Manila

[QUOTE=Red Kilt; 1236444]I agree with the BM who asked why the "fee" isn't included in the ticket price as occurs in most other countries and has been for years. It adds significantly to the already distressing Philippines airport experience to have to line up (again) to pay a 200 or 750 peso fee.[/QUOTE]Based on the comments by filipinos on the yahoo link they are not even aware that in other parts of the World the terminal fee is still there included in the ticket price to smooth-line procedures.

The thing that takes so much time IMO is when you are behind a group of Korean or Chinese pax who are not prepared to pay the fee. They argue and some will refuse to pay the fee. When they are finally 'convinced' by the guard they need to pay or they do not fly they relent and start to gather the fee in change and small bills. One guy did not have the 750p so he went for the $17. 50US and took out a small bag from his carry-on that held US currency in change! Took the guy 10mins for him to pay and by then the line was half way down the terminal. I have seen that a few times.

Remember that in the Philippines, one of the cardinal rules of business is that no one trusts anyone with money, and that most of the systems are pervasively corrupt. That being the case, the collection of airport departure fees in cash makes perfect sense. Given that these are all cash transactions, there's amply opportunity to steal. Plus, the revenues are immediate, which means that the Airport Authority doesn't have to wait for airlines to fork over the cash. Finally, there's not opportunity for the airline management to lie about how much has been collected and from how many passengers. Making life easy for consumers is not even a consideration, as anyone who has ever shopped here for anything can attest.

GE

[QUOTE=GoodEnough; 1236659]Remember that in the Philippines, one of the cardinal rules of business is that no one trusts anyone with money, and that most of the systems are pervasively corrupt. That being the case, the collection of airport departure fees in cash makes perfect sense. Given that these are all cash transactions, there's amply opportunity to steal. Plus, the revenues are immediate, which means that the Airport Authority doesn't have to wait for airlines to fork over the cash. Finally, there's not opportunity for the airline management to lie about how much has been collected and from how many passengers. Making life easy for consumers is not even a consideration, as anyone who has ever shopped here for anything can attest.

GE[/QUOTE]Plus they get to employ few hundred more people on slave wage all across the Land of Shopping Malls. Win win for them, screw the tourist, locals are use to waiting anyway and if a foreigner takes multiple trips he waists enough time to do one less short time bf.

[QUOTE=X Man;1236463]Speaking of airport. The meter taxi line at mnl terminal 3 has become extremely long. I patiently waited once, but flying in from Cebu I took the fixed rate to malate at 530. On the meter it is about 200.[/QUOTE]You're right X Man, but it seems to depend on what time you arrive and whether an international flight has beaten you to the jump.

Just last week on Jan 2 I arrived at T3 and there was nobody in the line and around 20 yellow cabs lined up.

6 days later my better half arrived at the same time and the line was 100 meters long. She jumped onto the "fixed rate" cab and left immediately. Big difference in fares though (290 php yellow vs 660 php fixed rate) but worth it in terms of convenience.

Sometimes if the yellow cab line has (say) 20 or 30 people ahead of you it pays to see if the empty cabs are rolling into the line. They tend to move the line fairly quickly if the replacement cabs are coming frequently.

Every time I pay that in cash I wonder where it is going. All other countries that I have been to, the departure tax is built into your ticket. Notwithstanding that, in DR your entry fee is required to be paid in cash. Geez, where's that going?

[QUOTE=Slippery;1236725]Every time I pay that in cash I wonder where it is going. All other countries that I have been to, the departure tax is built into your ticket. Notwithstanding that, in DR your entry fee is required to be paid in cash. Geez, where's that going?[/QUOTE]No one knows. Some to airport improvement, some to improving the lifestyles and material possessions of those who can get their hands on the cash. It's only the percentages that are uncertain.

[QUOTE=Slippery;1236725]Every time I pay that in cash I wonder where it is going. All other countries that I have been to, the departure tax is built into your ticket. Notwithstanding that, in DR your entry fee is required to be paid in cash. Geez, where's that going?[/QUOTE]And the story goes like this.

Originally the airport fee was build into the ticket price as in most other countries.

However the government department collecting all these founds did not forward it to the airport authorities. Just a normal philippine thing haha.

So they started to collect the fee by themselves. Can't remember, must have been in the mid to late nineties.

Well the Exit Fee certainly does not go into upgrading Terminal 1. It is regularly voted one of the worlds worst terminals. Go NAIA!

[url]http://globalnation.inquirer.net/15661/naia-1-is-rated-worlds-worst-airport[/url]

[url]http://www.dealies.ph/14251-naia-terminal-1-named-as-the-worlds-worst-airport-for-2011-minsan-na-nga-lang-maging-1-in-the-world-worst-pa/[/url]

Snow.

[QUOTE=Sintrav; 1236892]And the story goes like this.

Originally the airport fee was build into the ticket price as in most other countries.

However the government department collecting all these founds did not forward it to the airport authorities. Just a normal philippine thing haha.

So they started to collect the fee by themselves. Can't remember, must have been in the mid to late nineties.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Snow Koala; 1237046]Well the Exit Fee certainly does not go into upgrading Terminal 1. It is regularly voted one of the worlds worst terminals. Go NAIA!

[url]http://globalnation.inquirer.net/15661/naia-1-is-rated-worlds-worst-airport[/url]

[url]http://www.dealies.ph/14251-naia-terminal-1-named-as-the-worlds-worst-airport-for-2011-minsan-na-nga-lang-maging-1-in-the-world-worst-pa/[/url]

Snow.[/QUOTE]Greetings,

I certainly don't want to defend NAIA but I think it's fair to consider that the poll rating it as "the worst" that caused so much media uproar is based on user reviews specifically with regards to sleeping at the respective airports (to quote the original site: [i]"This list intended for travellers who plan to sleep in or transit through the airport"[/i]). For a developing country with so many more pressing issues, I always found it still bearable with normal arrivals and departures. I instead suck in "positive airport experience" during my Hong Kong stopover, and I'm not sleeping there either.

A national inferiority complex is rooted strongly in the Filipino soul. Whenever something foreign rates something Filipino as the worst, well, it must be true and is accepted with little reflection.

Regards,

H2

NAIA is certainly no Changi or HK international, but I must say its a lot better managed than most other places in Philippines! I am yet to lose a luggage or wait longer than 40 minutes (from enter the terminal door to put ass on plane seat time). I can name several american airports where you could wait 2 hours to do that.

My biggest gripe with NAIA is how long it takes to get to it through manila traffic. An MRT extension to bring a train to the airport would be nice and get a lot of cars off the road.

The second gripe is they dont clearly advertise all the CASH fees to be paid in pesos on departure. Naturally travelers get rid of all their pesos before leaving, since pesos are useless outside of Philippines, and then find themselves with no means to pay at the departure fee booth. The immigration booth can also have a "surprise" for you, for example a hidden clearance fee they charge for people who stayed over 6(?) months, also payable in pesos cash only.

[QUOTE=Hyron Hush; 1237237]Greetings.

I certainly don't want to defend NAIA but I think it's fair to consider that the poll rating it as "the worst" that caused so much media uproar is based on user reviews specifically with regards to sleeping at the respective airports[/QUOTE]

Hi fellow mongers,

Just a quick note to introduce myself. I have been on another forum / ISG since 2003, originally in China then Malaysia, then the US, now Manila.

Another forum has been a great resource, and I have always been happy to help other mongers as well seek the help of the network.

Just wanted to drop a quick post with a summary of experiences in the Manila area over the past few months.

1. Freebie. Picked up a chick at Palladium night club in the New World Hotel. Lots of freebie chicks around there, some pro. This girl was a student out with her friends. I had been grinding her on the dance floor. When her friends went home, I bought her a few drinks and took her back home. BBBJ, doggy, the works. Only cost me a cab fare to get her back home. I am already looking forward to our day trip to Tagaytay next week.

2. Last year, went to Pegasus on Quezon Ave. The live band in the KTV area upstairs was actually quite good. They also play the New World Hotel lobby. Surprisingly. I then went down to the massage parlor / spa downstairs. Girl selection was pretty bad. 5 or 6 out of 10 at best. Worst attitude ever, bossy, aggressive. The basic room was actually less than basic and you had to cross the corridor (!) to take a shower. Terrible. I will never go there again.

3. Flight 168 and AF1. Feels like it has quieted down quite a lot. The new viewing setup there is also less than optimal. Makes me feel like the one being chosen rather than the other way around. The quality of girls has also dropped IMHO. And the increasing number of Koreans and Japanese going there puts me off a bit. Ended up having some over priced snacks and drinks in the bar downstairs. This place used to be much better, but rooms remain good quality. Like motel.

4. Went to Roman Suites recently on Pasay Road in Makati. Shut down. I guess part of the overall crackdown. Pity. It was so centrally located for many folks.

5. Went to the Pharao KTV place near Makati Cinema Square. Nothing special. Average girls, damp smell, generally low quality environment. I wouldn't bother if I were you

I continue to explore Manila and happy to share more stories and tips. Where I would like to reach out to you all fellow mongers is with regard to getting in touch with a high end handler. I mean the brokers who can get you the really good stuff. I often have good reason to celebrate and want to treat myself to something really good. Has anyone used the handlers before. Anyone you can recommend? Please ping me by PM if you can help.

Thanks another forum!

G-man

In my experience, and I travel a lot across Asia, NAIA is one of the worst airports in Asia.

I recently travelled to Vietnam and even their airport is better than what NAIA has to offer.

All major SE Asian countries have upgraded to world class airports. Bangkok, KL, not to mention Singapore.

Only Jakarta seems to be nearly as bad as NAIA.

The airport fee is a joke. And I wonder how much of that PhP3. 9B they raised over the past few years for the so-called security upgrade has actually been used for that purpose. The airport business class lounges are also a disgrace, and the worst I have seen of airlines like SQ and Thai.

Last but not least, I find the exit fee for foreign residents even worse. Paying almost 50 USD every time you exit the Philippines is just plain wrong, especially considering that the foreigners who are asked to pay this fee are more likely ones of companies that create jobs in the Philippines and pay taxes. Doesn't really encourage foreign investment IMHO.

[QUOTE=Fast Buck Artist; 1237431]NAIA is certainly no Changi or HK international, but I must say its a lot better managed than most other places in Philippines! I am yet to lose a luggage or wait longer than 40 minutes (from enter the terminal door to put ass on plane seat time). I can name several american airports where you could wait 2 hours to do that.

My biggest gripe with NAIA is how long it takes to get to it through manila traffic. An MRT extension to bring a train to the airport would be nice and get a lot of cars off the road.

The second gripe is they don't clearly advertise all the CASH fees to be paid in pesos on departure. Naturally travelers get rid of all their pesos before leaving, since pesos are useless outside of Philippines, and then find themselves with no means to pay at the departure fee booth. The immigration booth can also have a "surprise" for you, for example a hidden clearance fee they charge for people who stayed over 6 (?) months, also payable in pesos cash only.[/QUOTE]

Geez! I am coming to the area next month and will hopefully get this discussion back on track. I never saw so many people talking about airports. I guess I have to check TripAdvisor to learn how to get laid in Manila! Just joshing but lets start providing something mongers can use.

Just to clarify, to leave Phils it is 750 P at the airport. About $17. 00 USA Not 50. 00 US. At lest it was and has been that for me.

Ya, the fee is stupid but at least you can get a decent massage at the airport. No hanky-panky tho.

[QUOTE=Gentleman; 1237478]In my experience, and I travel a lot across Asia, NAIA is one of the worst airports in Asia.

I recently travelled to Vietnam and even their airport is better than what NAIA has to offer.

All major SE Asian countries have upgraded to world class airports. Bangkok, KL, not to mention Singapore.

Only Jakarta seems to be nearly as bad as NAIA.

The airport fee is a joke. And I wonder how much of that PhP3. 9B they raised over the past few years for the so-called security upgrade has actually been used for that purpose. The airport business class lounges are also a disgrace, and the worst I have seen of airlines like SQ and Thai.

Last but not least, I find the exit fee for foreign residents even worse. Paying almost 50 USD every time you exit the Philippines is just plain wrong, especially considering that the foreigners who are asked to pay this fee are more likely ones of companies that create jobs in the Philippines and pay taxes. Doesn't really encourage foreign investment IMHO.[/QUOTE]