms of checked luggage in both sectors. Second, the flight was operated by a newly delivered (at the time of the flight) aircraft that was just 3 months old. The plane was clean, modern, and looked very new.

Third, Cebu Pacific Air never failed to keep its passengers informed about the flight requirements and reminders. The airline sent daily email reminders three days before the actual flight. Fourth, the airline offered complimentary charging onboard with their USB power outlets. I hope they do not charge for this feature anytime soon.

Fifth, the aircraft featured larger and more spacious overhead cabins. This resulted in more space for carry-on luggage and a more efficient boarding process. Sixth, the airline continues to conduct their inflight fun games. It is the airline’s unique way of entertaining and rewarding participating passengers during the flight.

Lastly, my friend and I were impressed with the fast and efficient disembarkation process at Tokyo Narita International Airport Terminal 2. We disembarked from one of the farthest gates, but we managed to finish the whole immigration, luggage claim, and customs process in less than 20 minutes. Only in Japan!

No matter how ideal the flight was, it also had its not-so-good parts. First, the pre-departure area at Ninoy Aquino International Airport was not hot and not properly ventilated. It is beyond the airline’s responsibility, but somehow it affected the flight experience. Second, the pre-reclined seats may be the way to go in the future, but it is something I am not comfortable with for flights longer than 3 hours.

Nevertheless, I believe this was one of the best recent flights I had with Cebu Pacific Air. I have flown them over 30 times internationally and domestically in the last 2–3 years, and no other flight comes close. Thank you, Cebu Pacific Air. I will never get tired of flying you if you keep your ₱1 base fare and super pass promotions.

Allow me to share with you more details about the flight and aircraft used:

Airline: Cebu Pacific Air
Flight Date: 7 October 2023
Flight Number: 5J 5056
Route: Manila, Philippines (MNL) to Tokyo Narita, Japan (NRT)
Duration: 3 hours and 43 minutes
Seat Number: 11B
Aircraft: Airbus A321-271NX
Aircraft Registration: RP-C4133
Engines: 2 x Pratt and Whitney Engines
Age: 3-months-old
Delivered: July 2023

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 Tokyo route.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 910 – Singapore to Manila – Standard but Turbulent Morning Flight Back to Manila [September 2023]

After spending a week of family time in Sydney and Brisbane, it was finally time to go home. In September 2023, I, together with my parents, flew back to Manila from Brisbane, Australia, with Singapore Airlines.

In my previous flight report, I shared with you some of our flying experience from Brisbane to Singapore onboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ 246. Today, I will report how the onward connecting flight to Manila went. Join me in today’s flight report as I tell you more about this Singapore Airlines flight, SQ 910, from Singapore to Manila.

In case you missed it, I also wrote about our flights to Australia with Singapore Airlines. I hope you can check both SQ 921 from Manila to Singapore and SQ 231 from Singapore to Sydney. I also shared with you how our domestic Virgin Australia flight VA 943 from Sydney to Brisbane went.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES

Singapore Airlines is Singapore’s national carrier. This award-winning world-class airline is based at one of the world’s best airports, Singapore Changi Airport. The airline started as Malayan Airways in 1947; it then rebranded, and commenced operations as Singapore Airlines in 1972. The airline has been a top contributor in terms of the world’s revenue passenger kilometers and the number of international passengers carried worldwide.

The airline currently flies to over 70 destinations in more than 30 countries across five continents. Singapore Airlines is one of the leading carriers in the Southeast Asian Region with the help of its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot. The airline’s previous regional subsidiary, Silk Air, has been incorporated into SQ’s operations as of March 2021.

Singapore Airline flies a modern aircraft fleet consisting of the Airbus A350, Airbus A380, Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 737 Max, and Boeing 737-800 NG. The airline is the world’s largest Airbus A350-900 operator, with 63 currently in service and two more on order. 7 of the 65 Airbus A350’s in service have the ultra-long range (ULR) premium (only business and premium economy class) configuration. These ULRs are mostly used on North American routes.

Singapore Airlines is a full-service carrier. It means that every flight includes all the necessary in-flight amenities and services you can think of. All SQ tickets include free check-in baggage, meals, and in-flight entertainment. The airline has a frequent flyer program called KrisFlyer & PPS Club. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance, one of the world’s biggest airline alliance networks.

Singapore Airlines is not a new airline on this website. In fact, it is the second-most-reviewed airline after Cebu Pacific Air.

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.

Airfare

This SQ 910 flight is part of a four-sector ticket from Manila to Australia and back on Singapore Airlines. The return ticket, booked 5 months before the intended flight date, only cost $497 (US dollars) per person. This return ticket includes a 25-kilogram check-in baggage allowance, a 7-kilogram carry-on allowance, inflight meals and snacks, personal entertainment screens on all flights, and a 5-star flight experience with a well-trained and passionate cabin crew.

I booked our ticket directly with the airline using my credit card and paid $1,491 (US dollars) for three people. I got charged ₱83,537.75 for all three tickets, including foreign transaction service fees. This translates to only ₱27,845.92 per person. Considering when the ticket was booked against the intended flight schedule, this ticket was definitely a steal. It already has everything a passenger needs on a long-haul flight, from food to amenities to entertainment. The other airline competitors offered way more expensive ticket prices at the time of booking for our planned August schedule.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service and 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 upon 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 other. It is always best to check with the relevant authorities regarding the updated entry requirements.

Before The Flight

Unlike previous Singapore Airlines flights, I did not receive any business class upgrade offers for this SQ 910 flight. I only got a flight check-in reminder on the airline’s mobile application 48 hours before the Brisbane to Singapore flight.

Upon getting the said check-in notification, I immediately chose our seats for both Brisbane to Singapore and Singapore to Manila flights and checked-in for both flights. Singapore Airlines allows its passengers to choose their seats for free during mobile or web check-in.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Singapore-Manila SQ 910 flight was operated by a 4.6-year-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A350-900 aircraft. This plane, delivered in January 2019, features the airline’s regional configuration with 40 lie-flat business class seats and 263 economy class seats.

Flight SQ 910 took off from Singapore Changi Airport at 9:32 a.m. and landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport four minutes behind schedule at 1:09 p.m. The flight took 3 hours and 37 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT TRANSIT EXPERIENCE

Passengers can transit through Singapore Changi Airport, provided both flights (to and from Singapore) are under the same ticket or itinerary. The passenger’s bags should have been tagged from the airport of origin to the final country or airport of destination.

I already checked in for this Singapore-Manila flight in Brisbane. Upon arrival at Changi Airport Terminal 3, Gate B9, I got off the plane, took the sky train to Terminal 2, and headed to the food court for breakfast. I got kaya toast and milo, while my parents got noodles and coffee. After breakfast, we walked leisurely to Gate F54 and waited for the boarding gate doors to open.

Transiting at Singapore Changi Airport is always a pleasant experience. The airport is clean and well-maintained. It also has a long list of leisure activities that passengers can do or try while waiting for their next flight.

PRE-DEPARTURE

Singapore Changi Airport is one of the few airports in the world where final security checks are conducted before entering the flight’s assigned boarding gates. Depending on the size of the flight, the boarding gates open 1 to 2 hours before the scheduled time of departure.

Gate F54 opened to passengers at 8:03 a.m. I submitted myself for a final security check. Afterwards, I secured a comfortable seat inside the pre-departure area while I waited for the flight boarding announcement.

BOARDING

The ground staff announced boarding commencement at 8:37 a.m. They first called passengers traveling with infants and those needing special assistance. The ground staff then announced boarding for first class passengers, then for business class passengers and PPS Club members. They called in Star Alliance Gold and Krisflyer Elite members, followed by premium economy class passengers.

The local staff called the economy class passengers last. They asked these passengers to board according to their assigned groups. The whole boarding process only took 28 minutes.

The airline crew closed the aircraft doors at exactly 9:05 a.m. The aircraft was pushed back 10 minutes later, at 9:15 a.m. and taxied to the runway for take-off.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

This Singapore-Manila flight was operated by one of Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The plane sports the regional seat configuration with 40 lie-flat business class seats and 263 standard economy seats. According to SeatGuru, each business class seat has a 60-inch seat pitch and a 28-inch seat width. The seats have a 1-2-1 configuration, with each seat having direct aisle access. All business class seats are equipped with a large personal entertainment screen paired with noise-canceling headphones. Each seat also includes a pillow, a blanket, several storage spaces, and a large tray table.

Economy class seats have a seat pitch of 28 inches and a seat width of 18 inches, slightly bigger than the Boeing 787-10’s 17.5-inch seat width. Each seat comes with a spacious leg room, an adjustable headrest, and a personal entertainment screen. Seats also feature a seat pocket with inflight safety cards, a foldable tray table with mirror, a coat hook, small storage space below the screen, a foldable cup holder, a USB charging outlet, a comfortable pillow, and a universal power outlet in between seats. Blankets, face masks, and disinfectant surface wipes are available upon request.

I got window seat 64A for this 3.5-hour flight to Manila. I believe the airline provides more than what a passenger needs for a short-haul flight.

INFLIGHT BREAKFAST SERVICE

Singapore Airlines served complimentary breakfast meals on this short-haul flight to Manila. The airline has let go of physical menu cards and incorporated them into the inflight entertainment system and the onboard connectivity service. The airline has also brought back the appetizer that went missing during the pandemic.

The cabin crew offered traditional fried carrot cake and sausages with scrambled eggs as main options. They gave out the meals with fresh fruits, a fruit yoghurt, a bread roll with butter, a bottle of water, and a drink of choice – coffee, tea, wine, beer, soft drinks, water, or juice. After the meal service, the crew went around for the second time and offered water, coffee, and tea to those who wanted them.

I went for the traditional meal option, which was the Singapore fried carrot cake (fried savory radish-rice flour cake with prawns and picked turnips). I got it with a glass of apple juice and enjoyed the breakfast meal. I was impressed by the large mains portion the airline provided for this main option. I was full after the tasty meal.

I admire the airline for using metal cutlery and recyclable food containers during meal service. It helps a lot in eliminating solid waste; it is environment-friendly. I hope they can find a sustainable alternative to plastic cups.

After the breakfast service, I asked for a glass of my Singapore Airlines staple, the Singapore Sling. I was given the drink after a few minutes, and I finished it just in time for landing.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Singapore Airlines’ entertainment system, Krisworld, offers thousands of options for passengers to choose from. It has hundreds of movies, television series, and music albums from different parts of the world. It also has games and local Singaporean media for passengers to enjoy. It also features an inflight map, which shows the plane’s current position, its flight path, and other flight-related details. All these entertainment options can be accessed via the touch-screen personal monitors found in front of every seat.

The personal entertainment screen of rear economy bulkhead seat 55D is mounted on the wall. It still has the touch-screen feature but is mostly controlled using the remote due to its far and high position. It can still personalize the entertainment experience by logging in using your Krisflyer membership number. It has the same moving inflight map feature. The only thing it lacks is the presence of cameras, which passengers can view during the flight.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Since July 2023, Singapore Airlines has offered complimentary unlimited onboard Wi-Fi access on all its flights, except for flights operated by Boeing 737-800s. Passengers are required to log in using their Krisflyer accounts to use the onboard Wi-Fi service. Those not registered with Krisflyer can register during the flight to access the said service.

I connected to the onboard Wi-Fi service, but I got a very slow internet connection despite the ‘11 Mbps’ registered speed. I stopped using it, and I just watched a movie while waiting for landing.

LAVATORY

I did not have the chance to visit the lavatory on this 3.5-hour flight. The seatbelt sign was turned on for most of the flight due to turbulence.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight was the usual warm, friendly, and hospitable SQ service. The crew welcomed us during boarding, served us during meal service, and sent us off during disembarkation with their biggest smiles. They also did their best to serve all means and attend to everyone’s requests despite the frequent flight turbulence. They were apologetic for the frequent meal service suspensions brought about by turbulence.

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

The aircraft was parked at Gate 112 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. All passengers disembarked in an orderly manner, went through immigration, and claimed checked-in bags at the arrival hall.

Flight Experience

Despite the never-ending turbulence, I still had a nice flight with Singapore Airlines on this regional service from Singapore to Manila, Philippines. Allow me to share with you the positives and negatives of this specific flight.

Let us start with the good things. First, I only paid $497 (US dollars) or ₱27,845.92 in local currency for this 4-sector ticket from Manila to Australia and back. I got more than I actually paid for because I enjoyed the following ticket inclusions: a 25-kilogram check-in baggage allowance, a 7-kilogram carry-on allowance, inflight meals and snacks, personal entertainment screens on all flights, and a 5-star flight experience with a well-trained and passionate cabin crew.

Second, I had an easy transit experience at Singapore Changi Airport. The airport terminal was complete with all signage and directions to our assigned boarding gate for this flight. It also had a long list of features and amenities that all passengers could enjoy during their layovers. I have been to many airports around the world, and I can confidently say that Singapore Changi Airport is one of the world’s best, if not the best in current times.

Third, the breakfast offerings on this flight were tasty and flavorful. I got the popular local breakfast option, and I can tell you that it was a complete turnaround of the meals on the previous Brisbane-Singapore flight. The main dish tasted great, and it had a larger serving size than usual. I will not hesitate to get it again in case it is offered on my next SQ flight.

Let us move on to the not-so-good stuff of this flight. First, the rear cabin temperature was a bit hot compared to the previous flights. The absence of individual air vents made it even worse. Second, the inflight Wi-Fi connection worked very slowly. It took some time to load a website or even send a message via Facebook and WhatsApp.

Lastly, the flight had more turbulence than usual. The seatbelt sign was turned on most of the time. The cabin crew had to suspend the breakfast service several times due to turbulence. It was not the airline’s fault, but somehow it still affected the flight experience. I encountered the same level of turbulence last July 2022 on the same route but on another Singapore Airlines flight SQ 916.

Despite the turbulent ride back to Manila, I still enjoyed this short final hop onboard SQ 910. I do not mind taking the same onward flight to Manila if I ever fly from other Singapore Airlines destinations outside Southeast Asia in the future.

Allow me to share with you some details of this flight to Manila:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 4 September 2023
Flight Number: SQ 910
Route: Singapore (SIN) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Duration: 3 hours and 37 minutes
Seat Number: 64A
Aircraft: Airbus A350-941
Aircraft Registration: 9V-SHD
Engines: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
Age: 4.6-years-old
Delivered: January 2019

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. I hope I gave you a comprehensive review of how it is flying with Singapore Airlines on this busy route from Singapore to Manila.

Have you flown with Singapore Airlines 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, Cebu Pacific Air, and Philippine Airlines. I hope you also look forward to more flight reports in the future.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.