Category: Philippines

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.

Flight Report: CEBGO DG 6193 – Manila to Legazpi – Flying Back Home to Albay During the Pandemic

A little over a week ago, I shared with you my November 2021 flight experience with Cebgo on their DG 6194 flight from Legazpi to Manila. It was my first flight in 21 months & since the pandemic started. A lot has changed from the pre-pandemic flying experience but these changes are for the passengers’ safety & well-being.

Today, I will run you through my return flight from Manila to Legazpi. After a few days around Metro Manila, I had to go home & get back to my usual ‘probinsya’ work from home set-up. What has changed in the process of flying from Manila to Legazpi? We’ll know in the detailed report below.

March 2022 UPDATE: I flew with Cebu Pacific Air’s main competitor in the Legazpi sector – Philippine Airlines – recently. Feel free to also check out my PAL Legazpi to Manila flight PR 2922 & PAL Manila to Legazpi flight PR 2919 flight reports!

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

Cebgo

Cebgo is not a new airline in this website. In fact, it is the most reviewed airline including its parent company Cebu Pacific Air. Formerly South East Asian Airlines (SEAir) & Tigerair Philippines, Cebgo joined Cebu Pacific Air in 2014. Since then, Cebgo has been flying to most of the country’s smaller airports, connecting these regional airports to the rest of Cebu Pacific Air’s wide domestic airport.

The airline flies an all-turboprop fleet accommodating up to 78 passengers per flight on a single-class configuration. If I’m not mistaken, it also operates 2 all-cargo turboprop aircrafts. It’s the only turboprop cargo plane in the Philippines.

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

Like my recent Legazpi to Manila flight, I used my CEB Super Pass voucher on this flight back to Legazpi. This pass costs ₱99 base fare plus taxes valid for one-way domestic trip. The pass is valid for one year & can be booked at least a week before the planned trip.

I paid ₱390.88 for this pass & added ₱1,494.72 for the final ticket booking. The ticket cost ₱1,885.6 one-way; it included a 20-kilogram checked baggage allowance, pre-selected window seat & the CEB Flexi option. I availed of the CEB Flexi option because at the time of booking, I was unsure if I will extend my stay in Manila or I will fly out to somewhere with my friends. Know more about the CEB Flexi add-on & other add-ons available on your Cebu Pacific Air / Cebgo flight here.

The return journey from Legazpi to Manila & back to Legazpi cost me ₱3,162.32 all-in. This included pre-selected seats & 20-kilogram baggage allowance per sector & that add-on on the way back. I think this return fare is still a steal considering fares have shoot up during the pandemic & tickets were booked just a week before the intended flight.

Travel Requirements

Travel requirements these days change more often than before. I flew to Manila last 11 November 2021 knowing that I will need to take an RT-PCR test for my flight back home. Luckily, the Provincial Government of Albay changed the requirements for inbound passengers last 12 November 2021.

All passengers need to download the Traze & Albay Get-Pass mobile applications for contact-tracing purposes. Fully-vaccinated passengers are only required to show their vaccination cards upon check in. Partially-vaccinated or unvaccinated passengers need to present a negative antigen or RT-PCR test result taken at least 48 hours before the flight. Children are also required to present this test result.

I was happy the provincial government removed the test requirement for fully-vaccinated travelers; I also got to save some money. Please take note that these travel requirements can change anytime. For the updated ones, please check out Cebu Pacific Air’s Covid-19 Information Page.

Before The Flight

One of the changes I noticed this pandemic is the e-mail reminder sent by Cebu Pacific Air to their passengers before the flight. Passengers previously only get online check in reminders. This time, the airline sends e-mails requesting the passengers to update emergency contact information, reminding them about the contactless protocols for the flight & the updated destination requirements.

I applaud Cebu Pacific Air for sending these reminders to all passengers; I can see that they are making sure that all passengers are informed & are aware of the updated protocols.

Flight Information

This Manila (MNL) to Legazpi (LGP) flight was operated by a 3.1-year-old ATR 72-600 aircraft with registration RP-C7260. The plane has 78 economy seats in a 2-2 configuration. The plane left Ninoy Aquino International Airport via Runway 13/31 at 10:54 am & arrived Bicol International Airport a minute ahead of schedule at 11:59 am. The flight took 1 hour & 5 minutes.

NAIA Terminal 3 Check-In Process

Cebu Pacific Air / Cebgo’s check-in process in Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 is now contactless.

Self-Service Check-In

Passengers are required to check-in online or use the check-in kiosks found outside the bag drop counters. All boarding passes & baggage tags must be printed in these check-in kiosks.

Documents Check

After printing the boarding pass & baggage tags, passengers need to fall in line in the document check counters. Airline staff will check the passenger’s travel requirements & documents before they are allowed to drop their bags. Vaccination cards & antigen/ RT-PCR test results are also checked here.

Bag Drop

After document check, the passengers queue in the bag drop counters for their check-in luggage. The airline staff checks the bag’s weight & conduct last-minute checks. The airline staff asks the passenger to add the luggage tags to their own baggage. He/she also reminds the passengers that only 1 carry-on bag is allowed per person. Additional bags are subject to crew’s evaluation upon boarding & may incur additional charges.

The whole check-in process only took me 15-20 minutes considering the busy passenger airport load that day. It was nice seeing NAIA Terminal 3 relatively busy; it means that travel is starting to pick-up. It is, however, still far off from the pre-pandemic levels.

Boarding

Prior to boarding, Cebgo ground staff advised passengers to fill out the health declaration form required by the City Government of Legazpi & the passenger locator form required by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. The smaller passenger locator form was collected by the ground staff during boarding.

DG 6193 boarded from the super crowded Gate 134B. Due to the overwhelming number of passengers, social distancing protocols where not observed. The seats were not enough for all the passengers; there’s barely a space for a person to move around.

The boarding process started on time. Passengers with infants, senior citizens, those requiring special assistance & those who availed the GO Ahead add-on boarded first. The general passengers followed. The bus took all the passengers to the assigned aircraft near Terminal 4.

All passengers boarded from the rear door of the ATR 72-600 aircraft & were welcomed by the crew. Passengers were also offered alcohol / hand sanitizer before getting in the plane.

Seat & Inflight Experience

Cebgo’s ATR 72-700 aircraft has 78 seats in a 2 x 2 configuration. Each row has 2 window & 2 aisle seats. The seat pitch was alright; not that spacious but all good for a short flight. The seats only have armrests as dividers & no ‘individual’ seat space unlike those from jet planes. Each seat pocket has a passenger safety card & an air sickness bag. Inflight magazines were removed because of the pandemic. Each seat also has a foldable table, dedicated manual air vents & reading lights. I was lucky I had the C & D seats to myself.

This flight to Legazpi was basic as expected. There were no additional services offered during the flight. Meals were offered to those who pre-booked snacks. The flight left Manila station behind scheduled but managed to arrive at Bicol International Airport ahead of schedule.

All passengers were required to wear face masks & face shields (at that time) throughout the flight. Face shields are no longer required inflight as of writing. The cabin crew constantly reminded the passengers of the inflight safety protocols observed by the airline.

Lavatory

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

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew on this flight were on full personal protective equipment, face mask & face shield. They gave a warm welcome to all the passengers; they made sure that everyone complies to all the safety protocols throughout the flight. One of the attendants even helped a passenger look for an overhead compartment for a bag. The same crew even answered the questions of one passenger. The crew took care of us passengers from boarding to disembarkation.

Disembarkation

The cabin crew followed an orderly disembarkation process for this flight. Passengers were only allowed to stand up & get their bags once their rows were called. Upon disembarkation, all passengers headed to the arrival hall. Each passenger was asked to fill out a border control monitoring form. After getting the checked luggage, all passengers lined up in a booth to surrender all the forms (including those given in Manila) & to check-in using the Traze mobile application. After this, passengers are free to leave the terminal building & airport.

FINAL Thoughts

It was another pleasant flight with Cebgo. I’d say this was a more pleasant flight than my Legazpi to Manila leg. The pandemic has changed the aviation industry. The ever-changing destination requirements & flight protocols make flying more stressful; however, we have no choice but to comply to all these rules. Props to the airline staff for making flying even safer at these strange times.

The flight from Manila to Legazpi made me happy for a few reasons: eased flight requirements to Legazpi for fully-vaccinated passengers, removal of home or facility-based quarantine for returning passengers, Albay now opening up to tourists & the Philippine aviation industry slowly going back to life. We may be far off from how things were before the pandemic but at least we can see people starting to crowd the airports & tourist destinations again.

Allow me to share with you the technical details of my flight:

Airline: Cebgo
Flight Date: 16 November 2021
Flight Number: DG 6193
Route: Manila (MNL) to Legazpi (LGP) Albay
Duration: 1 hour & 5 minutes
Seat Number: 8D
Aircraft: ATR 72-600
Aircraft Registration: RP-C7290
Age: 3.1 years
Year Delivered: 2018

You all know how much I love flying. Before the pandemic, I’m used to taking 25 to 30 flights in a year. When the pandemic hit, that went down to 0. I was so happy I finally got to fly again after so long. It may not be as frequent as before but at least I got to step on an airport again, board an aircraft & hear the aircraft engines after so long. Flying makes me happy; how I wish I can fly more in the coming months.

Have you been on a flight recently? How has the pandemic changed your flying experience? Feel free to share your personal experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about flying into Legazpi 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. This may be the last one for now & for this year. I hope take more flights next year. For now, let’s all do our part in making this pandemic an endemic. Please wear your masks properly, observe proper social distancing & get vaccinated. Before you go, can you visit my social media channels – Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Please stay safe & stay tuned for 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!

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

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

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

Lub D Hostels & Lub D Makati

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

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

Location & Access

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

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

Room Options

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

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

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

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

Guest Facilities & Amenities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Experiences

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.