General Info

[X Man]

A stunning and humorous report by the cunning stunt -- and very British in its absolute negativity. We'd have thought you could have led the Manila transportion rebellion yourself!

Backing up a bit to the Manila airport taxi situation, I was pleasantly surprised earlier this month when I flew Davao to Manila via Cebu pacific. There were three taxi queues (spelling?) and all three were clearly labeled. One was something like contract price, which I assumed would be the most expensive. Then there was yellow taxis which had a 70 pesos start. Then there was the line for regular taxis with a 30 peso start. I opted for the yellow taxi and ended up getting flagged just over 200 pesos to get to hotel near Robinsons Ermita. The guy drove well, didn't honk incessantly, didn't try to sell me his little sis, and actually helped me with my bag. I tipped well...much less stress than the old ordeal.

I can't recall, but wasn't it over 300 in the old days when they had a special counter with the fees written on the wall?

Maybe there are different systems in the different terminals so if you are a newcomer, please read previous posts as well.

I wonder if all that British complaining my be making a difference!!! Before you know it, there will be a special 1st class lane at MRT for people willing to pay a bit extra.

X

[Cunning Stunt]

Happened to me the first time, I stupidly thought I could do the same as I do in Europe and just turn up with my passport and they would match my details on the computer.

Hahaha - but this is The Philippines, chock full of little brown jobsworthies who are paid peanuts and who therefore display all the sense and initiative of trained monkeys. But there again, knocking back a rich foreigner is probably one of the few kicks that they enjoy in their sad, humdrum, little lives.

On a similar theme, I was fighting my way through the crowds (and it was not even rush hour) at Ayala MRT station yesterday and it occurred to me that this particular station must have being designed by a sadistic misanthrope or maybe more likely an architect who would find difficulty getting a job as a toilet cleaner in the west. It’s the main commuter station for the up market financial district and yet it is dull, gloomy, airless, dirty and with so many stupid design faults that it could be used as a role model of how not to build a transport facility. Climbing up from EDSA (no escalator to the first floor) the ticket concourse is way up in the sky even though the actual line is back down nearly back at street level. So you go up and you come down:D. Ticket machines exist but have not worked in living memory. So there are long snaking queues for the 3 or 4 harried ticket sellers and which apparently, at rush hour, extend all the way back down to EDSA. And then after all this, when you have got a ticket, its time to join another queue for the cursory and therefore pointless security check. Grrrrrrrr!!

I have nothing but admiration for the long suffering commuters who have to put up with this shit every day in sauna conditions, gulping in lungfuls of the fetid air that wafts up from EDSA . It must be a indication of the cheerful fatalism of the average Filipino that they tolerate this nonsense without more of them jnot running amok and engaging in a spot of commuter rage.

[Thaifun]

What an excellent summary and sums up perfectly my experiences there. Another thing to remember is that you can spend ages queuing at the entrance to the domestic terminal to get through security only to be turned away if you have not printed off your domestic flight details off the internet. Happened to me the first time, I stupidly thought I could do the same as I do in Europe and just turn up with my passport and they would match my details on the computer. If you do not have some printed confirmation from the internet or an actual ticket then forget about trying to get into the terminal. I then had to queue again to the airline desk for 40 minutes to get a printed receipt before re queueing to get into the domestic terminal. Probably the most frustrating experience I have ever had at any airport in my entire life

Pic up your luggage (never had any problem, actually pretty fast on international arrivals), change some money at the bank (exchange rate is better than at the money lenders in makati - especially if you arrive late), take the elevator or escalator to the departure level. DO NOT PAY THE OFFICIAL RATE at the arrival level. Tell the driver to put on the meter or refuse. 95% they oblige.

Depending on the terminal you have several choices. Centennial Terminal has a nice restaurant with acceptable food choices, just ask for it after you checked your luggage but before you walk through the final security check.

Terminal one has some fast food choices as has the new Terminal 3. If you have a longer wait, say 6-7 hrs. Take a cab to the next sogotel and rest, perhaps with some assistance.

Yes traffic is bad but not overwhelmingly if you stay nearby in pasig or makati.

No need to despair, its not like other places but the airport is actually in the city.

Makati should be around 120 -130 peso, Pasig less, always allow some variation for distances depending on the Terminal.

For intra-terminal transfers, you might do good to ask for the free shuttle. If your lucky it is right there waiting for you.

All Terminals offer very decent coffee at a price. The food choices are chain food or overpriced sandwiches. I paid a bit at Terminal 2 (Centennial) in the restaurant (canteen) but not too bad.

[Brymor]

It's easy. Just follow the the steps listed below:

1. First, accept the fact that it may be the worst, most screwed up airport in Asia, and perhaps beyond; that it's designed mindlessly, with no consideration for passengers. Once this idea is rooted firmly in your brain, proceed to step two:

2. Walk outside the international arrivals terminal--assuming that you have eventually found your bags--and flag down a decrepit, almost surely un-airconditioned, and probably filthy taxi; then ask the driver politely to take you to the next terminal; if you have several hours to kill you're pretty much screwed as there's nothing to do and you probably do not have time to go anywhere;

3. Flinch, and repress the urge to kill when the driver quotes you an absurd price for driving you and your luggage a couple of kilometers; make sure to enunciate your terminal choice clearly or you may wind up in the wrong place and have to repeat this semi-unwholesome experience;

4. Arrive at your new departure terminal and go through the hassles of screening, removing shoes, long lines and lack of service again--smile throughout it all cause you know that you're gonna get laid in but a few hours and the sex will push the hassles into irrelevance quickly;

5. Board plane for onward journey.

GE

What an excellent summary and sums up perfectly my experiences there. Another thing to remember is that you can spend ages queuing at the entrance to the domestic terminal to get through security only to be turned away if you have not printed off your domestic flight details off the internet. Happened to me the first time, I stupidly thought I could do the same as I do in Europe and just turn up with my passport and they would match my details on the computer. If you do not have some printed confirmation from the internet or an actual ticket then forget about trying to get into the terminal. I then had to queue again to the airline desk for 40 minutes to get a printed receipt before re queueing to get into the domestic terminal. Probably the most frustrating experience I have ever had at any airport in my entire life

[Member #3428]

I thought a shuttle bus was running between the terminals.

I took it once. Don't know the operating hours.

PR runs a shuttle between Term 1 and 2... when it runs... old beat up thing... supposed to be every 20 min or so but..............

[Buko Max]

I thought a shuttle bus was running between the terminals.

I took it once. Don't know the operating hours.

Yes you are correct sir!
Cebu Pacific operates a shuttle bus between terminal 1 and terminal 3.
I believe they stop service between 2:00 and 6:00 am.

[Devils 1]

Ok folks, I transit NAIA every other month atleast. I am going through what I call Aquino and Centennial all the time (others and it is officially called terminal 1 and terminal 2).

Tell him to go to Air Force One. It was made specifically for this situation. They have a baggage holding room there. It is close to the airport. The lineup there is absolutely spectacular. They have showers and steam rooms and the pre-sex massage is what everyone needs after a long flight. They also have a lounge there where he can hangout for free between pops if he would like to have more than one session! No brainer, yes it is expensive, but compared to sitting in the airport for 6 hours it is cheap.

[Broko]

I thought a shuttle bus was running between the terminals.

I took it once. Don't know the operating hours.

[Member #3428]

It's easy. Just follow the the steps listed below: GE

Dang we need to hang out, get over to Dusit you lazy bastard :D

It's been too long we haven't caught up.

[GoodEnough]

It's easy. Just follow the the steps listed below:

1. First, accept the fact that it may be the worst, most screwed up airport in Asia, and perhaps beyond; that it's designed mindlessly, with no consideration for passengers. Once this idea is rooted firmly in your brain, proceed to step two:

2. Walk outside the international arrivals terminal--assuming that you have eventually found your bags--and flag down a decrepit, almost surely un-airconditioned, and probably filthy taxi; then ask the driver politely to take you to the next terminal; if you have several hours to kill you're pretty much screwed as there's nothing to do and you probably do not have time to go anywhere;

3. Flinch, and repress the urge to kill when the driver quotes you an absurd price for driving you and your luggage a couple of kilometers; make sure to enunciate your terminal choice clearly or you may wind up in the wrong place and have to repeat this semi-unwholesome experience;

4. Arrive at your new departure terminal and go through the hassles of screening, removing shoes, long lines and lack of service again--smile throughout it all cause you know that you're gonna get laid in but a few hours and the sex will push the hassles into irrelevance quickly;

5. Board plane for onward journey.

GE

[Member #3428]

Yeah guys I got all this but the point was to make a thread for it or a sticky or such so people don't keep asking the same questions. Am I the only one who get's these types of emails from folks.

Here's a good map but some folks just refuse to believe..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NAIAMap.png

And I'm not a MNL / PI expert like you folks... So thought one of you with more experience then me should write up a good report on how to wade through the different terminals.

[Finrod]

I'm not well enough read to point to posts in ISG describing the airport layout, but it turns out that Google Maps now has excellent mapping for Metro Manila. Just enter Aquino International Airport, Manila, Philippines and zoom in. You will see Terminals 1, 2 & 3 clearly marked as well as the Domestic Terminal which is separate. You can even get the satellite pictures of the area. And as anyone capable of reading a map can see, these terminals are not set up for easy access to each other. Gotta run outside and take a taxi or shuttle between them. If your ISG buddy can't read a map, he's beyond our help...

Regarding running out for an ST then returning for the 4am flight: your friend will need to wade through immigration and baggage pickup. Maybe customs too if they want to stop him. That can easily kill 60 to 90 minutes post-arrival. Then he has to get to Terminal 2 in time to check in for the 4am flight so practically speaking, he's got maybe 3 1/2 hours at most. If he's taking luggage with him, I would say the best thing to do would be to try Air Force One. Search Manila reports for it; it is in Paranaque not too far from the terminal, a lot closer than LA Cafe. Won't be as cheap as LA Cafe, but at least he's almost guaranteed to get some and it will be easy to take the luggage to the room there. LA Cafe is hit or miss, might not have anyone doable by his standards at the time he's there.

[Buko Max]

Maybe I'm wrong.. what other options does he have??

Tell him to check out Air Force One!

[Vandaddio]

Go to Date in asia.com and it is free, just watch for the ladyboys, scammers and girls who delete their ad and repost it just so it will say "New":D

Robb

Hey Robb, thanks for the site, lots of girls.

Now I just need the wallet and the time for them.

I don't want marraige, just want to meet them when I get there, and date them. Maybe better than pay 4 fuk?

I'm not sure how Phillipinas are and how many dates it will take to bury the sausage?

[Member #3428]

Ok folks, I transit NAIA every other month atleast. I am going through what I call Aquino and Centennial all the time (others and it is officially called terminal 1 and terminal 2).

I DO NOT NEED INFO

I do this all the time but I've had about 8 pm's recently with an ISG member who is pretty much doing his cherry trip to Cebu and I've shown him wiki maps, wiki reports, etc... describing to him the conditions of international arrival then moving over to PR flights out of centennial. He's coming in on JAL at Terminal 1 at 10 pm and leaving at 4 am or so on PR to cebu.

He still wants to think that he is landing at an airport like BKK or Narita and has options but really NAIA with the 3 terminals and then the old domestic one is not set up to play nice between the terminals.

He is talking about hitting LA cafe... but doesn't think he'll have his luggage with him, he is talking about running into town but again his luggage, he thinks he might stay in the JAL lounge in Term 1 which doubt at 10 pm and that he is arriving itnernational he's going to immigration immediately, etc...

I've told him he's sitting his arse outside terminal 1, he can taxi or shuttle over to terminal 2 and checking in maybe or sitting his arse outside terminal 2 waiting for check in, he can walk down to airport hotel for a shower / stretch / arrange a girl there or all the above, he can taxi into a nicer hotel (risk traffic accidents or delays but why waste the time / money on a nice hotel if he has 4 or so hours only), or he can take his luggage into a bar and stand out like a sore thumb.

Maybe I'm wrong.. what other options does he have?? Me, I get a room and a girl as I have 9 pm arrival and next day 10 am departure at the earliest or a 2 pm departure at the latest so I got more time then him.

Since his search function is broken I DID DO A SEARCH and maybe I did not use the right search terms or definitions, and with so many posts I'll admit I did not RTFF looking for a post on the Airport operations as I wanted to point him to something in the Philippines ISG section so he might understand better. I looked in reports of distinction and nothing there. Maybe I'm blind so hopefully someone can point to a good post on the airport operations so I can show to these guys who keep PMing me. I can't believe there is not a thread / sticky on this issue as MNL is more messed up in airport operations then other places in SEA. Don't you more experienced PI guys get a lot of PM's over this issue ???

SO CAN SOMEONE point me to a good post on this to prove to the guy that Terminal 1 is NOT connected to Terminal 2 and / or do a thread of the definitive airport guide for arrivals, transits etc... for NAIA. I'll put in my two peso's opinion worth as I'm an international arrival with international departure term 1 to term 2 and in reverse also every other month.

I get these questions alot and people on their cherry trips seem to believe they land at terminal one and depart terminal two and it's connected or they transfer items for you or such.... And then I end up having 10 + pm's trying to get the idea through their head that they are not understanding but they just don't get it.