Tag: Philippine Airlines

Flight Report: PHILIPPINE AIRLINES PR 2853 – Manila to Cebu – First PAL Domestic Comfort Class Experience – Was the Last-Minute Booking Worth It? [October 2024]

A few months ago, I ended up booking a last-minute flight with Philippine Airlines to get from Manila to Legazpi (Daraga) via Cebu. I went for their premium economy option, Comfort Class. This was not the original plan, but I had been stuck in Manila for days because of canceled bus trips and major flooding near our province, which made road travel impossible. With my tight schedule, flying was my only real choice.

In this post, I will share how the first leg of the trip went—from Manila to Mactan, Cebu. I will break down the ticket price, talk about what you get with Comfort Class, and let you know if I thought it was worth it.

Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines, commonly known as PAL, is the Philippines’ flag carrier. The airline began operations in 1941 and is currently the region’s oldest commercial airline. It is part of the Lucio Tan Group of Companies and is also partly owned by ANA Holdings, the parent company of All Nippon Airways.

Philippine Airlines operates a fleet of nearly 50 Airbus, Boeing, and De Havilland aircraft, serving over 70 domestic and international destinations across Asia, Australia, North America, and the Middle East. The airline has a wholly owned subsidiary, PAL Express, which operates its domestic regional routes. PAL flies out of its hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Davao.

PAL is the country’s largest full-service airline, offering a premium experience to its passengers. It provides business class, premium economy, and economy class on most of its routes. Although it is not a member of any airline alliance, it has codeshare agreements with major carriers such as All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines, Gulf Air, and many others.

The airline also offers a lifestyle and loyalty program called Mabuhay Miles. It is the only Philippine-based carrier to receive a 4-star rating from the world-renowned air transport rating organization Skytrax. Philippine Airlines is known for its warm and heartfelt hospitality, which is uniquely rooted in Filipino culture.

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

Airfare & Inclusions

This Manila to Legazpi (Daraga) via Cebu comfort class ticket was booked 5 days before the intended flight date. It cost ₱7,281 for one person. The ticket included a 25-kilogram checked luggage allowance, a 7-kilogram carry-on allowance, dedicated airport check-in counters, complimentary seat selection, Mabuhay Lounge access (both in Manila and Cebu airports), priority boarding on both legs, a priority baggage tag, a dedicated onboard cabin, and an onboard gourmet sandwich snack selection.

For context, the direct Manila to Legazpi (Daraga) regular economy class tickets cost over ₱9,000 for one person at the time of booking. The regular economy ticket did not include any special perks. The other competitor, Cebu Pacific Air, offered a fare almost identical to the regular PAL economy ticket, also without checked baggage allowance.

The comfort class ticket was still expensive but a great deal compared to the regular economy prices at the time of booking. It included most of the perks of business class passengers, minus the onboard cabin and meal experience.

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.

Before The Flight

Three hours after booking the ticket, I immediately received an email offering me the opportunity to bid for a business class upgrade. I received another upgrade offer email three days before the flight date.

Twenty-four hours before the Manila to Cebu flight, I got an email informing me that online check-in was now available for my flight. I checked in for both the Manila to Cebu and Cebu to Legazpi (Daraga) flights and received my mobile boarding passes.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Manila to Cebu Philippine Airlines flight PR 2853 was operated by a 9.4-year-old Airbus A321ceo (at the time of the flight). The plane was delivered to the airline in June 2015. It features 12 business class seats, 18 comfort class seats, and 169 regular economy class seats.

Flight PR 2853 took off from Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 12:37 p.m., cruised at an altitude of 31,000 feet, and touched down at Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Cebu at 1:34 p.m. This short domestic flight took only 57 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

Philippine Airlines’ domestic flights depart from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.

CHECK-IN & BAG DROP

Comfort class passengers have dedicated check-in counters on the right side of the terminal.

I arrived at the airport a little past 9:00 a.m. and was surprised to see a deserted comfort class check-in area. I was immediately attended to, and I completed the bag drop process in less than 5 minutes. The ground staff were all cheerful and helpful.

DOMESTIC MABUHAY LOUNGE EXPERIENCE

After check-in, I cleared security and went to the pre-departure area. I checked our assigned gate and then went to the lounge to eat and work. Comfort class passengers have access to the Mabuhay Lounge near Boarding Gate 10.

The lounge offered a variety of snacks, drinks, and, of course, Philippine Airlines’ famous arroz caldo. The food options were just right for a short domestic flight. The lounge became busy after 10:00 a.m., with almost all seats occupied by passengers. It also featured fast Wi-Fi, clean toilets, and a shower.

BOARDING

At 11:25 a.m., the ground staff announced that our flight would be delayed by a few minutes due to additional ground servicing of the assigned aircraft. Thirty-five minutes later, the staff announced boarding for business class passengers and status holders. Comfort class passengers (us) followed, and economy class passengers boarded last.

At 12:20 p.m., the cabin crew closed the airplane doors. The entire boarding process took only 20 minutes. The plane was pushed back at 12:22 p.m. and headed to the runway for takeoff.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Manila to Cebu flight was operated by a 9.4-year-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A321ceo aircraft. The aircraft features 12 business class seats in a 2-2 layout, 18 comfort class seats in a 3-3 layout, and 169 regular economy seats in a 3-3 layout.

According to the Philippine Airlines website, each business class seat has a seat pitch of 37 inches, a seat width of 22 inches, and 6 inches of recline. Both comfort class and regular economy seats have a seat width of 18.1 inches and 5 inches of recline. Comfort class seats offer more legroom at 34 inches, while regular economy class seats have 30 inches of legroom.

Each comfort class seat has a front seat pocket containing an aircraft safety card, an air sickness bag, and an inflight magazine. It also comes with a pillow, a blanket, and a bottle of water. The seat also includes an assigned air vent, a reading light, and an adjustable headrest. Each row has cabin crew call buttons and two universal power outlets. These outlets are available for free use after takeoff. The cabin also features the older overhead compartments, which can only accommodate limited luggage.

I had seat 21A for this short flight to Cebu. The seat was comfortable, with generous legroom. The additional amenities (pillow, blanket, and bottle of water) provided extra comfort during the flight.

INFLIGHT SNACK

Comfort class passengers are given gourmet sandwiches and a drink of their choice as inflight snacks. Our flight had two sandwich options: Chicken Waldorf Sandwich or Crunchy Salmon Sandwich. I chose the chicken option and enjoyed the fresh and tasty treat. I also had apple juice as my beverage.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Philippine Airlines’ Airbus A321ceo aircraft do not feature in-seat entertainment screens. The airline offers a wireless entertainment system accessible via passengers’ mobile devices through the aircraft’s wireless connection.

I do not know if this wireless entertainment system was available on this domestic flight. I didn’t bother to check, given the short duration of the flight.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Philippine Airlines does not offer inflight Wi-Fi services on its domestic flights.

LAVATORY

I did not have the chance to visit the lavatory on this flight to Cebu.

Cabin Crew Encounters

I had limited interactions with the cabin crew on this flight, but I found the service to be warm and hospitable. The crew served the snack with her warmest smile.

I saw the cabin crew helping the elderly lady in seat 21C from the time she boarded the plane, during meal service, and upon disembarkation.

Disembarkation

The plane touched down at Mactan-Cebu International Airport at 1:34 p.m. and headed straight to Terminal 1, Gate 10, for disembarkation. Business class passengers got off the plane first. Comfort class passengers followed, while regular economy passengers left the plane last.

Passengers with connecting flights were escorted through transit security and made their way to the domestic pre-departure area. Those arriving in Cebu collected their luggage at carousel 5.

Flight Experience

It was a memorable domestic comfort class experience with Philippine Airlines. It was unexpected (due to the typhoon and bus cancellations), but I am glad I decided to give it a try to stick to my planned schedule.

Philippine Airlines’ domestic comfort class excels in the following areas. First, the ticket price was reasonable, considering it was booked 5 days before the intended flight date. It was even cheaper than the available direct flights to Legazpi. It also included perks that I have discussed above.

Second, the comfort class experience included dedicated airport check-in counters and domestic Mabuhay Lounge access. Third, the ticket also included business-class-like perks, such as priority boarding and priority luggage tagging.

Fourth, the onboard amenities included a pillow, a blanket, and a bottle of water for a domestic flight. Lastly, the onboard snack service included a gourmet sandwich and a drink of choice, which was very welcome for a short domestic hop to Cebu.

On the other hand, I noticed that the aircraft’s age is starting to show in the plane’s interiors. I believe it is time for Philippine Airlines to refit the cabins across its entire fleet. Also, I want to mention the cost of the plane ticket. While I mentioned above that it was reasonable, I believe it is still on the higher end of the price range. For someone who always flies on cheap economy tickets, the ticket price is still expensive – but worth it. 😉

I enjoyed my first-ever domestic comfort class experience with Philippine Airlines. Will I try it again? Maybe yes, maybe no. It will always depend on the circumstances. I am keen on trying their retrofitted widebody business class product on the Airbus A330.

Here is a summary of our flight and the aircraft used for this flight from Manila to Mactan, Cebu:

Airline: Philippines Airlines
Flight Date: 29 October 2024
Flight Number: PR 2853
Route: Manila, Philippines (MNL) to Cebu, Philippines (CEB)
Duration: 57 minutes
Seat Number: Seat 21A
Aircraft: Airbus A321-200
Aircraft Registration: RP-C9924
Engines: 2 x International Aero Engines V2500
Age: 9.4-years-old
Delivered: June 2015

Thank you for joining me in this flight report. Have you flown Philippine Airlines in their Domestic Comfort Class? How was your experience? Will you fly with them again in that class? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Post your questions in the comments section below, or send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you can check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines and other airlines like Emirates, EVA Air, Air France, Vietnam Airlines, and Cebu Pacific Air. 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 Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Flight Report: PHILIPPINE AIRLINES PR 2920 – Daraga (DRP formerly Legazpi LGP) to Manila – Last-Minute Mabuhay Miles Redemption Ticket to the Metro [December 2022]

Hey, long time no post! Not many of you know, but I recently finished a 24-day trip around Paris, Italy & Barcelona. Unfortunately, I haven’t had time to start writing about the trip. I’ve been busy with Christmas festivities & reunions since I arrived back from Europe. Don’t worry, I will start writing about them in the next few weeks.

For today, I want to share with you my recent experience with Philippine Airlines on their PR 2920 flight from Daraga, Albay (DRP – formerly LGP Legazpi) to Manila (MNL). This flight was unique because it happened during the 1st day of using the new 3-letter DRP airport designator code & it was booked using Mabuhay Miles – Philippine Airlines’ loyalty program. Join me in today’s flight report & find out how this flight went.

Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines, commonly known as PAL, is the Philippines’ flag carrier. The airline started operations back in 1941 & is currently the region’s oldest commercial airline. Majority of the stake in PAL is owned by PAL Holdings under Dr. Lucio Tan – also the owner of one of the country’s biggest conglomerates – LT Group. World-famous ANA Holdings, the parent company of All Nippon Airways, also owns a minor stake in the airline.

Philippine Airlines operates around 60 Airbus, Bombardier & Boeing aircraft to over 40 international & 31 domestic routes. Its hubs are located in Manila, Cebu, Davao, Clark & Kalibo. PAL is the country’s biggest full-service airline offering premium experience to its passengers. They offer business class, premium economy & economy class to most of its routes.

PAL is not a member of any airline alliance but has code-share flights with major carriers such as All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines, Gulf Air & many more. PAL also has its own frequent flyer program called Mabuhay Miles. PAL is also the only Philippine-based carrier to receive a 4-star rating from world-renowned air transport rating organization Skytrax.

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

It’s not a secret that airfares are more expensive during the festive season. Many people take advantage of the Christmas holidays & go home to their respective hometowns. The demand for plane seats is higher than usual. I didn’t have a fixed schedule at that time, so I had no choice but to book the ticket last-minute. The one-way bare fares for both Philippine Airlines & Cebu Pacific Air at the time of booking were at around ₱4,000 to ₱5,000 without baggage. On the other hand, there were no available CEB Super Pass seats on my preferred flight.

I checked my Mabuhay Miles account & saw that I have enough miles to use for a one-way ticket to Manila. I immediately redeemed these miles using the airline’s portal & booked this PR 2920 flight from Daraga to Manila. I used 4,500 miles & only paid ₱870 for taxes & fees. The redeemed Mabuhay Miles ticket included 7-kilogram carry-on baggage, 20-kilogram check-in baggage allowance & a free standard (non-aisle & non-exit) seat.

I may have used up most of my Mabuhay Miles, but I believe I got a good deal with this ticket. I booked it 9 days before the intended flight date during a peak travel period. I was also happy that the ticket included a free check-in baggage allowance. This ticket was definitely a steal!

Travel Requirements

There are no COVID-19 related travel requirements between Albay & Metro Manila. These requirements were abolished a few months ago. The process & requirements are back to the old times where passengers were only asked to bring a valid ID during counter check-in & sometimes, boarding.

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.

Before The Flight

2 days before the flight, I received an e-mail from Philippine Airlines that Bicol International Airport’s designator code will be changed from LGP to DRP effective December 15, 2022. This e-mail required passengers to accept the said changes. Unfortunately, it resulted in an error on the Philippine Airlines website. Minutes after the initial e-mail, I also received an email from the airline containing the official announcement of changing the airport designator code to DRP. I immediately called the airline & had my ticket sorted.

24 hours before the flight, I received another airline from Philippine Airlines informing me that online check-in was already available for my flight. I checked in right away for my flight. The new Philippine Airlines mobile application displayed my mobile boarding pass & the flight details on the homepage.

Flight Information

This Daraga (DRP) to Manila (MNL) flight was operated by a 15.2-year-old Airbus A320-214 aircraft. The plane was initially delivered to Philippine Airlines in November 2007. The plane was initially configured with 12 business class seats & 144 economy class seats but was reconfigured to 180 all economy class seats in May 2022.

PR 2920 took off from Bicol International Airport 22 minutes behind schedule at 5:17pm. The flight took 50 minutes & landed smoothly at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 6:07pm. The flight landed 12 minutes behind schedule.

Ground & Airport Experience

CHECK-IN

I arrived at Bicol International Airport 2 hours & 45 minutes before the flight & I was surprised to see the check-in counters open that early. I went to the counters to drop my luggage & get my paper boarding pass. Check-in process took less than a minute – no queues, no whatsoever.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, I went up to the pre-departure area & waited for the flight. Bicol International Airport’s pre-departure area has more food & pasalubong store choices now compared to when it opened back in October 2021. There’s a dedicated laptop area for those who need to do some work while waiting for their respective flights. There are charging stations on both sides – provided by Smart & Philippine Airlines; there are a lot of seats to choose from.

The Philippine Airlines ground staff informed passengers of the expected aircraft arrival time after it departed Manila. The plane touched down at 4:25pm.

BOARDING

Boarding process started at 4:42pm. Priority passengers, senior citizens & those travelling with kids boarded the plane first. Regular passengers followed. Everyone boarded the plane using the jet bridge & only through the front door. The boarding process finished at 5:07pm.

Please note that face masks are mandatory on all flights within the Philippines. The ground staff announced this during the boarding process.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Philippine Airlines Airbus A320 aircraft has 180 seats in an all-economy class cabin configuration. Each row has 6 seats divided into 2 by an aisle. According to SeatGuru, all seats on this Airbus A320 aircraft have a seat width of 19.7 inches. Economy plus seats have a seat pitch / legroom of 34 inches, while standard economy seats have a legroom of 29-30 inches.

Each seat features a tray table, a small pocket with the aircraft safety card, individual air vents & reading lights. The seats don’t feature personal entertainment screens because this type of aircraft is only used in domestic short haul services.

I got window seat 54K for this flight. The seat had a decent recline & a clean tray table. The seatbelt needs to be replaced since it’s already worn out. In fact, most of the seats on this flight are already worn out. These are still functional but would need some refit soon.

INFLIGHT SNACK

After take-off, the crew went around & gave out a pack of green peas & dried mangoes with a cup of water. Philippine Airlines is the only domestic major carrier that offers complimentary snacks on board. Better than nothing.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Philippine Airlines did not offer inflight entertainment options for this flight & aircraft. The flight only took 50 minutes & this additional feature isn’t essential.

LAVATORY

I didn’t get the chance to visit the lavatory on this Airbus A320 aircraft. The 3 lavatories were occupied throughout the flight. Some even queued for a few minutes just to use the lavatory.

Cabin Crew Service

Philippine Airlines brands their service as the ‘Heart of the Filipino.’ The cabin crew on this Legazpi to Manila flight embodied that way of service & gave their best in catering to the needs of the passengers. They welcomed all passengers with their best smiles & helped in putting passengers’ bags in the overhead compartment. They gave passengers the best possible service they could provide. Kudos!

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

The cabin crew implemented an organized disembarkation process for this flight. They called 5 rows at a time & asked passengers seated on these rows to stand up, get their bags & disembark. All passengers followed & got off the plane in an orderly manner.

Baggage claims didn’t take long. Our check-in bags were already at Carousel 4 a few minutes after we arrived at the baggage claim area.

Final Thoughts

It was another excellent flight with Philippine Airlines. The positive points outweighed the negative points by a mile.

Let’s start with the positive points. First is miles redemption & value for money. This flight only cost 4,500 Mabuhay Miles & ₱870 worth of taxes & fees. This was a steal considering the redemption ticket was booked 9 days before the intended flight date & during peak travel season. The original flights were priced at 4.5x the fare I paid above. Second, the redemption ticket already included 20 kilograms of check-in baggage allowance. This allowance could easily cost ₱500 if you booked the regular ticket. Third, the check-in counters opened earlier than the usual 2 hours before the flight schedule. This made the check-in process easier & faster as the ground staff didn’t have to deal with a lot of passengers at a time.

Fourth, Philippine Airlines still gives out complimentary snacks on a short domestic hop like this from Daraga to Manila. I flew with Singapore Airlines on their Singapore to Kuala Lumpur & Kuala Lumpur to Singapore routes & I was only given a drink of choice – no nuts, crackers or whatsoever. Props to PAL for keeping the onboard service. Fifth, it’s been a while since I experienced an orderly disembarkation process on a plane. The crew on this flight managed to ask all passengers to follow the disembarkation process they organized. Lastly, the cabin crew on this flight was excellent. Their quality of service was top-notch – indeed the Heart of the Filipino.

This flight wasn’t perfect. The flight left Bicol International Airport 22 minutes behind schedule & landed 12 minutes after the intended schedule. These delays are inevitable in a congested airport like Ninoy Aquino International Airport, but it still somewhat affected the whole flight experience. Second & finally, the seats on this Airbus A320 aircraft need some refit. The seatbelts are already worn out & could use some replacement.

Will I fly them again in the future? Definitely – it’s a no-brainer. I hope I can also fly their international sector in the future.

For those interested in the nerdy details of this flight, see below:

Airline: Philippine Airlines
Flight Date: 15 December 2022
Flight Number: PR 2920
Route: Daraga, Albay (DRP) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Duration: 50 minutes
Seat Number: 54K
Aircraft: Airbus A320-214
Aircraft Registration: RP-C8610
Engines: 2 x CFM International Engines
Age: 15.2 years old
Delivered: November 2007

Have you flown with Philippine Airlines recently? How was your experience with the country’s flag carrier? Feel free to share your personal experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about flying Philippine Airlines? You may post them below or you may send an e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s flight report. Stay tuned for the next one coming in shortly. I also have a few flights lined up in the coming weeks & months. Before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: PHILIPPINE AIRLINES PR 2919 – Manila to Legazpi – From a Crowded Terminal 2 Experience to a Delayed Flight Back to Albay

After spending a few days around the metro, it’s time for me to go home. Just a few days ago, I took another flight with Philippine Airlines. This flight flew me from Manila back home to Albay. Join me in today’s flight report as I share with you this unexpected PAL experience, from a crowded NAIA Terminal 2 experience to a delayed flight back to Legazpi.

In case you missed it, I shared with you my first ever Philippine Airlines flight in 3 years from Legazpi to Manila in my previous blog post. Head over to this link to know more about that excellent flight.

Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines, commonly known as PAL, is the Philippines’ flag carrier. The airline started operations back in 1941 & is currently the region’s oldest commercial airline. Majority of the stake in PAL is owned by PAL Holdings under Dr. Lucio Tan – also the owner of one of the country’s biggest conglomerates – LT Group. World-famous ANA Holdings, the parent company of All Nippon Airways, also owns a minor stake in the airline.

Philippine Airlines flies to over 70 domestic & international destinations utilizing their wide range of Airbus, Boeing & Bombardier aircraft. They operate from their main hubs in Manila, Clark, Cebu, Davao & Kalibo. PAL is the country’s only full-service carrier & the only local carrier that flies directly to the United States & Canada. They offer both regular & premium cabins on most of their flights. Most flight, whether domestic or international, operate under 3 classes – business, premium economy & economy. Flights using their small propeller aircraft operate with an all-economy configuration.

PAL is not a member of any worldwide airline alliance. The airline has code-sharing agreements with some of the world’s biggest airlines like Cathay Pacific, Gulf Air, Turkish Airlines, All Nippon Airways & a lot more. The airline also has its own frequent flyer program called Mabuhay Miles. PAL is the only local carrier that has received a 4-star rating from the world-renowned airline rating agency, Skytrax.

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

As mentioned in my Legazpi to Manila flight report, I got my tickets for this flight from a third-party agency called Traveloka. The website offered the tickets for a discounted rate of ₱2,277.62 return including a 10% discount. The ticket only included a 7-kilogram carry-on baggage.

I called the Philippine Airlines hotline days before my flight to add baggage to both sectors. I paid an additional ₱800 for a 10-kilogram check-in baggage allowance per way. Prepaid baggage rates can be cheaper if you book it together with the ticket (which Traveloka didn’t offer that time) or at least over 15 days before the intended flight date. You may check the updated rates from this page.

All-in-all, I paid ₱3,077.62 for this round-trip ticket with a 10-kilogram baggage allowance per sector. I still got a good deal considering this ticket was booked a week before the intended flight dates. The airline priced the same flights double to almost triple in their own booking portal. Thank God for websites like Traveloka – well recommended!

Travel Requirements

Albay has eased the travel requirements for fully-vaccinated passengers since November 2021. Testing requirements have been removed; only vaccination cards & valid identification cards are required for inbound passengers.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated passengers (including children) need to present a valid identification card & a negative antigen test result from a Department of Health-accredited laboratory. The test must be conducted within 48 hours of the intended flight schedule.

Disclaimer: The reviewer is a fully-vaccinated passenger. The reviewer complied with all the necessary rules & requirements imposed by the destination. Please note that requirements can change anytime. For the updated travel rules & requirements, please check out Philippine Airlines’ Travel Rules & Requirements page.

Before The Flight

Philippine Airlines makes sure that their passengers are informed of the travel requirements for the flight. The airline sent a text message to my registered mobile number to remind me of the requirements plus the possible options in case I intend not to push through with the flight.

The airline also sent an e-mail days before the flight asking me if I wanted to try myPAL Upgrade & bid for a premium economy seat for this flight. I wasn’t traveling long haul so I ignored this upgrade offer by PAL; I don’t think it’s worth it for such a short flight.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed how airlines operate their flights. Airlines now make sure that passengers are aware of the updated requirements. I appreciate this text brigade move by PAL days before the passenger’s flight.

Flight Information

Like my Legazpi to Manila PAL flight, this Manila to Legazpi PAL flight was operated by a 4.4-year-old Bombardier Q400 or De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400 Next Generation aircraft. The plane’s registration number is RP-C5906. The plane has 86 seats on a 2-2 configuration. It has 6 economy-plus or extra legroom seats & 80 regular economy seats. The flight got delayed by a few hours due to the Cebu Pacific Air runway accident earlier that day & the late turnaround aircraft from Siargao. The flight left Manila station at 5:55pm & arrived Bicol International Airport at 6:43pm. This flight turned into a sunset-flight & took less than 50 minutes. The flight arrived 2 hours & 23 minutes behind schedule.

Airport & Ground Experience

As of writing, Philippine Airlines currently operates all their domestic flights from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.

CHECK-IN

Philippine Airlines sorted their check-in counters per cabin class. Passengers flying business class & premium economy class have check-in counters dedicated for them. Economy-class passengers had 2 sets of check-in counters, one beside the premium check-in counters & the other in the far-left part of the terminal.

Premium Economy & Business Class counters were empty when I checked in for my Legazpi flight.

I chose the economy class check-in counters near the premium check-in counters & lined up for check-in. It took me about 10-15 minutes to finish the whole process. The ground staff at the check-in counters were friendly & accommodating but were unaware of the runway accident that happened earlier. The lady advised that flights are happening as scheduled & that they haven’t been informed of any possible delays.

PRE-DEPARTURE AREA

After check-in, I went through final security & headed to the assigned boarding gate. Oh boy, Terminal 2’s pre-departure area was packed & chaotic. I’ve never seen Terminal 2 this crowded. All seats at the boarding gates & in the restaurants were taken. Social distancing was not observed. I found out that there were a few Cebu Pacific Air repatriation flights that were scheduled to fly out of Terminal 2 that same day.

I found a seat near Bus Gate 12B & decided to stay put for about an hour. The PAL ground staff announced that our flight will be delayed for an hour due to the late turnaround of aircraft from Siargao. The new departure time was scheduled for 4:00 pm. All the delays that day resulted from the Cebgo runway accident that happened earlier that day.

BOARDING

Fast-forward to 4:21pm, the PAL ground staff announced boarding for this flight to Legazpi. Passengers lined up outside Gate 12B & headed to the pre-departure lounge on the ground floor. We all took a bus to the aircraft & boarded the plane from the front door. The orderly boarding process finished after 20 minutes. The plane was pushed back at exactly 5:01pm. The plane didn’t depart until 5:55pm. Off we go to Legazpi!

Inflight Product

SEAT

The economy class seat on this Philippine Airlines Q400 aircraft is exactly identical to the plane I took from Legazpi to Manila a few days earlier. The plane has 86 seats in a 2 x 2 configuration. Each row has 2 window & 2 aisle seats. There are 6 economy-plus (extra legroom) seats & 80 regular economy seats.

Each seat features 29 inches of seat pitch & 16.92 inches of seat width. Every seat has a tray table, small seat pocket with the aircraft safety card, individual air vent & reading light. The seat also features a decent recline, which the competitor doesn’t offer. Inflight magazines are still missing. The plane also features spacious overhead compartments.

I got seat 21B (aisle seat) for this short flight. The seat pitch was great; it was very comfortable for such a short hop to Legazpi.

INFLIGHT SNACK

Philippine Airlines continued to serve inflight snacks even during the pandemic. Shortly after take-off, the cabin crew handed out Figaro chocolate oatmeal cookies & a 350-mL bottled water to every passenger. The snack service was finished in no time. A few minutes before landing, the crew went around to collect rubbish from the snack service.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Philippine Airlines Q400 aircraft doesn’t come with personal entertainment options & screens. Planes with personal entertainment screens are mostly available on their international routes.

LAVATORY

The aircraft’s lavatory was located in the front part of the cabin. I did not have the chance to visit the lavatory on this short flight.

Cabin Crew Service

Cabin crew service on this flight was neutral. They looked after every passenger’s welfare; they reminded everyone of the proper wearing of face masks. They served the snacks with their best smiles. At the same time, they ignored the passenger’s comfort & did nothing about the high cabin temperature before take-off. Majority of the passengers were sweating & were using the passenger safety cards to fan themselves. I advised the crew about it after the seatbelt sign was turned off, but I’m not sure if they addressed it afterwards.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

The cabin crew asked the passengers to disembark in an orderly manner. Those seated in the front part of the cabin disembarked first, followed by us seated in the back. The process went by fast & smooth. Baggage claim also took about 5 minutes from the time I stepped out of the plane.

All arriving passengers were asked to fill out & submit a passenger profile form before leaving the airport terminal.

Final Thoughts

I had a nice flight with Philippine Airlines on this Manila to Legazpi leg. It wasn’t as good as my Legazpi to Manila flight, but it was still okay.

The flight & airport terminal experience had some factors which the airline had no control over. These include the Cebgo runway accident that happened on the day of the flight, the delays brought about by this accident & the overcrowded Terminal 2 due to the delays & government repatriation flights.

The PAL domestic hard & soft product is still the best in the country. It still feels premium & still provides the best value for money. The hot & uncomfortable cabin temperature was the deal breaker for me. If only that hadn’t happened, I would still consider this an excellent flight even with the 2.5-hour delay.

Don’t get me wrong; I will still fly with Philippine Airlines in the future. I look forward to trying their other domestic routes & hopefully some of their international legs.

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

Airline: Philippine Airlines
Flight Date: 8 March 2022
Flight Number: PR 2919
Route: Manila (MNL) to Legazpi (LGP)
Duration: 48 minutes
Seat Number: 21B
Aircraft: Bombardier Q400 / De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400 NG
Aircraft Registration: RP-C5906
Aircraft Engine: 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A Engines
Age: 4.4 years
Delivered: November 2017

Have you recently flown Philippine Airlines? How was your experience with the country’s flag carrier? Share you thoughts & experiences in the comments section below. Do you have questions about coming into Legazpi or flying Philippine Airlines or PAL in general? Feel free to send an e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.

Thanks for joining me in today’s flight report. I have a few flights lined up in the coming weeks & months. Please stay tuned! Before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: PHILIPPINE AIRLINES PR 2922 – Legazpi to Manila – First PAL Flight in 3 Years

Last weekend, I had the chance to fly our country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, on it’s Legazpi to Manila service. I booked the tickets last minute & got this Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight cheaper than its major competitor Cebu Pacific Air. Join me in today’s flight report as I share with you my first ever PAL flight in 3 years – with the last one from Bacolod back in March 2019.

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 Philippine Airlines’ Travel Rules & Requirements page.

Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines is the Philippines flag carrier. The airline was founded in 1941 & is the oldest commercial airline in Asia. Majority of the airline’s stake is held by PAL Holdings owned by Dr. Lucio Tan – the same owner of LT Group, one of the Philippines’ largest conglomerates. ANA Holdings, the parent company of All Nippon Airways, owns a minority stake in Philippine Airlines.

Philippine Airlines operates around 60 Airbus, Bombardier & Boeing aircraft to over 40 international & 31 domestic routes. Its hubs are located in Manila, Cebu, Davao, Clark & Kalibo. PAL is the country’s biggest full-service airline offering premium experience to its passengers. They offer business class, premium economy & economy class to most of its routes.

PAL is not a member of any airline alliance but has code-share flights with major carriers such as All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines, Gulf Air & many more. PAL also has its own frequent flyer program called Mabuhay Miles. PAL is also the only Philippine-based carrier to receive a 4-star rating from world-renowned air transport rating organization Skytrax.

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

Ticket prices on both Philippine Airlines & Cebu Pacific Air websites have skyrocketed when I checked for flights. I managed to catch a rare return trip deal with a 3rd party company called Traveloka. The company offered a discounted fare for return tickets on the same airline. I got the ticket for ₱2,277.62 roundtrip including a 10% discount from Traveloka. Note that the ticket prices on the airline websites were double to almost triple compared to the price I paid.

The initial ticket only includes 7-kilogram carry-on baggage but does not include check-in baggage. I called the PAL hotline days before my flight & added 10-kilograms check-in baggage per way. It cost ₱800 return at ₱400 per way. Baggage fees can be cheaper if you book it during the initial ticket booking (which Traveloka didn’t offer for this flight) or more than 15 days before the intended flight.

The return ticket with 10-kilograms baggage per way cost me ₱3,077.62. The airline reflects it as ₱3,372.00 because it didn’t include the 10% discount I got from Traveloka. The all-in ticket price is ridiculously cheap considering it was booked a week before the intended flight & hey, it’s with Philippine Airlines.

Travel Requirements

Metro Manila has one of the laxest travel requirements in the country. The region only requires a valid identification card & a copy of vaccination card or vaccination certificate. Please note a specific local government unit may require additional documents from the arriving passenger. It’s best to always check with the LGU of your destination for the updated requirements.

Philippine Airlines makes sure that their passengers are informed of the latest travel requirements per destination. The airline frequently updates their website with the latest requirements & documents per destination. You may check out this page for more information.

Note: Legazpi Airport still requires all passengers to download the Traze mobile application for contact-tracing purposes.

Before The Flight

Airlines have their own ways of informing their passengers about the requirements for the flight. On my last flight with Cebu Pacific Air, they sent an e-mail with all the reminders days before the flight schedule. Philippine Airlines, on this flight, sent a text message to my registered mobile informing me about my confirmed itinerary, the updated travel rules & regulations & the options in case there are flight disruptions.

I appreciate this gesture to keep their passengers informed of everything about the flight. Kudos to Philippine Airlines!

Flight Information

This Legazpi to Manila PAL flight was operated by a 4.7-year-old Bombardier Q400 or De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400 Next Generation aircraft with registration RP-C5901. The plane has 86 seats on a 2-2 configuration. It has 6 economy-plus or extra legroom seats & 80 regular economy seats. The plane left Bicol International Airport at 7:46am & arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 8:32am. The flight took 46 minutes in the air & arrived 37 minutes ahead of schedule.

Airport & Ground Experience

This Philippine Airlines flight to Manila was the first flight that operated out of Bicol International Airport that day.

CHECK-IN

All passengers go through the initial security check & Traze application scanning before going to the check-in counters. All airline check-in counters are located on the ground level with Philippine Airline’s counters found in the right part of the building.

Check-in & bag drop took about 2 minutes. The ground staff asked for my identification & vaccination cards, printed my boarding pass & checked my check-in luggage. The PAL ground staff were nice & accommodating on an early Saturday morning.

BOARDING

After check-in, all passengers proceed to the 2nd floor where the final security check & pre-departure area is located. Bicol International Airport is relatively new so there isn’t a lot inside. Boarding commenced ahead of schedule. All passengers walked through the jet bridge & then walked out onto the tarmac to head to the aircraft. We all had a lovely view of Mayon Volcano during boarding.

Bye Bicol International Airport!

The flight crew checked every passenger’s boarding pass & disinfected everyone’s hands upon entering the plane. The whole boarding process took less than 20 minutes & was completed ahead of schedule.

The Mayon Volcano showed up during boarding! This is the view from the airport boarding gate.

Inflight Product

SEAT

Each seat has a small pocket & tray table
Individual air nozzles. Yay!

Philippine Airlines’ Q400 aircraft comes with 86 seats in a 2 x 2 configuration. Each row has 2 window & 2 aisle seats. Each seat features a seat pitch of 29 inches & a seat width of 16.92 inches. Each also features a tray table, individual air nozzle & reading light. The seat also features a decent recline, which the competitor doesn’t offer. The seat pocket in front of every passenger contains the aircraft safety card. Inflight magazines have been removed because of the pandemic; unsure if it will be back soon. The aircraft also features spacious overhead compartments – bigger than the local competitor’s overhead cabin.

Tried to open the tray table. It was spot clean! The crew made sure it was cleaned after the 1st leg.

I got window seat 11A for this flight. I was seated near the propeller so I experienced an extra neglectable noise during the flight. The legroom was alright for such a short flight.

Passenger Safety Card
Great legroom!

INFLIGHT SNACK

Shortly after take-off, the crew handed out snacks to all passengers. They gave out complimentary chocolate oatmeal cookies from Figaro & a 350mL bottled water. The crew finished the snack service in less than 10 minutes.

Free bottled water. Thanks PAL!
Complimentary cookies. Thanks PAL!

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Philippine Airlines Q400 aircraft doesn’t come with personal entertainment options & screens. Planes with personal entertainment screens are mostly available on their international routes.

LAVATORY

The aircraft’s lavatory was located in the front part of the cabin. I did not have the chance to visit the lavatory on this short flight.

Cabin Crew Service

Philippine Airlines brands their service as the ‘Heart of the Filipino.’ The cabin crew on this Legazpi to Manila flight embodied that way of service & gave their best in catering to the needs of the passengers. They welcomed all passengers with their best smiles, helped in putting passengers’ bags in the overhead compartment & constantly reminded the passengers of the safety protocols. The cabin crew service on this flight was top-notch, probably one of the best I’ve experienced on a domestic flight.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

This Legazpi to Manila PAL flight landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport & headed to Terminal 2 for disembarkation. Terminal 2’s structure does not cater to propeller planes thus requiring us to have a bus gate. Passengers left the aircraft in an unorderly manner (not by rows) & rode a bus to the airport arrivals area. Checked luggage arrived in less than 10 minutes – quite rare these days!

Final Thoughts

It was an excellent flight with Philippine Airlines; it was probably one of the best domestic legs I’ve had in a while.

Beautiful Q400 aircraft!
View from my seat during take off.

A few things made me happy with this flight. First, the aircraft & seat features were at par with industry standards. The cabin temperature was cool & comfortable. The crew kept the air conditioning on even before the engine started. Second, Philippine Airlines maintained their reputation of being the country’s sole full-service airline & offered snacks to all passengers during a pandemic. Third, the flight operated ahead of schedule. Lastly, the ground & cabin crew service made the flight extra special. I’ve felt & experienced PAL hospitality from the time I checked in for my flight up to when I disembarked from the plane.

This flight was my first PAL flight in 3 years & this won’t be the last. This flight with Philippine Airlines proved that they are still the country’s best airline in terms of service. They may not have the cheapest fares, but they still have the most premium service.

Curious about the technical details of this flight? Check them out below:

Airline: Philippine Airlines
Flight Date: 5 March 2022
Flight Number: PR 2922
Route: Legazpi (LGP) to Manila (MNL)
Duration: 46 minutes
Seat Number: 11A
Aircraft: Bombardier Q400 / De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400 NG
Aircraft Registration: RP-C5901
Aircraft Engine: 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A Engines
Age: 4.7 years
Delivered: July 2017

Have you flown with Philippine Airlines recently? How was your experience with the country’s flag carrier? 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.

Thanks for joining me in today’s flight report. Stay tuned for the next one coming in shortly. I also have a few flights lined up in the coming weeks & months. Before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flying 101: Introduction to PH Airline Taxes & Fees

Last time, I introduced a travel series called Flying 101. This series will take you through the basics of flying & everything around it. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced all of us to stay home up to the point that I’ve ran out of trips to share with you. Previously, I discussed the what are low-cost & full-service carriers, their similarities & differences. In case you missed it, head over to this post to read the comparison.

Today’s Flying 101 series topic is about Philippine airline taxes & fees. We are all aware of the ₱1 fare often offered by Cebu Pacific Air on selected occasions or Philippines Air Asia’s ₱0 (or free) base fare offered during their Red-Hot Seat Sales but we don’t only pay ₱1 or ₱0 for these tickets. We pay more because of the taxes & fees imposed by the government & the airline.

I got curious about these charges & fees & what they are for so I reached out to the Twitter customer service teams (thank you so much) of the country’s biggest airlines – Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air & Philippines Air Asia. I got answers from all 3, compiled them below & thought of sharing them to all of you.

Base Fare

It is the fare imposed by the airline before adding taxes & charges. This fare is entirely controlled by the airline. Promotions offered by airlines depend on how much base fare they offer to the market. Cebu Pacific Air’s piso fare tickets have ₱1 base fare. Air Asia’s Red-Hot Sale offers base fares for as low as ₱0 & Philippine Air Lines’ seat sale offer their base fare for as low as ₱99 from Cebu & Clark hubs.

This 2019 ticket to Bacolod had a base fare of ₱1299.00 per way & a value added tax of ₱353.00 🙂
Value-Added Tax (VAT)

Value-added tax is a consumption tax imposed by the Philippine government for any sale of goods & services in the country. Every single item you buy or service you avail from any shop or establishment has value-added tax in it. The country’s current VAT rate is at 12%.

Passenger Service Charge (PSC)

The passenger service charge, commonly known as the terminal fee, is an airport tax paid by every passenger using the airport facilities. From memory, domestic terminal fees cost ₱50 to ₱200 per way while international terminal fees cost ₱550. These terminal fees were paid separately in the provincial & regional airports a few years back. Recently, the airport authorities asked the airlines to include this terminal fee in the tickets upon booking to avoid long queues & passenger inconveniences.

Here’s a sample of PAL’s domestic ticket fees – terminal fees were charged at ₱200 per way.
Aviation Security Fee

The aviation security fee (₱15) is a small tax imposed by the authorities for the proper implementation of the airports’ security measures.

Ticketing Fee / Website Fee / Administrative Charge

Airlines have different terminologies for this charge or fee but it only pertains to the booking fee or the online convenience fee. Booking fees vary from one airline to the other & are charged either per way or per ticket. Note that Philippine Airlines’ booking fees are not refundable. Cebu Pacific Air & Philippines Air Asia’s booking fees are refundable for cancelled flights.

Cebu Pacific Air charged me ₱15 for the aviation security fee & ₱560 for the administrative or booking fee. This is a domestic return ticket booked a few months ago for Christmas holidays.
Philippine Travel Tax

Philippine travel tax is a tax imposed by the government through Presidential Decree 1183 to all Filipino citizens leaving the country for leisure purposes. This tax is required regardless of where the ticket was issued or how was it paid. The travel tax costs ₱1,620 for economy class passengers & ₱2,700 for business class passengers. Selected government & private officials, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) & infants (up to 2 years old) are exempted from paying this tax when leaving the country.

Here’s the updated travel tax rates as per the TIEZA website – all tourists are required to pay this.
Fuel Surcharge

Fuel surcharge is a tax levied by the airlines to the passengers to help them bear the increasing costs of fuel. This surcharge varies from one destination to the other. It is determined by the airline & is regulated by the authorities. Some airlines, particularly the low-cost carriers, do not impose fuel surcharge specially when fuel costs are low.

An example of a return Cebu Pacific Air ticket to Osaka booked last April. It still has fuel surcharge of ₱770. The airline already removed this charge for new bookings as of last May 2020. ✈️

Please take note that airlines may have other imposed (& approved) taxes & fees to the passengers. The taxes & fees above also do not include any charges made by foreign airports & entities for international flights to local airports.

That’s it – now you know what are the airlines & the airport authorities are charging on top of our piso fares or free seats. Do you have any questions or clarifications about the taxes & charges mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkdntravel.com & you’ll get an answer from me.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Flying 101 topic. I hope you learned something new. See you in the next one & stay safe!