AIRPORT Info - Any good Post on Operations????
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.
A different way of doing things
[QUOTE=Mortman]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[/QUOTE]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.