Makati

[WestCoast1]

Good advice. And yes I do try and over plan everything.

Thanks.

Is it the standard Burgos fee of 5 k BF and 5 k to the girl for ST?

OK. The Burgos fees have been discussed ad nauseum on this thread. As you've been posting on ISG since 2023, and have lots of experience in SE Asia, that's more than enough time to have been studying your upcoming trip. Please hit up the old guard (myself even, if not incessantly) in PM if you can't find posts regarding barfine prices, and take your own advice:

I did the same when I went to Thailand and once out there soon realised it was wasted time as all I needed was a pocket of cash and a hard dick.

[Alexandra2525]

Iron horse is actually one of my favourite bars on Burgos. Nice selection of girls. But yah don't go spending 12 k on drinks + barfine.

Thanks.

Is it the standard Burgos fee of 5 k BF and 5 k to the girl for ST?

[Meistro1]

Iron horse is actually one of my favourite bars on Burgos. Nice selection of girls. But yah don't go spending 12 k on drinks + barfine.

[Houston Player]

That's probably correct. Were you referring to G Taxis or G cars? G cars have no Grab insignia, and look just like anyone else with a sedan, picking up a relative. What would stop me from app-ordering a Grab Car to bay 12?

I arrived in Manila today. I walked to the Grab pickup area and orderd on my phone. Strangely the only option offered was standard grab, no taxi option or premium or suv option, only standard. I selected standard, 292 pesos from T3 to the Coro hotel in Makati. The first car cancelled. The second car was an Innova suv same fare. Ater arriving at the hotel the driver said he needed to add 35 pesos for the Highway. I tipped 100 pesos. Cheapest ride from the airport I've ever had.

In February the outside Grab stand charged 1000+ pesos paid directly in cash to the grab stand. I can't remember the exact amount but it was a little over 1,000 pesos. Same T3 to Coro hotel.

[WestCoast1]

Grab cars are not allowed to pick up in other bays / areas.

That's probably correct. Were you referring to G Taxis or G cars? G cars have no Grab insignia, and look just like anyone else with a sedan, picking up a relative. What would stop me from app-ordering a Grab Car to bay 12?

[Pez612]

JR, thanks.

A last question that might not be answerable. If I want to skip the booth, can I use my app to order a Grab taxi or car directly to my location; say, T1 arrivals, Bay 12?

Grab cars are not allowed to pick up in other bays / areas.

[WestCoast1]

The Booth doesn't accept any form of payment: not cash; not card; strangely, not even your presaved and approved payment method on your app. Just Ride is correct. Payment is cash direct to the driver.

The booth will give you a paper with the total amount due to the driver upon completion. This is based on the destination you gave the booth.

JR, thanks. The process is now clear, but the form is not. Are these Grab Taxis? Or Grab Cars? They must be running on the more expensive app Grab Car system, which calculates in advance the basic taxi maximum, and adds a higher Grab fee, to give you an up-front total before requesting a car. Grab Taxis look like normal white Toyota Vios taxis (with a Grab sticker in the window). Grab Cars are just some guy driving his own car, usually with no sticker or Grab identifier. If the booth operator gives you a chit with a pre-determined price, then the driver is not using his meter. I am curious if the booth operator is using HIS Grab app to call the cars.

So, to use the booth, how can I pay with my credit card (the one that my app is tied to) at the end of the ride? If I can't use that, the entire process is utilizing Grab cars, not utilizing the Grab system. Seems convenient however.

A last question that might not be answerable. If I want to skip the booth, can I use my app to order a Grab taxi or car directly to my location; say, T1 arrivals, Bay 12?

[Goferring]

That I don't know as I have never used the booth. I thought it would be pre paid at the booth but I could be wrong.

The Booth doesn't accept any form of payment: not cash; not card; strangely, not even your presaved and approved payment method on your app. Just Ride is correct. Payment is cash direct to the driver.

[JusRide]

The booth will give you a paper with the total amount due to the driver upon completion. This is based on the destination you gave the booth.

That I don't know as I have never used the booth. I thought it would be pre paid at the booth but I could be wrong.

[Expat American]

Thanks EA, this answers my questions. So if I use the booth's employees to get me a Grab taxi, at the end of the ride I will be paying (in cash) the meter + Grab fee?

That I don't know as I have never used the booth. I thought it would be pre paid at the booth but I could be wrong.

[WestCoast1]

If you google Grab Manila Airport T3 you will see detailed instructions and even a video pointing you there. And I saw a lot of big green signs pointing the way. I think booths are there for visitors from the west who may never have heard of grab and don't want to download the app and set up the CC for just one ride. It makes sense to me. I use grab all the time and have app and payment set up so its faster for me to call it myself. Pick up location is exactly the same either way. As inefficient the PHils and MNL is in general, this was not an issue. Actually the entire experience seems much smoother than the last time I flew into MNL (which was years ago as I use CRK most of the time).

Thanks EA, this answers my questions. So if I use the booth's employees to get me a Grab taxi, at the end of the ride I will be paying (in cash) the meter + Grab fee?

[Goferring]

If you google Grab Manila Airport T3 you will see detailed instructions and even a video pointing you there. And I saw a lot of big green signs pointing the way. I think booths are there for visitors from the west who may never have heard of grab and don't want to download the app and set up the CC for just one ride. It makes sense to me. I use grab all the time and have app and payment set up so its faster for me to call it myself. Pick up location is exactly the same either way. As inefficient the PHils and MNL is in general, this was not an issue. Actually the entire experience seems much smoother than the last time I flew into MNL (which was years ago as I use CRK most of the time).

Good information. I don't know why but I mistakenly thought that we couldn't use the in app directly but had to use the Booth. I'd agree both that Grab is great 99% of the time and that the Booths are essentially useless to seasoned travellers, even across multiple countries.

T1 has the self ordered and Booth assisted pickups in very different areas. Use the app and turn left immediately outside to pillars 5 and 6. The Booth and their pickups are one more lane out and on the far right hand side.

I don't think I'll be using the Booths ever again now that I know the app can be used directly.

Enjoy. G.

[Expat American]

Why they don't just remove the Booths entirely and have the self service collection areas better signed is beyond me.

The other countries literally have step by step photos after selecting the ride to direct you out of baggage collection and to the meet point. Works much better.

G.

If you google Grab Manila Airport T3 you will see detailed instructions and even a video pointing you there. And I saw a lot of big green signs pointing the way. I think booths are there for visitors from the west who may never have heard of grab and don't want to download the app and set up the CC for just one ride. It makes sense to me. I use grab all the time and have app and payment set up so its faster for me to call it myself. Pick up location is exactly the same either way. As inefficient the PHils and MNL is in general, this was not an issue. Actually the entire experience seems much smoother than the last time I flew into MNL (which was years ago as I use CRK most of the time).

[Goferring]

Yes you can use your own app. Small correction on my report. It was at T3 where I arrived but I think its similar at all terminals. I would wait until getting to the pick up area to call the grab because as I understand it the drivers are given a waiting area close by and then pull up when you call. At least that's what my driver told me. It was totally painless and quick.

Why they don't just remove the Booths entirely and have the self service collection areas better signed is beyond me.

The other countries literally have step by step photos after selecting the ride to direct you out of baggage collection and to the meet point. Works much better.

G.

[Expat American]

A small touch of confusion. Some gents report that getting Grab at NAIA involved going to the Grab area, and some employees (Grab? Airport?) got them a Grab car / taxi (no app needed). EA appears to have used his app (no need for such employee help). Which is it? Can I use the Grab app to order a Grab car / taxi while I'm waiting at the luggage carousel (or departing the luggage carousel), and have them waiting for me (meter running I would assume) at the NAIA Grab area (as I do with Uber in my country)? Why would I need locals or employees to help me get one if there is a line of them waiting for customers?

Yes you can use your own app. Small correction on my report. It was at T3 where I arrived but I think its similar at all terminals. I would wait until getting to the pick up area to call the grab because as I understand it the drivers are given a waiting area close by and then pull up when you call. At least that's what my driver told me. It was totally painless and quick.