Tag: budget travel

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

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

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

Cebu Pacific Air

Cebu Pacific Air is not a new airline in this website; it is actually my most-reviewed airline here. Cebu Pacific Air is the country’s largest low-cost carrier. The airline is owned by Cebu Air, Inc. which is part of one of the country’s biggest conglomerates, JG Summit Holdings.

The airline commenced its first flight in 1996 and has been flying for over 28 years. Together with its subsidiary, Cebgo (previously Tiger Air Philippines), the airline flies to over 60 destinations across the country, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. It operates close to 70 young and fuel-efficient jet and propeller aircraft. Cebu Pacific Air operates the narrow-body and wide-body aircraft while its subsidiary operates the propeller passenger and cargo aircraft.

The airline has a lifestyle and loyalty program called Go Rewards. The airline has opened the opportunity for every Filipino to fly domestic and international at extremely low prices compared to its industry rivals. It is known for its ₱1-base  fare promotions offered a few times a year.

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

Airfare & Inclusions

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

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

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

Travel Requirements

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

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

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

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

Before The Flight

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

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

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

Aircraft & Flight Information

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

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

Ground & Airport Experience

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

CHECK IN & BAG DROP

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

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

PRE-DEPARTURE

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

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

BOARDING

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

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

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

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

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

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

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

INFLIGHT SNACKS

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

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

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

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

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

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

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

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

LAVATORY

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

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

Cabin Crew Encounters

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

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

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

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

Flight Experience

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Rediscovering Post-Pandemic HONG KONG: 4 Days & 4 Nights Around Asia’s Dynamic World City for Less Than 30,000 All-In [December 2023]

In December 2023, my friends and I flew to Hong Kong for 4 days after winning free base fare tickets with Cathay Pacific. We joined the Hong Kong International Airport Authority’s World of Winners campaign in the Philippines, and we each got one roundtrip free base fare ticket valid until December 2023. My friends and I chose December as our travel month to avoid the heat (which we did not), and to have better weather in general.

Today, I will share with you what happened in these 4 days and 4 nights around Hong Kong. My friends and I have all been to Hong Kong in the past, but we still went for the usual sightings. Read on below to learn which places we visited and how we managed to fit everything in for less than ₱30,000 per person all-in.

Hong Kong SAR

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. The autonomous territory has its own government, economy, and currency. This highly developed territory is one of Asia’s financial and economic hubs; it is the center or base of many multi-national companies and corporations.

Hong Kong is one of the Philippines’ biggest travel markets. Many Filipinos fly between Hong Kong and the Philippines daily. It is also one of the favorite and first-time go-to destinations of Filipino families and tourists. Hong Kong grants Philippine passport holders a 14-day visa-free entry to the territory.

Plane Tickets

My friends and I won complimentary return base fare tickets with Cathay Pacific from the Hong Kong International Airport Authority’s World of Winners campaign. The HKIAA gave out thousands of roundtrip plane tickets to Hong Kong to people from around the world to lure travelers back to and revive Hong Kong’s post-pandemic tourism industry.

I only paid US$66.30 (₱3,638.99 charged by my local bank) each for taxes and fees for the return Cathay Pacific flights. I wrote about these Cathay Pacific flights in my previous flight reports: CX 912 Manila to Hong Kong and CX 901 Hong Kong to Manila. I hope you can check out these reports.

Accommodation

My friends and I went around Hong Kong for 4 days and 4 nights and chose Yesinn Youth Hostel @ Yau Ma Tei as our accommodation. It is a no-frills hostel with Hong Kong-standard-sized private rooms and private toilets. We paid ₱4,988.64 each for 4 nights in 2 standard bunk rooms.

I wrote about the property and our 4-night stay in this affordable accommodation. I hope you can check out the hostel of the day feature on Yesinn Youth Hostel @ Yau Ma Tei here.

Going Around Hong Kong

Hong Kong has an efficient transportation system. Everything is accessible by trains, subways, buses, and trams. The country’s transportation system is also synced with Google. It is easy to search and navigate your way around the territory if you have a working internet connection.

 

My friends and I bought and used the country’s Octopus Card for all types of transportation during the trip. The Octopus Card is a reusable contactless smart stored value card widely used around Hong Kong. It is also a widely accepted alternative mode of payment in the territory. We bought Octopus Cards for HKD200 each with HKD150 stored value and HKD50 refundable card deposit.

Internet Sim Card

My friends and I bought this internet sim card from Klook, paid ₱400.60 after discounts, and plugged it into one of our spare phones. We accessed and shared the mobile data through the phone’s mobile hotspot.

The internet sim card came with 80 GB of LTE high-speed data and 1,000 local voice minutes. The four of us did not even use up 25% of the sim card’s data allocation.

Travel Insurance

One of my non-negotiables when going on a trip is getting travel insurance. This insurance protects me from any happenings, delays, cancellations, or unexpected circumstances during a trip.

For this Hong Kong trip, I bought my travel insurance from Standard Insurance. I paid ₱350 for the Asia Protect Peso 500K insurance plan.

Places Visited in Hong Kong

As mentioned above, my friends and I are not first-timers in Hong Kong. We carefully chose the places we visited and took our time going around these places. Here are the places we have been on this four-day trip.

YAU MA TEI

We walked around our hostel neighborhood, Yau Ma Tei, while waiting for check-in. We came across a small local café, had a nice lunch, and immediately had our egg tart fix.

K11 MUSEA

K11 Musea is a modern, artsy, and beautifully designed shopping mall near Victoria Harbour. This uniquely designed shopping mall has hundreds of retail shops, restaurants, and entertainment spaces for all its visitors.

VICTORIA HARBOUR & AVENUE OF THE STARS

We visited Victoria Harbour and Avenue of the Stars for the nightly “A Symphony of Lights” at 8:00 p.m. light show.

NGONG PING 360 CABLE CAR

My friends and I took the 25-minute Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car to Ngong Ping Village. We took the glass cabin to the village and rode in the standard cabin on the way back. We got our tickets from Klook and paid ₱1,803.20 each.

NGONG PING VILLAGE, TIAN TAN BUDDHA & PO LIN MONASTERY

Upon arrival, we walked around Ngong Village and checked out the different shops. We also had our photos taken with the Tian Tan Buddha. We went up to the big Buddha structure and explored the museum inside. We also checked out the Po Lin Monastery before going back to Tung Chung.

CITYGATE OUTLETS

After Ngong Ping, we went to CityGate Outlets and had lunch. We spent the rest of the day shopping and finding the best footwear and wardrobe deals.

VICTORIA PEAK TRAM & SKY TERRACE 428

We took the iconic tram to Victoria Peak and enjoyed the beautiful panoramic Hong Kong skyline from Sky Terrace 428. We got our Sky Terrace 428 and return tram tickets from Klook and paid ₱725.55 each after discounts.

CENTRAL

We walked around Central, checked out some shops, and had lunch at Five Guys.

MONGKOK

We visited the bustling and busy area of Mongkok on our second to last night. We met a friend for dinner and spent the rest of the night around the busy Ladies Market and Mongkok shopping district.

HONG KONG DISNEYLAND

My friends and I spent our last day at Hong Kong Disneyland. We got early entry tickets from Klook and paid ₱6,394.03 each. We got into the theme park an hour before the official opening time and enjoyed the new rides at the recently opened (at the time of our visit) World of Frozen. We rode multiple rides throughout the day and stayed until the iconic fireworks display and the theme park closed.

Also, we availed of Klook’s Hong Kong Disneyland Dining Voucher, which included a lunch meal and a dinner meal in selected restaurants. We also got free ice cream (or caramel popcorn) from this voucher. We paid ₱1,836.35 each after discounts.

Summary of Expenses

On top of all these expenses, I exchanged the Philippine Peso for Hong Kong Dollars prior to leaving Manila for this trip. I exchanged HKD940 for ₱6,956 in a money changer in Makati Central Square.

Here is a list of all my expenses for this 4-day and 4-night trip to Hong Kong in December 2023:

Disclaimer: The expenses above do not include personal shopping (from CityGate Outlets), chocolates, and other ‘pasalubongs’.

I spent ₱28,412.91 for a 4-day and 4-night trip to Hong Kong — plane tickets, accommodation, entry tickets, food, and pocket money included. Not bad, eh?

My friends and I got lucky by winning free base fare tickets with Cathay Pacific. If, by any chance, we get our tickets for ₱1 base fare, the whole trip will pretty much be in the same cost range.

This 2023 Hong Kong trip summary shows that traveling on a budget is still possible given the elevated prices of everything. One needs to carefully plan and choose the places to visit.

Have you been to Hong Kong recently? How was your trip? I hope you had fun! Which place do you want to visit again? I hope you can share your experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may send them to me via email at contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s 2023 Hong Kong trip recap. I hope to visit more and more places on a budget and share how I did it with everyone. 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 one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Tokyo 2023: WARNER BROS. STUDIO TOUR TOKYO – THE MAKING OF HARRY POTTER, HIE SHRINE, HARAJUKU & OMOTESANDŌ Photoblog [October 2023]

Last year, my friends and I flew to Tokyo for a little over a week. We went around the city and visited the usual and not-so-usual places. We have been to Tokyo in 2015 and individually in the following years, so we did not aim to see everything this time. We carefully planned our itinerary, but we also kept it open and flexible.

In the last few weeks, I shared with you under the Tokyo 2023 blogs the places we visited for this trip: Roppongi, Yokohama, Shibuya, Tsukiji, Gotokuji, Ginza, Asakusa, Ueno, Shinjuku, Odaiba, and Tokyo Disneyland. I also shared with you how we completed a do-it-yourself day trip to Fujikawaguchiko to see Mount Fuji from Chureito Pagoda, Kawaguchiko Station, and Lake Kawaguchiko.

Today, I will share with you details and photos of the remaining places we have been to on this trip to Tokyo. I hope you can look forward to photos of the Harry Potter Studio Tour, Hie Shrine, Harajuku, and Omotesandō.

Plane Tickets

My friends and I scored ₱1 base fare ticket to Tokyo during Cebu Pacific Air’s anniversary sale in March 2023. We got our tickets for ₱7,116.72 roundtrip each. We got the fare bundle, including a complimentary standard seat and 20 kilograms of checked luggage.

I wrote about our Cebu Pacific Air flights to and from Tokyo: 5J 5056 Manila to Tokyo Narita and 5J 5055 Tokyo Narita to Manila. I hope you can find time to read these flight posts.

Accommodation

My friends and I stayed for all 10 nights at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel. We got a private twin room with toilet and bath for the first night and eventually transferred to a 6-bed mixed dormitory when another friend joined us.

I elaborated on Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel in one of the recent hostel of the day features. I hope you can check out that hostel feature and find out why this instantly became my new favorite Tokyo hostel.

Going Around Tokyo

Going around Tokyo can be intimidating and challenging, given its complicated metro and subway system. Subway and train lines normally overlap, and train stations have an unending number of exits. My friends and I overcame the city’s confusing train system and managed to reach our planned destinations and go back to our hostel every single day.

We did not avail of any subway or metro passes. Instead, we used our IC cards on every train ride. With the help of Google Maps, we took either the fastest or the most economical route on every journey.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter

 

Opened in June 2023, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo: The Making of Harry Potter walks you through behind the scenes of the Harry Potter series. It features iconic movie sets like those of The Great Hall, Platform 9 ¾, Diagon Alley, The Forbidden Forest, and The Ministry of Magic. It also has interactive areas like the Quidditch, the moving stairs, the living portraits, and the spell areas. Lastly, the tour also features real props and materials used, as well as original costumes worn by the cast during filming.

My friends and I got our tickets three months in advance from Klook and paid ₱2,270.25 each after discounts. We took our time and finished the whole walkthrough experience in a little over 4 hours.

Nearest Train Station: Toshimaen Station (Seibu Ikebukuro Line and Oedo Subway Line)

Hie Shrine

Hie Shrine is a tree-covered Shinto shrine located on top of a hill in Nagatachō district. The shrine is the starting point of Sannō Matsuri, a famous summer festival in Tokyo.

 

Nearest Train Stations: Tameike-sannō Station (Ginza and Namboku Subway Lines) and Akasaka-mitsuke Station (Ginza and Marunouchi Subway Lines)

Harajuku

Harajuku is a famous fashion and colorful youth shopping and entertainment area in Shibuya Ward. The area’s main street, Takeshita Street, is full of vintage shops, unique cafes and stores, cosplay shops, and dessert places.

Nearest Train Stations: Harajuku Station (JR Yamanote Line) and Meiji-jingumae ‘Harajuku’ Station (Chiyoda and Fukutoshin Subway Lines)

Omotesandō

Omotesandō is one of Tokyo’s upscale and luxury shopping districts. The area has several fashion flagship stores and beautifully designed architectural buildings. It is also a vintage shopping hotspot where you can find small local vintage and artisan shops. The area also has small bars, restaurants, and cafes. Omotesandō is one of the best places for retail therapy when in Tokyo.

Nearest Train Stations: Omote-sando Station (Chiyoda, Ginza, and Hanzomon Subway Lines) and Meiji-jingumae ‘Harajuku’ Station (Chiyoda and Fukutoshin Subway Lines)

This wraps up our Tokyo 2023 trip! It was all good memories, tired feet and crying wallets. Nevertheless, my friends and I will never get tired of visiting Tokyo.

Have you been to Tokyo or to the places shown above? How was your trip or experience? Do you see yourself going back to Tokyo in the future? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. Do you have questions about Tokyo or anything mentioned above? You may send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in this Tokyo 2023 series. We have been to a lot in this trip and we still have a lot left to see! I hope you can look forward to more Japan content in this website 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 one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Tokyo 2023: ODAIBA, TEAMLAB PLANETS TOKYO & TOKYO DISNEYLAND Photoblog [October 2023]

Many months ago, my friends and I visited Tokyo for a little over a week. We have been around Tokyo as a group since 2015. We have also been around the city individually in the following years. We carefully decided to choose the places we wanted to go. We did not aim to see everything. In fact, we kept our itinerary open and flexible.

In the previous Tokyo 2023 blogs, I shared with you details and photos of our experiences in Roppongi, Yokohama, Shibuya, Tsukiji, Gotokuji, Ginza, Asakusa, Ueno, and Shinjuku. I also shared a detailed do-it-yourself blog about our Fujikawaguchiko day tour. Today, I will share bits and pieces about our visit to Odaiba, teamLab Planets, and Tokyo Disneyland.

Plane Tickets

My friends and I scored our tickets from Cebu Pacific Air’s ₱1 base fare anniversary sale in March 2023. We got our return Tokyo tickets for ₱7,116.72 per person, including 7 kilograms of carry-on luggage, 20 kilograms of checked luggage, and a complimentary standard seat per sector.

In the last few weeks, I shared my flight experiences with Cebu Pacific Air on flights to and from Tokyo. I hope you can check out these flight reports: Cebu Pacific Air 5J 5056 Manila to Tokyo Narita and Cebu Pacific Air 5J 5055 Tokyo Narita to Manila.

Accommodation

My friends and I only chose one accommodation for the whole trip. We stayed with Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel, a budget-friendly and excellent hostel on the quiet side of Ginza. We stayed in their private twin rooms and six-bed mixed dormitory rooms.

I featured Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel in one of the recent hostel of the day posts. I hope you can check out that feature and review here.

Going Around Tokyo

Going around Tokyo can be quite challenging. Instead of thinking about which specific route or subway or train line to take, my friends and I opted to just use our IC cards throughout the trip. We did not avail of a subway pass or an unlimited train pass.

Basically, we searched our destination via Google Maps and followed either the fastest train option (if we were in a hurry) or the most economical or cheapest train option (if we were not chasing anything). Thankfully, we found every destination we intended to go to. Thank you, Google!

Odaiba

Odaiba is an entertainment and shopping hub on the man-made islands of Tokyo Bay.

My friend and I went to see the Statue of Liberty and the Odaiba Seaside Park from its observation deck. We went to DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, had lunch, and saw the life-sized Unicorn Gundam. We came back to DiverCity to have dinner and check out the place at night.

Nearest Train Station: Daiba Station (Yurikamome Line)

TeamLab Planets Tokyo

teamLab Planets Tokyo is a museum that lets people walk through water, be one with the flowers, and become one with the world. Everyone goes in barefoot to feel the elements and enhance the experience.

We pre-booked our timed tickets via Klook and paid ₱1,392.13 each after promotions and discounts. The teamLab Borderless in Azabudai Hills was yet to open during our October 2023 visit.

Nearest Train Station: Shin-Toyosu Station (Yurikamome Line)

Tokyo Disneyland

Who does not know Disneyland? Tokyo has its own Disneyland and the world’s only Disney Sea. My friends and I enjoyed a full day of rides, shows, and experiences.

We pre-booked our tickets via Klook (again) and paid ₱3,076.63 each after discounts and promotions. We went there during the theme park opening, stayed the whole day, and left after the disappointing fireworks display. We still had a nice day at the theme park.

Nearest Train Station: Maihama Station (JR East Keiyō Line)

Thank you for joining me in today’s photoblog. Have you been to these places? Which one do you like the most and why? Is there a specific place that caught your interest or attention? Feel free to share them in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you stay tuned for more Tokyo 2023-related content 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 one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: CATHAY PACIFIC CX 901 – Hong Kong to Manila – Homebound on a Once in a Lifetime $66 World-of-Winners Hong Kong Return Ticket [December 2023]

In December, my friends and I flew to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific after being one of the lucky winners of the Hong Kong International Airport Authority World of Winners Campaign. We got free base fare return tickets with Cathay Pacific, valid for travel until December 2023.

In early 2023, the Hong Kong International Airport Authority ran a worldwide campaign to lure people back to beautiful Hong Kong. They conducted giveaways in countries all over the world and specifically gave out over 20,000 return Cathay Pacific tickets in the Philippines.

Previously, I shared with you my first ever Cathay Pacific experience from Manila to Hong Kong on board flight CX 912. I wrote a detailed report about how that memorable flight went by quickly. Today, I will share with you the details and experiences of our flight back from Hong Kong to Manila on board Cathay Pacific flight CX 901. Join me as I run you through the airline’s hard and soft products, and I will let you know why you should consider the airline on your next trip to Hong Kong.

CATHAY PACIFIC

Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, commonly known as Cathay Pacific, is Hong Kong’s flag carrier. According to the airline’s website, two ex-Air Force pilots founded the airline in Hong Kong in 1946. Five years later, the airline acquired its rival Hong Kong Airways and gained additional routes to Japan, Taiwan, and Australia. Since then, the airline has expanded to more routes in Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. It has emerged as one of the world’s leading airlines and lifestyle brands, connecting the world through Hong Kong.

Today, Cathay Pacific is primarily owned by Swire Group, a diversified Hong Kong-based corporation, Qatar Airways, and Air China. The airline flies to over 80 international destinations using close to 180 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with 60 more in order. It also has airline subsidiaries, namely Cathay Pacific Cargo, Air Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Express, the region’s budget airline. Cathay Pacific is based and headquartered in Hong Kong International Airport.

Cathay Pacific is a 5-star full-service airline. It offers a free checked luggage allowance, premium amenities, meals and snacks, and personal entertainment systems onboard. The airline is one of the founding members of Oneworld, a major global alliance with the likes of Qatar Airways, Qantas, American Airlines, and British Airways. It has a loyalty program called Cathay Membership Programme, where members can gain status points (previously Marco Polo Club) and Asia Miles when flying the airline or through its non-airline partners.

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 & INCLUSIONS

As mentioned above, my friends and I got our complimentary tickets from the World of Winners campaign hosted by the Hong Kong International Airport Authority. We were rewarded with free return base fare tickets with Cathay Pacific, valid for travel until December 2023.

HKIAA sent out unique voucher codes to all winners. These codes need to be redeemed or booked within two months from the time they were sent out. My friends and I booked ours a few weeks after receiving our respective codes and paid US$66.30 worth of taxes and fees each. My bank charged me ₱3,638.99, including the 1.85% foreign transaction service fee.

The $66 return ticket included 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 2 x 23 kilograms of checked baggage allowance, inflight meals, inflight entertainment, and hospitable Cathay Pacific cabin crew service. The ticket was classified under the Economy Essential Fare Bundle, which included an additional 23 kilograms of checked luggage allowance (making it two) and complimentary standard seat selection in both sectors.

My friends and I were lucky to get picked for these free base fare tickets on a full-service airline like Cathay Pacific. We want to say thank you to the Hong Kong International Airport Authority for making this once-in-a lifetime chance and experience happen.

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 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.

BEFORE THE FLIGHT

A few days before the flight, Cathay Pacific sent out a reminder about the upcoming flight to Manila. The airline also sent an email reminder 48 hours before the flight that online or web check-in is now available. The airline included reminders about checked luggage, the airline mobile application, and its useful features.

4 hours into the flight, the airline sent a final flight reminder, including the boarding time, scheduled flight time, and the assigned boarding gate. Props to Cathay Pacific for keeping their passengers informed.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Hong Kong to Manila Cathay Pacific flight CX 901 was operated by an 11-year-old Airbus A330 aircraft. The plane, delivered to the airline in December 2012, has 39 lie-flat business class sets on a 1-2-1 configuration and 223 economy class seats on a 2-4-2 layout.

Flight CX 901 flew out of Hong Kong International Airport at 9:26 a.m. and touched down at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 11:06 a.m. The flight took 1 hour and 40 minutes in total.

GROUND & AIRPORT EXPERIENCE

Cathay Pacific operates from Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1.

CHECK-IN & BAG DROP

Cathay Pacific check-in counters are at the far-left end of the terminal at Counters A, B, and C. Counter check-in is available for those who want to check-in with Cathay Pacific staff. Self-check-in kiosks and automated bag drop counters are also available in these check-in areas.

During our time, the counter check-in had long and slow-moving lines. My friends and I used the self-check-in kiosks to check-in for our flight and to print our boarding passes and luggage tags. After checking in, we headed to the automated bag drop-off counters to leave our bags. We finished this whole process in less than 10 minutes.

PRE-DEPARTURE

We cleared security and immigration immediately after check-in and walked towards our assigned gate, Gate 12, in the main terminal building. We also had a quick morning snack from a fast-food chain while we waited for boarding.

BOARDING

Priority boarding commenced at 8:28 a.m. Business class passengers, Cathay Pacific Programme, and Oneworld Alliance status holders were asked to board the plane first. Passengers traveling with small children, persons with disabilities, and seniors boarded the plane next. All other economy class passengers boarded the plane by group or zone.

The boarding process finished at 9:00 a.m. The cabin crew closed the aircraft doors and waited for departure. The plane was pushed ashore at 9:09 a.m. and headed over to the runway for a 9:26 a.m. take-off.


INFLIGHT HARD & SOFT PRODUCT

SEAT FEATURES

This Cathay Pacific Hong Kong to Manila flight was operated using one of the airline’s Airbus A330-300s with the regional two-class configuration. The plane has 39 lie-flat business class seats on a 1-2-1 layout and 223 regular economy class seats on a 2-4-2 layout.

According to our friends at SeatMaps, each business class seat has a seat pitch of 47 inches, a seat width of 21 inches, and a recline of 180 degrees. The seats feature spacious legroom with decent storage spaces and large entertainment screens. The business class section has 10 rows of lie-flat seats with direct aisle access.

The middle and rear sections of the aircraft have 223 standard economy seats on a 2-4-2 layout. Each economy class seat has a seat pitch of 32 inches, a seat width of 18 inches, and a recline of 3.5 inches. Each seat has a personal entertainment screen, a foldable tray table, a coat hook, a USB charging port, a power outlet under the seats, and a small under-screen stowage space. Each thick-padded seat also features an adjustable headrest and a seatback pocket with an aircraft safety card, magazine, duty-free pamphlets, and headphones. The seats do not feature individual air vents and pillows. Blankets are available upon request.

I got aisle seat 65H on this quick flight back to Manila. I find the airline’s thick-padded seats comfortable for a short haul flight. However, I do miss the individual air vents, which I can open or close whenever I want.

INFLIGHT BREAKFAST SERVICE

Cathay Pacific served a complimentary breakfast service on this flight to Manila. The airline only had one option for this flight: congee and stir-fry noodles with a bottle of water.

The cabin crew started serving breakfast as soon as the plane reached its cruising altitude. The crew finished serving the meals within 30 minutes after takeoff. They also went around for a second round of drink service and offered coffee or tea to those who wanted it.

This breakfast meal was alright. It was not as tasty or savory as the meal served on our Manila to Hong Kong flight. I still appreciate Cathay Pacific serving a complimentary meal service on this short flight to Manila.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Cathay Pacific’s entertainment system on the Airbus A330 offered a decent number of movies, television shows, and music options. The choices may not be as extensive as those in their Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 aircraft, but these are enough for short flights like this to Hong Kong. The entertainment system also features a moving inflight map that shows the flight’s exact whereabouts.

I did not watch any movies or television shows during this flight. Instead, I stared at the inflight map and geeked out the aviation enthusiast in me.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Cathay Pacific offers paid inflight wi-fi connectivity on selected flights. The cost can go as high as $12.95 for full-flight access on a short-haul flight. The airline offered a 1-hour pass for $9.95 and a full-flight pass for $12.95 on this flight from Hong Kong to Manila.

Unfortunately, I did not avail of this paid service. I find the flight too short to miss checking things out on the internet.

LAVATORY

This Airbus A330 aircraft has five lavatories shared by all 223 economy class passengers. These lavatories are found in the middle part of the aircraft. The lavatories on this aircraft were clean, fragrant, and spotless. It also had extra amenities like a bottle of hand soap and a bottle of antiseptic hand gel, which can be used by all passengers.

CABIN CREW ENCOUNTERS

Just like the Manila to Hong Kong flight, I had very minimal encounters with the cabin crew. I saw them doing the usual things like welcoming the passengers to the flight, saying goodbye during disembarkation, asking what drinks the passengers wanted during the meal service, and offering tea and coffee during the second drink service.

DISEMBARKATION & LUGGAGE CLAIM

The aircraft arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 11:06 a.m. My friends and I went through disembarkation, immigration, baggage claim, and customs in about 30 minutes after landing.

Flight Experience

It was a fun and memorable once-in-a-lifetime $66 return flight with Cathay Pacific. I honestly do not think this promotion will happen again in the next decade or so.

Like in any other flight report, allow me to share with you what I liked about this flight. First, the free base fare ticket wins in every angle. My friends and I only paid $66 (around ₱3,600) in return for the airport taxes and fees. We paid this cheap for a full-service 5-star airline with baggage, inflight meals, and inflight entertainment. What a steal!

Second, Cathay Pacific made sure that all their passengers were informed of everything about the flight. The airline sent out numerous reminders about the online check-in, airport check-in process, flight requirements, and even the assigned boarding gate information. Third, the airline has a quick and efficient self-check-in process at Hong Kong International Airport. My friends and I finished our self-check-in and bag drop process in less than 10 minutes.

Third, Cathay Pacific still has a 2-4-2 seating configuration on its Airbus A330 aircraft. The said configuration offers more spacious seats compared to the current industry standard of 3-3-3. Also, the seats feature thick back padding, which makes them more comfortable to sit on.

Lastly, the airline served a complimentary hot meal on this short flight from Hong Kong to Manila. The meal may be a little bit bland to my taste, but at least it is available for passengers who want to have breakfast onboard.

One thing that I did not like about this flight was the absence of individual air vents in the aircraft. I sweat a lot, especially when the cabin temperature is on the hot side. I hope Cathay Pacific brings them back in their new or retrofitted aircraft.

This CX 901 Hong Kong to Manila flight is very much like our CX 912 Manila to Hong Kong flight we took earlier. I like that Cathay Pacific is consistent with their hard and soft products on this Manila-Hong Kong-Manila route.

I enjoyed my first flights with Cathay Pacific. I will consider flying them again in the future; I want to try their Airbus A321neo and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. I hope you also enjoyed my narration of this once-in-a-lifetime flight experience with Cathay Pacific. Again, I want to thank the Hong Kong International Authority for running the World of Winners campaign and for making this opportunity happen.

Curious about the specific details of this flight? Check out the geeky information below:

Airline: Cathay Pacific Airways
Flight Date: 12 December 2023
Flight Number: CX 901
Route: Hong Kong, SAR (HKG) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Duration: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Seat Number: 65H (aisle)
Aircraft: Airbus A330-343X
Aircraft Registration: B-LAX
Engines: 2 x RR Trent 772B-60
Age: 11 years old
Delivered: December 2012

Have you flown Cathay Pacific recently? How was your experience? Will you fly them again soon? By any chance have questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to share your ground and flight experiences or post your questions in the comments section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. I hope you can check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines, 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.

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.