Tag: Full Service Airline

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

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

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

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

Qantas

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

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

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

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

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

Airfare & Inclusions

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

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

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

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

Travel Requirements

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

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

Before The Flight

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

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

Aircraft & Flight Information

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

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

Ground & Airport Experience

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

CHECK-IN & BAG DROP

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

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

PRE-DEPARTURE

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

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

BOARDING

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

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

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

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

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

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

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

INFLIGHT MEAL & SNACKS

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

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

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

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

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

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

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

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

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

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

LAVATORY

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

Cabin Crew Encounters

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

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

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

Flight Experience

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

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

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

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

Qantas

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

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

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

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

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

Airfare & Inclusions

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

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

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

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

Travel Requirements

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

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

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

Before The Flight

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

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

Aircraft & Flight Information

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

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

Ground & Airport Experience

Qantas operates out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

CHECK-IN & BAG DROP

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

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

PRE-DEPARTURE

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

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

BOARDING

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

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

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

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

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

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

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

INFLIGHT MEAL & SNACKS

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

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

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

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

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

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

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

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

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

LAVATORY

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

Cabin Crew Encounters

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

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

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

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

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

Flight Experience

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: 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.

Flight Report: CATHAY PACIFIC CX 912 – Manila to Hong Kong – First-Ever CX Flight on a Memorable $66 World-of-Winners Return Ticket to Hong Kong [December 2023]

Early last year, the Hong Kong International Airport Authority (HKIAA) gave away thousands of free base fare tickets to people from all over the world to lure tourists back to the vibrant city. My friends and I joined the Philippines giveaway, answered 4 questions, and luckily made it to the first 21,000 people to get all 4 correct answers. The HKIA authority gave us a roundtrip free base fare ticket with Cathay Pacific valid for travel until December 2023.

We booked our tickets in April 2023 for a trip to Hong Kong in December 2023. We flew with the region’s flag carrier, Cathay Pacific, on both sectors. The Cathay Pacific CX 912 Manila to Hong Kong flight will be the topic of today’s flight report. Read on below to learn how my first ever Cathay Pacific flight went and why this flight became a memorable one.

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

Regular Philippine passport holders are allowed to enter the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region without a visa for 14 days. Anyone staying beyond the visa-free stay needs to apply for a visa to enter Hong Kong.

Locally, all passengers departing the country are required to fill out the online departure card and obtain a QR code from the E-Travel website.

Before the Flight

Just like any other airline, Cathay Pacific sent out several emails to its passengers, reminding them of everything about the flight. A week before our scheduled flight, I received an email from the airline reminding me that my flight to Hong Kong is a few days away. I also got a reminder about the travel documents and requirements needed, an offer to upgrade to business class, and/or to add additional checked luggage for the flight.

48 hours before the scheduled flight, Cathay Pacific sent another email announcing that online or web check-in is now available for our flight to Hong Kong. The airline included reminders about checked luggage, the airline mobile application and its access to online newspapers, the type of plug or outlet used in Hong Kong, and the weather forecast for our stay in the region.

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 about their flights.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Manila to Hong Kong Cathay Pacific flight CX 912 was operated by a 10.2-year-old Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The plane, delivered to Dragonair (previously a Cathay Pacific subsidiary) in October 2013, has 42 lie-flat business class seats on a 2-2-2 configuration and 265 economy class seats on a 2-4-2 layout.

Flight CX 912 departed from Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 8:26 a.m. and arrived at Hong Kong International Airport at 10:10 a.m. The flight took around 1 hour and 44 minutes in total.

Ground & Airport Experience

Cathay Pacific flies out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

CHECK-IN

My friends and I arrived at the airport a few minutes past 4:00 a.m. We headed towards Cathay Pacific’s check-in counters and asked if we could already check-in for our 8:00 a.m. flight.

The ground staff allowed us to check in early. She got our passports and issued our boarding passes. She was quick and efficient; she managed to finish the whole check-in process in less than 10 minutes.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, we lined up for immigration and final security for 1.5 hours. We dropped by the Marhaba Lounge to get some snacks before heading to our assigned boarding gate, Gate 109.

BOARDING

Priority boarding commenced 45 minutes before the flight at 7:15 a.m. The staff called all business class passengers, those traveling with children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities to board the aircraft first. After 5 minutes, the ground staff called regular passengers and instructed boarding by rows, starting from those seated at the back. My friends and I were seated in the last few rows. We were one of the first regular passengers to board the aircraft.

The boarding process finished at 7:52 a.m. The cabin crew closed the aircraft doors and waited for departure. The plane was pushed ack at 7:57 a.m. and headed over to the runway for take-off.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Cathay Pacific Manila to Hong Kong flight was operated using one of the airline’s high-density, two-class Airbus A330 aircraft. The plane sports the regional seat configuration with 42 angle-flat business class seats and 265 standard economy seats.

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 9.5 inches. The seats feature spacious legroom with decent storage spaces and large entertainment screens. The business class section features 7 rows of seats formatted in a 2-2-2 configuration.

The middle and rear sections of the aircraft have 265 standard economy seats on a 2-4-2 layout. Each economy class seat has a seat pitch of 31 inches, a seat width of 18.1 inches, and a recline of 6 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 72D for this quick hop to Hong Kong. I find Cathay Pacific’s thick-padded seats comfortable, but I also miss the individual air vents, which I can open or close whenever I want.

INFLIGHT BREAKFAST SERVICE

Cathay Pacific served a complimentary breakfast on this flight to Hong Kong. They only had one breakfast option for this flight: beef tapa with garlic rice and eggs. The cabin crew commenced breakfast service as soon as the aircraft reached its cruising altitude. They served the rice meal with a bottle of water and metal cutlery. They also went around for a second round of drink service and offered coffee or tea to those who wanted it.

The beef tapa meal was tasty and delicious. The garlic rice complimented the sweet and savory meat taste. 30 minutes before landing, my friends and I requested hot tea with milk, which the crew served in less than 5 minutes.

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 because I knew I would not finish them. Instead, I made the aviation geek in me happy by starting at the inflight map throughout the flight.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

At the time of the flight, Cathay Pacific did not offer inflight connectivity services on their Airbus A330 aircraft. I read on the airline’s website that the inflight Wi-Fi service will soon be available on their A330 and Boeing 777 aircraft.

LAVATORY

This Airbus A330 aircraft only has four lavatories shared by all 265 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

I had minimal interactions with the cabin crew on this flight. I noticed the crew on this flight were very serious during the breakfast service. I rarely see them smile at the passengers. I asked for hot tea with milk a few minutes before landing, and I got my request in less than 5 minutes. Quick service, eh?

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

Prior to landing, Cathay Pacific already displayed the assigned boarding gates of passengers with onward connecting flights with the airline. The flight landed at Hong Kong International Airport at 10:10 a.m. and reached the assigned gate at 10:28 a.m.

Passengers disembarked in an orderly manner. Business class and forward economy class passengers first left the plane. Rear economy class passengers, including our section, deplaned last. My friends and I finished the immigration and baggage claim process in less than 30 minutes. Our luggage was already in Belt 10 when we got to the arrival hall.

Flight Experience

It was a memorable and enjoyable first flight with Hong Kong’s flag carrier, Cathay Pacific.

This flight wins in a lot of aspects. First, my friends and I won complimentary base fare tickets in the Hong Kong Airport Authority’s World of Winners campaign. We only paid US$66.30, a little over ₱3,600, for taxes and fees for a full-service return ticket to Hong Kong. Winner indeed!

Second, the airline made sure that the passengers were well informed about the upcoming flight. They sent emails containing reminders about travel requirements, online check-in, and airport check-in reminders. Third, the airline’s mobile application is updated with all the necessary flight information. It contains the assigned gate, the airport terminal, and the flight status.

Fourth, the airline’s check-in counters at Ninoy Aquino International Airport opened as early as 4 hours before the flight. Fifth, the airline’s Airbus A330 aircraft used here had more spacious seats arranged in a 2-4-2 economy class layout. The airplane’s seats also feature soft and thick back padding, which makes them more comfortable to sit on. Lastly, the airline offered a complimentary, tasty, and savory breakfast on such a short flight. This flight only had one breakfast option, but it was better than not offering breakfast at all.

The only feature I missed on this flight was the presence of individual overhead air vents. The cabin temperature was hot during boarding, and it took some time before it cooled down. The individual air vents could have addressed this issue.

Another thing I did not like during this flight was the long immigration line we had to endure. It was not the airline’s fault. The airport authorities underestimated the number of passengers flying out of the country during that time. I hope and pray for better airport facilities and experiences here in the Philippines.

Anyway, it was still a lovely first-time experience with Cathay Pacific. I will surely consider flying with the airline again in the future. I am keen on trying the excellent Cathay long-haul experience many are raving about.

Allow me to share with you more of a summary of this flight to Hong Kong:

Airline: Cathay Pacific Airways
Flight Date: 8 December 2023
Flight Number: CX 912
Route: Manila, Philippines (MNL) to Hong Kong, SAR (HKG)
Duration: 1 hour and 44 minutes
Seat Number: 72D
Aircraft: Airbus A330-343E
Aircraft Registration: B-HWM
Engines: 2 x RR Trent 772B-60
Age: 10.2 years old
Delivered: October 2013

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.

 

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

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

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

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

SINGAPORE AIRLINES

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

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

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

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

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

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

Airfare

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

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

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

Travel Requirements

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

Before The Flight

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

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

Aircraft & Flight Information

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

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

Ground & Airport Experience

SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT TRANSIT EXPERIENCE

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

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

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

PRE-DEPARTURE

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

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

BOARDING

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

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

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

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

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

Business Class Seat

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

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

INFLIGHT BREAKFAST SERVICE

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

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

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

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

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

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

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

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

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

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

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

LAVATORY

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

Cabin Crew Service

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

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

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

Flight Experience

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.