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[Member #4387]

Doesn't SM already own Philippine Airlines? It is one of the worst run airlines. If they did true competition, they could not survive for a single day. I wonder how they could run an airport.

My best bet is, and I agree that phil airlines are shitty company, they could become major player in Asia if they changed out all their (atleast many of them) top people with people actually are skilled in running an airline. The top CEO in ie Emirates is British, he got the job bcs arabs don't know squat about operating in an internationally aviation environment.

My bet would be also head people in Ethiad, Qatar and Gulf Air are from developed countries. Head in Cathay and other major players around the globe are skilled in aviation. I even know Air China, China Southern, Hainan etc have western people in the top managment(maybe not the CEO level but to acually run their airlines). To me, travelling sometimes biz class by phil airlines to BKK, it seems they don't give a shit. Maybe, if some of you fine gents have flown Phil airline long haul to Paris or London, you can correct me. But a B777 or an A330 is the same flying between BKK MNL as MNL CDG / LHR. Don't make me want to book their service for anlonger flight than 3 hrs. The aircraft itself beeing modern and all that is ok but they by far don't have the servicelevel in Biz class we can get used to in the western world (and how many westerns like the chicken adobo?)...

[Ikksman]

Doesn't SM already own Philippine Airlines? It is one of the worst run airlines. If they did true competition, they could not survive for a single day. I wonder how they could run an airport.

Nope! From memory they bought a 49% holding in 2012, but recently sold it all. Not sure of the reasons (but could hazard a few guesses!).

[Mbsl65]

Doesn't SM already own Philippine Airlines? It is one of the worst run airlines. If they did true competition, they could not survive for a single day. I wonder how they could run an airport.

I would agree with you Skogis, except that about 2 years ago, or, maybe slightly more, San Mig approached the government with a complete design for a new airport in a new location. At it's own expense it had already done the preliminary surveys and most of the design work. The company was prepared to construct the facility at its own expense and then to operate it. The proposal never even got a serious hearing. Why? Because of the endless greed of the politicians, coupled with their total incompetence and utter lack of concern for the country's development. Amazing that Thailand managed to construct what is now rated as one of the world's best airports, a subway and monorail system and a system of beautiful elevated highways, and all within a period of about 15 years.

GE.

[GoodEnough]

I would agree with you Skogis, except that about 2 years ago, or, maybe slightly more, San Mig approached the government with a complete design for a new airport in a new location. At it's own expense it had already done the preliminary surveys and most of the design work. The company was prepared to construct the facility at its own expense and then to operate it. The proposal never even got a serious hearing. Why? Because of the endless greed of the politicians, coupled with their total incompetence and utter lack of concern for the country's development. Amazing that Thailand managed to construct what is now rated as one of the world's best airports, a subway and monorail system and a system of beautiful elevated highways, and all within a period of about 15 years.

GE.

[Member #4387]

I'd say you got lucky. However, your experience doesn't have much to do with the airport facilities which are subpar by a wide margin.

In contravention of your experience, today it took me a total of about 5 hours to travel from Davao to Manila, a distance of less than 1,000 km. This was not the fault of Cebu Pacifc which boarded the flight on time, and then we had to wait 30-40 minutes beyond scheduled departure time for clearance to be granted by Manila. Arriving over Manila, we had to circle for 40 minutes or so until space opened up on the single runway. Fortunately, I had reserved a hotel car which was waiting for me as I stepped out of the terminal. Had that not been the case, I would have been forced to join the queue of maybe 200 meters for a taxi, and by the way there were no taxis in evidence.

I've decided that, in the brilliant panoply of lights that are SE Asia, the Philippines is the burned out bulb.

GE.

And here you make a strong point. To go into a more detailed explenation why you have to circle / holding position as in not having landing clearance / not having take off clearance is due to aged tech systems by Naia. Their radars and ground handling sucks big time and only at Naia you have to wait for take off due to a landing one 3 min away. By then in modern airports atleast 2 simular sized aircrafts would be able to have taken off. At Naia you are stucked. Ofcourse sometimes you will experience holding positions arriving modern huge airports as well but not anything like the Naia one. Logistics and layouts here are old. I am sure they have a doppler radar somewhere, hehe. And the crossing runway for mostly props and light airbus takeoffs isn't making it easier in the airports dynamics.

I see the problem moving and construct a new airport, it is not like boiling hot dogs, as they need probably to move it to another location. I guess just people in charge here are more worried filling their own, and the familes / friends, pockets with money so development have to rest until a real change in gouverning can happen.

[GoodEnough]

I have no complaints. I arrived at t3 Saturday evening and got through immigration and customs with only a two minute wait. Not counting walking time. 300 p got me to Tune with zero negotiating. I guess I have low expectations but I have never entered the US as fast or easy but I have only traveled out of the country 50 times or so.

I'd say you got lucky. However, your experience doesn't have much to do with the airport facilities which are subpar by a wide margin.

In contravention of your experience, today it took me a total of about 5 hours to travel from Davao to Manila, a distance of less than 1,000 km. This was not the fault of Cebu Pacifc which boarded the flight on time, and then we had to wait 30-40 minutes beyond scheduled departure time for clearance to be granted by Manila. Arriving over Manila, we had to circle for 40 minutes or so until space opened up on the single runway. Fortunately, I had reserved a hotel car which was waiting for me as I stepped out of the terminal. Had that not been the case, I would have been forced to join the queue of maybe 200 meters for a taxi, and by the way there were no taxis in evidence.

I've decided that, in the brilliant panoply of lights that are SE Asia, the Philippines is the burned out bulb.

GE.

[Naughty]

I have no complaints. I arrived at t3 Saturday evening and got through immigration and customs with only a two minute wait. Not counting walking time. 300 p got me to Tune with zero negotiating. I guess I have low expectations but I have never entered the US as fast or easy but I have only traveled out of the country 50 times or so.

[GoodEnough]

Is "best" compared with NAIA 1, 2 and 4 maybe but is definitely nowhere near international standards as the country aspires to be. Long way to go. The AC (aircon) at times never works, the people walkalators are always broken but I still use it to 'overtake' the slow movers and the selection of coffee shops is dreadful. But that said, I always use T3 but then I also travel a lot and make my assessments based on that also.

There is a shuttle but it is IMHO like a rugby scrum at times. The last time I took it (it was raining, no taxis, no choice) my bag was on top of my head while it felt like being in a overcrowded sardine can. Never again if it can be avoided.

The entire airport management needs to be replaced by people with experience and who care for passengers and in the Philippines that will be a very long time before such positive change occurs.

The simple truth is that there's nothing (short of demolition) that could transform NAIA into an airport that meets international standards. To do so would require the installation of one or two parallel runways, for which there's neither space nor money. Simultaneously, it would require the acquisition of new ground equipment, which was "supposed" to have been accomplished a decade ago until the funds allocated mysteriously disappeared. The other simple truth is that the politicians, motivated by a level of avarice that's awesome to behold, simply don't give a damn. So, this poor place will continue to slip ever further behind its more visionary ASEAN competitors many of which are investing billions of dollars in improving their air and sea transport systems.

The one faint hope for this place is that some national politicians will eventually listen to the offers from private companies--like San Miguel--to build new airports and / or subways and / or ports and to operate them as well. As such offers have already been, made and resoundingly rejected by the rapacious ignoramuses who run the country, such progress is unlikely.

GE.

[Wicked Roger]

much i was willing to pay and i told him 645piso just for fun. It was ok. I just informed him i did have a waiting
WG; i agree highly that NAIA airport as hole does not even deserve to be measured along with top notch intl ones like(HKG, PEK, SIN, BKK, PDG, etc). From reasons unkown to me Naia reminds me allways about the crazy and shitty Simon Bolivar intl Airport of Caracas, VE.

I have no idea but my speculation would be that the administration of NAIA knows very little about how to run an airport and probably are possitioned there as a gesture from beeing related or close friends to the rulers of Phils. Ie the cousin or whatever he is of the president beeing suddenly the CEO of Clark airport. Only in phils

Reminds me of some African airports (Djibouti springs to mind) plus the odd Soviet area terminals as well.

As for the speculation I think IMHO you are correct. Is correct and others on the forum have said similar about the management of the airport. The Clark thing is to do with another cousin or whatever being appointed to the board with no airline / airport / aviation experience. Nothing new in this country.

[Member #4387]

On my last trips I have also used Terminal 1 and even ef it is old and stinks in many ways if has one big pre these days and it is that many airlines have changed to T3 leaving T1 less crowded / less risk a widebody arriving ahead of you making immigration line long. Allways swift arrivals there lately qnd no lines whatsoever. I preplan the terminal of arrival based on where I start up my mongering. Ie if I stay City of Dream Hyatt or New World Manila Bay it is more convenient arriving T1 from a traffic point of view while in a taxi / hotel car. For my Makati stays I allways try hard to get my ass into T3. Another pre T1 has is that the pushy guys offering u taxi can not wait inside the terminal arrival area. They have to stand at the other side of the street. So they can not irritate u atleast until they can see u and they try to wave u down and scream out their offers. If u have hotelcar u can all quietly walk to the designated area without any hazzles. T3 is chaotic this way..
As a sidenote, since these guys irritates me, on a arrival into T3 a couple of trips ago i pretended i was interested in a mafiataxi(i did ofcourse allready have a hotelcar arranged). No people around as i was the first put of the terminal from my flight. He started with a topped up price as in 1800piso, i told him no. Hanging on to me while walking his next offer was 1200. Me still walking showing no interest he broke the price down to 1000. He soon gave in and asked how much i was willing to pay and i told him 645piso just for fun. It was ok. I just informed him i did have a waiting
WG; i agree highly that NAIA airport as hole does not even deserve to be measured along with top notch intl ones like(HKG, PEK, SIN, BKK, PDG, etc). From reasons unkown to me Naia reminds me allways about the crazy and shitty Simon Bolivar intl Airport of Caracas, VE. I have no idea but my speculation would be that the administration of NAIA knows very little about how to run an airport and probably are possitioned there as a gesture from beeing related or close friends to the rulers of Phils. Ie the cousin or whatever he is of the president beeing suddenly the CEO of Clark airport. Only in phils

[Wicked Roger]

Terminal 3 is the best terminal so far. I saw some of the other international airlines started using it also. KLM is one of them. I hope they can organize the airport based on the same standards and run somekind of a shuttle service between the terminals.

Is "best" compared with NAIA 1, 2 and 4 maybe but is definitely nowhere near international standards as the country aspires to be. Long way to go. The AC (aircon) at times never works, the people walkalators are always broken but I still use it to 'overtake' the slow movers and the selection of coffee shops is dreadful. But that said, I always use T3 but then I also travel a lot and make my assessments based on that also.

There is a shuttle but it is IMHO like a rugby scrum at times. The last time I took it (it was raining, no taxis, no choice) my bag was on top of my head while it felt like being in a overcrowded sardine can. Never again if it can be avoided.

The entire airport management needs to be replaced by people with experience and who care for passengers and in the Philippines that will be a very long time before such positive change occurs.

[Mbsl65]

Terminal 3 is the best terminal so far. I saw some of the other international airlines started using it also. KLM is one of them. I hope they can organize the airport based on the same standards and run somekind of a shuttle service between the terminals.

Had to laugh arriving into MNL T3 yesterday as the two latter years(maybe longer)the walkways / peoplemovers have been shut down/out of order(who knows). Maybe I am dreaming but I think I have seen one of them working one time and that's it. Normaly you can atleast walk on them as to overtake the slow moving crowd of newly arrived Koreans or to lessen the risk of beeing hit by them moving golf cabbies transporting lazy or injured people. Yesterday they had even blocked one of them walkways. I did put on a cheerful grind and I thought a kodakmoment would be appropriate.

On the plus side a smiley young immigration girl waved me over to the senior citizen booth(i hope not for viewing me as one no pun intended for the senior crowd pls)as there was a couple of people ahead of me in the business line. She looks in my passport and view numerous arrival / departure stamps from phils and gives me this nice cheeky smile. The fastest immigration officer ever handling my arrival. Beeing allready horny (I allways get a boner when the wheels touch down on the Naia runway) I thought about asking her number but on the other side that could turn out ugly so I let it rest. Picked up my bag(nr 3 on the belt) and threw myself into the waiting hotelcar. I didn't clock the time spend from deplaning until sitting in the car but I think 20 min max (probably less). Except from the never ending walkwayissues and to many people try to push a taxi on me (well I would have saved 700 piso taking one yesterday as my hotelcar cost php1800 and probably would do the same job) this MNL arrival was one of my best ones.

Arriving by Emirates 4:35 pm traffic was relatively easy on the way to Makati.

[Random99]

I wish phones would make it a little easier to do a mass change in your settings for multiple apps and messaging. I'm learning (w / o any negative repercussions) to switch my notifications to not show up on a locked screen before meeting / bring anyone back to my apartment.

I'm usually pretty casual with leaving my phone around (obviously with a password setting).

[Mogwai]

If there are (say) 2000 working girls in AC; 3000 working girls in Manila; 3000 working girls in other cities; 2000 women on dating sites; that's one million females.

As others have already pointed out your calculation is not correct. However the total number of one million could very well be right.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosti...he_Philippines

[Member #4387]

Had to laugh arriving into MNL T3 yesterday as the two latter years(maybe longer)the walkways / peoplemovers have been shut down/out of order(who knows). Maybe I am dreaming but I think I have seen one of them working one time and that's it. Normaly you can atleast walk on them as to overtake the slow moving crowd of newly arrived Koreans or to lessen the risk of beeing hit by them moving golf cabbies transporting lazy or injured people. Yesterday they had even blocked one of them walkways. I did put on a cheerful grind and I thought a kodakmoment would be appropriate.

On the plus side a smiley young immigration girl waved me over to the senior citizen booth(i hope not for viewing me as one no pun intended for the senior crowd pls)as there was a couple of people ahead of me in the business line. She looks in my passport and view numerous arrival / departure stamps from phils and gives me this nice cheeky smile. The fastest immigration officer ever handling my arrival. Beeing allready horny (I allways get a boner when the wheels touch down on the Naia runway) I thought about asking her number but on the other side that could turn out ugly so I let it rest. Picked up my bag(nr 3 on the belt) and threw myself into the waiting hotelcar. I didn't clock the time spend from deplaning until sitting in the car but I think 20 min max (probably less). Except from the never ending walkwayissues and to many people try to push a taxi on me (well I would have saved 700 piso taking one yesterday as my hotelcar cost php1800 and probably would do the same job) this MNL arrival was one of my best ones.

Arriving by Emirates 4:35 pm traffic was relatively easy on the way to Makati.