How long does it take to get thru customs in Manila?
If you aren't leaving terminal and going to Cebu, how does that work?
Thanks,
Don
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How long does it take to get thru customs in Manila?
If you aren't leaving terminal and going to Cebu, how does that work?
Thanks,
Don
If you fly philippine airlines you arrive at the new PAL terminal, separate from the other monstrosity (Aquino terminal).
You arrive and depart same terminal if with PAL. On 20 or so arrivals at this new terminal I have found they do not check your bags etc, just ask "anything to declare". You do not pick up bags at manila, they place on cebu flight for you.
3 min walk from intl exit door to Pal domestic departure terminal. Same complex/building. PAL make sure plane does not leave until intl passengers flying Pal have boarded domestic flight. Had it happen to me once.
IF arriving at Aquino terminal on another airline, immigration can be slow, then baggage handling onto carousel can be slow, cause lots more passengers arriving at that terminal. Sometimes even if you pass through nothing to declare they might ask you to open up, then hassle of getting from intl to domestic with your baggage via taxi whatever, including rip off fare. If me, I would allow minimum of an hour and a half from time plane lands at Aquino Terminal to time of checking in bags at PAL terminal.
Any talk about PAL being a shitty intl airline is mostly talk. Travelled with them for 35yrs now. They are ok, and more than ok if your destination is Cebu.
In my opinion, it certainly is shitty if your destination is Cebu and you arrive in Manila on an airline other than PAL.
It depends on whether other flights have come in near the same time. Last trip three flights came in right around the same time. Customs was crowded but it took less time than immigration. Immigration 20 minutes, customs 5 minutes.
[QUOTE=Desert Don]How long does it take to get thru customs in Manila?
If you aren't leaving terminal and going to Cebu, how does that work?
Thanks,
Don[/QUOTE]
Don, getting through immigration and customs really depends as mentioned on how many flights land around the same time. I've been on the same flight in and one time it was a mad house and took forever on immigration. The next time there was no waiting. The computer systems for immigration seem real slow. It's a crap shoot. I kind of doubt you'll be leaving to Cebu out of the international airport, and I believe you'll need to somehow get transportation to the domestic terminal. I don't think you can just walk over to it like other airports.
[QUOTE=Key Master]Don, getting through immigration and customs really depends as mentioned on how many flights land around the same time. I've been on the same flight in and one time it was a mad house and took forever on immigration. The next time there was no waiting. The computer systems for immigration seem real slow. It's a crap shoot. I kind of doubt you'll be leaving to Cebu out of the international airport, and I believe you'll need to somehow get transportation to the domestic terminal. I don't think you can just walk over to it like other airports.[/QUOTE]Thanks, doesn't Cebu Pacific and PAL fly from Int'l airport to Cebu?
Don
I am flying PAL to Manila. My understanding now is that they come into their own terminal. If I get ticket to Cebu does PaL fly there or is it Air Philippines? Thanks...Don
[QUOTE=Desert Don]I am flying PAL to Manila. My understanding now is that they come into their own terminal. If I get ticket to Cebu does PaL fly there or is it Air Philippines? Thanks...Don[/QUOTE]
Yes PAL has their own terminal but I would never recommend anybody fly PAL.
Cebu Pacific is located in the domestic terminal and has a shuttle bus to the main terminal.
Both airlines have numerous flights to Cebu everyday.
Air Philippines does not fly to Cebu from Manila.
I just bought ticket with PAL to Cebu and was told on here that their flights to Manila go to their own terminal and domestic flights leave there also,When the e-tocket was issued it show Manila Int'l termianal for departure not PAL terminal???? Don
I guess everyone's experience with airlines is slightly different, but I avoid Cebu Pacific as much as possible. Living in Davao, and going to Manila once or twice a month, I never fly anything but PAL, which, for me, has far superior service, is more likely to be on time, has a more gracious flight crew and cleaner planes. Also, I cannot stand the cramped, dark old domestic terminal in Manila used by Cebu Pacific. Of course, this may change if the Philippines ever succeeds in opening the "new" NAIA terminal which has been under construction for about four or five years and whose failure to open is emblematic of the country's complete incompetence to manage much of anything.
PAL has made a concerted effort to improve over the past couple of years and, to my mind, it's paid off handsomely. It's also got one of the better frequent flier programs in the world.
I’d have to agree with Goodenough. You do NOT want to transfer to Cebu Pacific as Mattrick recommends. It’s a completely different terminal which is miles away and the service with Cebu Pacific is subpar compared to PAL. It sounds like you are coming in from the west coast of the U.S. which means you only have to get through customs and take a very short walk to PAL’s domestic terminal. In addition there are several flights per day to Cebu on PAL with the first flight leaving only a couple hours after your arrival from the west coast. I can only assume Mattrick has not traveled with PAL in several years as their service has improved dramatically. They also will be taking delivery of a fleet of 777’s next year which means no more refueling in Guam coming in from LAX or SFO.
I've only ever flown Cathay Pacific to either Manila or Cebu from SFO or LAX.Theres very little price difference from either or to either.Cebu is usually about 50 usd more round trip which is much cheaper then booking separately on another airline for the MNL CEB run.I totally agree with GE on using pal domestically there.I used to use cebu pac and the service was great but since they bought the new planes its gone down hill,they never seem to be on time for anything. 5 of the last 6 flights I took on them were 1 hour or more late.I looked yesterday punching in a random date for a next month departure from LAX to CEB 1094 usd round trip thats buying it directly from the cathay site.
Goose
I've RTFF for what seems like months now. The anticipation of my virgin trip to Manila in May is killing me. Still copying, pasting and resorting info currently, but need someone with local experience to comment on the following before I make firm hotel/travel plans:
I arrive into Manila on PAL at, of all times, 5AM on a Friday. I assume it will be almost 6AM before I'm in a taxi. What (or a better question is Who) is there to do at 6AM? Can I even check into a hotel this early? My first instinct is to go for a ST room at a Sogo or Victoria Court type of property (doesn't even need to be in Pasay City), but where / can I find a girl at this time in the morning? Sex, food and sleep. That's what I'll need after stepping off the plane.
Worst case, if I'm considering a trip to AC later in the following week, do I just buck up now and go from the airport to a bus to AC? Ugh, if this was Costa Rica I'd know exactly what, and who, to do!
Any suggestions you can offer are much appreciated guys. Patience is not my strong suit and waiting several hours to experience the heaven that is a filipina (see, I've been reading! ) won't go over well with my 'boys'.
Can someone fill in the blanks as to where this area is located? I have the Metro Manila Street Guide so even an intersection would help.
[QUOTE=Mediboy]I was in the PI for work in November and spent 5 days in Manila. Did not venture in the Makati area beyond work since I dont like the concept and prices there.
Spent time (and had fun and girls) in the Ermita area at the usual bars extensively discussed in this Forum so not much to ad. Only to emphasize again how crowded LA can get and the fact that I always experienced very good music in most bars in the area.
What I d like to actually ad is that I have ventured to the bustling nightlife area of Malate further out from Ermita for which I have read next to nothing in the Forum and I think it definitely deserves more attention. Beyond the fact that I found it the most lively and pleasant area in town, there are dozens of bars and clubs whith plenty of willing freebies and many students (got lucky with one implying i ll be staying long in town shame on me) as well as passing by many apparent hostess bars or bars that seem that action was talking place. Only passed by 2 nights there but I m sure it s worth further exploring, especially from the ones living there.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=El Fuego] I arrive into Manila on PAL at, of all times, 5AM on a Friday. I assume it will be almost 6AM before I'm in a taxi. What (or a better question is Who) is there to do at 6AM? Can I even check into a hotel this early? My first instinct is to go for a ST room at a Sogo or Victoria Court type of property (doesn't even need to be in Pasay City), but where / can I find a girl at this time in the morning? Sex, food and sleep. That's what I'll need after stepping off the plane.[/QUOTE]Some on the forum will suggest that you just take off immediately for AC. There are apparently various limousine services that will get you there most any time of the day as long as they know to expect you at the airport.
What I'm going to suggest here is how to make the best of the Manila scene early in the morning. I suspect the only mongering site open at that time in the morning is LA Cafe. It is open 24 hurs, and, amazingly, there are usually freelancers there at that time. Make reservations at one of the hotels near LA Cafe and communicate in advance with them so they know to hold a room for you for a 6:30 am arrival. Since checkout time for these places is usually noon, they will charge you a full night's tab even though you use the place less than six hours. X Man had a good posting recently in the Manila hotels thread about lots of hotels in the Ermita area with contact numbers and some web addresses. I and others have also posted information with other hotel details recently. I know that Executive Plaza and maybe a couple others have special shuttle service from the cab stand at the airport, and when you check in with them at the airport they'll call ahead to the hotel to let them know you're enroute.
It'll take about 20-30 minutes by cab from the airport to the Ermita area. If you check into the hotel first, you can make a spontaneous decision about whether you need sleep more than sex. If the latter is the order of the morning, walk the three blocks or so over to LA Cafe and scope out the array of available freelancers. I left a long post in Dragan Slayer's forum about a week ago that describes exactly what to expect at LA. Lots of guys have posted information about usual prices. If you see something you like, take her back to the hotel room and check out the bed springs.
If, on the other hand, you decide you need sleep, just set the alarm for noon or so and head for LA Cafe when you get up. Lots of places to eat in the Ermita area. Mostly not high end places, but passable. There are also a few familiar name Western fast food places.
I hope this helps.
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[QUOTE=El Fuego]Can someone fill in the blanks as to where this area is located? I have the Metro Manila Street Guide so even an intersection would help.[/QUOTE]Ermita is a neighborhood in the city of Manila bounded by Rizal Park on the North, Manila Bay on the West, Taft Avenue on the East, and Pedro Gil on the South. It's only about seven blocks one way by nine blocks the other. Malate is the area immediately South of Ermita. Ermita is essentially a red-light district; this is where LA Cafe is located, Amazonia, G-Point, several other mongering bars and karaoke joints, and the mongering hotels that X Man and others have described. Malate is a night club district, although there are elements of both types of activity in both neighborhoods. Pedro Gil is the dividing line between Ermita and Malate. Remedios Circle, about three blocks South of Pedro Gil is sort of center ground for nightclubs in the Malate area. The Circle is at the intersection of Remedios Avenue and M. Adriatico. About another four blocks further South, between Adriatico and Mabini, is Harrison Plaza, a rundown mall that seems to have independents hanging out looking to get picked up.