Category: Travel

Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 915 – Manila to Singapore – First International Flight After 31 Months [June 2022]

You read the title right! After 31 months of being in the Philippines, I finally flew out of the country again. The last time I went out of the Philippines was when I flew to Europe in 2019 via Singapore. Believe it or not, my last flight out of the country was also on Singapore Airlines SQ 915 back in October 2019. How does this recent SQ 915 flight compare to the pre-pandemic Singapore Airlines flight experience? We’ll find out in this flight report!

Singapore Airlines

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

The airline currently flies to over 60 destinations in more than 30 countries across 5 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 Airbus A350, Airbus A380, Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 737 Max & Boeing 737-800 NG. The airline is the world’s largest Airbus A350-900 operator with 60 currently in service & 5 more on order. 7 of the 60 Airbus A350’s in service have the ultra-long range (ULR) premium (only business & premium economy class) configuration. These ULRs are mostly used in the North America routes.

Singapore Airlines is a full-service carrier. It means that every flight includes all the necessary in-flight amenities & services you can think of. All SQ tickets include free check-in baggage, meals & 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.

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, Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Airfare

Late May 2022, I randomly saw an affordable ticket to Kuala Lumpur on Singapore Airlines for travel within 30 days. With borders now opening & Malaysia dropping the test entry requirements, I decided to immediately book this ticket to Kuala Lumpur.

The return ticket initially cost US$199.70. I used up my KrisFlyer miles (earned when I flew with Singapore Airlines to Europe in 2019) before they expire in the next 12 months. The ticket price went down to just US$146.69 including 7,665 redeemed KrisFlyer miles.

The ticket included 4 flights in economy class – Manila to Singapore, Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur to Singapore & Singapore to Manila – with 1.5-hour layovers at Singapore Changi Airport both ways. The ticket also includes 25-kilogram baggage allowance on all sectors, inflight meals & snacks & even inflight entertainment on board.

My bank charged me ₱7,926.12 including foreign currency conversion charges. It was a really good deal from Singapore Airlines considering the current world market situation & inflated fuel prices. For context, other airlines’ ticket prices were around ₱10,000 to ₱15,000 return at the time of booking this SQ ticket. Some of these airlines don’t even include baggage & meals in the ticket prices.

Travel Requirements

I am only transiting at Singapore Changi Airport & I’m flying to Kuala Lumpur afterwards. On the day of the flight, Singapore does not have any requirements for transiting passengers as long as the passenger has an onward connecting flight under the same booking reference number. Those with split bookings will be required to fulfill the entry requirements of Singapore. Check out the requirements for my flight to Kuala Lumpur & transit in Singapore as per the airline’s website a day before this flight.

Singapore Airlines regularly updates their travel requirements page. You can find the latest destination & transit requirements on this page.

Before The Flight

Days after I booked my flight, Singapore Airlines sent an e-mail reminding me to check the entry & transit requirements for my trip. The e-mail had links where I could check the entry protocols for each flight.

3 days before my flight, the airline sent an e-mail informing me about mySQupgrade. It is their instant upgrade program from economy to business class for a hefty price. The instant upgrade offer cost around ₱30,000 – almost 4 times the price of my return ticket. I did not avail of this upgrade offer.

2 days before this flight, the Singapore Air mobile application notified me that my flight is already open for online check-in. I immediately checked-in for my flight to Singapore & onward flight to Kuala Lumpur & chose forward section seats for both flights. The airline allows passengers to choose their seats for free during online check-in.

Flight Information

This Manila to Singapore Singapore Airlines flight was operated by an Airbus A350-900 aircraft delivered in February 2021. This A350 has the airline’s 2-class regional configuration with 40 seats in business class & 263 seats in economy class.

The flight departed Manila at exactly 8:00am from Runway 06/24 & landed Singapore Changi Airport at 10:58am. It only took 2 hours & 58 minutes to reach Singapore. The flight was generally quiet & stable; not much turbulence happened.

Airport & Ground Experience

AIRPORT CHECK-IN

Singapore Airlines segregated check-in counters per cabin class & frequent flyer status. KrisFlyer & Star Alliance status holders & business class passengers have dedicated check-in counters. Economy class passengers have their own queues as well. Economy class passengers who checked in online have a separate & a faster queue.

I already checked in 2 days before so I lined up at the internet check-in queue. The lady at the counter checked my vaccination certificate & travel requirements for Malaysia & then issued my boarding passes to Singapore & Kuala Lumpur. She also weighed my carry-on bag & advised that passengers are only allowed up to 2 carry-on bags each. The whole check-in process took about 25 minutes; it was not as fast as my previous SQ 915 flight in 2019.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After immigration & security check, I walked to Gate 110 where we’ll board our flight to Singapore. The airline divided the pre-departure area into groups according to their assigned seats on the plane. KrisFlyer & Star Alliance status holders & business class passengers were assigned at Groups 1 to 3. Economy class passengers seated at the rear of the aircraft were placed in Group 4. Those in the middle were assigned to Group 5. I, together with the other passengers assigned in the forward economy cabin, were placed under Group 6.

BOARDING

Boarding commenced 30 minutes before the flight at 7:10am. Business class passengers & status holders under Groups 1 to 3 were asked to board the aircraft first. Passengers who require assistance & those traveling with kids & infants boarded next. Economy class groups 4 & 5 followed. Our group, group 6, boarded the plane last.

Economy class passengers were offered earphones at the jet bridge, just a few steps before the aircraft door. The friendly Singapore Airlines cabin crew welcomed every guest & directed them to the aisle where they will walk to their seats. The whole boarding process only took 26 minutes. Aircraft doors were closed at 7:36am.

Inflight Product & Experience

Singapore Airlines is a full-service airline. This means that the airline features personal entertainment screens, has a more comfortable seat & provides inflight meals & drinks. Check out what Singapore Airlines offers on this flight from Manila to Singapore.

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.

SEAT FEATURES

This Manila to Singapore flight was operated by an Airbus A350-900 with 40 lie-flat business class seats & 263 standard economy seats. According to SeatGuru, each business class seat has a 60-inch seat pitch & 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 & a large tray table.

Business Class Seat
Economy Class Seat

Economy class seats have a seat pitch of 28 inches & seat width of 18 inches – slightly bigger than the Boeing 787-10’s 17.5 inches seat width. Each seat comes with a spacious leg room, an adjustable headrest & a personal entertainment screen. Seats also feature a seat pocket with inflight safety cards, a fold-able tray table with mirror, a coat hook, small storage space below the screen, a fold-able cup holder, a USB charging outlet & a universal power outlet in between seats. Pillows & blankets are now available by request.

Check out the screenshot below for the amenities available on this flight:

Singapore Airlines’ economy class seats provide more than what you actually need for a 3-hour flight. The seats & adjustable head rests were comfortable.

INFLIGHT MEAL

The airline offered a complimentary hot meal on this flight to Singapore. Physical menus have been phased out & meal menus can be accessed through the airline’s onboard connectivity service. Passengers had 2 options – Chicken Adobo & Egg Tortilla. I chose the Chicken Adobo meal & was surprised that it still came with a yogurt, a bread roll with butter & drink of choice (coffee, tea, wine, beer, water or juice). I know Singapore Airlines announced in 2020 an enhanced economy class dining experience for short haul flights under 3.5 hours. I expected meals to come in food boxes with sustainable tableware, but I guess the Manila-Singapore-Manila routes were not included in the said changes. I’ve added screenshots below of the menu for this flight.

The chicken adobo tasted great; the meat was full of flavor. The food portions were just right for a 3-hour flight. The crew went around after the meal service to offer a 2nd round of drinks to passengers. An hour after the meal service, I asked for their signature Singapore Sling drink – still their best drink onboard.

I love how the airline continues to use metal cutlery on this route instead of disposable plastic tableware. I hope they can find an alternative for the plastic cups. Oh, one thing! I noticed that they had already removed the towel service before the meal service.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Krisworld, Singapore Airline’s entertainment system, offers thousands of options to choose from. They have hundreds of movies & TV shows to watch, thousands of songs to listen to, games to play & a few local media content to check out. All these options can be accessed via the touch screen personal entertainment screens found in front of every seat. The touch screen screens were responsive & easy to navigate. It also showed the flight path & even details of onward connecting flights. The provided earphones were alright. They aren’t noise canceling but they did its job.

Krisworld also gives frequent flyers the option to personalize their experience. The system asks for the passengers KrisFlyer membership number & then shows the passenger’s favorites or the last song, movie to television show he/she watched / left unfinished. I hope Singapore Airlines install cameras in their A350’s which passengers can access / view during flights.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Singapore Airlines offered Wi-Fi service on this flight. PPS Club members & business class passengers are given 100MB of data to use up during the flight. The airline also gives complimentary 2 hours of messaging service to KrisFlyer members in economy class. Non-members can opt to either register to KrisFlyer to avail of the data plans on board. Check out the data plans below (rate as of writing this blog) as per the airline’s website.

LAVATORY

I didn’t get the chance to visit the lavatory on this short hop to Singapore. I got a window seat; my neighbor by the aisle was asleep most of the flight.

Cabin Crew Service

Cabin crew service is one area where Singapore Airlines excels the most. The crew on this flight to Singapore were super friendly & accommodating. They welcomed all passengers with their best smiles, served the meals with the happiest faces & catered to the passenger’s needs with utmost attention. They made sure all passengers had an enjoyable onboard experience. The cabin crew service made this flight even more memorable. Thank you, SQ!

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

Passengers disembarked in an orderly manner. Business class passengers headed out first, followed by economy passengers in the forward cabin. The rest of the passengers came next. I didn’t go straight to baggage claim since I was in Singapore only for transit.

Final Thoughts

It was another memorable flight with Singapore Airlines. Aside from it being my first international flight out of the Philippines since the pandemic, it turned out as how excellent flights should be – with or without the current crisis. The pandemic may have changed some onboard amenities, but it didn’t stop Singapore Airlines from offering a world-class flight experience on this flight to Singapore.

I enjoyed this flight because of the following. First, the ticket price was cheaper than the Philippines-based low-cost carriers. It even provided more value than those from LCCs. Second, the cabin is clean & very modern. Third, the cabin crew service was topnotch. Fourth, the pandemic may have happened, but the airline has not downsized meal service on their Manila to Singapore flights. It had the same portions, 2 options & sides & even retained the metal cutlery with it.

Fifth, they offered a 2-hour complimentary messaging service to KrisFlyer members. The Wi-Fi service was good. They had connectivity issues but overall worked fine. Sixth, the entertainment system remained updated & competitive. They have the latest movies & TV series seasons. They even had the list of connecting flights & respective boarding gates for those with connecting flights. Lastly, the pandemic has forced the airline to digitalize some onboard amenities. Inflight menus & magazines are now digital.

I noticed some services have been downsized compared to how they were pre-pandemic. First, the towel service prior to the meal service has been omitted. Second, pillows are no longer provided in every seat. They are now available by request. These are only minor & have not affected the overall flight experience.

So happy I was able to try their signature Singapore Sling drink onboard. Can’t wait for the next!

At this stage, I will choose to fly with Singapore Airlines over any Asian airline. I’ve had high expectations from the airline & I can confidently say that they delivered. I cannot wait for my next flight with them. Thank you, Singapore Airlines for this enjoyable flight to your home country, Singapore!

Allow me to share with you the technical details of the flight & the aircraft used. Please see below:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 29 June 2022
Flight Number: SQ 915
Route: Manila (MNL) to Singapore (SIN)
Duration: 2 hours & 58 minutes
Seat Number: 44A
Aircraft: Airbus A350-941
Aircraft Registration: 9V-SHU
Engines: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
Age: 1.4 years old
Delivered: February 2021

Have you recently flown with Singapore Airlines? What do you think of their service after the dark ages of the pandemic? Feel free to share your recent experiences in the comments section below. Do you have a question about the airline or this flight? You may post them in the comments below. If you are shy to post below, you may send your questions, experiences & thoughts via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report! Watch out for my onward flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur also on Singapore Airlines. In the meantime, you may check out my previous flight reports here. Before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flying 101: CEB SUPER PASS Review – Is It Worth It?

Last year, the country’s biggest low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific Air, started offering a limited product called CEB Super Pass. This is a single-use pre-purchased voucher that allows the passenger to redeem domestic flights from 30 days up to 7 days before the intended dates. The pass offers passengers an added level of flexibility without actually planning their trips ahead of time.

Cebu Pacific Air offered their CEB Super Pass promotion thrice in the past – May 2021, September 2021 & March 2022. I availed 6 vouchers during the 2nd offering & got another 10 in their latest offering last March 2022. Allow me to share with you today my experience in availing & redeeming these vouchers. I will also discuss the advantages & disadvantages of these CEB Super Pass vouchers; as well as share my thoughts if it is something that is worth purchasing in the next CEB Super Pass offering.

Disclaimer: This CEB Super Pass review is not paid for or sponsored by Cebu Pacific Air. This is an independent review by the writer.

How much is the CEB Super Pass?

Each CEB Super Pass voucher has a base fare of ₱99. When purchasing one, an administrative fee of ₱250 & value-added tax of ₱41.88 will be added to the base fare. This one-way voucher costs ₱390.88. Please take note that the airline might charge additional fees, such as fuel surcharge, airport taxes & other fees, when redeeming the voucher. These additional taxes & fees will vary & depend on the passenger’s chosen destination.

Buying & Redeeming CEB Super Pass

Cebu Pacific Air rarely offers this CEB Super Pass promotion. Their previous offers happened last May 2021, September 2021 & March 2022. They have not announced when the next super pass promotion will be, but I hope they offer it again in the next few months.

Purchasing & redeeming these CEB Super Pass vouchers is done via the Cebu Pacific Air website. You may head to their airline’s website & look for the CEB Super Pass section or you may directly visit that page using this link https://bit.ly/CEBSuperPass.

Advantages of CEB Super Pass

Buying these CEB Super Pass vouchers comes with these advantages:

Flexibility – Passengers who bought passes need not worry about or plan their trips ahead of time. Redemption of these vouchers starts 30 days up to 7 days before the intended travel date. I’ve used some of my vouchers for last minute trips like these: Legazpi to Manila flight booked 10 days before the flight last November 2021, Manila to Legazpi flight booked 9 days before the intended flight last November 2021 & recently, Manila to Legazpi flight booked exactly 7 days the flight last May 2022.

I only added ₱844 pesos (taxes & fees with 20-kgs baggage allowance) on this Manila-Legazpi Cebu Pacific Air flight last May 2022. I booked this a week before my flight using my CEB Super Pass

Long Redemption & Travel Periods – CEB Super Pass vouchers can be redeemed & used for flights for a little over a year from the last day of the promotion. This gives the passengers more time to redeem & use their purchased vouchers. For example, the March 2022 CEB Super Pass vouchers can be redeemed until April 23, 2023 for trips up to April 30, 2023.

Wide Domestic Redemption Network – All CEB Super Pass vouchers can be used on any flight within Cebu Pacific Air’s wide domestic network. This network includes all flights to & from the main hubs (Manila, Cebu, Clark & Davao) to smaller airports like Siargao & Coron. The vouchers can also be used on regional routes like Cebu-Siargao & Legazpi-Cebu.

Worry-Free Airfare Cost – Airfares tend to be more expensive when it’s close to the intended flight date. These expensive fares can be avoided with the CEB Super Pass. The voucher already includes a flat base fare of ₱99. When redeeming flights, you only need to pay for the additional taxes & fees plus flight add-ons. For example, my flight from Legazpi to Manila cost above ₱3,000 one-way on the website. With the CEB Super Pass, I only added ₱288.88. The one-way flight only cost me ₱679.76 versus the ₱3,000+ shown on the website. Great deal, eh?

I only paid ₱288.88 on top of the previously bought CEB Super Pass for this LGP-MNL Cebgo flight

Available for Purchase for Family & Friends – Yes, you read that right! You can purchase the CEB Super Pass for your family & friends. During purchase, you can name the CEB Super Pass to your family members or friends. He/she can then use it to any domestic flight of choice subject to seat availability.

Disadvantages of CEB Super Pass

The CEB Super Pass is not all about the good points. It also has its disadvantages & limitations. These include the following:

Purchase is Limited During Offer Period – You can only purchase the CEB Super Pass during the airline’s offer period. It is not available for purchase all year round; only on limited timeframes. This also means that the airline already has your money; you can no longer refund, transfer & reroute once purchased & redeemed.

Redemption Limited to Domestic Routes – At the time of writing, the super pass can only be used to Cebu Pacific Air & Cebgo’s domestic network. It cannot be used on the airline’s international routes.

Seat Allocation Limitations – Seats that can be redeemed using the CEB Super Pass are subject to availability. This means that some high-demand flights & routes may not have the CEB Super Pass option upon booking. Also, you can’t use the CEB Super Pass on flights departing & arriving during peak travel periods like long weekends & national holidays.

Future Fares / Offers Can Be Cheaper – Cebu Pacific Air is known for their ₱1 & ₱88 base fare offers. Ticket offers like these can result in a cheaper return ticket than the CEB Super Pass. Last March, the Manila to Davao flight had an ₱88 base fare at the time of booking. I opted not to use my CEB Super Pass for this & went for the ₱88 flight available at the time of booking.

VERDICT – Is It Worth It?

Now that you know more about CEB Super Pass, it’s time for you to have a verdict. Personally, I think this offer by Cebu Pacific is worth it. If you are to ask me the same question when this was first offered in May 2021, I will have a different answer. But after taking my chances on the vouchers last September 2021 & actually using these vouchers for different domestic flights in the last few months, I can definitely speak for the great deal. IT’S WORTH IT!

I believe the biggest perk that this pass gives the passenger is the amount of flexibility he/she has with the pass. Redemption starts 30 days up to 7 days before the intended flight date. This gives the passenger the time to plan everything out. It also gives the passenger the final flight times / schedules at the time of booking. Remember that these details tend to change more often.

The pass also gives the passenger a relief from the high airfare costs because the base fare has already been secured at only ₱99. It may have limitations like seat availability & unavailability during peak travel periods, but it still offers a great value with a high level of flexibility.

Reminder: The CEB Super Pass may not cater to some travelers. Always make sure to study the product & it’s applicability to you & do some due diligence before actually purchasing one.

Do you have any questions about CEB Super Pass or anything related to it? Feel free to post these questions in the comments section below. Have you purchased one in the past & have redeemed it? How was your experience? Please share them in the comments section below so our readers can know about your own experience with the product.

When you get the chance, I hope you can check out the Flight Reports section on this website. I share my flights & experiences with different airlines I’ve flown in the past. I’ve covered airlines like EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Singapore Airlines & Cebu Pacific Air.

Can I ask for a favor before you go? Can you check out my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

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

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

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

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

Cebu Pacific Air

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

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

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

Airfare

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

Travel Requirements

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

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

Before The Flight

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

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

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

Flight Information

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

Airport & Ground Experience

CHECK-IN

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

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

PRE-DEPARTURE

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

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

BOARDING

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

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

Inflight Product & Experience

SEAT

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

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

INFLIGHT SNACKS

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

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

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

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

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

LAVATORY

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

Cabin Crew Service

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

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

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

Final Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

CEBU-YAS WEEKEND: 4 Days Around Cebu City & Bantayan Island [May 2022]

Recently, my high school friends & I flew to Cebu from Legazpi to have a proper 4-day vacation. We took Cebu Pacific Air’s direct regional flight from Bicol International Airport to Mactan-Cebu International Airport that resumed operations late March 2022. Feel free to check out this flight report to know more about this short hop to Cebu.

We spent these 4 days around Cebu City & Bantayan Island. Upon arrival, we decided to go around the city & visit the new & old attractions. We, then, went up north to Bantayan Island to spend the next 2 full days before going back to Cebu City on the 4th & last day. Allow me to share with you the details of these trips around Cebu City & Bantayan Island.

Sandira Paradise Beach – one of the beaches we visited in Bantayan Island. Definitely a must-see!

CEBU CITY

It’s been a decade since I’ve been around Cebu City. As far as I can remember, my last visit was also with my high school friends back in 2012. It was only a short 3 days & 2 nights trip around the city & the nearby Mactan Island. A lot as surely changed in the last decade, so I was so happy to re-visit the Queen City of the South.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

At the time of the trip in mid-May, Cebu City was under Alert Level 1. This meant that the city only required vaccination cards & valid IDs during check-in. Believe it or not, the establishments around the city didn’t check our vaccination cards upon entry into buildings & tourist attractions. Please take note that partially vaccinated or unvaccinated people may have different requirements.

Please note that these travel requirements can change from time to time. I suggest that you always check with the local government of your destination or the airline’s Covid-19 information pages for the updated travel requirements.

ACCOMMODATION

We were initially booked in a hostel property but we were transferred by Agoda to S Hotel & Residences. We paid ₱3,098.18 for a night in 3 double / twin rooms. Each room for 2 cost ₱1,032.73. The room has 1 king bed / 2 single beds, a cable television, air conditioning, a small desk / working station, toilet & bath complete with towels & toiletries. The property is located on M. Velez St, near the Provincial Capitol site.

TRANSPORTATION

My friends & I opted for a car hire while we were in the city. It saved us the hassle of booking Grab or taking taxis while going around the city.

PLACES VISITED IN CEBU CITY

Original Sirao Garden – Little Amsterdam

Original Sirao Garden – Little Amsterdam is a flower garden located in Canada Dr, Brgy. Sirao, Cebu City. It’s the perfect place to take photos with flowers & flower gardens. Entrance fee to the garden costs ₱100 for adults, ₱80 for senior citizens & PWDs & ₱50 for children up to 12 years old.

Top of Cebu Restaurant

Top of Cebu is a Filipino restaurant that gives a breathtaking view of Cebu City from the mountains. The restaurant serves good food paired with the stunning view of the city in your background. It is usually packed at night so it’s best to call ahead of time to reserve. We went there during lunch time & we noticed the place wasn’t that busy.

Temple of Leah

Temple of Leah is a temple that is dedicated to Leah Albino-Adarna. It is a gift of love given by his husband, Teodorico Soriano Adarna. Entrance fee to the temple grounds costs ₱100 per person.

Magellan’s Cross

Magellan’s Cross is one of the most famous historical landmarks. The kiosk, located in Plaza Sugbo, is believed to be the place where the conquerors, led by Ferdinand Magellan, planted the original cross on April 21, 1521.

Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu

Located just a few steps from the Magellan’s Cross site, Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu is home to the oldest Sto. Niño relic in the country. This Basilica is also a famous attraction in the city, particularly during Sinulog celebrations in January.

La Vie Parisienne

La Vie Parisienne is a French-inspired restaurant that serves good food & drinks. This place is famous for its Instagram-worthy wine cellar. We had our dinner here after a long day around the city; we enjoyed some pasta & pizza paired with their in-house sangria.

Balamban Highlands

We passed by Balamban Highlands on our way back to Cebu from Hagnaya Port in San Remegio. It is a long scenic highway found in the Municipality of Balamban. Our driver told us that the area has kilometers worth of uphill drive from Balamban to Cebu City or downhill drive from Cebu City to Balambam, depending where you’re coming from. The highlands provide some stunning views of the mountains.

Shamrock Pasalubong Center

A visit to Cebu City is not complete without dropping by a pasalubong center. We went to one of the Shamrock Pasalubong Centers near Fuente Circle & bought packs of the famous Shamrock puff pastry commonly known as otap.

Tabo-an Public Market

Tabo-an Market is the place to buy dried fish & dried mangoes. My friends hoarded different kinds of dried fish while I bought those 1-kilogram packs of dried mangoes.

Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX)

The Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway is the recently inaugurated & opened bridge that connects Cebu City with the town of Cordova on Mactan Island. The bridge is 8.5 kilometers long & is now the new longest bridge in the Philippines. This is a toll bridge & motorists are expected to pay a fee of ₱90-₱270 per way depending on car class.

CnT Lechon

Cebu is also known for their tasty lechon. There are a number of restaurants & local brands but most people say CnT is the best & the tastiest. We had CnT Lechon for dinner on our last dinner in Cebu. It is indeed tasty & has a distinct flavor not found in ordinary lechons.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2

I’ve read great things about & seen awesome photos of the new Mactan-Cebu International Airport Terminal 2; I feel happy that I was able to see it in person this time. Our flight to Manila departed from the said terminal. Oh boy, the terminal is truly world-class! No wonder this terminal has been recognized by many from around the world!

BANTAYAN ISLAND

I’ve read & heard a lot of things about Bantayan Island over the years & I’ve always wanted to visit. The ‘plan’ to visit this beautiful island came to fruition on this 4-day trip to Cebu. My friends & I decided to have some rest & relaxation on the island for 3 days & 2 nights.

Bantayan Island became so famous because the local movie ‘Camp Sawi’ was shot in this island 😊

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Bantayan Island requires all visitors to pre-book their accommodations before going to the island. The chosen accommodation will require a valid ID & proof of vaccination from each tourist & will issue a tourist-specific QR code. The QR code is checked by the local authorities upon arrival on the island. Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated people may have different requirements.

TO & FROM BANTAYAN ISLAND

Going to Bantayan Island from Cebu City is easy. One can go to SM Cebu Terminal & catch a bus or van to Hagnaya Port. The one-way fare costs ₱300 per person. The trip takes about 3-4 hours for vans & 4-5 hours for buses including all stops. Upon arrival at Hagnaya Port, proceed to the boat ticketing counters & buy tickets for the next available trip to Bantayan Island. Ferry trips to the island leave almost every hour during the day. The ferry ticket to Bantayan costs ₱355 including insurance fees & taxes, while the ticket back to Hagnaya Port costs about ₱290 including fees & taxes. The ferry journey takes about 1-1.5 hours per way. All visitors are obliged to pay an environmental fee of ₱30 in Santa Fe Port.

ACCOMMODATION

My friends & I stayed at the island-famous Kota Beach Resort. We booked 3 double rooms at ₱2,700 per room per night. The room rate includes a set breakfast & access to the resorts facilities. Each room features a comfortable double bed, separate toilet & shower areas, air conditioning, a small work space & a balcony. The rooms also have towels, toiletries & 2 bottled waters per day. The resort also provided free port transfers to all its guests.

TRANSPORTATION

The best way to go around the island is by motorbike or by tricycle. My friends & I opted for the tricycle for our land tour. We hired a tricycle for ₱800 pesos & we went around the attractions found in Santa Fe & nearby towns.

PLACES VISITED IN BANTAYAN ISLAND

Kota Beach

The beach found in the resort were staying is one of the best beach spots on the island. Tourists flock Kota Beach throughout the day. All tourists have free access to the beach. We missed the famous Bantayan Island sunset but we had the chance to witness the spectacular sunrise from this beach.

Ogtong Cave & Santa Fe Beach Club

Ogtong Cave is a famous cave with clean, cold & turquoise clear water. Guests are required to pay an entrance fee of ₱225 to see & swim in the cave. This fee also includes access to the beach, swimming pools & amenities of Santa Fe Beach Club. My friends & I backed out upon hearing the expensive entrance fee from the staff. I hope the management introduces an entrance fee that is solely for the cave.

The Ruins

The Ruins Bantayan Island is an abandoned structure found near the cliffs. It’s now a famous tourist attraction because of its scenic location. It’s also turned into a cliff jumping spot. The place is free for all.

Sandira Beach

Sandira Beach is a private beach known for its clear waters & rock formations. This beach has an entrance fee of ₱60 per person.

Omagieca Obo-ob Mangrove Garden

Omagieca Obo-ob Mangrove Garden is a beautiful mangrove park that’s worth visiting when in Bantayan Island. Entrance fee to this garden costs ₱55 per person.

Sto. Niño Roman Catholic Church

Santa Fe’s local parish church, Sto. Niño Roman Catholic Church, has a beautiful altar that’s worth seeing.

There are other attractions & spots to visit around Bantayan Island & the nearby islands (Virgin Island) but we decided to just enjoy our stay in Kota Beach Resort.

And that’s it – we’ve been to a lot of places in 4 days! It felt great to go around & see Cebu City again after 10 years. I also finally had the chance to explore Bantayan Island after years of aiming to come & visit. It was definitely worth the 4-5 hour trip up north. Going on holiday / vacation these days is considered a blessing; I was so happy to be able to do it again. I cannot wait to explore both old & new places in the Philippines & around the world; I’m sure a lot has changed in the last 2-3 years!

Have you been on a vacation or holiday recently? How was your experience? It felt weird at first, right? Share your experiences in the comments section below! Do you have questions about Cebu City, Bantayan Island or anything mentioned above? Feel free to post a comment below. If you want to stay anonymous, you can also send those questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s blog post. I am so happy to start sharing my travel experiences again after over 2 years of being on the ground. I can’t wait to share my upcoming trips & flights with you. Until the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: CEBU PACIFIC AIR 5J 982 – Davao to Manila – From a Missing Pre-Booked Seat to a Delayed Late Night Flight Back to the Metro [March 2022]

After spending a few days around Davao, it’s time for us to go back to our normal lives. My friends & I took one of the last flights out of Davao last March 27, 2022. For the 3rd time on this trip, I flew with Cebu Pacific Air on flight 5J 982 back to Manila. Allow me to share with you in this flight report how this flight went, from when my pre-booked seat went missing to a delayed departure back to Manila.

In case you missed it, I shared my DG 6192 Legazpi to Manila & 5J 971 Manila to Davao flights that took me to Davao from Legazpi days before this flight back to Manila.

Cebu Pacific Air

Cebu Pacific Air is the country’s largest low-cost carrier. The airline is owned by Cebu Air Inc which is part of one of the country’s biggest conglomerates, JG Summit Holdings. The airline commenced its first flight in 1996 & has been flying for over 26 years. Together with its subsidiary, Cebgo (previously Tiger Air Philippines), the airline flies to over 60 destinations across the country, Asia Pacific & the Middle East. It operates close to 70 young & fuel-efficient jet & propeller aircraft. Cebu Pacific Air operates the narrow-body & wide-body aircraft while its subsidiary operates the propeller passenger & cargo aircraft.

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

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

Airfare

I opted not to use my CEB Super Pass for this leg. Instead, I availed the GO Easy fare bundle available on the website at the time of the booking. I got the base fare for ₱199 & added ₱519 (plus VAT) for the 20-kiloggrams check-in baggage allowance & free standard seat. This bundle is way cheaper than using my CEB Super Pass then adding baggage on the add-ons page. I even added another ₱59 (plus VAT) to book a standard plus seat located in the forward cabin.

The ticket cost me ₱1,658.68 one-way. This is already a steal considering it includes a 20-kilogram baggage allowance & a forward cabin seat. Check out the breakdown of fares & taxes in the image below.

Travel Requirements

Metro Manila was downgraded to Alert Level 1 last March 2022. This meant the metro is now open to all types of travelers. No documents or tests are required to fly to Manila domestically.

Please note that these alert levels & requirements can change anytime. Always make it a habit to check Cebu Pacific Air’s Covid-19 Information Page for the updated requirements for your upcoming trip.

Before The Flight

MISSING PRE-BOOKED SEAT

At the time of booking this ticket in February, the assigned aircraft for the flight was the Airbus A330-200. I got a standard plus seat at the back (48J) & hoped that I would get the whole 2 seats for myself. A little over 2 weeks before the flight, I got an e-mail advising that the flight times have been pushed to a later time. I didn’t mind the minor schedule change. I checked the flight & saw the assigned aircraft was changed to the A321neo. I also noticed that my pre-booked seat (48J) is missing – A321s do not have Row J seats. I tried to add a standard plus seat (same type of seat I availed at the time of booking) but I was prompted by the system to pay an additional fee for this same type of seat.

I reached out to Cebu Pacific Air through their online channels (Website inquiry form, Twitter, Facebook Messenger & general e-mail) but didn’t get a prompt response. Their customer care hotline has been removed during the pandemic as part of their digitalization efforts. I tried to send an e-mail to the airline management & I got an e-mail reply after 2 days. I was endorsed to the Manager of Customer Care & was issued the ticket with my preferred standard plus 5A seat. I’d like to thank Cebu Pacific Air management for responding to my e-mails & for taking on board my concerns about the airline & system.

PRE-FLIGHT REMINDERS

Like my Legazpi to Manila & Manila to Davao flights, Cebu Pacific Air sent pre-flight e-mail reminders to all passengers. The e-mail reminders included the updated requirements for the flight to Manila as well as the process of contactless flight experience. They also gave instructions on how contactless check-in works & provided reminders to follow the health protocols from the airport terminal to the flight itself.

I applaud Cebu Pacific Air for continually sending these e-mail reminders despite the lax border requirements. The airline makes sure that passengers are up-to-date with all the travel requirements & procedures.

Flight Information

This Davao to Manila flight on 5J 982 was operated by the Airbus A321neo. This plane has a registration code of RP-C4125 & was delivered to the airline last March 2021. The flight took off from Francisco Bangoy International Airport or Davao International Airport at 11:13pm & landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 12:42am. The flight took 1 hour & 29 minutes & was delayed by almost an hour.

Airport & Ground Experience

CHECK-IN

Cebu Pacific Air check-in counters at Davao International Airport are located in the right part of the check-in area. The check-in process starts at the self-service check-in kiosks. At the time of our check-in, only 1 of the 4 kiosks were working. The ground staff pointed me directly to the counters for check-in & bag drop. I finished check-in in less than 5 minutes.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, my friends & I went through security & headed to the pre-departure area to wait for our flight. Davao Airport’s domestic pre-departure area was hot & crowded that night. All seats near the boarding gates were occupied. We found a relatively empty & cool area in the leftmost part of the pre-departure area & stayed there until our flight commenced boarding.

BOARDING

Boarding commenced at 10:35pm. Priority passengers, those traveling with kids, senior citizens & persons with disabilities boarded the aircraft first. After a few minutes, the crew called the rest of the passengers for boarding. Passengers boarded in 2 lines.

I gave way to most of the passengers & decided to board the plane last. The front aircraft door closed at 10:53pm. The whole boarding process only took 18 minutes – quite fast considering the large number of passengers onboard this 321neo aircraft.

Inflight Product & Experience

SEAT

Cebu Pacific Air’s Airbus A321neo is fitted with 236 seats in a single class (all-economy) cabin. Around 95% of the rows have 6 seats in a 3 x 3 configuration. Rows near the emergency exits / aircraft doors only have 4 seats with a 2 x 2 configuration. According to SeatGuru, premium / exit seats have a seat pitch of 30 inches. Standard plus (forward economy) & regular economy seats have a seat pitch of 28 inches. All seats have a width of 17 inches. Recaro, a world-renowned seat manufacturer, made & supplied all the seats in this A321neo.

I got seat 5A in the forward cabin for this flight to Manila. I actually got the entire row to myself. The seat features a decent-sized tray table, an individual reading light & air nozzle. It also has a netted seat pocket with the inflight safety card & air sickness bag. One new feature that’s found in Cebu Pacific Air’s A321 (not in the A320s) aircraft is the USB charging port. Each passenger has a designated USB charging port found near the seat pockets.

One thing I do not like about these Recaro SL3510 seats is its non-reclining feature. All seats can no longer be reclined because these seats have the ‘pre-reclined’ design by Recaro.

INFLIGHT SNACKS

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

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

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Cebu Pacific Air planes are not equipped with personal entertainment screens. Pre-pandemic, the airline had inflight magazines for every passenger. The magazine rollout has been suspended temporarily due to the pandemic. The airline is known for their inflight fun games. Cabin crew asks questions or asks for a certain item; the first passenger who provides the answer the fastest or shows the item wins an airline-branded item.

For this Davao to Manila flight, the crew decided not to have the inflight games since most of the passengers were asleep during the flight. The airline also recently brought back their Change for Good program in partnership with UNICEF. Passengers donated cash to be turned over by Cebu Pacific Air to UNICEF. This donation program came next after the snack service.

LAVATORY

The cabin crew regularly sanitized the front cabin lavatory. The lavatory was clean & well-maintained throughout the flight.

Cabin Crew Service

I had little interaction with the cabin crew on this flight – only during boarding & disembarkation. Of course, they greeted all the passengers during these times. Also as mentioned above, I noticed the crew went to clean the front cabin lavatory a few times during the flight. I also noticed that the crew placed a garbage bag / litter bag near the airplane door during disembarkation. Good one!

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

We arrived in Manila close to 1:00am. Our plane / flight got assigned a terminal gate & jet bridge. All passengers disembarked only through the front door. I waited for & joined my friends in leaving the plane. We then went to the baggage claim area & waited for our bags.

Final Thoughts

The Cebu Pacific Air Davao to Manila flight on 5J 982 last 27 March 2022 was an ‘okay’ flight. It was not one of the best & not one of the worst 5J flights I’ve had. The airfare, including the baggage & seat bundle, was definitely a win. The aircraft used for the flight had comfortable but not-reclinable seats.

The last-minute aircraft change started it all. The airline’s system didn’t assign me a standard plus seat on the new aircraft. It even prompted me to pay again for the said add-on. Cebu Pacific Air’s customer service contact options added to the frustrations – no airline hotline available, unhelpful chatbot & busy live chat agents. I waited for 3 hours on a queue via Facebook Live chat only to be disconnected after being connected with an agent. I reached out to the airline management & was gladly issued the itinerary receipt with my chosen standard plus seat. I wish it didn’t have to go that far. I’d still like to thank Cebu Pacific Air management for responding to my e-mails & for taking on board my concerns about the airline & system.

One thing is for sure. This experience won’t discourage me from flying with Cebu Pacific Air. I will continue to fly with them in the future!

For those interested with the technicalities of this flight, please see the details below:

Airline: Cebu Pacific Air
Flight Date: 27 March 2022
Flight Number: 5J 982
Route: Davao (DVO) to Manila (MNL)
Duration: 1 hour & 29 minutes
Seat Number: 5A
Aircraft: Airbus A321-271NX (A321neo)
Aircraft Registration: RP-C4125
Engines: 2 Pratt & Whitney PurePower GTF Engines
Age: 1.1 years old
Delivered: March 2021

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. Do you have questions about the flight or the aircraft? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send in your questions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

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

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.