Stupid Shit in the Philippines

Has anyone seen the new Philippine polymer banknotes in circulation yet?

We've had them for years in Australia.

Damn.

There goes my trick of pulling out a $5 note and demonstrating how you couldn't really rip an Australian 'plastic' bank note.

The Filipinas have always been mesmerized by it and want to keep them.

"What's this worth Sir Phil?

"How about a BJ?

(Although the Filipinas have a great knowledge of the value of getting money, their understanding of economics has always been open to question).

Having said that, I've pulled out the Australian plastic notes in bars in the US and have exchanged currencies like-for-like and made a 30% profit on the spot, taking into consideration the exchange rate.

The world seems intent on removing my fun one step at a time_ Phil.

Use the powder in key places. It eats the insects exoskeleton. Takes about 5 days to work but they end up bringing it to their nest. You can also put the powder on smelly food or mix it with fish oil or peanut butter so they eat it and die faster. Works for flies this way.

[URL]https://www.medicinenet.com/what_is_boric_acid_used_for/article.htm[/URL]

I recently made the 10.5 hour flight to Manila for the weekend to see my partner after 7 months. That's crazy shit, to be sure, but PAL is stupid.

I arrived for my return trip at the airport really early, to find that my flight time had been changed from 6:35 to 7:30. Apparently, the incoming plane was delayed, and they can claim it is not a delayed flight by changing the flight departure time. Ingenious. I'll give them that.

I decided to go to the gate about 3 hours early. My partner's flight was terminal 3 at 3 pm, and I was bored. So, I bought myself a coke and walked down to the gate (I had cleared security and screening already at their TSA-like entity after cleaning immigration). When I get down to the gate, they have the seating area cordoned off and their own security screening. I was told I had to get rid of my 5-minute old, unopened coke. So, after drinking some, I did. X-ray all bags, remove laptop and tablet, then remove shoes, then pat-down by a really cute but stone-faced Filipina security agent. Then you're allowed inside the seating area. If you have to leave for bathroom, water, etc. , you have to go through the same procedure again.

Then, suddenly, at 7 pm, they started to remove the cordon and stopped screening people. I guess the danger had passed or something (sarcasm). It is the stupidest thing I have ever seen.

Boarding the plane was equally stupid. They boarded first class first, then seniors and families with young children (seniors were half of the flight it seemed). Then they boarded by rows, assigned letters A-M. I dutifully waited for my letter J, but to no avail. After H, they came over the intercom and announced last call, for all passengers to immediately board. The attendant who had been holding up the letter cards just turned around, looked at the gate desk, but his cards down, and walked away from the gate. I guess he was as frustrated as I was.

After boarding two hours late, we waited on the tarmac, after pushing back from the gate, for almost an hour. At my destination airport, I had a connecting (but separately-bought) flight that was three hours after my PAL landing time. As a back-up, I bought a $95 ticket just in case. It was a good call because Plane Always Late Airlines lived up to its name. And, of course, there is never any accountability. Stupid, stupid shit!

[QUOTE=Aml3740;2978582]It was a good call because Plane Always Late Airlines lived up to its name. And, of course, there is never any accountability. Stupid, stupid shit![/QUOTE]That is not the airline. That is the government. I was traveling with a chick and she was late to the airport. I was all bent out of shape because she was late. She said babe this is the Philippines. Our flight is not going to be on time. Hell if the flight was not at least 2 hours late. We were on Cebu Pacific. But it was the same reason. Late inbound. It has more to do with flow control at that airport (which would be a government air traffic problem) than the company being late for no reason.

[QUOTE=Aml3740;2978582]It![/QUOTE]I am just home, having flown on a number of airlines. I still have awful memories of PAL from years ago, of some born again fascist flight attendant hitting everyone for excess baggage. Issues like plane boarding have been done to death in queueing theory and, though there may be no perfect ways to board, there are plenty of lousy ones and PAL is not alone in the dunce's corner.

Can anyone tell me why most tannoys in airports and on planes are lousy. I was on a European plane today where the tannoy was 10/10. Such a change.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2978704]That is not the airline. That is the government. I was traveling with a chick and she was late to the airport. I was all bent out of shape because she was late. She said babe this is the Philippines. Our flight is not going to be on time. Hell if the flight was not at least 2 hours late. We were on Cebu Pacific. But it was the same reason. Late inbound. It has more to do with flow control at that airport (which would be a government air traffic problem) than the company being late for no reason.[/QUOTE]It's pretty common for popular routes to be one or more plane literally doing laps. Loose a few minutes each time and late afternoon flights can be hours late. I've had the last flight of the day cancelled before.

G.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2978704]That is not the airline. That is the government. I was traveling with a chick and she was late to the airport. I was all bent out of shape because she was late. She said babe this is the Philippines. Our flight is not going to be on time. Hell if the flight was not at least 2 hours late. We were on Cebu Pacific. But it was the same reason. Late inbound. It has more to do with flow control at that airport (which would be a government air traffic problem) than the company being late for no reason.[/QUOTE]I think that flight was inbound from another airport, not running laps between Manila and where I was going. My flight in to Manila was delayed by about 40 minutes. It was the fastest turnaround flight I think I have ever seen. The pilot made up time and we were arriving ten minutes early, but there was runway congestion and we ended up landing 35 minutes late. I think part of it is just that NAIA is far busier than it was really intended to be. For all the things I love about the Philippi es, efficiency has never been one of them!

I find it funny because 2/3 of the airport workers where I left from are Filipinos, too, but highly efficient, even if still on island time.

3:00 am. Buying a one way ticket on CP online site but there was an error when going to the final page. The payment page. Start over and the price increased $30.

1:00 pm. 3 weeks later. Buying a one way ticket on CP online site but there was an error when going to the final page. The payment page. Start over and the price increased $25.

Damn tracking software!

[QUOTE=LoveItHere69;2979022]3:00 am. Buying a one way ticket on CP online site but there was an error when going to the final page. The payment page. Start over and the price increased $30.

1:00 pm. 3 weeks later. Buying a one way ticket on CP online site but there was an error when going to the final page. The payment page. Start over and the price increased $25.

Damn tracking software![/QUOTE]Same happened to me, but next day I ended up with 2 tickets, and no way of refunding one.

I do fly a lot within PH, mostly quick addiction trips to AC, the one thing that amazes me, and it's always happening is how the filipinos cannot find their assigned seats, and every single time there is a commotion, and people moving around changing seats, impeding the other incoming passengers. Always!

[QUOTE=OldAndUgly;2979102]I do fly a lot within PH, mostly quick addiction trips to AC, the one thing that amazes me, and it's always happening is how the filipinos cannot find their assigned seats, and every single time there is a commotion, and people moving around changing seats, impeding the other incoming passengers. Always![/QUOTE]Interesting you mention this. Three of my 4 recent CP domestic flights have involved heated exchanges where a couple, man and woman (various ages), purchased tickets in different parts of the aircraft (front and back). Then the guy (seat purchased in the back) tries to take the seat next to his asawa (seat purchased in the front), attempting to move the rightful owner out of that seat next to the asawa. FA's get involved and angry arguments ensue. "I will sit next to my WIFE! And, "She's my WIFE! I will sit with her NOW!" This is a copy of a very American trend that has popped up since covid.

Every time when the FA's get involved, it involves cajoling, attempting to nicely ask the inflagrante asshole male asawa to just sit in his own seat, which he refuses to do (repeatedly). Worse, sometimes several FA's then start to argue among themselves: "But, but, but. Its his asawa. He needs to sit with her". This attitude / disagreement among FA's leads to a breakdown of who is in charge of the flight. In 2 of the 3 flights, the husband finally went to his original seat. In a situation on a full flight, with no other seats available, this disagreement between a single FA and the other FA's led to an additional 10 minute delay (this happened on two flights).

WTF is going on in Phils? Anyone else experienced this?

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2979118]Interesting you mention this. Three of my 4 recent CP domestic flights have involved heated exchanges where a couple, man and woman (various ages), purchased tickets in different parts of the aircraft (front and back). Then the guy (seat purchased in the back) tries to take the seat next to his asawa (seat purchased in the front), attempting to move the rightful owner out of that seat next to the asawa. FA's get involved and angry arguments ensue. "I will sit next to my WIFE! And, "She's my WIFE! I will sit with her NOW!" This is a copy of a very American trend that has popped up since covid.

Every time when the FA's get involved, it involves cajoling, attempting to nicely ask the inflagrante asshole male asawa to just sit in his own seat, which he refuses to do (repeatedly). Worse, sometimes several FA's then start to argue among themselves: "But, but, but. Its his asawa. He needs to sit with her". This attitude / disagreement among FA's leads to a breakdown of who is in charge of the flight. In 2 of the 3 flights, the husband finally went to his original seat. In a situation on a full flight, with no other seats available, this disagreement between a single FA and the other FA's led to an additional 10 minute delay (this happened on two flights).

WTF is going on in Phils? Anyone else experienced this?[/QUOTE]It even happens in Business class LOL.

[QUOTE=OldAndUgly;2979102]Same happened to me, but next day I ended up with 2 tickets, and no way of refunding one.
![/QUOTE]That sucks. Bunch of thieves.

I never got to the payment page. It gave me the error when transitioning to the payment page.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2979118]Interesting you mention this. Three of my 4 recent CP domestic flights have involved heated exchanges where a couple, man and woman (various ages), purchased tickets in different parts of the aircraft (front and back). Then the guy (seat purchased in the back) tries to take the seat next to his asawa (seat purchased in the front), attempting to move the rightful owner out of that seat next to the asawa. FA's get involved and angry arguments ensue. "I will sit next to my WIFE! And, "She's my WIFE! I will sit with her NOW!"[/QUOTE]They are so stupid. Why the hell they even care because 90% of all the flights in the Phils is only 1 hour in duration and the longest flight is only 1. 5 hours!

[QUOTE=OldAndUgly;2979102]I do fly a lot within PH, mostly quick addiction trips to AC, the one thing that amazes me, and it's always happening is how the filipinos cannot find their assigned seats, and every single time there is a commotion, and people moving around changing seats, impeding the other incoming passengers. Always![/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2979118]WTF is going on in Phils? Anyone else experienced this?[/QUOTE]Yes, a common practice guys.

I pay a bit extra for an aisle seat due to a recent leg operation a few years ago. And when you want to claim your rightful seat, you just get a blank stare when you point out the seat number on your boarding pass. And don't get me started on the overhead baggage formalities.

Last year on a PA flight out of Brisbane to MNL, I assumed my usual aisle seat and an overly obese, loud Australian took the middle seat between me and the lady by the window.

I'm thinking, 'Fuck! Not eight hours of this!

Thankfully the FA observed the situation and offered me the choice of a spare aisle seat further up the front before take-off.

I just felt sorry for that poor girl who had to endure an international flight in the same row as that guy.

Having said that, aircraft etiquette is pretty poor around the world these days, generally due to selfishness and a lack of respect for fellow passengers _ Phil.

[QUOTE=KumuMan;2979154]It even happens in Business class LOL.[/QUOTE]CP and PAL have done away with biz / first class on domestic flights. They have upgraded mostly to A321 extended-body aircraft with more rows, and its economy only.

[QUOTE=LoveItHere69;2979230]They are so stupid. Why the hell they even care because 90% of all the flights in the Phils is only 1 hour in duration and the longest flight is only 1. 5 hours![/QUOTE]If you are taller than the average pinoy, it makes a difference. You might want extra legroom and opt to pay more for row 1 or the other exit rows (which is what I do). I fly specifically only aisle and extended legroom, and pay extra for that (and early boarding). Nobody gets to eff with that.

[QUOTE=WestCoast1;2979771]If you are taller than the average pinoy, it makes a difference. You might want extra legroom and opt to pay more for row 1 or the other exit rows (which is what I do). I fly specifically only aisle and extended legroom, and pay extra for that (and early boarding). Nobody gets to eff with that.[/QUOTE]I was talking about the pinoys causing problems because they want to sit next to their wife and failed to select seats next to other online.

If you are anyone paid extra for a certain seat then no sht that is a problem if someone else is sitting in your seat.