Just found another Bargain
If you don't mind transit, this deal is almost $200 cheaper compare to Qantas deal I posted earlier
It's full service with Meal, 30kg Bag and Mileage
Melbourne to Hong Kong Return $496 in November, the price of Airasia
http://iwantthatflight.com.au/flight.ashx?dc=HKG&dd=18%2FNov…
Maybe there is "layover compensation".
The same dates direct from MEL to MNL with the same airline is $949
http://iwantthatflight.com.au/flight.ashx?dc=MNL&dd=18%2FNov…
Layover isnt a huge issue. Cheap local snacks either side of a massage and a haircut, etc. opposite the airport will productively fill in the time and let you have a window on a third culture (wrt Australia and Hong Kong.)
Good find op
Just an FYI:
Scored #83 out of Top 100 Airlines (Customer Satisfaction, Timeliness, Safety) at the SkyTrax World Airline Awards 2016 http://www.worldairlineawards.com/awards/world_airline_ratin…
Oh and this a few weeks back http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/philippine-airlines-plane-forced-ma…
Don't neg the messenger!
They are alright in my experience when you're getting good prices but it was just 1 flight i had. A lot of airlines suffer because of their domestic hassles, reliability, delays, airport issues etc. Phillipines is a bit notorious for it (though vietnam even worse). Often negate most of this with international flights. Like anything, checking what the actual plane is…and the configuration, then getting a seat you can tolerate…. it makes ALL the difference.
They are still 14 places in front of Tiger!
its terrible,cuz even airasia scored 23
Take extra cash with you just incase you have to bribe the airport worker during the transit.
I have been to Manila quite a few times, although never with PAL (PAL has its own terminal at MNL - T2)
All I can say from my experience is that MNL is one of the most dysfunctional major airports I have been to. It would be one that I would avoid to transit through unless you are on a single ticket and there is good frequency to the final destination so you can be rebooked when you get delayed for whatever ridiculous reason at MNL (my record was about 5 out of 6 flights to earlier this year into or out of MNL was delayed) - things like being on the tarmac for 30min after landing because there is no gate available, terrible congestion, slight winds, etc.
I transited through Manila 2 weeks ago for the first time. It was with Cebu from Hong Kong to Sydney so I already had my boarding pass. The guy said wait in this room (for ten hours). I looked in the tiny room and said no way. When I asked if I was allowed to go through immigration he sort of asked why I would want to?.
So I went to the SM Mega Mall place for a while and got a bunch of kids shoes for 50 pesos that are easily as good as any Target or BigW $15 shoes. Those among other things made my Manila trip pretty good.
Why did the guy say to go sit in a room? Are you under 18 by any chance?
It was the Cebu transit waiting room. It didn't even have a tv. Just a few seats. But, that's where people were expected to wait.
Wait you're not allow to roam around?
@michaelTito: I think the first guy I asked was confused as to why I had my boarding pass for a flight that was leaving 10 hours later. He did know why I would want to leave. Then I asked 2 immigration guys together and the said of course I could leave the airport.
Funny in the airport toilets they have guys there to tell you which unoccupied toilet or urinal to go to. They even hand you the paper towel to dry your hands. That's going a bit to far I think!
I had a layover in Manila a couple of years ago, four hours and had the same experience, here is a box with not enough chairs to sit in only in my case they made sure nobody left without an escort (think toilets).
I don't mind layovers and if you know what the conditions are going to be you can plan ahead.
Philippine Airlines also have some good prices for Sydney-Manila-Bangkok too…
OP do you know if you can extend your stopover in manila on the return leg to say 2 or 3 weeks?
If so, would be a very good deal.
This promotion has been already up for almost two months as I knew. Did SYD-MNL-HKG roundtrip for around the same price a several weeks ago. PAL inflight service is decent for me. The whole process of transitting only took me like 3 mins and you will be sent to the departure level by a person. But the transit experience is a little bit sketchy for me. Also bring your peso with you if you are just in transit and need some refreshments during the connection coz there wont be any currency exchange in that terminal.
Not really a 'scam' imo as there is no demands or fraud known.
FYI PAL is a shit airline. I flew PAL Sydney to Manila and it was probably the worst international flight I've ever done. Worse than Scoot, Jetstar, Malaysia Airlines and China Eastern by a long shot.
Also.. For the locals, PAL stands for "Plane Always Late".
I flew with PAL to England via Manila from a deal posted here last year.
They are cheap for a reason, the planes are old, there's no screens on the back of the seat infront. For inflight entertainment you have to use your own tablet/phone but you need to download the app before you board.
The airport isn't great but functions. If you leave the airport you will be swamped by private taxi touts. Politely decline them and head for the yellow metered taxi desk, it's at about a 2 o'clock angle from the exit. Make sure you have lots of small denomintion notes for tips.
Meals were fine, service was friendly. From memory my flights were all on time. I'd use them again, but they'd have to be a lot cheaper than other full service airlines.
2 words
Dat layover