@@nolanono2532 Not trying to spam here, but I started a channel, where an integral part of the channel is doing a whole segment about my experience at the airport before the flight :)
This is by far, the most comprehensive trip report/flight review that I've ever watched about PR. Even the "little things" like the manufacturer of seats, inspiration for the carpet design, etc., were mentioned! Thanks for giving our flag carrier a wonderful review! PR is really trying their best to elevate their service, and I'm glad that you're able to experience that. Salamat po!
The security overkill for the NY flight is necessary to keep the Category 1 rating of the Philippines with the US FAA. PAL has several direct flights to the US which would be compromised if NAIA is demoted again to Category 2. ASEAN countries demoted by the US to Category 2 include Thailand and Malaysia. Both countries cannot offer direct flights to the US.
No lie. Leaving Manila for Guam you can’t believe what you go through. Practically a strip search. I wear flip flops in the tropics. I felt sorry for the ones wearing tennis shoes and such, as I saw them pulling out the pads and bottoms. I personally had to remove my belt and roll down the top of my shorts so they could make sure I didn’t have nothing hiding under the belt loops.
@@calj01 The security check for US bound flights was already overkill in the 90s. The multiple checks were so tiring that by the time you were seated on the plane, and the pilot would offer compensation for volunteers to give up their seats as the flight was overbooked, no one would raise their hands! As for the scrutiny of shoes, some passengers have already been caught hiding small quantities of drugs in the soles of rubber shoes with thick soles.
So you think it makes better sense to fly to the US through other asian cities (SIN, HKG, NRT/HND, TPE, ICN), instead of direct from MNL? It's usually more fun doing so given the layover can be an opportunity for more vacation adventure before going home to SFO.
@@zanderhicks4717 I think you should fly with an airline that treats you well and whose airport hub doesn't stress you out while waiting for your connecting flight. Even better is an airline who won't charge for a stopover in their home country.
Manila international airport was once considered the "gateway to south east asia" as 747s used to fly directly from the US, the closest South East Asian country in the Pacfic was the Philippines. With the new airport with a potential to be an international hub, I do hope the Philippines can regain this title again.
There is two upcoming airports in the future that will change Philippines air traffic: NMIA / ( New Manila International Airport ) and Sangley International Airport
@@percivalpadilla8390 Blind nationalism is a common cause of historical atrocities. You can be proud of your country, but that doesn't mean you should overlook the negative parts of your country. They're not mutually exclusive.
@@percivalpadilla8390That… doesn’t make sense. Are you saying just because you recognize something is terrible you have to be fake and proclaim how great it is? This is basically nationalistic ignorance.
@@percivalpadilla8390 I don't recall our airport being a representation of the whole Philippines or are you just twisting their words to make a nonintelligent comment?
@@percivalpadilla8390 lmao... the Philippines is great but its a widely known and accepted fact that NAIA sucks... in fact, metro manila had also sucked so bad due to congestion and being outdated. Unless metro manila changes like BGC, then thats good. But congestion will always be a number 1 problem. there has always been a need to decentralize manila, thats why people are fighting to move to federalism. Mabuti pa ang Indonesia, alam nila problema nila sa jakarta, kaya in a few years, ililipat nila capital nila sa bagong modernized city na ginagawa nila (Indonesia has done better, they recognize their problems in Jakarta, thats why in a few years, theyll be moving their capital into a new modernized city that is currently under construction) Eh ang pinas? NGA NGA! lahat ng pera ng bayan puro sa improvement ng metro manila! (how bout the Philippines? DUMBFOUNDED! All of the citizens taxes are used for metro manila's improvement!) Cebu Intl Airport is better than NAIA by atleast 3folds... Clark International Airport is also solid contender. NAIA sucks. PERIOD
I am very impressed how they look after their connecting international passengers, especially when there are delays. Many airlines used to do this a long time ago, but have cut right back these days. It is so refreshing to see Philippine Airlines put service back into customer service. The meals on the flight looked really great. I hope that I get the chance to fly with them someday.
Hi, Simply Aviation. We deeply appreciate your kind words of appreciation. Your acknowledgement truly uplifts our spirits. We understand that unforeseen circumstances, including flight disruptions, can significantly disrupt both our schedules and our passengers' travel plans. We empathize with any inconveniences that our valued passengers may encounter as a result. Rest assured, we are fully committed to going the extra mile in order to minimize the impact and discomfort they may feel during such situations. Your valuable feedback, as highlighted in your video, has been duly noted and taken into serious consideration. We genuinely believe that such insights will be instrumental in enhancing our services further. We are continuously striving to improve and provide an unparalleled travel experience for each and every passenger we have the privilege to serve. Once again, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your kind appreciation and assure you that we are dedicated to making every effort to exceed our passengers' expectations. Should you have any further suggestions or concerns, please do not hesitate to share them with us. We are here to listen and serve you better.
When I flew PAL years ago, I was met with stern reception for asking water. I drank normal amount of water. Cathay made several water passes as well as had these ready in the back. I hope it’s no longer like this.
Last flight to Angeles (4 months ago) i did not like that no water allowed after security check completed. I am supposed to drink lots of water (as a diabetic) but ended up being dehydrated due to unreasonable no water allowed to bring on board. The little amount of water given during the flight not enough for me. I have not encountered this situation with other airlines.
Effective June 16 all PAL international flights will now be at Terminal 1. Maybe this would improve further passenger experience. Terminal 2 will be dedicated for domestic flights only.
@@Normalaatsra I'm not providing any suggestion. I'm just saying that MGE is the only taxi company trusted by most people there. And for someone who need quick get in and out of the city for a day or two. Taxi is the way to go.
i took this flight together with my wife and kids before the pandemic, that was by far the longest flight to date ive been and its a wonderful experience. The crew and plane is superb, ive been in other airlines travelling to europe but by far that flight PR216 manila-jfk was and still the best. I am proud to be a Filipino.
It’s true that Philippines Airline , they handle really well when it’s come to cancel flight or over booking flight. Many years ago my flight got overbooked and they give me accommodation plus complementary round trip ticket!
I'm from the Philippines, but live in Singapore...I totally agree with you...NAIA is the worst airport I've been to...but I always have a good customer service experience with PAL.
Today, they no longer have security checks before entering the terminal building. So that's 1 less xray check for passengers. Also, that extra security check at the gate, right before entering the plane, only happens for US bound flights. I think it is a TSA requirement.
If you're talking about the x-ray machine and metal detectors as you enter the terminal, they are still there, or were there last week when I was in Manila. The extra check before boarding is also done on Australian bound flights.
Yes the extra security check is a TSA requirement. They have no choice but to implement it. Also the no outside liquid rule is a TSA requirement. The policy is "outside liquid" are not allowed, you can have liquid or water from inside the airport (which has undergone stringent inspection). Why this rule? Because some chemical liquids used in bombs like nitroglycerin are indistinguishable from regular water at a glance.
Absolutely agree! My 13 trips to the Philippines have been many times on PAL, and I’ve always been super impressed with all aspects of the flight…timing, food, service, accommodations, all excellent….except…I’ve never received the toothbrush kit😂😂😂. The staff is always so helpful, and the pilots have handled common and excessive turbulence with amazing professionalism. I love flying PAL👍👍👍
usually, it's easier to just get a Grab (Southeast Asia's version of Uber or Lyft) when in the Philippines: prices are fixed, drivers are screened and are for the most part reliable, and you get to skip those pesky queues at the airport
Have heard complaints though of Grab drivers (@ least in my country, not sure if in the Phillippines too) lying on the app (maybe the app can be fooled by GPS-spoofing apps? I'm not a regular Grab rider so I'm unsure) that they've arrived @ their customer's destination before they actually have, so the time difference between these 2 can now be used to charge customers an extra "driver-waiting-for-passenger fee". Other drivers have reportedly failed to show up but refused to cancel the trip, but if the customer cancels instead there's a penalty fee I remember. On the flip side there was also an incident where a driver forgot to add a '0' when keying in 1 of his trip's fare in the app, so he earned only $2 instead of $20. I didn't know that the fare had to be keyed in manually though & thought Grab's app would auto-calculate it instead
@@lzh4950 I am not so sure about drivers keying in the fare but at least for Grab here in the PH, the fare is automatically calculated before you even book the ride and start the process of getting matched with a driver. That's the case, at least with Grab Car. I have not tried Grab Taxis though, so that might be the case where the drivers key in the fare manually.
Your experience of Philippine Airlines' handling of your cancellation reminds me of how Canada 3000 handled a cancellation of mine back in 2001. They had a hotel organised, transport, food laid on, communication (via a board in the lobby, as this was pre-smartphone). This was an unexpected cancellation too; the plane (an A310) struck birds on landing at Manchester, damaging the radome. The nearest spare part was in Germany (!), so a layover it was. Admittedly, the Forte Posthouse in Wythenshawe doesn't quite match the glamour of the Century Park in Manila, but it does highlight what a difference it makes when an airline actually supports passengers during a disruption.
Philippines Airlines direct flight to NYC - Manila and vice versa simply makes flying more tolerable. For the last 5 years, i have been flying this airlines every single year. Great video
Thank you for sharing your experience! Filipino here and I feel elated to hear your memorable experience with PAL😊 I flew with PAL with my sister from MNL>Haneda for only ₱25,000 for both of us! Completely unbelievable!! This was back in Autumn of 2019. It was my first international flight with Philippine Airlines and we were so delighted of the experience. Pero may plot twist. Doon kami nakaupo sa Emergency Exit HAHA! Tawa kami nang tawa, “Sis kaya pala nakuha natin ng mura tayo pala magbubukas neto😂” I loved this memory of ours. Superb customer service at nakakaproud siya promise, basta di ko maexplain. At masarap talaga ang food nila, I had Chicken Inasal wala nga lang extra rice HAHA!
You are absolutely spot on Manila as a hub because its geographical location can be awesome between SE Asia and North America if there is a stunning airport experience the likes of Changi or Haneda/NRT. That is the hope that the new international airport can bring to travelers in the near future.
I think also East Asia and South East Asia. At this time, you can go to Japan from SE Asia via transit in the Philippines (Cheaper than Direct Flight).
When travelling into/out of Singapore you can face contrasting fortunes depending on your mode of travel. Travelling by air means you're likely to go thru the world class Changi airport, but by coach (until recently), you're likely to end up @ the dilapidated Golden Mile Complex/Tower (since many coach companies have their offices there). Its near downtown but also has a reputation for sleaze, & just last year the false ceiling (mostly yellowed from oxidation) above its taxi stand collapsed. Train travellers meanwhile go via Woodlands Train Checkpoint (WTCP) that's even further from downtown than Changi Airport & getting to/from there requires a 50-min train ride & a connecting bus, but buses have sometimes reportedly skipped WTCP due to overcrowding there or @ the adjacent border crossing to Malaysia. A bad impression to leave to passengers who've just arrived in the country via WTCP
I had a similar experience at London Heathrow Airport. I was returning from Zurich to São Paulo, with a connection in London. It was with British Airways. The flight from London to São Paulo was delayed by more than 1 hour. We got on the plane and stayed inside for another hour and a half, waiting to take off. That's when the pilot said he had a technical problem with the plane's wing and that the flight would only take off the next day. The crew ordered everyone down. We had to go through immigration and were given vouchers to eat at the airport restaurants. We were sent to a hotel, where we stayed one night. The next day, we managed to take off and head home.
I love my flight from LAX to MNL on PAL for 15 hrs. I had a terrible experience on Delta so never again, hopefully I can get on Emirates to Manila in November and make a stop in Dubai. Great review and on spot. Thank you.
Thank you for this honest review. You’re right, they did handle the cancellation the best they could. They have massively improved their soft products and to some extent their hard product as well but yes the airport situation does hamper their progress. By June of this year the government is forcing them to move all their international flights to terminal 1 and turning terminal 2 into a full domestic terminal which was the original design for this terminal. And yes they need that new airport yesterday but we’ll have to wait a few more years for it.
the plane itself is not the best in the world but those Philippine pilots are the best for landing the plane, not sure if you pay attention to it but those 2 landings you have looks so smooth.
Don't forget as well despite PAL's shortcomings, one of their best known traits is their smooth landings. I've rarely had a PAL flight where the landings were rough.
@@via1968 Filipino aviation culture is very toxic which is unsafe. Why? Because in Filipino aviation industry, pilots need to address their senior pilots as sir or ma'am while in other countries, particularly Western countries, captains and senior pilots are uncomfortable with that, they prefer their first officers or lower ranking pilots to call them by their first names. In Philippine airline culture, FOs need to prepare the documents as respect for their captains before they fly which is actually toxic. In other countries, the documents are prepared by the person who arrived in the briefing room first regardless of pilot rank and seniority, and my pilot friends say that they prefer flying with Westerners than with Filipinos because Westerners are a lot more chill. They're too authoritative which is unsafe.
@@fionajarnefeldt1024 there is one probable factor to that: a lot of the senior pilots came from the Air Force before becoming commercial pilots. They brought their military training and hierarchies with them.
Those meals on both flights looked and sounded amazing, that safety video too, awesome. I wanted to try them out for my upcoming solo trip to Japan because they offered a bargain deal. My parents encouraged me not to, so I went with ZIPAIR instead (looking forward to that video btw 😊). I should show them this video, because with the challenges they face, PAL seems to do a good job. They just posted a $72m profit for 2022, are reactivating the entire fleet and eyeing a new A350 order. I’d say they are out of the mud, but they still have some way to go. If you’re a Filipino, I hope you have some pride for PAL.
southeast asia needs to be connected to southeast us their is a decent filipino poulation in florida and georgia i hope they can activate atlanta flights in the future miami maybe but they dont have the range for miami im filipino american and im tired of flying korean air to get to manila
We are proud of PAL, but we aren't proud of NAIA. Just its name alone, Ninoy Aquino, is very shameful for us Filipinos. We can't wait for the New Manila International Airport to be finished so we can ditch NAIA for good. 😂
Hats off to Philippine Airlines for looking after you re the over night stay with meals included,awesome service.,great to see Pilippine Airines have really up their game now it can only be a win win thing!.✈👍
Fun fact: Century Park Hotel and PAL are owned by the same person, so it made sense to book the passengers there. Even then, how the airline handled that cancellation was amazing! Also, locals used to call PAL as 'Plane Always Late' especially when they had the monopoly in air travel in the country.
PAL allows passenger 2 luggages for check in,but holds the other luggage, upon arrival for whatever reason(?) I was guessing if those held luggages if not claimed are those items sold on line as mystery boxes(?) Aren’t they?
What's wrong with that? It is logical for them to use their own hotel to minimize expenses. Noone wants a canceled flight, by you or the airline. Are you saying they intentionally canceled the flight so tyhey can billet you to their hotel? have you thought of the trouble and additional expense the airline will have due to a canceled flight? They probably lost money in that flight.
I flew from SFO to MNL via business class and all was great. Arrival was 445 AM which made for a quick transition. For me PAL is only choice as I prefer non-stop flights if possible.
Airport capabilities is the sad part in pH aviation. PAL can definitely compete with other airlines, actually better than others up on air. But the pH airports restricts them to grow. Cant wait once the new airport will be operational
I loved how PAL handled the passengers when it’s delayed, at least they’re all got the compensation ❤ But yes I also agree with how chaotic terminal 2 is,,,small and less shops,,,, I was having bad experience last year,I hope it will be improved soon ❤
Not only are they building a new airport to help out with the overcrowding of NAIA they are going to build Sangley Point into an International Airport which will also help with spreading out everyone so that the airports will not be so overwhelmed with passengers. I think that Clark International Airport had a new terminal building added to it. Every little thing is helpful and I'm excited about the new airport as I watch videos showing the process of the land reclamation. When construction begins with the runways and the terminal building it will be really exciting. I was just in the Philippines and I had no problems with long lines or anything when we left. I believe that PAL is also located in Terminal One for departures. In time things will greatly improve for flights in the Philippines. I have been traveling to and from the Philippines for 10 years and I have not had too much trouble when arriving and departing from NAIA during those 10 years. There will always be problems occurring regardless what airport you are in. To me having a safe flight is the most important part of the trip.
@@brucehuddler7518 Sangley Point is taking forever because the environmental impact takes years to complete and that's what keeps it from being able to get started.
I recently experienced a cancelled flight with PAL leaving Guam and I had a terrible experience. They made us wait over 8 hours at the airport to later tell us to come back tomorrow morning to catch rhe next flight.
Dont worry sir, 2 new international airports are currently under construction. The one up north is 3x bigger than the current one and is connected via fast rail, and will have stops all over the metro and even beyond. It's also connected via overhead hiways that have off ramps in strategic location within the metro as well as stops in the under construction subway system. The one in the south is current under construction with a joint venture with a korean firm. The new airport will rise from the sea so dredging is currently underway. And once again, it will be connected via railway system. Also another option is the clark international airport 56kms north of manila. This airport has won international award as one of the best airport. A fast rail system is also under construction. The location where clark airport is located is also a destination in itself as it is being developed as a smart city. Already several world class casino resorts are open as well as duty free shopping. Travel time from clark to manila will be 40mins only via fast rail. Once all these new airports become operational, the current decrepit NAIA airport will be closed down and the entire space will be developed as a central business district
That is a good news for us and our country. NAIA should be closed as soon as the new Manila airport built in bulacan would be far out better, wider, and well planned airport. NAIA is congested, old, and no railway connected.
I few PAL on the LHR-MNL route 8 times in business class. Every flight was without fault and a fabulous experience. Sadly they no longer operate that route.
Had a similar cancellation when I flew home with them in 2017 to Toronto through Vancouver. Boarded and sat in the plane only for them to get everyone off due to mechanical problems. Not sure how true this was but I heard from other passengers that one of the engines had problems starting. Shuttle, hotel, dinner, and breakfast the next day. Yes the impatience wasn't the easiest to deal with, but highly appreciated that they took good care of the passengers rather than making us sleep in the airport or giving a voucher for pennies. Now that they have direct flights they're not the cheapest to fly with (I find EVA Air usually the one), but would love to fly with PAL again one day.
Fun Fact: The "Security checks" in the airports (yes, all Philippine airports do this) don't actually improve security. It's just a friendly FU to people. They are committed to ensuring you get the most inconvenience possible.
The first security check at Manila terminal entrances have been removed recently. There is only one security check left to get into the pre-departure area. However for US and Canada bound flights, I think there is still another security screening before boarding (to comply with North American requirements). This is an improvement.
I quite agree about T2 at NAIA...not a great terminal and way too small. Plus the transportation links at the airport are horrendous. I love the Philippines but I wish they would sort out a better solution! And of course you MUST have Jolibee when in Manila! :) Also...Canada flights have the same at gate checks but not the liquid rule...I flew Manila to Vancouver last year and experienced that.
They're now doing it. The New Manila Airport and Sangley Airport are under construction; both will have international flights and are strategically located to the north and south of the Metro. The New Manila Airport is massive; it can accommodate an initial capacity of 35 million passengers a year and 100 million upon full completion.
Important detail at Manila airport: when you take a taxi to the airport, be sure which terminal you have to be. And you have to pay a ( small) fee to use the air bridge ( mini toll way) through the cabbie.
From now you dont have to worry as Philippine Airlines domestic flights are solely operating from Terminal 2 and the Intl flights are in Terminal 1. Philippine Airlines is also purchasing A350-1000, I really hope you come back when that does come and make a review on it as it will also fly on north american countries
I have nothing but praise for Philippine Airlines. Back in 2004-ish I flew to the Philippines out of SFO twice. I was stunned at the amount of cargo that was loaded (I will not get into the custom and "customs" unless someone asks)...but these were the 747's. The food service was excellent! The flight crew was fantastic. These 747's had a billion miles on them, seat spacing was excellent in coach. Great people!
I was surprised as well that Philippine Airlines managed to do something to those passengers that were affected by the cancelled flight because when my father is going back to singapore from manila, the flight got delayed and moved the time for 7 hours or less and they only gave Mamon (a small fluffy sandwich) and a piece of bottle water. Hopefully, Philippine Airlines keep doing this and I also hoped for a new look of NAIA because I agreed to what you said.
As someone from the Ph but not from MNL I agree I hate having to go through NAIA when there are no other options. If you have the chance please try flying into the Philippines through Cebu! MCIA is beautiful!
The airport situation has been in the discussion stage since 2003, yes, as far back as 20 years ago. Imagine the frustration among us locals. Important thing is, the airport in Bulacan is already being built. Started in 2021? or 2022? I expect things to improve by 2027 or 2028. I know, thats 4-5 years away. If we were able to wait 18 years before the construction started, 5 years is not that long, right? 🤣😅
they're switching the terminals up now, terminal 2 will be converted to a domestic terminal for philippine airlines and airasia (hope they add more food stalls, because the choices in the departure gates are shit and expensive), more international airlines are to move to terminal 3, while terminal 4 will be for smaller/regional airlines so hopefully that will at least be effective in distributing the people. edit over a year later: terminal 1 just got even more chaotic now, terminal 2 would roughly be the same though it's purely a domestic terminal now, let's be fr terminal 3 has always been chaotic especially because cebu pacific operates all of their flights there, while terminal 4 is finally no longer an overcrowded warehouse since airasia has been moved to the bigger terminal 2 now. might consider flying out of clark when i finally get my driver's license but for now i will just avoid the peak hours in mnl.
As a Filipino I felt so embarrassed and I'm really sorry about your airport experience in Manila terminals which was very poor planned indeed. I hope you'll come back once the new Manila airport is done probably close to a decade lol right in my hometown which is in Bulacan province. Yes we got a crazy security prior to the airport which was unusual in most countries all over the world I guess. I have never been into a350 would love to someday :) keep uploading as you a great reviews I enjoyed it. So informative and very honest keep it up! Have a safe travels
It's considered big and modern during its time of creation, but NAIA has barely changed in 75 years. The utilitarian design is one of the results of Modernism, which is the popular architectural style at the time (1948). You'll see other old buildings that are designed similarly like the PAGCOR building (former Duty Free Philippines). I have so many childhood memories on those 2 buildings as a kid LOL.
Another fantastic video! It is sad to see that such a good airline like them are facing financial difficulties. Also, where are the Lufthansa planes with the Philippine airlines configuration flying? They arguably feature a better business class product compared to Lufthansa itself. Also, thank you very much for telling us about aeroLopa. They are a fantastic website and now I always use them to check seat maps.
They went through bankruptcy during the pandemic which forced them to reduce their fleet including returning 4 of their newly acquired a350s and that’s how Lufthansa ended up with them. Now PAL if I’m not mistaken are back in the black and made solid profits these past 2 quarters because of a reduced debt load and improved passenger and freight numbers.
No surprise they ended up in *bankruptcy* and they had to ditch 4 A350s. They didn't make any profit for *15 YEARS,* and they have even worse bigger contempt for passengers and poorer customer service than RYANAIR and British Airways these days! 😦
So glad they have newer planes in some areas.. using the LAX route we have been flying in older 777s that had multiple monitors not working but still great crews.
Hello. The first subway (full underground train) in Metro Manila is under construction and it will connect to the international airport. Finally, an airport train station! Filipinos have been wanting this one for decades. As the saying goes, "better late than never".
Loved this video and really enjoy your insights on the brutally honest series. I think I would gladly build in a 24 hour layover myself on a connecting flight through Manilla just to see the city.
The pandemic brought about many challenges to PAL which forced the company to sell the majority of the A350 fleet and that brought about more challenges with all the flight disruptions due to the limited aircrafts for rotation. Hope you fly with us again when the fleets gets its A350-1000 in 2025. Been flying MNL-JFK-MNL since 2019 and I'm glad you liked the Airline services despite in inconvenience of your cancelled flight.
I've always said that it's pointless judging a company based on when everything goes right. It's how the company handles issues when shit hits the fan - that's the important part, and that's what truly is going to distinguish between businesses that deserve your money and ones that don't.
I love taking straight flights to the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand via PAL, you can relax and don’t have to stop over, change planes or disrupt your sleep. You can drive feeling refreshed at your destination. 😊
Thank you for loving our country! We really appreciate your support, and for exploring Manila for 24 hrs. I know NAIA had some bad reviews, but theres a new Manila Airport currently under construction, so i hope once it opens, you can visit the airport and review it. Thank you David! :D
Hello there :) im glad that you liked the PAL in-flight service. :-) as a Filipino, i just felt ashamed about the NAIA Terminals. It has been a long long long time problem, and i hope that the new terminal will be far better than the old one.
I'm glad you had an awesome experience with my flag carrier! Was really looking forward for this video for a long time and I'm happy you finally did it. Hope to see you soon again with Philippine Airlines!
Thank you soo much yet again for a fantastic no bullshit no drama trip report ! The B777-300ER is my favourite aircraft and the KE plane looks amazing despite its age !
"NAIA is by all measures the worst airport I've ever been to." As a local, I avoid NAIA like a plague. If I could, I'd choose Clark International Airport 100% of the time. And the metered taxi DOES NOT EXIST IN MANILA. I have only been to Manila a few times using public transport and it was hell on earth. You HAVE to hire a relative to drive you around Manila or you'll get scammed to high heavens. Even locals criticises NAIA for their corrupt ways. The moment you said you'll land in Manila I was already praying for your sanity.
I've flown on many international airlines and I have my favorites. Philippine airlines is in my top 10. Actually top 5. Love their great passenger service. I always enjoy every flight. I used to get window seats but when the flight takes off Filipinos go to sleep right away and I hate stepping over sleeping people to stretch my legs and go to the bathroom. Do now I always get aisle seats. It's also better for your legs and your health. I had a friend whose husband died from not stretching every 3 or 4 jours, due to his blood pooling in his legs. Anyway aisle seats are better for me. And on Philippine airlines you can ask for noodles, nutes, snacks and beverages the whole trip. No charge. Even the noodles are delicious. And got people who just can't sleep on planes like me it's good to watch movies and noodle up.
I'm a Filipino and I totally agree. NAIA is the worst airport in the world. It looks like a bus terminal, so crowded and so noisy. You actually get tired not from the flight but from the atmosphere in the airport. You only realized this when you visited airports abroad. In Vancouver the airport looks like a hotel. It's like you're walking in the aisle of a hotel. It's quiet and not crowded and it's clean. The National government should build a new international airport in Manila.
Awesome video David .....I was expecting you to try this route but I am surprised that you are posting brutally honest episode on this ❤❤❤❤.... Really appreciate your work
Love how David shows the airport experience- a critical part of the trip.
I love when trip reporters do that, makes me feel like I'm also coming along on the trip
He kinda have to, MNL terminal 2 is terrible by a wide margin
@nolanono2532
@@nolanono2532 Not trying to spam here, but I started a channel, where an integral part of the channel is doing a whole segment about my experience at the airport before the flight :)
@@nsuresh91 Subbed!
This is by far, the most comprehensive trip report/flight review that I've ever watched about PR. Even the "little things" like the manufacturer of seats, inspiration for the carpet design, etc., were mentioned! Thanks for giving our flag carrier a wonderful review! PR is really trying their best to elevate their service, and I'm glad that you're able to experience that. Salamat po!
The security overkill for the NY flight is necessary to keep the Category 1 rating of the Philippines with the US FAA. PAL has several direct flights to the US which would be compromised if NAIA is demoted again to Category 2. ASEAN countries demoted by the US to Category 2 include Thailand and Malaysia. Both countries cannot offer direct flights to the US.
No lie. Leaving Manila for Guam you can’t believe what you go through. Practically a strip search. I wear flip flops in the tropics. I felt sorry for the ones wearing tennis shoes and such, as I saw them pulling out the pads and bottoms. I personally had to remove my belt and roll down the top of my shorts so they could make sure I didn’t have nothing hiding under the belt loops.
@@calj01 The security check for US bound flights was already overkill in the 90s. The multiple checks were so tiring that by the time you were seated on the plane, and the pilot would offer compensation for volunteers to give up their seats as the flight was overbooked, no one would raise their hands! As for the scrutiny of shoes, some passengers have already been caught hiding small quantities of drugs in the soles of rubber shoes with thick soles.
@Lemuel G Abarte The NY flight in question was cancelled due to the unavailability of spare parts for PAL's A350.
So you think it makes better sense to fly to the US through other asian cities (SIN, HKG, NRT/HND, TPE, ICN), instead of direct from MNL?
It's usually more fun doing so given the layover can be an opportunity for more vacation adventure before going home to SFO.
@@zanderhicks4717 I think you should fly with an airline that treats you well and whose airport hub doesn't stress you out while waiting for your connecting flight. Even better is an airline who won't charge for a stopover in their home country.
Manila international airport was once considered the "gateway to south east asia" as 747s used to fly directly from the US, the closest South East Asian country in the Pacfic was the Philippines. With the new airport with a potential to be an international hub, I do hope the Philippines can regain this title again.
There is two upcoming airports in the future that will change Philippines air traffic:
NMIA / ( New Manila International Airport )
and
Sangley International Airport
"gateway to south east asia" - where did you get that?
@@vaseplate1049yes it's true during the 60's, 70's, 80's
@@gerger1032 did you even read and even bother to understand my question? to rephrase, I was asking for a source! not from some random guy
in 80's garuda fly to US from Bali, via Biak and Honolulu using B747.
Filipino here. Thank you for being brutally honest about our lousy airport. We appreciate your candidness, and we love you!
Proud Filipino but not proud of the Philippines…what a joke
@@percivalpadilla8390 Blind nationalism is a common cause of historical atrocities. You can be proud of your country, but that doesn't mean you should overlook the negative parts of your country. They're not mutually exclusive.
@@percivalpadilla8390That… doesn’t make sense. Are you saying just because you recognize something is terrible you have to be fake and proclaim how great it is? This is basically nationalistic ignorance.
@@percivalpadilla8390 I don't recall our airport being a representation of the whole Philippines or are you just twisting their words to make a nonintelligent comment?
@@percivalpadilla8390 lmao... the Philippines is great but its a widely known and accepted fact that NAIA sucks... in fact, metro manila had also sucked so bad due to congestion and being outdated. Unless metro manila changes like BGC, then thats good. But congestion will always be a number 1 problem.
there has always been a need to decentralize manila, thats why people are fighting to move to federalism.
Mabuti pa ang Indonesia, alam nila problema nila sa jakarta, kaya in a few years, ililipat nila capital nila sa bagong modernized city na ginagawa nila
(Indonesia has done better, they recognize their problems in Jakarta, thats why in a few years, theyll be moving their capital into a new modernized city that is currently under construction)
Eh ang pinas? NGA NGA! lahat ng pera ng bayan puro sa improvement ng metro manila!
(how bout the Philippines? DUMBFOUNDED! All of the citizens taxes are used for metro manila's improvement!)
Cebu Intl Airport is better than NAIA by atleast 3folds...
Clark International Airport is also solid contender.
NAIA sucks. PERIOD
okay i am stunned at how PAL handled that cancellation- that’s beyond amazing. i wish i had a reason to fly with them lol
David is the calmest "man who got his flight cancelled" 😂
him, Noel Philips and Tiezheng from Vicarious Voyager! Love their laid back, calm vibe!
If the actions of the airline is that seamless then there would be little complaints
I say, and he apologized to Filipinos before dissing their airport too.🙇♂️
I mean if you can afford the extra holiday time wise it’s amazing and the hotel n stuff is free so I’d be happy equally
@@salguodrolyat2594 To be fair, even Filipinos diss MNL on a regular basis
I am very impressed how they look after their connecting international passengers, especially when there are delays. Many airlines used to do this a long time ago, but have cut right back these days. It is so refreshing to see Philippine Airlines put service back into customer service. The meals on the flight looked really great. I hope that I get the chance to fly with them someday.
Now this is how you handle a delay/cancellation
only other airline ive experienced this with was Iberia :)
Hi, Simply Aviation. We deeply appreciate your kind words of appreciation. Your acknowledgement truly uplifts our spirits. We understand that unforeseen circumstances, including flight disruptions, can significantly disrupt both our schedules and our passengers' travel plans. We empathize with any inconveniences that our valued passengers may encounter as a result. Rest assured, we are fully committed to going the extra mile in order to minimize the impact and discomfort they may feel during such situations.
Your valuable feedback, as highlighted in your video, has been duly noted and taken into serious consideration. We genuinely believe that such insights will be instrumental in enhancing our services further. We are continuously striving to improve and provide an unparalleled travel experience for each and every passenger we have the privilege to serve.
Once again, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your kind appreciation and assure you that we are dedicated to making every effort to exceed our passengers' expectations. Should you have any further suggestions or concerns, please do not hesitate to share them with us. We are here to listen and serve you better.
PAL, Please have fish on your menu for passengers who are not chicken/pork/beef consumers
@@gaudia3985why?
@@gaudia3985My experience with bringing seafood to work in California, people don’t like the smell.
When I flew PAL years ago, I was met with stern reception for asking water. I drank normal amount of water. Cathay made several water passes as well as had these ready in the back. I hope it’s no longer like this.
Last flight to Angeles (4 months ago) i did not like that no water allowed after security check completed. I am supposed to drink lots of water (as a diabetic) but ended up being dehydrated due to unreasonable no water allowed to bring on board. The little amount of water given during the flight not enough for me. I have not encountered this situation with other airlines.
Effective June 16 all PAL international flights will now be at Terminal 1. Maybe this would improve further passenger experience. Terminal 2 will be dedicated for domestic flights only.
The taxi situation is still horrible though. They still limiting metered taxi from entering the airport...
@@nntflow7058 i don't recommend taking their local taxis at all.
@@Normalaatsra MGE only.
@@nntflow7058 thanks for the tip. But I'm more than happy to settle with Grab.
@@Normalaatsra I'm not providing any suggestion. I'm just saying that MGE is the only taxi company trusted by most people there.
And for someone who need quick get in and out of the city for a day or two. Taxi is the way to go.
i took this flight together with my wife and kids before the pandemic, that was by far the longest flight to date ive been and its a wonderful experience. The crew and plane is superb, ive been in other airlines travelling to europe but by far that flight PR216 manila-jfk was and still the best. I am proud to be a Filipino.
Indeed their international flights are excellent... However they left the domestic flights with poor service 😢
I'm debating booking this flight too with my 3 yr instead of having a stopover, I'm just not sure how she's gonna sleep well
Always late JFK-MANILA minsan cancelled pa di bale na
@@rbmarbelladomestic, regional, & middle east flights are shitty. Any sector where they compete with Cebu Pacific, they are terrible.
It’s true that Philippines Airline , they handle really well when it’s come to cancel flight or over booking flight. Many years ago my flight got overbooked and they give me accommodation plus complementary round trip ticket!
I'm from the Philippines, but live in Singapore...I totally agree with you...NAIA is the worst airport I've been to...but I always have a good customer service experience with PAL.
True I'm Filipino-Nigerian, Nigeria to Turkey, From Turkey to Manila then to Tagbilaran after to Cebu the flight got cancelled
And we were already in Manila
Today, they no longer have security checks before entering the terminal building. So that's 1 less xray check for passengers. Also, that extra security check at the gate, right before entering the plane, only happens for US bound flights. I think it is a TSA requirement.
Saudi have it in the air bridge !
Terrorists were able to bomb the check-in area of Brussels Airport because they didn't have a security check before entering the terminal building.
If you're talking about the x-ray machine and metal detectors as you enter the terminal, they are still there, or were there last week when I was in Manila. The extra check before boarding is also done on Australian bound flights.
Yes the extra security check is a TSA requirement. They have no choice but to implement it. Also the no outside liquid rule is a TSA requirement. The policy is "outside liquid" are not allowed, you can have liquid or water from inside the airport (which has undergone stringent inspection). Why this rule? Because some chemical liquids used in bombs like nitroglycerin are indistinguishable from regular water at a glance.
@@noelvalenti8677 Watched 1 vlog last night no x-ray machines already in the main entrance both in the domestic andinternational.
True. The new international airport being built will be the game changer for the Philippine aviation...
take this LH, this is how you handle a cancelled flight. really impressive
And you too BA 😖
Wats LH?
@@jeomaiduldulao6655 Lufthansa
@@jeomaiduldulao6655 Lufthansa
@@jeomaiduldulao6655 Callsign of the German airline Lufthansa
Absolutely agree! My 13 trips to the Philippines have been many times on PAL, and I’ve always been super impressed with all aspects of the flight…timing, food, service, accommodations, all excellent….except…I’ve never received the toothbrush kit😂😂😂. The staff is always so helpful, and the pilots have handled common and excessive turbulence with amazing professionalism. I love flying PAL👍👍👍
usually, it's easier to just get a Grab (Southeast Asia's version of Uber or Lyft) when in the Philippines: prices are fixed, drivers are screened and are for the most part reliable, and you get to skip those pesky queues at the airport
Totoo
Have heard complaints though of Grab drivers (@ least in my country, not sure if in the Phillippines too) lying on the app (maybe the app can be fooled by GPS-spoofing apps? I'm not a regular Grab rider so I'm unsure) that they've arrived @ their customer's destination before they actually have, so the time difference between these 2 can now be used to charge customers an extra "driver-waiting-for-passenger fee". Other drivers have reportedly failed to show up but refused to cancel the trip, but if the customer cancels instead there's a penalty fee I remember. On the flip side there was also an incident where a driver forgot to add a '0' when keying in 1 of his trip's fare in the app, so he earned only $2 instead of $20. I didn't know that the fare had to be keyed in manually though & thought Grab's app would auto-calculate it instead
@@lzh4950 I am not so sure about drivers keying in the fare but at least for Grab here in the PH, the fare is automatically calculated before you even book the ride and start the process of getting matched with a driver. That's the case, at least with Grab Car. I have not tried Grab Taxis though, so that might be the case where the drivers key in the fare manually.
Your experience of Philippine Airlines' handling of your cancellation reminds me of how Canada 3000 handled a cancellation of mine back in 2001. They had a hotel organised, transport, food laid on, communication (via a board in the lobby, as this was pre-smartphone). This was an unexpected cancellation too; the plane (an A310) struck birds on landing at Manchester, damaging the radome. The nearest spare part was in Germany (!), so a layover it was. Admittedly, the Forte Posthouse in Wythenshawe doesn't quite match the glamour of the Century Park in Manila, but it does highlight what a difference it makes when an airline actually supports passengers during a disruption.
Philippine airline action toward its crisis is top-notch. I hope all the airlines can copy that in their mitigation
Philippines Airlines direct flight to NYC - Manila and vice versa simply makes flying more tolerable. For the last 5 years, i have been flying this airlines every single year. Great video
Thank you for sharing your experience! Filipino here and I feel elated to hear your memorable experience with PAL😊 I flew with PAL with my sister from MNL>Haneda for only ₱25,000 for both of us! Completely unbelievable!! This was back in Autumn of 2019. It was my first international flight with Philippine Airlines and we were so delighted of the experience. Pero may plot twist. Doon kami nakaupo sa Emergency Exit HAHA! Tawa kami nang tawa, “Sis kaya pala nakuha natin ng mura tayo pala magbubukas neto😂” I loved this memory of ours. Superb customer service at nakakaproud siya promise, basta di ko maexplain. At masarap talaga ang food nila, I had Chicken Inasal wala nga lang extra rice HAHA!
You are absolutely spot on Manila as a hub because its geographical location can be awesome between SE Asia and North America if there is a stunning airport experience the likes of Changi or Haneda/NRT. That is the hope that the new international airport can bring to travelers in the near future.
I think also East Asia and South East Asia. At this time, you can go to Japan from SE Asia via transit in the Philippines (Cheaper than Direct Flight).
When travelling into/out of Singapore you can face contrasting fortunes depending on your mode of travel. Travelling by air means you're likely to go thru the world class Changi airport, but by coach (until recently), you're likely to end up @ the dilapidated Golden Mile Complex/Tower (since many coach companies have their offices there). Its near downtown but also has a reputation for sleaze, & just last year the false ceiling (mostly yellowed from oxidation) above its taxi stand collapsed. Train travellers meanwhile go via Woodlands Train Checkpoint (WTCP) that's even further from downtown than Changi Airport & getting to/from there requires a 50-min train ride & a connecting bus, but buses have sometimes reportedly skipped WTCP due to overcrowding there or @ the adjacent border crossing to Malaysia. A bad impression to leave to passengers who've just arrived in the country via WTCP
I had a similar experience at London Heathrow Airport. I was returning from Zurich to São Paulo, with a connection in London. It was with British Airways. The flight from London to São Paulo was delayed by more than 1 hour. We got on the plane and stayed inside for another hour and a half, waiting to take off. That's when the pilot said he had a technical problem with the plane's wing and that the flight would only take off the next day. The crew ordered everyone down. We had to go through immigration and were given vouchers to eat at the airport restaurants. We were sent to a hotel, where we stayed one night. The next day, we managed to take off and head home.
David, the fact that you took time to show the safety video speaks volume. Thank you! Another great video as usual. Mabuhay! Salamat!
I love my flight from LAX to MNL on PAL for 15 hrs. I had a terrible experience on Delta so never again, hopefully I can get on Emirates to Manila in November and make a stop in Dubai. Great review and on spot. Thank you.
Thank you for this honest review. You’re right, they did handle the cancellation the best they could. They have massively improved their soft products and to some extent their hard product as well but yes the airport situation does hamper their progress. By June of this year the government is forcing them to move all their international flights to terminal 1 and turning terminal 2 into a full domestic terminal which was the original design for this terminal. And yes they need that new airport yesterday but we’ll have to wait a few more years for it.
Yes! T1 even though old is far much better than the smelly T2.
I always fly PAL whenever I'm in the Philippines. Superb assistance and service!!!
That cancellation was very well handled and not a bad hotel at all. I’d be happy with that 😊
the plane itself is not the best in the world but those Philippine pilots are the best for landing the plane, not sure if you pay attention to it but those 2 landings you have looks so smooth.
Don't forget as well despite PAL's shortcomings, one of their best known traits is their smooth landings. I've rarely had a PAL flight where the landings were rough.
True,just recently went home to PI ,smooth landing indeed, compared to Air Canada,it’s like landing in a rough road.
Agree 💯%,I've been flying many times in my life with different airlines but I think Philippine pilots are the best.
Filipino pilots are the best, magaling sa diskarte at pektus, mataba ang utak hahaha
@@via1968 Filipino aviation culture is very toxic which is unsafe. Why? Because in Filipino aviation industry, pilots need to address their senior pilots as sir or ma'am while in other countries, particularly Western countries, captains and senior pilots are uncomfortable with that, they prefer their first officers or lower ranking pilots to call them by their first names. In Philippine airline culture, FOs need to prepare the documents as respect for their captains before they fly which is actually toxic. In other countries, the documents are prepared by the person who arrived in the briefing room first regardless of pilot rank and seniority, and my pilot friends say that they prefer flying with Westerners than with Filipinos because Westerners are a lot more chill. They're too authoritative which is unsafe.
@@fionajarnefeldt1024 there is one probable factor to that: a lot of the senior pilots came from the Air Force before becoming commercial pilots. They brought their military training and hierarchies with them.
Staying true to the facts of an airline's operation. That's respectable.
Those meals on both flights looked and sounded amazing, that safety video too, awesome. I wanted to try them out for my upcoming solo trip to Japan because they offered a bargain deal. My parents encouraged me not to, so I went with ZIPAIR instead (looking forward to that video btw 😊). I should show them this video, because with the challenges they face, PAL seems to do a good job. They just posted a $72m profit for 2022, are reactivating the entire fleet and eyeing a new A350 order. I’d say they are out of the mud, but they still have some way to go. If you’re a Filipino, I hope you have some pride for PAL.
I am Filipino and have no pride in PAL, because they don't deserve it. Start performing like other competent airlines, then I will be proud.
southeast asia needs to be connected to southeast us their is a decent filipino poulation in florida and georgia i hope they can activate atlanta flights in the future miami maybe but they dont have the range for miami im filipino american and im tired of flying korean air to get to manila
Don't transit through MNL. Just don't do it, you are asking for trouble and headache
We are proud of PAL, but we aren't proud of NAIA. Just its name alone, Ninoy Aquino, is very shameful for us Filipinos. We can't wait for the New Manila International Airport to be finished so we can ditch NAIA for good. 😂
Hats off to Philippine Airlines for looking after you re the over night stay with meals included,awesome service.,great to see Pilippine Airines have really up their game now it can only be a win win thing!.✈👍
Fun fact: Century Park Hotel and PAL are owned by the same person, so it made sense to book the passengers there. Even then, how the airline handled that cancellation was amazing! Also, locals used to call PAL as 'Plane Always Late' especially when they had the monopoly in air travel in the country.
PAL allows passenger 2 luggages for check in,but holds the other luggage, upon arrival for whatever reason(?)
I was guessing if those held luggages if not claimed are those items sold on line as mystery boxes(?)
Aren’t they?
I mean makes sense, most airlines are partnered with one or more hotels even at their base
What's wrong with that? It is logical for them to use their own hotel to minimize expenses. Noone wants a canceled flight, by you or the airline. Are you saying they intentionally canceled the flight so tyhey can billet you to their hotel? have you thought of the trouble and additional expense the airline will have due to a canceled flight? They probably lost money in that flight.
The owner is smart to buy a hotel to temper the loss due to flight cancellations.
Oh! So that's why the tagline of Cebu Pacific before (around the time they started) is: The new Filipino time.
Can’t believe you just reviewed Philippine Airlines… I have been waiting for this. Thanks so much!!!
I flew from SFO to MNL via business class and all was great. Arrival was 445 AM which made for a quick transition. For me PAL is only choice as I prefer non-stop flights if possible.
Airport capabilities is the sad part in pH aviation. PAL can definitely compete with other airlines, actually better than others up on air. But the pH airports restricts them to grow. Cant wait once the new airport will be operational
2 Big Airports. One in Bulacan and the other In Cavite. I am also excited for Mactan and Clark's Expansion too
Both are notorious for traffic congestion. If they can't connect the airport to public transportation, it will not get better
Clark is a much better airport than NAIA, but it doesn't seem to be used a lot unfortunately.
@@anemojin4384 I hope its accessible by trains like every 1st world country
@@superturbo2Clark doesn't make much sense because the biggest population centers are in Metro Manila & the Cavite/Laguna area.
I loved how PAL handled the passengers when it’s delayed, at least they’re all got the compensation ❤
But yes I also agree with how chaotic terminal 2 is,,,small and less shops,,,, I was having bad experience last year,I hope it will be improved soon ❤
This airlines safety video is the coolest I have ever seen😃
Not only are they building a new airport to help out with the overcrowding of NAIA they are going to build Sangley Point into an International Airport which will also help with spreading out everyone so that the airports will not be so overwhelmed with passengers. I think that Clark International Airport had a new terminal building added to it. Every little thing is helpful and I'm excited about the new airport as I watch videos showing the process of the land reclamation. When construction begins with the runways and the terminal building it will be really exciting. I was just in the Philippines and I had no problems with long lines or anything when we left. I believe that PAL is also located in Terminal One for departures. In time things will greatly improve for flights in the Philippines. I have been traveling to and from the Philippines for 10 years and I have not had too much trouble when arriving and departing from NAIA during those 10 years. There will always be problems occurring regardless what airport you are in. To me having a safe flight is the most important part of the trip.
Sangley Point decades away, Clark is just used sparingly now.
Bulacan still 50%
@@brucehuddler7518 Sangley Point is taking forever because the environmental impact takes years to complete and that's what keeps it from being able to get started.
@@MrJlaklak Unfortunately it can't be completed overnight.
I recently experienced a cancelled flight with PAL leaving Guam and I had a terrible experience. They made us wait over 8 hours at the airport to later tell us to come back tomorrow morning to catch rhe next flight.
Dont worry sir, 2 new international airports are currently under construction. The one up north is 3x bigger than the current one and is connected via fast rail, and will have stops all over the metro and even beyond. It's also connected via overhead hiways that have off ramps in strategic location within the metro as well as stops in the under construction subway system. The one in the south is current under construction with a joint venture with a korean firm. The new airport will rise from the sea so dredging is currently underway. And once again, it will be connected via railway system. Also another option is the clark international airport 56kms north of manila. This airport has won international award as one of the best airport. A fast rail system is also under construction. The location where clark airport is located is also a destination in itself as it is being developed as a smart city. Already several world class casino resorts are open as well as duty free shopping. Travel time from clark to manila will be 40mins only via fast rail. Once all these new airports become operational, the current decrepit NAIA airport will be closed down and the entire space will be developed as a central business district
Yes and given Chinese contractors and corrupt government officials it will be a colossal mess.
That is a good news for us and our country. NAIA should be closed as soon as the new Manila airport built in bulacan would be far out better, wider, and well planned airport. NAIA is congested, old, and no railway connected.
Are you the PR man of the govt.?
clark is slowly turning itself to be the incheon of the philippines, and this is great news
@@rickmcright5815true! sounds like they're asserting
I came to Hanoi from Manila 3 days ago on a A330, very comfortable and for a 3hours flight food was great, I will fly again with them
I few PAL on the LHR-MNL route 8 times in business class. Every flight was without fault and a fabulous experience. Sadly they no longer operate that route.
Had a similar cancellation when I flew home with them in 2017 to Toronto through Vancouver. Boarded and sat in the plane only for them to get everyone off due to mechanical problems. Not sure how true this was but I heard from other passengers that one of the engines had problems starting. Shuttle, hotel, dinner, and breakfast the next day. Yes the impatience wasn't the easiest to deal with, but highly appreciated that they took good care of the passengers rather than making us sleep in the airport or giving a voucher for pennies. Now that they have direct flights they're not the cheapest to fly with (I find EVA Air usually the one), but would love to fly with PAL again one day.
PAL the best! good service! The food is also much better than most airlines i flew that claim to have good food.
Fun Fact: The "Security checks" in the airports (yes, all Philippine airports do this) don't actually improve security. It's just a friendly FU to people. They are committed to ensuring you get the most inconvenience possible.
It’s like they’ve never heard of the 9/11 attacks…
Nope. Most airports have single security check.
747 flight 434... thats why
Same in India, airport like security to go inside a mall😂
The first security check at Manila terminal entrances have been removed recently. There is only one security check left to get into the pre-departure area. However for US and Canada bound flights, I think there is still another security screening before boarding (to comply with North American requirements). This is an improvement.
I quite agree about T2 at NAIA...not a great terminal and way too small. Plus the transportation links at the airport are horrendous. I love the Philippines but I wish they would sort out a better solution! And of course you MUST have Jolibee when in Manila! :)
Also...Canada flights have the same at gate checks but not the liquid rule...I flew Manila to Vancouver last year and experienced that.
They're now doing it. The New Manila Airport and Sangley Airport are under construction; both will have international flights and are strategically located to the north and south of the Metro. The New Manila Airport is massive; it can accommodate an initial capacity of 35 million passengers a year and 100 million upon full completion.
You must consider the travel time from Manila to Cavite when using that airport. For me, I'd still prefer NAIA, just need to improve the facilities.
Important detail at Manila airport: when you take a taxi to the airport, be sure which terminal you have to be.
And you have to pay a ( small) fee to use the air bridge ( mini toll way) through the cabbie.
From now you dont have to worry as Philippine Airlines domestic flights are solely operating from Terminal 2 and the Intl flights are in Terminal 1. Philippine Airlines is also purchasing A350-1000, I really hope you come back when that does come and make a review on it as it will also fly on north american countries
I hope PAL returns to London soon! They used to fly the A350 to LHR
They need planes for that and the 77W doesn’t cut it.
@@paololim3513 PAL was using the 77W for LHR at one point
@@ggs511 it didn’t cut it precisely because PAL struggled to fill the 77W on LHR flights.
They need to refurbish all their b777,then evtl they can fill it.
I have nothing but praise for Philippine Airlines. Back in 2004-ish I flew to the Philippines out of SFO twice. I was stunned at the amount of cargo that was loaded (I will not get into the custom and "customs" unless someone asks)...but these were the 747's. The food service was excellent! The flight crew was fantastic. These 747's had a billion miles on them, seat spacing was excellent in coach. Great people!
Well Done Philippene Airlines,I Love The A350.Great Trip Report
I appreciate the honesty! Manila really needs a better airport!
I was surprised as well that Philippine Airlines managed to do something to those passengers that were affected by the cancelled flight because when my father is going back to singapore from manila, the flight got delayed and moved the time for 7 hours or less and they only gave Mamon (a small fluffy sandwich) and a piece of bottle water. Hopefully, Philippine Airlines keep doing this and I also hoped for a new look of NAIA because I agreed to what you said.
This video was made 10(?) months ago
When we got delayed, we were given jollibee
As someone from the Ph but not from MNL I agree I hate having to go through NAIA when there are no other options. If you have the chance please try flying into the Philippines through Cebu! MCIA is beautiful!
perhaps Clark International...anyone, please share your thoughts. have not been to Clark ( another option) i hate NAIA period.
@@atabs9990 Yes, Clark is better. It's not busy
10:13 Century Park Hotel is like a sister company to PAL
10:25 and thank you for this shot, I believe this is where Harrison Plaza once stood.
The airport situation has been in the discussion stage since 2003, yes, as far back as 20 years ago. Imagine the frustration among us locals. Important thing is, the airport in Bulacan is already being built. Started in 2021? or 2022? I expect things to improve by 2027 or 2028. I know, thats 4-5 years away. If we were able to wait 18 years before the construction started, 5 years is not that long, right? 🤣😅
Love this airline! Never experienced delays but it can happen. Many foreign aircrafts gets delayed as well
they're switching the terminals up now, terminal 2 will be converted to a domestic terminal for philippine airlines and airasia (hope they add more food stalls, because the choices in the departure gates are shit and expensive), more international airlines are to move to terminal 3, while terminal 4 will be for smaller/regional airlines so hopefully that will at least be effective in distributing the people.
edit over a year later: terminal 1 just got even more chaotic now, terminal 2 would roughly be the same though it's purely a domestic terminal now, let's be fr terminal 3 has always been chaotic especially because cebu pacific operates all of their flights there, while terminal 4 is finally no longer an overcrowded warehouse since airasia has been moved to the bigger terminal 2 now. might consider flying out of clark when i finally get my driver's license but for now i will just avoid the peak hours in mnl.
I flew with Philippine Airlines in the past and it was a very good service (Pre-pandemic).
As a Filipino I felt so embarrassed and I'm really sorry about your airport experience in Manila terminals which was very poor planned indeed. I hope you'll come back once the new Manila airport is done probably close to a decade lol right in my hometown which is in Bulacan province. Yes we got a crazy security prior to the airport which was unusual in most countries all over the world I guess. I have never been into a350 would love to someday :) keep uploading as you a great reviews I enjoyed it. So informative and very honest keep it up! Have a safe travels
Fun fact: RP-C9901 is the oldest operating A321 CEO in the PAL fleet!
How old is it
The plane age is 9.7 Years
It's considered big and modern during its time of creation, but NAIA has barely changed in 75 years. The utilitarian design is one of the results of Modernism, which is the popular architectural style at the time (1948). You'll see other old buildings that are designed similarly like the PAGCOR building (former Duty Free Philippines). I have so many childhood memories on those 2 buildings as a kid LOL.
Another fantastic video! It is sad to see that such a good airline like them are facing financial difficulties. Also, where are the Lufthansa planes with the Philippine airlines configuration flying? They arguably feature a better business class product compared to Lufthansa itself. Also, thank you very much for telling us about aeroLopa. They are a fantastic website and now I always use them to check seat maps.
They went through bankruptcy during the pandemic which forced them to reduce their fleet including returning 4 of their newly acquired a350s and that’s how Lufthansa ended up with them. Now PAL if I’m not mistaken are back in the black and made solid profits these past 2 quarters because of a reduced debt load and improved passenger and freight numbers.
@@makoy731 Thanks for the information
@@makoy731 Once the New Manila International Airport opens by 2026, that might be the time when PAL starts thriving
@@bonzobonanza yeah I agree. They can finally compete with other airlines for transit traffic.
No surprise they ended up in *bankruptcy* and they had to ditch 4 A350s. They didn't make any profit for *15 YEARS,* and they have even worse bigger contempt for passengers and poorer customer service than RYANAIR and British Airways these days! 😦
I agree Pal has a great service and ife but is held back by the small hub in Ninoy
I really enjoyed this trip report..
It actually convinced me to visit the beautiful country of Phillipines on Phillipines airlines
Visit the country. Just not on PAL.
Thank you for flying Philippine Airlines The Heart of Filipino 🇵🇭🤗👌💕
MABUHAY!!!
"...at maraming salamat po." (and many thanks [to you].)
Some of the flights end with this.
Wow, that is an intense experience... Glad things worked out in the end.
So glad they have newer planes in some areas.. using the LAX route we have been flying in older 777s that had multiple monitors not working but still great crews.
I experienced flying with PAL, also Air Asia and Cebu Pacific. So far, PAL is still the best.
Hello. The first subway (full underground train) in Metro Manila is under construction and it will connect to the international airport. Finally, an airport train station!
Filipinos have been wanting this one for decades. As the saying goes, "better late than never".
Loved this video and really enjoy your insights on the brutally honest series. I think I would gladly build in a 24 hour layover myself on a connecting flight through Manilla just to see the city.
The pandemic brought about many challenges to PAL which forced the company to sell the majority of the A350 fleet and that brought about more challenges with all the flight disruptions due to the limited aircrafts for rotation. Hope you fly with us again when the fleets gets its A350-1000 in 2025. Been flying MNL-JFK-MNL since 2019 and I'm glad you liked the Airline services despite in inconvenience of your cancelled flight.
I've always said that it's pointless judging a company based on when everything goes right. It's how the company handles issues when shit hits the fan - that's the important part, and that's what truly is going to distinguish between businesses that deserve your money and ones that don't.
I love taking straight flights to the USA, UK, Australia and New Zealand via PAL, you can relax and don’t have to stop over, change planes or disrupt your sleep. You can drive feeling refreshed at your destination. 😊
11:16 the most calm near crash takeover i have seen in a long time ...
Thats just South East Asia
Average ASEAN motorcyclist
Clarity, honesty is what I look for in a vlog!! Thanx
Thank you for this video. I was thinking of taking this flight for review. Awesome flight review ❤
Thanks for sharing your journey to New York! It was very detailed and shared everything that happened within your travel. Have a nice day!
Excellent review and I enjoyed watching! Try going via Mactan-Cebu International Airport next time. It's less stressful there. 😁
Thank you for loving our country! We really appreciate your support, and for exploring Manila for 24 hrs. I know NAIA had some bad reviews, but theres a new Manila Airport currently under construction, so i hope once it opens, you can visit the airport and review it. Thank you David! :D
Hello there :) im glad that you liked the PAL in-flight service. :-) as a Filipino, i just felt ashamed about the NAIA Terminals. It has been a long long long time problem, and i hope that the new terminal will be far better than the old one.
Its not actually the terminal, but the management and administration of the airport is lousy.
Mabuhay! Thank you for your honest review and for flying our Flag Carrier.! Stay safe always and God bless
Always late or cancelled
Not again
It stuffs up your schedule
There are other options
I do love PAL, yes, that airport is an antique, but fun that way, like old days travel
Am so happy another edition of brutally honest is back . Thanks 🙏 David mine bruder
Brutally Honest is my fav segment of David's as well!
As a Filipino I also agree that our airport and our public transportation is not the best, thank you for you honest review ❤
I'm glad you had an awesome experience with my flag carrier! Was really looking forward for this video for a long time and I'm happy you finally did it. Hope to see you soon again with Philippine Airlines!
Thank you soo much yet again for a fantastic no bullshit no drama trip report ! The B777-300ER is my favourite aircraft and the KE plane looks amazing despite its age !
Amazing brutally honest episode. I love these videos that are a bit longer than others!
The current airport in Pasay City is terrible but that will change after the completion of the new international airport which is at least 4x larger.
"NAIA is by all measures the worst airport I've ever been to."
As a local, I avoid NAIA like a plague. If I could, I'd choose Clark International Airport 100% of the time. And the metered taxi DOES NOT EXIST IN MANILA. I have only been to Manila a few times using public transport and it was hell on earth. You HAVE to hire a relative to drive you around Manila or you'll get scammed to high heavens. Even locals criticises NAIA for their corrupt ways. The moment you said you'll land in Manila I was already praying for your sanity.
I've flown on many international airlines and I have my favorites. Philippine airlines is in my top 10. Actually top 5. Love their great passenger service. I always enjoy every flight. I used to get window seats but when the flight takes off Filipinos go to sleep right away and I hate stepping over sleeping people to stretch my legs and go to the bathroom. Do now I always get aisle seats. It's also better for your legs and your health. I had a friend whose husband died from not stretching every 3 or 4 jours, due to his blood pooling in his legs. Anyway aisle seats are better for me. And on Philippine airlines you can ask for noodles, nutes, snacks and beverages the whole trip. No charge. Even the noodles are delicious. And got people who just can't sleep on planes like me it's good to watch movies and noodle up.
Thank you for promoting our country thru Philippine Airlines
Hoping to experience a long haul flight like this too
I'm a Filipino and I totally agree. NAIA is the worst airport in the world. It looks like a bus terminal, so crowded and so noisy. You actually get tired not from the flight but from the atmosphere in the airport. You only realized this when you visited airports abroad. In Vancouver the airport looks like a hotel. It's like you're walking in the aisle of a hotel. It's quiet and not crowded and it's clean. The National government should build a new international airport in Manila.
Awesome video David .....I was expecting you to try this route but I am surprised that you are posting brutally honest episode on this ❤❤❤❤.... Really appreciate your work