Good J prices: EY MNL-Europe rtn

[svivek1976]

Still some real good rtn EY J class fares to Europe in May.
Lengthy layovers in AUH but worth it for the price IMO, particularly Geneva.

MNL-DUB $2800
MNL-MUC $2800
MNL-GVA $2300

Booked 2 tickets( MNL-AUH-GVA-FCO-AUH-MNL) for USD3180.00 for July'24.

Now need to look for positioning flight SYD-MNL return.

 

[wohoo]

bought 2 x Retun from MNL to FCO via Etihad @ 3250 AUD each. Flying in June and back in July 2024 Had i booked a day earlier on amex platinum it would be 2890 AUD.

 

[CaptJCool]

So does this apply
Ex MNL?

Travel Tax in the Philippines: Everything a Traveler Needs to Know

Paying the travel tax is a must do before flying out for an international trip. Read more about it in this guide.

www.traveloka.com

 

[CMA222]

So does this apply
Ex MNL?

Travel Tax in the Philippines: Everything a Traveler Needs to Know

Paying the travel tax is a must do before flying out for an international trip. Read more about it in this guide.

www.traveloka.com

I (Oz passport) have travelled out of MNL to HKG (and return), in the company of a Filipino citizen and at check-in I was not required to pay a departure tax, although it may have been included in the ticket price. The Filipino citizen at check-in was told to go to the tax desk (100 metres away) and pay PHP1620 and return with the receipt. On presentation of the receipt the boarding pass was provided. We were both on the one PNR.

 

[Duffa]

AUD$2800 rtn
MNL MADRID
DUBLIN MNL
MAY 2024

 

[dandandan]

You see, sane people outside this forum don’t think like that…

Bit of a workaround but if you aren’t time sensitive then PR has some great prices in J ex KUL and SIN to Australia.
KUL-MNL-MEL for instance is around $900. Can get a cheap Y or J ticket MNL-KUL and you are only looking at about $1200 for something like MNL-KUL-MNL-MEL

I did this! I actually booked the Etihad flight in July, MNL-GVA (J) return for ~$2,400 AUD to attend a few Rugby world cup games. Took an SQ (J) reward flight to MNL over and on the way back, booked a PR KUL-MNL-BNE (J) for ~$854 AUD. The PR MNL-BNE flight got cancelled and as I was ultimately heading back to Sydney, PR booked my on KUL-MNL-SYD flight, with MNL-SYD in (Y) after saying it was in (J)!. A call back and I got put into (J) on QF for MNL-SYD which was a bit of a bonus for $854. Obviously had to do the MNL-KUL flight to connect to KUL-MNL-SYD however that was pretty easy.

 

[clifford]

Just bought another MNL-GVA-MNL J Ticket for October on EY for approx $2,500 (including the 3% Amex surcharge). I could've used another card and avoided the surcharge, but in the end I don't mind the extra 3,000 QFF points. A slight bonus is that on the outward leg it's an A350 from AUH to ZRH, and coming back (via FCO), it's 2 x 787 (although I prefer the 777 to the BA-esque forward/rearward facing seats on the Dreamliners).

I'm spending a couple of weeks in Italy, visiting PMO, NAP and ROM, and have purchased easyJet tickets for GVA-PMO-NAP, FCO-GVA for under $300 all in. So should be an interesting trip. And for a little icing on the cake, it should earn enough VA SC's to renew my Platinum status for 2026.

I'll be using Qantas rewards for SYD-MNL-SYD, but I've noticed lately that QF is getting very stingy in allowing add-ons (at the same points price) for places such as MEL and CBR. Why is that, I wonder? Even as a WP, I couldn't get them to budge on this, even though the website showed reward availability. Used to be no problem, so is this the improved service that the new CEO is providing? Better all watch out!.

 

[VPS]

Just bought another MNL-GVA-MNL J Ticket for October on EY for approx $2,500 (including the 3% Amex surcharge). I could've used another card and avoided the surcharge, but in the end I don't mind the extra 3,000 QFF points. A slight bonus is that on the outward leg it's an A350 from AUH to ZRH, and coming back (via FCO), it's 2 x 787 (although I prefer the 777 to the BA-esque forward/rearward facing seats on the Dreamliners).

I'm spending a couple of weeks in Italy, visiting PMO, NAP and ROM, and have purchased easyJet tickets for GVA-PMO-NAP, FCO-GVA for under $300 all in. So should be an interesting trip. And for a little icing on the cake, it should earn enough VA SC's to renew my Platinum status for 2026.

I'll be using Qantas rewards for SYD-MNL-SYD, but I've noticed lately that QF is getting very stingy in allowing add-ons (at the same points price) for places such as MEL and CBR. Why is that, I wonder? Even as a WP, I couldn't get them to budge on this, even though the website showed reward availability. Used to be no problem, so is this the improved service that the new CEO is providing? Better all watch out!.

How hard was it to get SYD-MNL-SYD flights and have you allowed a day in MNL each way in case of delays

 

[clifford]

How hard was it to get SYD-MNL-SYD flights and have you allowed a day in MNL each way in case of delays

Well, it was quite a chore to find QF J reward seats that would work, but did it in the end. I tried for CBR-SYD-MNL, but the computer said no, after first saying yes (Hobart couldn't free up any seats CBR-SYD, quite frustrating). However, the computer would allow SYD-MNL in J, so a train trip to SYD with overnight stay.

On the return, there were no worthwhile rewards in J from MNL, so I booked CGK-MEL-SYD-CBR in J (helps with re-qualification for WP), and will have to find a cheap Y flight MNL-CGK (not a problem).

And yes, of course, I have booked an overnight stay in MNL both out and in (Tess and Tessha's aparthotel, within walking distance of NAIA T3 - I know it well).,

 

[Mattg]

Similar EY J pricing available now out of KUL.

https://loyaltylobby.com/2024/02/06/airfare-of-the-day-business-class-etihad-kuala-lumpur-to-munich-from-1781/

 

[Grrr]

And yes, of course, I have booked an overnight stay in MNL both out and in (Tess and Tessha's aparthotel, within walking distance of NAIA T3 - I know it well).,

For those who do this frequently...

If the MNL->Europe flight is in the evening, is an AM arrival on non-Jetstar SYD-MNL ok, or would you generally arrive a full 24h before the Europe leg regardless ?

Also, any other recommendations for places close to the airport in Manila ?

 

[exceladdict]

For those who do this frequently...

If the MNL->Europe flight is in the evening, is an AM arrival on non-Jetstar SYD-MNL ok, or would you generally arrive a full 24h before the Europe leg regardless ?

Also, any other recommendations for places close to the airport in Manila ?

If you're in and out of T3 (SQ, QF, JQ/3K) then there's a handful of hotels that can be accessed quite easily. I've stayed a few times at the Holiday Inn Express and will be trying the adjacent Hilton soon as well.

Not too sure about T1 or T2 though.

 

[jase05]

For those who do this frequently...

If the MNL->Europe flight is in the evening, is an AM arrival on non-Jetstar SYD-MNL ok, or would you generally arrive a full 24h before the Europe leg regardless ?

Also, any other recommendations for places close to the airport in Manila ?

The last few times we have arrived in MNL with QF or BI and my preference is to have a full day/night stopover and I wouldn’t personally risk a short transit time. We don’t mind the city itself so don’t mind going into town for the now. We have tried a few hotels and haven’t been impressed so ultimately we just decided that we would stay at the Conrad every visit. They have always been good to us and only ever a 15-25 minute taxi or Grab away. Location near the MOA is an added bonus as we can spend a half day shopping

 

[CMA222]

For those who do this frequently...

If the MNL->Europe flight is in the evening, is an AM arrival on non-Jetstar SYD-MNL ok, or would you generally arrive a full 24h before the Europe leg regardless ?

Also, any other recommendations for places close to the airport in Manila ?

If you want a very comfortable and reasonably priced Hotel (A$130- A$150 per night inc breakfast) then I use "The Belmont Hotel" every time I transit MNL. It is not the Hilton but it is a quick and direct walk over the pedestrian bridge from Terminal 3. Hotel is 100 metres away from the pedestrian bridge exit. No taxi, no shuttle and no traffic.

Savor The Moment

Savor The Moment

www.belmonthotelmanila.com

 

[Grrr]

Ok a few more questions for the MNL Europe frequenters…

1. I’ve read bad things about Emirates J 777; is an Etihad J 777 on the AUH-MNL leg bad as well ?

2. For long-ish (eg 8h) layovers overnight in AUH, is whatever lounge Etihad J gives you access to a reasonable option, or are they generally crowded and to be avoided ?

 

[jase05]

Ok a few more questions for the MNL Europe frequenters…

1. I’ve read bad things about Emirates J 777; is an Etihad J 777 on the AUH-MNL leg bad as well ?

2. For long-ish (eg 8h) layovers overnight in AUH, is whatever lounge Etihad J gives you access to a reasonable option, or are they generally crowded and to be avoided ?

Not a fan of the Etihad 777 and do try to avoid it but nowhere near as bad as the Emirates 777 that flys to MNL and for that alone I wouldn’t chose Emirates out of MNL.
Bit of a personal choice with the Etihad 777’s, some like them and actually prefer the seats over the 787 seats, I don’t but everyone is different.
There are 2 Etihad dailys on the run currently, the early evening one is the 777 and the midnight one is the 787.
As to lounges in AUH I’m yet to visit since the new terminal opened very recently. Have seen some real good reviews of the business lounge and if you have Virgin Australia Platinum membership then you get access to the First class lounge

 

[Grrr]

No taxi, no shuttle and no traffic.

Thanks for this

SYD-MNL-SYD flights are stupidly expensive over Dec/Jan, and not sure when (if ever) they release reward flights…

Any similar hotel recommendations if flying out of KUL or CGK ?

 

[jase05]

Thanks for this

SYD-MNL-SYD flights are stupidly expensive over Dec/Jan, and not sure when (if ever) they release reward flights…

Any similar hotel recommendations if flying out of KUL or CGK ?

CGK has plenty of cheap options around the airport that have free shuttles or a cheap taxi.
KUL has a couple of airport hotels including one or two that are airside. You can catch the airport train between terminals cheaply and there is a Aerotel in KLIA2 too that isn’t too bad.
PR normally has some good deals from KUL-SYD in J for under $900 one way or $1600 return if you want to use it as a nesting fare for future travel

 

[Grrr]

PR normally has some good deals from KUL-SYD in J for under $900 one way or $1600 return

I’m seeing $2k each way for J if I leave in December and return in Jan… where are you seeing these deals ?!

 

[Stewarto]

I’m seeing $2k each way for J if I leave in December and return in Jan… where are you seeing these deals ?!

It’s $891 one way KUL SYD AND $1600AUD return most days in J