Budget – Page 10 – The Wknd Travel

Flight Report: CEBGO DG 6194 – Legazpi to Manila – First Flight After 21 Months on the Ground

Hello, it’s been a while! I hope you are all safe & healthy. After hibernating for some time, I am back with a new flight report! Yes, you read it right! After 21 months of being on the ground, I finally took a flight to Manila for a very important event.

How has the pandemic changed flying? Join me as I share with you my flying experience with Cebgo on their Legazpi (LGP) to Manila (MNL) on their ATR-72 aircraft.

March 2022 UPDATE: I also flew with Cebu Pacific Air on the return flight from Manila to Legazpi on Cebgo flight DG 6193. Just recently, I also flew with the country’s flag carrier on Philippine Airlines from Legazpi to Manila on PR 2922 & Manila to Legazpi on PR 2919. Feel free to check those trip reports!

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

Cebgo

Ce b go is not a new airline in this website. It is a subsidiary of the country’s biggest low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific Air. It used to fly as South East Asian Airlines (SEAir) & Tigerair Philippines until Cebu Pacific Air acquired the company in 2014. Today, Cebgo flies an all-turboprop fleet to destinations with relatively small but strong demand & to airports that cannot service bigger jet aircraft. It is also the only Philippines-based airline that flies an all-cargo turboprop aircraft.

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

Airfare & INCLUSIONS

A few months ago, Cebu Pacific Air offered the so-called ‘CEB Super Pass.’ This pass costs ₱99 base fare plus taxes valid for one-way domestic trip. The pass is valid for one year & can be booked at least a week before the planned trip.

I used 1 CEB Super Pass for this trip. I initially paid ₱390.88 for the pass including taxes. The one-way Legazpi to Manila ticket cost me ₱1,276.72. This included a pre-booked seat & 20 kilograms checked baggage. At the time of booking (week before my intended flight), the one-way ticket cost around ₱4,000 inclusive of all add-ons. I got a good deal with the CEB Super Pass!

Travel Requirements

Metro Manila was downgraded to Alert Level 2 when I flew out of Legazpi. There were no travel document requirements to enter Manila at the time of the flight. All passengers were asked to download the Traze mobile application for contact tracing purposes.

You may check Cebu Pacific Air’s Covid-19 Information Page for updated routes & travel requirements per destination.

Before The Flight

A few days before my flight, Cebu Pacific Air sent e-mail reminders about my flight. These e-mails included a reminder to update the guest details including an emergency contact, travel requirements to Manila & contactless reminders for everyone’s safety.

Bicol International Airport

This Legazpi to Manila Cebgo flight departed from the newly inaugurated Bicol International Airport. This airport replaced the old Legazpi City Airport & is far from the city in Alobo, Daraga, Albay. It adopted the old airport’s LGP code. The new airport hosted its first commercial flight last 8 October 2021. The airport is yet fully operational (with some sections still closed / under construction) but has the required facilities to host domestic commercial flights into Legazpi.

Dubbed as the ‘Most Scenic Gateway,’ the airport is expected to handle 2.2 million passengers annually. The new terminal building is spacious & can be compared to other airports around the country. It also has a great view of the majestic Mayon Volcano.

Flight Information

This Cebgo flight from Legazpi (LGP) to Manila (MNL) was operated by an all economy 4.6-year-old ATR-72 aircraft. The plane has 78 economy seats on a 2-2 configuration. The plane left Bicol International Airport 1 minute early & arrived Ninoy Aquino International Airport 28 minutes ahead of schedule. The whole flight took 1 hour & 2 minutes.

Check In, Baggage & Boarding

Cebgo encouraged all passengers to check-in online & avoid as much physical contact as possible. Given, I have pre-booked a seat, I already checked in online even before I went to the airport. I had my electronic boarding pass in my phone. Check in counters open at least 2 hours before & closes 45-minutes to an hour before the flight.

The woman in the bag counter initially did not want to accept my luggage because it has frozen goods in it. They no longer have plastic bags so they asked me to look for one myself. I personally disliked the ‘sorry po ubos na po plastic namin, kayo nalang po maghanap’ remark I got during bag drop. Good thing my parents found one in a nearby wholesale depot. I managed to finish the bag drop process a few minutes before the counter closed.

Cebgo offers prepaid baggage on all its flights. All tickets come with free 7-kilogram carry-on allowance. Check in baggage is available for purchase at the time of booking the ticket up to 4 hours before the flight schedule. The ticket I bought included 20 kilograms baggage allowance. Cebu Pacific Air & Cebgo recently changed their carry-on baggage policies & have limited them to only 1 hand carry bag per person. It used to be 1 backpack or trolley & 1 hand bag. The sign I saw in the bag drop counter showed that they can charge from ₱1,000 to ₱3,000 as boarding gate bag fees.

Boarding commenced 45 minutes before the flight. All passengers walked through the jet bridge then went down to the tarmac & boarded the plane from the ground. All passengers had a view of the airport terminal’s welcome signage & the majestic Mayon Volcano from afar. The boarding process took longer than expected due to some passengers.

Seat & Inflight Experience

The turboprop aircraft has a 2 x 2 seat layout. Each row has 2 window & 2 aisle seats. The seat pitch was alright; there was not enough legroom as expected. The seats only have armrests as dividers & no ‘individual’ seat space unlike those from jet planes. Each seat pocket has a passenger safety card & an air sickness bag. Inflight magazines were removed because of the pandemic. I was unlucky to have a seat with a broken tray table.

This flight to Manila was very basic. Inflight snacks were only available to those who pre-booked meals. The airline has decided to temporarily get rid of selling snacks during the flight to reduce contact between the crew & the passengers. The flight went smooth & we arrived in Manila in no time.

Face masks (and at that time face shields) were required to be properly worn throughout the flight. The cabin crew constantly reminded all passengers of this inflight protocol. At the time of writing, face shields are no longer required inside the airplane. Please take note though that this can change anytime.

Lavatory

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

Cabin Crew Service

The Cebgo cabin crew on this flight welcomed us passengers in their full personal protective equipment with face mask & face shield. They made sure that passengers comply to the safety & health protocols from boarding to disembarkation.

Disembarkation

We all waited for our rows to be called by the cabin crew before we can stand up, get our bags & disembark. Upon disembarkation, we headed to the bus that took us to the arrival hall. Checked baggage were already in the baggage claim areas when we arrived. The arrival process in Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 has never been this efficient until this pandemic.

Verdict

Just like the old times, it’s always a pleasure flying with Cebgo. A lot has changed since the pandemic but the airline’s service remains top-notch. Everything was great except for the bag drop encounter. Inflight experience was bare but acceptable. Seat pitch was okay except for the broken tray table. I admire how the cabin crew & the airline imposes strict health & safety protocols from the time the passengers enter the plane up to disembarkation. It was also nice to see that all passengers followed the disembarkation protocol (by rows) applied by the crew & airline.

Here are the technical details of this flight I took:

Airline: Cebgo
Flight Date: 11 November 2021
Flight Number: DG 6194
Route: Legazpi (LGP) Albay to Manila (MNL)
Duration: 1 hour & 2 minutes
Seat Number: 7D
Aircraft: ATR 72-600
Aircraft Registration: RP-C7284
Age: 4.6 years
Year Delivered: 2017

I was so happy to fly again after 21 months of being on the ground. As far as I can remember, my last flight was in January 2020 when I flew back to Manila after the Christmas holidays. It felt like it was a long time ago. Flying may have changed a lot during this pandemic but it has never changed the feeling of excitement or happiness I get when in one.

This is the view every passenger gets right before boarding the flight to Manila. Majestic indeed! 😍

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

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. Let’s hope the pandemic ends soon so we can all fly to wherever we want to. For now, please do your own part by getting vaccinated & by observing health protocols. Before you go, can you visit my social media channels – Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you. Stay safe.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flying 101: The REALITIES of Flying Low-Cost Airlines

A few weeks ago, I introduced a section in this website called Flying 101. Posts under this category aim to take the readers through the basics & the ins & outs of flying. I already shared with you a comparison between low-cost & full-service airlines. I also gave you an introduction about the Philippine government-mandated airline taxes & fees charged by the airlines.

Today’s Flying 101 post will run you through the realities of flying low-cost airlines. Low-cost travel has significantly changed the aviation & travel industry over the years. Low-cost airlines have popped out in almost every country in the world & have provided a very affordable flying experience to humankind.

There is really no issue flying a low-cost airline. However, one must get ready for the following ‘realities’ when flying one.

It’s cheap but you get what you pay for.

Yes – it’s that cheap. You can get a ticket as low as free, ₱1, $1, €1 or 1 of whatever currency base fare plus taxes & fees. This ticket only includes a guaranteed seat on the flight in an almost all-economy class configured airplane. It also includes basic carry-on luggage of 7 to 10 kilograms, depending on how much the airline allows.

Nothing else is free.

Every extra inflight service or amenity comes with a fee. Passengers pay for check-in baggage allowance, inflight meals, a bottle of water & seat selection. Some airlines in other countries also offer priority check-in & boarding plus fast-track lane access for additional fees.

Most low-cost airlines offer fare bundles with combined add-ons for discounted rates. It’s always cheaper to avail these fare bundles than paying for every single add-on after selecting the basic fare.

Flight schedules aren’t the most convenient.

Low-cost airlines don’t have the most convenient flight schedules. The low-cost airlines here in the Philippines, have convenient schedules across the domestic network. Their international network has a different story. Most international flights leave either early morning, mid to late afternoon or late at night. Only a few international short-haul destinations (the likes of Hong Kong & Singapore) have regular schedules throughout the day.

Change fees are expensive.

Low-cost airlines impose very high change or rebooking fees. This change fee is on top of the fare difference you have to pay when changing your ticket. Change fees here in the Philippines can cost as high as ₱2,000 per sector. At most times, it’s cheaper to buy a new ticket. Make sure to check the price of the new ticket before rebooking your ticket.

Some low-cost airlines now offer flexible ticket options by charging a flexible ticket add-on which waives change fees & only charges the fare difference. This is a good add-on for this with unpredictable schedules.

Expect for an ‘OK’ overall service.

Don’t expect for a 5-star service when flying these low-cost carriers. You will usually experience bus boarding / disembarkation, a walk in the tarmac, paper boarding passes, crowded passenger waiting areas & frequent flight delays. You might even encounter not-so-clean airplane seats, tray tables & (sometimes) filthy cabin & toilets in general.

One thing you’ll notice, most of the ground attendants & on-board crew are friendly & accommodating – which is good!

Don’t get me wrong – I am not a low-cost carrier hater. In fact, I love flying low-cost airlines because of their super cheap fares. Flying these airlines come with certain realities we have to face. I’ve had a few bad experiences with some low-cost airlines but here I am flying with them again & again. At the end of the day, I am fine with these ‘realities’ as long as they take me to my desired destination safe & sound.

How are your experiences with low-cost airlines? Have you experienced some of those mentioned above? Share your experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Also, please follow me on my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Flying 101 topic. See you in the next one! Stay safe & healthy.

Hostel of the Day: LUB D MAKATI – Posh & Affordable City Center Hostel Perfect for Your Next Staycation

Lately, I came across old phone photos about a really good hostel in the heart of Makati City – Lub d Makati. I’ve stayed with this hostel a few times in the past but never thought of writing about it. Well, I’ve featured hostels from Boracay & Palawan & as far as Taiwan, Australia, Japan, Czech Republic & Denmark; I thought of finally featuring this city gem. Welcome to today’s hostel of the day feature. Join me as I run you through the hostel’s features & amenities. Know why Lub d Makati is the perfect choice for your post-pandemic staycation.

In case you don’t know, I’ve featured the hostels I’ve been to since 2017. I already wrote about hostels from Asia, Australia & Europe. Check out all these hostel of the day features here.

Lub D Hostels & Lub D Makati

Lub d is a small Bangkok-based hostel group. The group has properties in 3 Southeast Asian countries. The hostel group has 3 properties in Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket & Koh Samui), 1 property in Cambodia (Siem Reap) & 1 property in the Philippines (Makati – today’s hostel of the day feature).

Lub d Makati is the hostel group’s first property in the Philippines. The hostel opened in 2018 in the heart of Makati City – one of the metro’s busiest cities. It features 153 private rooms & 10 dormitory rooms in a simple multi-storey building (from the outside) with beautifully designed interiors. The hostel has various features & amenities which will all be discussed below.

Location & Access

Lub d Makati is located at 7820 Makati Avenue, Makati City. The hostel is in a busy commercial area full of restaurants, bars, hotels, offices & condominiums. It is accessible to the public via jeepneys & taxis. The nearest shopping malls are about 2 kilometers. The airport is about 20-30 minutes away without traffic.

The hostel’s location is a 10 out of 10. The nearest convenience store is a few meters walk from the property. Restaurants are found in front or beside the hostel building. The nearest supermarket is a few meters walk from the hostel. The hostel is 300 meters away from Poblacion – Makati’s famous night out spot. The only downside of its location is the traffic congestion (which I don’t mind) outside the hostel’s doors.

Room Options

Lub d Makati caters to all kinds of guests – whether you’re a solo traveler spending a night in Manila before going to the islands, a couple leaving after a long holiday in the Philippines or groups who just want to go on a staycation. The hostel has 153 private rooms divided into double, twin & barkada rooms. It also has 10 dormitory rooms with 8 beds each. These rooms are configured either as female only or mixed dormitory rooms.

My friends & I would usually book the 16 sq m barkada room for 4. This room has either a double or twin beds & 2 single beds in the mezzanine. The room has a private shower & toilet, complete with towels, shampoo & liquid soap. Each baraka room has air conditioning, a cable television, a small refrigerator, a safety deposit box, an electric kettle, glasses, cups & 4 free bottles of water. All private rooms have almost the same layout, except for the additional mezzanine beds in the barkada room.

I never tried staying on their dormitory rooms but I’ve read from their website that each air-conditioned room is spacious at 36 sq m. Each bed has a private reading light, privacy curtain, universal power outlet & USB charging port, individual locker, a complete bedding set & bath towel. Guests staying in a dormitory room have access to shared shower area & toilet.

A bed in the dormitory room can cost as low as below ₱500 per night depending on season & length of stay. The private double & twin rooms can cost as low as a little over ₱2,000 per night while the barkada room can cost as low as a little over ₱3,000 per night during low season. To be honest, I never paid more than ₱3,000 during my previous stay with Lub d Makati. I always book my stay with 3^rd party companies like Agoda, Booking.com & Traveloka & avail of their promotions & discounts for lower room rates.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Lub d Makati boasts a long list of facilities & amenities their guests can enjoy. It may not have a swimming pool unlike their properties in other countries, but it surely has other perks which guests can still avail.

Free Wi-Fi – All guests have access to free high-speed wireless internet connection in common areas & inside the rooms.

On-site Café & Snack Bar – The hostel has an on-site café & snack bar near the reception area. This café serves coffee, breakfast & snacks.

Rooftop Bar & Restaurant – Lub d Makati has a rooftop bar & restaurant which offers a good view of Makati skyline. Essential goodness, for the pilgrims is found in the 13^th floor of the hostel building & is open to serve customers from breakfast to dinner.

Communal Social Area – The hostel as a large communal social area by the reception area. The area has cozy chairs with a view of Makati Avenue.

Media Room – Lub d Makati has a media room where guests can chill & watch something.

Co-Working Space – The hostel has a co-working space open for everyone. Rates include the use of spacious tables & high-speed Wi-Fi connection. Check out the hostel’s website for the updated rates & membership fees.

Private Meeting Room – Guests who need to host meetings can use the hostel’s private meeting room. Please approach the hostel reception if you want to use this room.

Guest Activities & Tours – Lub d Makati hosts daily activities & games for the guests. Check out the latest activities in the activity board near reception. They also offer different tours around Metro Manila. Feel free to ask reception on what are the available tours during your stay.

Communal & Private Amenities – The property has clean & well-maintained toilets & amenities both inside the rooms & in the communal areas.

Games Area – The hostel has a small games area where guests can freely play pool, table football & other games. There are also board games to borrow & enjoy!

Luggage Storage – Lub d Makati offers luggage storage for their guests both before check in & after check out.

Laundry Service – The hostel also offers laundry services. Check out with reception on where these facilities are found.

Private Room Amenities – Private rooms have small refrigerators, safety deposit boxes, in-room telephones, bottled waters, water kettles, coffee, glasses & cups.

24-Hour Reception – Lub d Makati’s reception is always manned. It is open to help guests & address guests’ concerns 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Welcoming & Friendly Staff – Lub d Makati’s staff are very friendly & welcoming. They make sure they talk to their guests & even briefs guests about the hostel’s facilities upon check-in. The hostel’s housekeeping staff are also friendly. They always greet guests in the hallways & in the lifts.

Free Parking – The hostel has free parking in the ground floor. Free parking is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lift Access – Guests who have luggage & big bags don’t need to worry about bringing their bags to their rooms. The hostel has 2 lifts which only work with the use of the room key cards.

Secured Hostel Access – Lub d Makati guests are the only ones who have access to the hostel’s rooms. The room key cards only work on the assigned rooms, assigned floors (in the lifts) & in the communal floors – 2^nd floor reception & communal areas & 13^th floor rooftop bar & restaurant.

Experiences

I stayed with Lub d Makati for a few times in the last 2 years – all stays in their barkada room. I like the room layout – 2 beds in the ground & 2 beds in the mezzanine. All beds have a pillow, blanket, bath towel, personal light, 1 universal power outlet & 1 USB plug. The pillow & bed are comfortable.

The private rooms are well-designed & well-lighted. I fancy the small table between the beds & the powder / preparation area. I also like that the sink is outside the toilet & shower room, making it possible for people to use these facilities simultaneously. The rooms have cable television & cold air conditioning. All private rooms have a small window with dark curtains.

Check in & check out process are quick. The 2^nd floor hostel facilities are free to use for all guests. My friends & I played pool, table football & jenga during our stay in the hostel. The 2^nd floor communal area is spacious enough. I haven’t joined any hostel activity but I’ll be down to in my post-covid stay. Believe it or not, I haven’t tried the on-site café & snack bar & the rooftop bar & restaurant. My friends & I always go out of the hostel to eat.

Lub d Makati may not be the cheapest option in the area but it’s where you actually get the worth of every peso you paid. Their rates are still affordable compared to the properties of the same class or level. The rooms & communal areas are simple but well-designed – very instagrammable! With its long list of perks & facilities, it is the perfect property for your post-covid staycation with friends. I cannot wait for the situation to get better; I will bring my friends here for a night of catch-up.

In case you have questions to the hostel, you can contact them at the following platforms:

Lub d Philippines – Makati
Address: 7820 Makati Avenue, Brgy Poblacion, Makati City, Philippines 1210
Phone Number: +62 8542 6358 / +63 915 546 3309
E-mail Address: contact.makati@lubd.com
Website: www.lubd.com/makati
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lubdphmakati
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lub_d
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lubdmakati

Have you been to Lub d Makati? What do you think of the hostel, its rooms & facilities? Feel free to share your thoughts & comments below. For me, it is the perfect hostel for your barkada’s staycation. The hostel is posh; it has affordable rates. Its location is perfect & it has a long list of amenities to enjoy.

Do you have questions about the things & features mentioned above? You may also send these questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Please please please also follow me on my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram.

I hope you also check out my other hostel of the day features! Thanks for joining me today. See you in the next one. Stay safe! ❤️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Flight Report: CEBU PACIFIC AIR 5J 923 – Fukuoka to Manila – Strict But Well-Organized Free Base Fare Flight Back To Manila

Hey, I hope you’re coping well. I know most of us miss flying & going on vacations. The Covid-19 pandemic stopped leisure travel & has forced us to stay in our homes indefinitely. While most of the countries all over the world are restarting leisure travel, we, Filipinos, are still not allowed to do so – even domestic travels are not allowed. All we can do now is to look back & relive the great memories we made in our previous trips.

One of the trips I keep on revisiting is our Fukuoka 2019 surprise trip. My friend & I surprised another friend in her supposed-to-be first solo international trip. I already shared with you details about this trip in the following posts – 48 Hours in Fukuoka for less than ₱12,500 all in, Nekokura Hostel of the Day feature & 5J 922 Cebu Pacific Air Flight Report. Today, I will share with you details of our Cebu Pacific Air 5j 923 flight from Fukuoka, Japan back to Manila, Philippines. Know how organized Japanese people & airports are & generally how the flight went in this new flight report.

Cebu Pacific Air

As mentioned in my previous 5J flight report, Cebu Pacific Air is the Philippines largest low-cost carrier. It flies to more than 60 domestic & international destinations across the country, Asia-Pacific & the Middle East. It is wholly owned by JG Summit Holdings, led by the Gokongweis. Including its subsidiary Cebgo, the airline operates a fleet of 70+ Airbus & ATR commercial & cargo aircraft with a number of new generation aircraft orders in place.

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. It has its own loyalty program called GetGo & is a founding member of Value Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of low-cost carriers.

Airfare & Inclusions

My friend & I got the return ticket to & from Fukuoka, Japan for only ₱2,873.74. We booked it through the airline’s loyalty program, GetGo, ‘5,000 points off’ promotion. At the time of booking, one-way base fare to Fukuoka were valued at 2,400 points. The return ticket cost us 4,800 points plus airline (minus 5,000 points – yay, so basically free base fare) & airport taxes. My friend & I only paid for the taxes & charges imposed by the airline – a decent deal, eh? It definitely was a steal considering the tickets were bought 3 weeks before the flight schedule.

Cebu Pacific Air is a low-cost carrier – meaning tickets only include the passenger’s base fare & taxes. The airline offers baggage allowance, seat selection, meals & refreshments & all over flight services for a fee. The airline’s fleet don’t have personal or communal entertainment screens. The fare my friend & I bought only includes a 7-kilogram carry-on luggage which was enough for our 48-hour Fukuoka trip. The full list of the airline’s add-on charges is found in their website.

Flight & Aircraft Information

This Fukuoka to Manila Cebu Pacific Air flight was operated by a 5.5-year-old (that time) Airbus A320-214 aircraft with registration RP-C3277. The airplane has an all-economy configuration (just like all other Cebu Pacific Air aircraft) with 180 seats on a 3-3 layout. The flight left Fukuoka station at 7:48 pm JST & arrived Ninoy Aquino International Airport (in Manila) at 11:10 pm PHT. The flight took 4 hours & 22 minutes from one airport gate to the other.

Ground & Airport Experience

International flights arrive & depart from Fukuoka Airport’s international terminal. The terminal is 10-minute (free) bus ride from the Fukuoka Airport Subway Station / Domestic Terminal. Upon arrival at the terminal, my friend & I went to Row C check-in counters. The counters opened 3 hours before the flight.

Check-in process was quick & efficient. Heavy bags & boxes undergo security checks before they can be accepted by the ground staff for check-in. There were 3 normal check-in & 1 online check-in counters that day. All ground staff strictly check & weigh each passenger’s carry-on items. They only allow 7-kilograms of carry-on baggage & up to 2 items only. My friend & I already checked-in online & queued in the online check-in counter. We requested for exit row seats; the lovely check-in counter crew granted our request. Our whole check-in process took 20-minutes & that included 15 minutes in queue for the luggage security check.

In case you missed it, we almost missed our Manila to Fukuoka flight because of lengthy check-in process & slow immigration lines in NAIA 3. Know more about this almost-missed flight in this flight report.

Immigration & final security took less than 10 minutes. There were no long lines or whatsoever. The flight boarding process commenced 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. Passengers with children & those needing special assistance boarded the aircraft first. The regular passengers boarded next. We boarded from Gate 56 & finished after 15-20 minutes. Boarding has quick & smooth.

In-Flight Product

Cebu Pacific Air is known as a no-frills airline. The airline keeps their fares low by providing the most basic product on air – a guaranteed seat on the flight & a 7-kilogram carry-on baggage allowance. Additional flight features such as baggage allowance, in-flight meal, insurance, seat selection & the likes are available at an extra cost.

My friend & I were assigned at exit seats 12B & 12C. These exit row seats have enormous legroom but do not recline. Regular seats on Cebu Pacific Air’s Airbus A320 aircraft feature 28 inches of seat pitch & generous reclines. These seats were made & designed by Recaro, a world-renown seat manufacturing company known for their light & ergonomically-designed seat products. Each seat features a decently sized tray table & a small seat pocket with the aircraft safety card. The seats don’t feature personal entertainment screens. The only available form of entertainment is the monthly in-flight magazine found in every seat pocket.

Shortly after take-off, the cabin crew rolled out their snack cart & offered snacks to all passengers. The list of items for sale is found in the Fun Café menu in the seat pockets. The crew also handed out the pre-ordered snacks & meals to those who availed them. The airline allows passengers to pre-book their meals & snacks from the time of booking up to 24 hours before the flight.

This night flight didn’t feature the usual in-flight fun game. The crew gave the passengers the time to rest & sleep. I didn’t have the chance to visit the lavatory during the flight; I was dead tired after a long day of walking around the city.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew welcomed us into the flight with their biggest smiles. One crew also went up to us & explained the additional protocols for passengers seated in the exit rows. I didn’t have much chance to interact with the crew on this flight but those small encounters made a big difference in the flight experience.

Overall Experience

It was another pleasant flight with Cebu Pacific Air. My friend & I definitely enjoyed this flight from Fukuoka to Manila. The pleasant experience started with getting return tickets for only ₱2,873.74 without baggage. I still can’t imagine how this is possible in the current times? The ticket is even cheaper than a domestic ticket to destinations like Coron & Siargao or even international destinations like Hong Kong & Singapore. Cebu Pacific Air changed the game by giving every Juan the chance to fly in the most affordable rate.

The airport & ground experience was superb! It was the total opposite of my experience on the flight from Manila to Fukuoka. The check-in lines were fast-moving bur organized. The check-in process was efficient. The ground staff were reasonably strict but were nice & very accommodation. Immigration, final security check & boarding process didn’t take long. It was my 3^rd time flying out of this airport & the experience hasn’t changed. I am amazed how the airport management maintained it even with the increasing number of passenger traffic. All my Fukuoka Airport experiences were very close to ideal.

The flight experience was alright as expected. The cabin crew greeted us with their best smiles upon boarding & disembarking from the plane. I didn’t have much to talk about the in-flight experience because I was asleep most of the flight. The only thing I didn’t like was our plane didn’t have an available airport gate when we landed in Manila station. We waited inside the plane for more than 15-20 minutes before we finally got our Terminal 3 gate assignment. I really hope the local airport authorities do something about this once everything does back to normal.

I cannot wait to fly out again with Cebu Pacific Air in the future. I have plans of trying their long-haul flights (again but this time feature it) to perhaps Sydney or Melbourne once Australia opens. I also want to just fly out to wherever possible & take some time off. I will surely fly with them on those trips. For those of you who want to know the flight & aircraft details, here are the information you want or need:

Airline: Cebu Pacific Air
Flight Date: 20 October 2019
Flight Number: 5J 923
Route: Fukuoka (FUK) Japan to Manila (MNL) Philippines
Duration: 4:22 hours
Seat Number: 12C
Aircraft: Airbus A320-214
Aircraft Registration: RP-C3277
Aircraft Engine: 2 x CFM International Jet Engines
Age: 6 years old
Year Delivered: 2014

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. Do you have any questions about the flight or anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

How I wish we can all soon go back to the times when flying & travelling is safe & places are virus-free. Those safe times are far from happening based on the current vaccine & treatment developments but I hope you are coping well with the effects of pandemic. Let’s us all hope for better times in the future. For the meantime, we can all connect & talk about our previous travel experiences. Follow me on my social media channels – Facebook & Instagram.

Don’t forget to check out my previous Cebu Pacific Air flight reports: Legazpi to Manila, Manila to Jakarta, Manila to Caticlan (Boracay), Caticlan (Boracay) to Manila on Cebgo & Manila to Fukuoka. Other flight reports can be found under the Flight Reports category. Until next time. Stay safe!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Tuesday Tips: 11 EUROPE THRIFT HACKS You Should Know

Travelling around Europe has always been a dream since I started exploring places in 2012. Every year, I will always plan to make this dream Europe trip for the following year. It took 7 years for this dream trip to happen. Last October 2019, I flew to Europe (via Singapore) alone & explored the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark for 19 days. It was not a cheap trip but not too expensive as well. Every Euro, Czech Koruna & Danish Krone I spent was worth it. You may check out my posts about this Europe trip of a lifetime under the Going Solo in Europe category.

Some of you know that no matter how trips, like this trip to Europe, sound expensive, I always find a way to make it affordable. I shared with you in my past posts how I went to Fukuoka, Japan for a weekend & spent less than ₱12,500 including plane tickets & accommodation, how I booked international return tickets from Manila for as low as ₱1,300+ & so on. I also posted under my Tuesday Tips section how I applied DIY visas for Schengen Territory (Europe), China, Australia & Japan.

Allow me to share with you how I managed to save money & spend lesser than the usual. Here are 11 thrift hacks I found useful in my Euro trip last year.

Take Advantage of Airline & Credit Card Deals

Right before the Covid-19 pandemic, major airlines & banks offered credit card exclusive airfares & deals to the airlines’ network. These promotions happen throughout the year but the best ones are offered in the 1^st quarter (January to March) of every year. Some people recommend to book plane tickets after getting your visa. Tickets at these times are already expensive. If you have an extensive travel record & good trip intention, I tell you to risk it.

I booked my plane ticket to Europe from Singapore Airlines & BPI’s Online Travel Fair. I paid US$ 719.23 for a return trip with Singapore Airlines on this route – Manila to Singapore, Singapore to Amsterdam, Copenhagen to Singapore & Singapore to Manila. I paid ₱37,669.40 in peso, including foreign currency transaction charges for a full-service experience on a 5-star premium airline. It was worth the risk.

Book Accommodations Early

Booking accommodations early give you access to the nicer & cheaper options. Booking platforms also offer early bird discounts which you shouldn’t let go of. One thing to note here –always go for the option with flexible booking terms such as free cancellation, no pre-payment or pay at the hotel / hostel. I booked my hostels a bit late for my trip & the cost has almost doubled. If only I booked my hostels earlier, I could’ve saved more. I tried booking for an ~~upcoming~~ / cancelled trip to Europe 9 months away & imagine, I’ll only pay around ₱11,000 for 12 nights around Germany, Austria & Hungary. Yes, it can be that cheap!

I previously wrote a set of Tuesday Tips about the pattern in getting the best accommodation deals – check out the post here. Hope you find it helpful.

Apply For Your Own Visa

It may take some research & a physical appointment with VFS but applying for your own Schengen tourist visa will save you the handling fees charged by travel agencies. Read blogs & posts on how to apply for a Schengen tourist visa. Next thing you’ll know, it’s already your appointment day. Don’t worry about getting the visa on its release. You can arrange delivery by courier for a few hundreds.

I applied for my own Schengen tourist visa & I wrote how I did it. Check out my Tuesday Tip on this DIY Schengen visa application process.

Invest In An Internet Sim Card

Our generation is very dependent on internet connection. I think it’s a good & bad thing – but more of a good thing when you’re travelling around Europe. It’s easier to find places through maps, to book online tickets last-minute, to get online recommendations & to keep contact with loved ones back home at any time of the day. It’ll save you cost because you won’t take unnecessary taxi trips & you won’t get lost. Make sure to always check the sim card features & its coverage. Also, it’s always better to buy a sim card here in the Philippines than in the airport of your arrival. Internet sim cards in Europe area freaking expensive.

I bought my internet sim card from Pinoy Traveler’s Unlimited Data Sim Card on Facebook. I paid ₱1,600 for a plug & play 30-day UK-Europe-World data sim card which had 12 GB of 3G/4G data & unlimited call & text in Europe & UK & 9 GB of 3G/4G data outside Europe & UK. The data sim card worked well throughout the trip – in Singapore, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark. The sim card automatically connected to the network partner in every country. It was a good product with an extensive coverage.

Check For Online Ticket & Tour Discounts

It pays to check the museum or online tour websites for discounted tickets. Most companies offer discounted early bird tickets or last-minute promotions to those who want to join on the spot. Believe it or not, I got my Heineken Experience ticket for €18, from the usual €20 ticket bought on site. I also got a discounted guided day tour trip to Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken from Get Your Guide. The tour was originally priced at €35 to but I only got it for only €28. I booked the tour last-minute, the night before the tour itself.

Here’s the Heineken Experience ticket I bought online for €18, instead of the usual €20.

Got this Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam & Marken guided tour for €28 at Get Your Guide website.

My friends told me that some tour companies & museums even have more discounted tickets if you book your tickets earlier. Ultimately, weigh in the cost of doing it by yourself through public transportation or by private guide versus the cost of joining a guided tour. Go for the guided group tour as long as you get a good deal out of it.

Enjoy Hostel Buffet Breakfasts

Food in Europe, in general, is expensive. An affordable meal can cost you around €10 without drinks. One thing I did on this trip is to enjoy hostel buffet breakfasts. Some hostels in Europe offer their buffet spread for affordable rates. These buffet spreads include bread, cereals, cold cuts, cheese, & drinks such as coffee, tea or juice. Generator Amsterdam offered their buffet breakfast for €7,5 while Dream Hostel Prague has them for €4,5. Sleep Well Youth Hostel Brussels guests have access to free buffet breakfast (which was really nice) while Steel House Copenhagen sold breakfast bags (with bun, juice & energy bar) for around €6,5.

Avail of any breakfast promotion or offering your hostel has – it’s way cheaper (unless you have time to cook your own food) than what’s outside. It’ll also help you kick start your day right.

The Supermarket Is Your Best Friend

One of the things I always do when I am in a new place is to go to supermarkets. I mentioned these in my blogs about the things I miss doing in Japan, tips in saving money in Melbourne & going around Singapore on a budget. These groceries sell everything for a better price – cheaper than what you pay in specialty shops, food stalls & restaurants. It is also the best place to buy bottled water & beer.

This bottle of juice + 4 croissants cost me only €2.90-ish in Albert Heijn. Awesome breakfast deal!!

I didn’t avail of the hostel’s breakfast one morning because I left early for a group tour. I dropped by an Albert Heijn supermarket & got myself 4 croissants & 1 big bottle of juice for less than €3. Great deal, right?

Set A Daily Budget

It helps to set a daily budget for long trips like this. It helps you control your day-to-day expenses & stretch your pocket money. Daily budgets vary from one country to the other, depending on how expensive the country is.

I set a daily budget of €40 per day for my 2019 Europe trip. That daily budget doesn’t include the accommodation costs which I already paid days before the trip. Believe it or not, it worked! I usually avail the hostel’s breakfast in the morning, then have late lunch somewhere (mostly local food) and have street food & beers for dinner. The daily budget also included transportation costs & if possible, museum entrance fees. I spent more than €40 on some days, but I was at €30-€35 in most days.

Join Walking Tours

Free, or should I say, tip-based walking tours are popular in Europe. Various companies run daily walking tours around the city through independent & professional tour guides. At the end of every walking tour, the joiner can give any amount (no specific amount required by the guides) on what he / she thinks is the value of the tour. Typical tip is €5 to €10 per tour. Joining these walking tours will save you from joining overpriced private or city group tours priced at €20 to €25 per person.

I joined a number of walking tours on this trip – Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Prague, Český Krumlov & Copenhagen. All the guides are friendly & they speak good English. They also give recommendations on where to go & what to do in the city.

Take Buses Instead of Intercity Trains

European cities & countries are well-connected by intercity (IC) trains. One can literally hop on a train in Amsterdam & arrive in Paris after a few hours. One can also board a train in Paris & wake up in Vienna the following day. However, fares on these trains are expensive. A 2-hour IC train trip from Amsterdam to Brussels can cost up to €60 if you buy it last-minute.

Good thing Europe has a wider network of buses that run in between cities. Bus companies such as FlixBus, BlaBlaBus, Eurolines, RegioJet & National Express run trips between cities at affordable cost. The same 2-hour Amsterdam to Brussels trip on FlixBus only cost me €12. It can even be cheaper if you book tickets earlier & not last-minute. These buses guarantee each passenger a seat & even has 20-kilogram allowance for luggage.

Walk & Enjoy The Feeling of Getting Lost

The best way to explore every city in Europe is by walking. Most cities have local tram networks & subways but nothing will beat the feeling of walking around & getting lost in an unknown place. You’ll see many beautiful historic buildings, walk through preserved parks & see the daily lives of locals. You’ll learn to appreciate each place more when you walk around it at your own pace. There’s no need to spend extra euros for these tram, subway & bus rides.

I never walked as much as I did in this trip to Europe. I would usually skip taking the tram, bus & subway rides & instead walk 2-3 kilometres per way at my pace, while enjoying the local scene. The cold weather helped me not get exhausted easily. I got lost a lot of times but I enjoyed it & I let my foot take me to wherever it’ll take me. I ended up seeing hidden beautiful streets, peaceful & preserved reserves & picturesque landmarks.

These hacks helped me a lot throughout my 19 days trip around Europe. It saved me euros, spared me from expensive tour deals & prevented me from spending too much on one thing. At the end of the day, it all falls to extensive research & careful trip planning. Having been to Europe & spending less compared to what a usual tourist still proves my point that no matter how expensive one place is, there will always be ways to make it affordable.

What personal travel hacks can you share to me? Do you also book your tickets & accommodations way in advance? How do you go about planning your itinerary & your modes of transportation? Share some of your travel hacks in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about those mentioned above? You may also post them in the comments below or you can also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I’ll answer them as soon as I can.

Thank you for joining me in today’s set of Tuesday Tips. I hope you also find time to check my posts about the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark under the Going Solo in Europe category. Keep up-to-date with thrift hacks like this & promotional fares by following me on my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram. Until the next set of Tuesday Tips!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.