General Info

[ForkTruck]

My experience with PAL ticket office at NAIA. Pal operates a ticketing office on the 2nd or 3rd floor (can't remember which) of the airport. I went there to inquire about a later date ticket issue. The office area is large with seating for 100+ customers. A security guard gives you a number when you enter and the agents call you to their window in order. There are about 12 windows although only 3 agents on duty. Very, Very slow, I gave up after waiting 45 minutes and left along with many others. Tried again another day and I was determined to make it and had a book to read. It Took 90 minutes to reach a window. Take Away is PAL has no interest in customer service at NAIA, In Cebu City there are a couple of off aiport PAL ticket offices I've used and always good fast service. YMMV. I was burnt once by PAL changing an International reservation moving departure out 10 days, Cost me as much as a new ticket and original cost was gone, "Sorry Sir that's' our policy" It's a scam. Learned not to make a reservation until very sure I want that date, their statement about change fees being X are false. To use PAL Air Miles; Reservations within 5 days of departure cost money plus miles. The money is virtually the cost of the flight without using the miles but of course they take the miles. Another PAL scam. I'll get off my soap box now!

[WestCoast1]

Flight switching / CP-PAL / bait-switch.

Few months ago, flew from the province to Manila on CP. Took one of my regulars as a gift (to her, and to me). Purchased myself a 4-week round-trip ticket (staying the middle two weeks in AC), and the girl a 6-day (5 nights) round-trip ticket, from a CP ticketing office. Paid an extra p350 for each ticket to get what the ticketing agent said were exit-row seats (27 Bravo and 27 Charlie). I was later emailed a change of flight, for later in the day, with a new record-locator (MP5 ZDW, or such). I checked in online and got our boarding passes before going to the airport. I noticed that the seats changed to 28 Bravo and 28 Charlie. Well, there went my exit row (additional legroom) seats. When I got to the airport and checked in, I was assured by the checkin agent that row 28 on this aircraft were exit row seats. All good.

When we got on the aircraft and reached row 27, I noticed that was the exit row (literally, there is a door in the wall, and seat A is missing) with lots of legroom. Row 28 was a standard seat, no extra legroom. I questioned that with the flight attendant. A whopping admission of a scam: "Yes sir. This row 28 is standard seats". But I purchased exit row seats for extra money. "Yes sir. But if you check your emailed receipt, you will see you now have a standard seat". Miss, you are making my case. I purchased an exit row seat. "But sir if you check your receipt you will see we changed it to standard later". I see. When do I get my p350 +350 back? "What?" I want my money back. CP charged my credit card immediately when I purchased, for the full amount of +p700. I want back the 700. "Oh. Really?" She said it like a refund was a novel idea. "Sir I don't know about that. Can you show me the receipt in email? It will have an item by item purchase price".

I logged into my email on the phone, went back a week or two, found the emailed receipt. She was right, it showed the seats charged at p260 for Standard Seats. But that couldn't be correct. The amount on my CC hadn't changed. I also noticed that while I was emailed a confirmation from CP at the time of purchase, the actual receipt was sent to my email 5 days after I made the original purchase. Here is the FA's confession of a crime: "Sir you see there is some delay in when we send you a receipt". Yes, 5 days from the date of purchase. "Yes sir. That's why". Ma'am the delay doesn't explain the change of seat, nor the price discrepancy. "Sir it does explain. They send the receipt days later. Because some flights will cancel from not enough seats sold. They will move you to another flight. If your 27 Bravo and 27 Charlie is already taken on that new flight, you will get different seats sir". I see, miss. Then where is my refund? Its small, but its p90 per seat. "Yes sir". Why didn't they credit that back to my CC? "You will have to complain in Manila sir but I think it won't work as we emailed you about this". Grrrr. Also miss, you saying that they wait until they have time to switch aircraft, knowing in advance that they will do that, is indicative of fraud if they know they are keeping money from more expensive seat sales. "Not me sir". No, the company. "Yes. Sorry po". Miss, if I hadn't brought this to your attention, would they return the money to me? "No sir I think not".

She said all of this with a well-trained look: a coat-hangar stuffed inside of her mouth to force a smile. In addition, how could the check-in agent at the airport be wrong about row 28 being an exit row? Its either a big misunderstanding on my behalf, or its all a scam. Decide for yourself.

But, the party is not over. The hits keep on coming. I decided to stay a few extra days, so I cancelled my CP flight and kept the money in my account. Looking for a later flight, I found a better / cheaper one on PAL. On PAL, I'd purchased exit row seat mid-aircraft. But when I checked in online the day prior, the boarding pass said I was seated one row back (ye old Standard seat). I went online to the chatbot, and after about 20 minutes, DING! I'd reached a live chat operator. I explained the switch. "Yes sir that is Standard seats. Sir I have one exit row seat in the front of the aircraft open, 21 Bravo. Will you like that? Extra legroom". Yes! Problem solved, right? "Sir its p76 more. I will send you a link. Click it and pay with your credit card". But I already paid p320 for the previous exit row seat. "Sorry po its required". So I paid the p76 and got switched to 21 Bravo. All good, right? In this instance, PAL personnel were able to fix the bad situation, but keep in mind that PAL also caused the problem. Also keep in mind that the boarding pass on the phone is small, it would have been easy to not see the incorrect similar seat and row, and not caught the problem until boarding (too late to fix).

These are bait / switch. Also, on CP when purchasing, you can choose a seat by viewing an aircraft seat map (see pic). On their equipment, the seatmap shows yellow seats for exit row. If you mouse-over any of the yellow seats, it says: "Exit Row. You must be at least 15, and be able to help in an emergency, extra legroom, blah blah". At row 27, you will see the exit rows in yellow. Also in yellow are rows 28 and 29. You get the same mouse-over message. You also pay extra for these, thinking they are extra legroom and actual exit rows. However when you board, 28 and 29 are just standard seats. You will need to fly to Manila to complain.

OTOH, I have since flown on PAL, purchased an exit row seat (no longer called exit row, now called COMFORT) and got it when I boarded.

[Goferring]

I am far from a PI expert and I hope those with much more experience will weigh in, but figuring out travel in and to the PI can make a big difference in a trip, so I want to give my recent experience and get thoughts:



On my upcoming trip I am doing a bunch of island hopping. Some of it date sensitive. And I appreciate hearing thoughts.

Errol.

I've only ever had one CP Domestic flight cancelled and they couldn't have been better about it. It was going to be the last flight of the day so they rebooked to the first flight the next morning, gave girlie and I a half decent hotel near the airport for the night, a couple of meal vouchers and redeemable flight vouchers. I think it was $100 each (remember we still kept a flight). Yes, they are a budget airline but they will give you what ever you are prepared to pay for. Lots of baggage allowance if you need it. They also go to many smaller airports. Tickets are cheap if booked normally and can be ridiculously cheap if booked well ahead. On a bad day they can be strict on carry on weights and contents. Lots of domestic flights out of Terminal 3 in NAIA which is the best terminal by far. Occasionally out of Terminal 4 which is probably the worst.

PAL should be the premier airline but you wouldn't know it. Yes, prices are all over the place. Multiples of other carriers or occasionally very cheap. Surprisingly, the worst connections to smaller tourist airports. The best if you insist on Business Class.

Yes, Air Asia is Malaysian and super budget. No frills but like CP, if you pay they will provide. Greatest baggage allowance if you use regular + sporting goods. I've found them good for on time performance but be prepared to walk repeated laps of the airport as gate changes are frequent.

I can't comment on West Coast flight options but would recommend just plugging your city into Google Travel / Flights and it will bring up a heap of options and indicative pricing. Don't rule out international arrival into Clark as an option.

If island hopping, remember that PI routes operate on a hub and spoke model so try to avoid doing repeated legs in and out of MNL or CEB. I always look up my intended airports on Wikipedia and it will give direct flights to and from. You can then try to order the stops in a circuit. I often use this as an excuse to pass through Davao, AC and Cebu too.

When you have an idea of preferred flights, I'd recommend booking direct with the airlines online. Using travel agents or aggregators adds another later of complexity and he said / she said if there are any problems.

Enjoy your trip. G.

P.S. Watch out for smaller airports, serviced by turbo props, having paltry baggage limits. 10 or 15 kgs isn't unusual.

[WestCoast1]

My experience with PAL was a mid-grade airline. Sort of like a domestic United flight 20 years ago. Check in was awful. and when I finally got to the front of the line the agent was clueless. Then you go to LAX's horrible new terminal and wait. Boarding was a chaotic mess and we took off 45 minutes late. The staff (being Filipino_ were friendly and polite and the female ones were mostly lookers. I can't judge the dudes. They had the little extras like small blankets and pillows and night kits. The technology on the plane was abysmal. Meals were 1990's domestic level, but we were fed plenty and got a few drinks. Not horrible, but certainly not great.

Rather a spot-on description. Fly KAL, Asiana, or ANA if you want solid service. PAL's checkin is much faster than a deccade a year ago, but is till one of the slowest in the biz.

You really needed to be there three hours in advance

Same for all airlines at the Bradley terminal. Flights going across the Pacific pond are usually 14+ hours, 300+ passengers, with 45 minute boarding times. Given the 20-60 minutes it might take you to get from the checkin counter thru the security checkpoints at LAX, and the 1-hour it takes to check in 300+ passengers, you'd be in the gutsy category to show up 2 hours before flight (given you must be at the gate 45 minutes before the flight).

On the way back they cancelled my flight. They auto rebooked me on a flight at a terrible time, but it wasn't hard to go online and choose a flight I liked. I left a day late which might not work for some of you but it didn't bug me too much.

For my upcoming (November) trip the lowest LAX-MNL RT prices were about $1000 but required a 10 hour lay over in Istanbul. Maybe some day, but not now, The same PAL flight I took before was about $1500, or I could fly a combination of Starluxe and Eva for about $1350-$1400. Any thoughts on the best way to get from the US West Coast to the PI?

You have hit the issues. Flying west across the Pacific is more expensive and less time-consuming. In general, plan about $800 USD each way. Only PAL offers a direct (nonstop) flight. Others offer layovers of 2+ hours in Taiwan, HK, Japan, Seoul. Plan on about $1400-$1500 USD Round-Trip for those 1-stops, and about $1700 for PAL's direct flights.

So far I have booked three flights with Cebu Pacific / Cebugo and two have been cancelled. Full disclosure. Two of those flights were for my PI GF but I booked them and got all the communications. My impression is that Cebu Pacific is running a bait and switch scam. They list all sorts of flights at good prices, but then they cancel half of them and move you to a flight they want to fill up (not the next flight).

See below. Its bait / switch.

PAL Domestic: thyere aren't a lot of domestic flights on PAL and sometimes (not always) they are much pricier than the other airlines. I didn't think it was a first class airline, but is it better than the oprions?

I find PAL cancels (and offers) fewer flights. CP seems to float more flights daily in / out of this or that province than PAL, but CP then cancels some of them after you book. They don't contact you with the cancel and ask that you contact them to rebook the flight of your choice*; the CP computer just re-books you on a similar flight a day or so later (rather rude). Also PAL flights are typically p1-2 k more per leg.

* If you want to buy a ticket directly from CP, you must choose: #1) Go to a CP ticketing office. If you press the CP ticketing agent (dressed in a yellow CP shirt), he will confess that its not really a CP ticketing office. Its an intermediate travel agency, dealing only with CP flights. The agent works for the travel agent, not CP. If something goes wrong, or you want to change your flight, you must go back to the same ticketing office to make any changes (you might not be able to go to a different CP ticketing office). There is no longer a phone number to call. Or #2) You can book on the CP website directly. However if something changes or goes wrong, you can't go to said ticketing office (#1) for help. Said agent will tell you to make any changes online. You must go back the CP website and 'Manage' your booking. Re-booking might cost you a fee (depending on how you originally purchased) and they will hit you with an increase for the price difference of the new flight (you must agree to that and pay up front before they allow you to proceed). If you want to speak to a real CP agent: GOOD LUCK. On occasion I have reached one on the website (there is a virtual chat-bot, and if you persist for 30+ minutes, they might transfer you to a live chat agent; or maybe not). CP and PAL have nearly completely eliminated live phone (and email) support. If you ask the agent at a CP ticketing office how you can get live help for a problem you are having from a CP website purchase, he will tell you to fly to NAIA and speak to someone at CP there. No kidding. CP ticketing agents (the yellow shirts who don't really work for CP) have also shared that the CP website is run by a third-party company, and that CP really has little to do with that also. Its amazing how consumer-unfriendly and sneaky they are.

Another CP and PAL possible scam, coming to the Gen Info thread, soon. Smile!

[Aml3740]

I live in Honolulu. The flights direct on PAL to Manila are 1800-2000 round trip. I have been flying JAL, ANA, or Korean Air instead. All have a layover, but it is usually no more than two hours and then on to Manila. And the service on them is far and above any US airline.

I have only flown on Cebu Pacific domestically in Philippines. I haven't had any trouble with them personally. CebGo flights tend to be cheaper turboprop planes. I've booked on them a few times but had them combined with a Cebu Pacific jet instead. No issue. I had a flight delayed due to weather a couple of months ago due to weather in Manila and they gave me two domestic flight vouchers, including my baggage. I have nothing bad to say about them personally. And their flight attendants are definitely on the upper end of lookers, IMO.

[Errol Flynn]

I am far from a PI expert and I hope those with much more experience will weigh in, but figuring out travel in and to the PI can make a big difference in a trip, so I want to give my recent experience and get thoughts:

International: For my first trip to the PI last spring I chose Philippine Airlines (PAL), mostly because they have a direct flight from LAX, it was $100-$200 more than other options but I thought it worth it.

My experience with PAL was a mid-grade airline. Sort of like a domestic United flight 20 years ago. Check in was awful. You really needed to be there three hours in advance and when I finally got to the front of the line the agent was clueless. Then you go to LAX's horrible new terminal and wait. Boarding was a chaotic mess and we took off 45 minutes late. The staff (being Filipino_ were friendly and polite and the female ones were mostly lookers. I can't judge the dudes. They had the little extras like small blankets and pillows and night kits. The technology on the plane was abysmal. Meals were 1990's domestic level, but we were fed plenty and got a few drinks. Not horrible, but certainly not great.

On the way back they cancelled my flight. They auto rebooked me on a flight at a terrible time, but it wasn't hard to go online and choose a flight I liked. I left a day late which might not work for some of you but it didn't bug me too much.

For my upcoming (November) trip the lowest LAX-MNL RT prices were about $1000 but required a 10 hour lay over in Istanbul. Maybe some day, but not now, The same PAL flight I took before was about $1500, or I could fly a combination of Starluxe and Eva for about $1350-$1400. Those are both highly rated Taiwan based airlines. But meant a signoficant layover in Taiwan on both trips. Not sure it was the right choice, but I decided to roll the dice with PAL again. FWIW the LAX-MNL PAL flight arrives at 5:40 am (actually 6:30 last time) so there is an early check in issue. Central Park AC has some secret provisions for that I may try to share later.

Any thoughts on the best way to get from the US West Coast to the PI?

Domestic:

So far I have booked three flights with Cebu Pacific / Cebugo and two have been cancelled. Full disclosure. Two of those flights were for my PI GF but I booked them and got all the communications. My impression is that Cebu Pacific is running a bait and switch scam. They list all sorts of flights at good prices, but then they cancel half of them and move you to a flight they want to fill up (not the next flight). On the first Cancellation they canned my GF's flight to Butuan and moved it to the next day. Okay if that's rare. But then it happened to me! I had booked a flight for both of us to fly to Boracay on November 17th at 12:55 pm (a gentlemanly hour). They automatically switched me to 8 am on November 19th. But I prepaid for a Boracay hotel starting the 17th! That ain't going to fly. So I looked at their website and they have seats available on a 2:10 Nov 17 flight nonstop to Boracay (MPH). It's just that they're priced higher than what I paid a month ago. On their website they didn't even give me an option of switching to that flight for a fee! They just offered for me to confirm the new flight they had chosen or "request a refund". Obviously they want me to rebook at the new fare, but that's not why I booked early. There is an early morning flight on the 17th from Clark on Air Asia at a good price, or I can travel to MNL and ly on PAL mid afternoon at a fair price. I have written to Cebu asking them to move me to the 2:10 pm flight and will update this if I here back.

Air Asia: I have never booked on this airline, but the internet says it's a Malaysia based low budget airline with some Filipino investors and it soun DS like it's better than Cebu Pacific or Cebu Go. Any information appreciated.

PAL Domestic: thyere aren't a lot of domestic flights on PAL and sometimes (not always) they are much pricier than the other airlines. I didn't think it was a first class airline, but is it better than the oprions?

On my upcoming trip I am doing a bunch of island hopping. Some of it date sensitive. And I appreciate hearing thoughts.

Errol.

[LoveItHere]

Fellow mongers, I need your expert help in lady boy detection. I've chatting this girl I found on Pinalove and she looks pretty great, to me at least. But a couple of red flags.

- she has a bit of a deep voice.

- shares nude fotos of herself without even me asking.

- asked for "hot" photos of me, which I did not give.

Usually when something is too good to be true, it is indeed a ladyboy. I've videocalled with her very briefly for about 30 seconds where I do believe she is the person in the photos. She didn't look quite as good as in her photos, but most girls don't these days with all the filters going around. I've attached some photos. What do you think?

Your gut feeling is telling you something and you are not listening. This is very simple. If you ever have to question what it is then run away.

The test I like is for the person to not yell but to say something in a loud voice as if they are talking to you and you are across the room or across the street. At that decibel level they can not suppress their man voice from coming out. Most guys can sound like a little kid or girl at a low decibel level.

[Sam 14]

Fellow mongers, I need your expert help in lady boy detection. I've chatting this girl I found on Pinalove and she looks pretty great, to me at least. But a couple of red flags.

- she has a bit of a deep voice.

- shares nude fotos of herself without even me asking.

- asked for "hot" photos of me, which I did not give.

What do you think?

I didn't even look at the pictures, and I say yes. It's a dude just based on the hints you gave. If you want to be sure, just ask if he'll suck you. 😂.

[Jarango]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxNfEhP-EGk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MZuvC3tYnI

This 80 year old Brit is not in good nick. Lots of lessons here. 80 years old, arrivng in London with nothing. There was a film maybe 40 years ago, about taffy women keeping the fare home. The Pinays were good to him but waht a mess.

[D Cups]

Fellow mongers, I need your expert help in lady boy detection. I've chatting this girl I found on Pinalove and she looks pretty great, to me at least. But a couple of red flags.

- she has a bit of a deep voice.

- shares nude fotos of herself without even me asking.

- asked for "hot" photos of me, which I did not give.

Usually when something is too good to be true, it is indeed a ladyboy. I've videocalled with her very briefly for about 30 seconds where I do believe she is the person in the photos. She didn't look quite as good as in her photos, but most girls don't these days with all the filters going around. I've attached some photos. What do you think?

I'm guessing LB based on the tits are too perfect but I hope I'm wrong!

[Jarango]

Fellow mongers, I need your expert help in lady boy detection. I've chatting this girl I found on Pinalove

Most ladyboys will say right up what they are. They have plenty of customers and don't need your drama. The third photo is a pose which ladyboys have to do to look feminine. Many ladyboys look more feminine than ladies as they spend a LOT of money to get the look.

That and their medication makes them prone to scamming and violent crime. Sites like livejasmin allow them make serious bucks without that recourse.

It matters not whether it is a lady or a ladyboy. Offering you nudes is a red flag. Unless you want to marry her and have babies, yours or adopted, with her, move on.

There are all kinds of "spot the ladyboy" sites. They are as stupid as those kiddy ones of spotting the hidden tiger in the grass. If you really must know, ask a female hooker. They can spot them a miles off and many of them have admired ladyboys to me and told me how well they look and how hard it can be to spot them. But most on pinalove do not need your drama,.

[Albert9989]

Fellow mongers, I need your expert help in lady boy detection. I've chatting this girl I found on Pinalove and she looks pretty great, to me at least. But a couple of red flags.

- she has a bit of a deep voice.

- shares nude fotos of herself without even me asking.

- asked for "hot" photos of me, which I did not give.

Usually when something is too good to be true, it is indeed a ladyboy. I've videocalled with her very briefly for about 30 seconds where I do believe she is the person in the photos. She didn't look quite as good as in her photos, but most girls don't these days with all the filters going around. I've attached some photos. What do you think?

All red flags here, looks like a LD, yes.

[Kazeu]

Fellow mongers, I need your expert help in lady boy detection. I've chatting this girl I found on Pinalove and she looks pretty great, to me at least. But a couple of red flags.

- she has a bit of a deep voice.

- shares nude fotos of herself without even me asking.

- asked for "hot" photos of me, which I did not give.

Usually when something is too good to be true, it is indeed a ladyboy. I've videocalled with her very briefly for about 30 seconds where I do believe she is the person in the photos. She didn't look quite as good as in her photos, but most girls don't these days with all the filters going around. I've attached some photos. What do you think?

[GDreams]

I avoid the aggregators and too good to be true, bargain prices flights. The dramas should flights be rerouted, delayed or cancelled just isn't worth it. Especially as all of these are now more common than before.

Prices of flights booked direct with the airlines also vary wildly with dirt cheap flights occasionally available. Google Flights is a good option here. Punch in the intended departure and arrival airport and I can search flight and prices several months ahead. It's not unusual to see prices vary by 300% at different times of the year. Obviously, stay away from major holidays and school breaks.

Enjoy. G.

I've used aggregators regularly without a drama. The problems arrive if there is a missed connection or cancellation. The airlines treat it as booked by and agent and many won't deal with you directly. Buy insurance with the money saved.

[AggieDad1]

There is a "new" one there where a Chinese chick (yeah right) befriends you as you are interesting (if she wants to know what it is like to talk to a guy who had his dick in 10000+ hookers). "She" plays the long game and get you into crypto and then hits you hard. I spoke to a digital nomad who said those scams are only the shallow end of the pool and there are some real experts floating about. The 101 is if a chick wants to see dick, run.

This is called the "pig slaughter" scam in China. It has been around for awhile in China and is now going world wide. These are very sophisticated operations. As you said, they play the long game. A lot is known about you before first contact is even made. These people are well trained and very good at what they do. I have been contacted through Wechat, but sinse Chinese friends warned me first I just ignore any contacts from people I don't know. Not surprising that they would be branching out to other platforms.