Lounge access at MNL T3

[Scarlett]

As stated in the OP, I queried their response and have just received this reply:

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Thank you for your correspondence regarding the lounge facilities at Manila (MNL).

We sincerely apologise for the confusion and frustration caused by the information displayed on our website. We understand how important accurate lounge details are for your travel experience.

To clarify, Qantas flights currently operate from Terminal 3 at Manila. The Cathay Pacific lounge at Terminal 3 has recently closed, and our website was updated to reflect the PAGSS lounge. However, the PAGSS lounge is located in Terminal 1, which is not accessible to passengers departing from Terminal 3.

At present, Qantas passengers departing from Terminal 3 do not have access to a partner lounge. We are actively reviewing alternative arrangements and will update our website as soon as new lounge access options become available. In the meantime, passengers may use the terminal facilities prior to departure.

We appreciate you bringing this matter to our attention and apologise once again for the misleading information. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve the accuracy of our communications.

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They really haven't got a clue!!!!

Reads like a poor AI response that either wasn’t checked at all, or was checked by the aforementioned clueless representative.

AI likely due to stating things that whilst correct are not really relevant in context (passengers may use the terminal facilities! - no cough sherlock) and pointlessly quoting your own problem back to you.

Complete nonsense QF.

 

[faller]

Huh? The Oneworld website shows only the new First Meridian lounge which is used by CX and JL but so far NOT QF.

Update: I am in the First Meridian Lounge currently waiting for a points flight up to Haneda on JAL. I asked if they were available for QF passengers at the front desk and they said “Not yet. We will be partnering with them shortly. Maybe as soon as last week in August, but definitely September.”

Fingers crossed! It is a nice lounge. Massive!

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Update: I am in the First Meridian Lounge currently waiting for a points flight up to Haneda on JAL. I asked if they were available for QF passengers at the front desk and they said “Not yet. We will be partnering with them shortly. Maybe as soon as last week in August, but definitely September.”

Fingers crossed! It is a nice lounge. Massive!

Just returned from MNL on QF still no First Meridian Lounge access ( also got to try the First Meridian Lounge on my other trip to HND - big improvement on the very sad PAGSS lounge!)

 

[Melburnian1]

Just returned from MNL on QF still no First Meridian Lounge access ( also got to try the First Meridian Lounge on my other trip to HND - big improvement on the very sad PAGSS lounge!)

The PAGGS lounges at MNL T1 and T3 have poor food, often insufficient seats and not much room to move around.

Avoid if you can.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

The PAGGS lounges at MNL T1 and T3 have poor food, often insufficient seats and not much room to move around.

Avoid if you can.

Avoid I did. Got a Shake Shack burger and fries and sat at empty gate in front of the AC vent was quite relaxing...I had good food, lots of space and AC - things all missing from PAGGS lounges

 

[BrianQQ]

Got a Shake Shack burger and fries

Seconded. Was in PAGSS to check it out before I full promptly yeeted to the CX lounge because it was atrocious. Now that the CX lounge is gone, I would just get a halo-halo shake at Shake Shack and call it a day.

 

[Melburnian1]

Seconded. Was in PAGSS to check it out before I full promptly yeeted to the CX lounge because it was atrocious. Now that the CX lounge is gone, I would just get a halo-halo shake at Shake Shack and call it a day.

The small silver lining bonus is because of the price sensitivity of the local market, including many travellers who are maids and hospitality employees with overseas contracts, most NAIA Manila Airport stall/restaurant prices are not nearly as extortionate as in Australia or many Western nations.

 

[whughes3]

Hurrah...the QF website is now showing the First Meridian lounge as their lounge at MNL! I was there last week courtesy of CX; they picked I was a newb and gave me a guided tour. It is certainly huge, but the F&B offerings seemed a bit ordinary, thought I was not there for long. Certainly a big step up though.

 

[elanshin]

Hurrah...the QF website is now showing the First Meridian lounge as their lounge at MNL! I was there last week courtesy of CX; they picked I was a newb and gave me a guided tour. It is certainly huge, but the F&B offerings seemed a bit ordinary, thought I was not there for long. Certainly a big step up though.

seems like ET is also reporting that QF officially switching the First Meridian at MNL.

 

[moa999]

ET reporting from this coming Monday, 7 Sep.

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qantas-manila-first-meridian-lounge

 

[jsoprano]

Was at the First Meridian Lounge on Monday night curtesy of QF98. Got there quite early so was there for both the QF SYD and BNE flights, and it never got busy at all (it is sooo huge), once SYD left it was pretty much empty. For a contract lounge it is actually really decent. Food looked a bit average but plenty options, free drinks is what you expect I guess. But on the drinks front they have an upmarket wine bar where you can pay for real champagne and better wines. On the champagne front, they had Billecart Salmon NV for PHP700/$16, and Barons de Rothschild Concordia Brut for PHP800/$18.50 (per glass), which is pretty good if you have some Filipino change to get rid off

All in all, this was my first time in Manila and I must say the experience wasn't anywhere as bad as I expected (thanks to the lounge upgrade, and the business class fast lane in T3 was also painless). Arrival at T1 on PR though, that was a lot more like what I did expect MNL to be (although still pretty smooth and quick, landed 5:57pm and was at my hotel in Makati 7:20pm, just in time for last orders at the hotel lounge coughtail hour).

 

[Melburnian1]

All in all, this was my first time in Manila and I must say the experience wasn't anywhere as bad as I expected (thanks to the lounge upgrade, and the business class fast lane in T3 was also painless). Arrival at T1 on PR though, that was a lot more like what I did expect MNL to be (although still pretty smooth and quick, landed 5:57pm and was at my hotel in Makati 7:20pm, just in time for last orders at the hotel lounge coughtail hour).

T3 is much busier than T1, but as you imply, fairly often the arrival and departure experiences can be better than in SYD and MEL.

The necessity in MNL (as with a limited number of other nations' airports) to have repeated, extensive security screening is a pain but not the airport's fault.

That said, T1/T2 are overdue for replacement, which seems to slowly being addressed by the owning consortium of some of Philippines' largest conglomerates.

 

[CMA222]

I visited the First Meridian Lounge in T3 on Sunday enroute SYD. I was seriously disappointed. It looks good, but the food situation was reflected by the few people I noticed actually eating. The main food buffet, when I approached it, had several Bain Maries which were all empty or had the remains of food that had been simmering (over cooking) for some time. I asked the attendant and they said they would deal with it - as no one had noticed they were empty. I returned later and found nothing at all appetising. The attendant was cooking (one type of) pasta to order, which seemed to be the popular choice.

The snack bar area had (mostly empty) trays for beef samosas, corn chips and dips and various other snack items, including cakes. There was a soft serve machine that was "out of order". There is a selection of red and white wines and 3 beers from serve yourself taps. I did not try "the bakery" area which had a selection of baked breads and rolls. There appeared to be a (commercial) wine tasting area with a (sales) attendant. The separate sit-down bar was the oasis with an acceptable list of included coughtails, wines and spirits, served by the friendly bar staff. Apparently there is also higher end wines and spirits available to purchase. I asked for a coughtail that was not on the menu and was told they only do those that are listed, even though they obviously had the ingredients.

The showers are in the men's and woman's toilets (2 in each) and there is no booking system, just a wait and pounce. They supply one towel. No floor mat or face washers. There is ONE wall hook and no seat or other place to place clothes or to position carry on bags for access. The ventilation meant it was bordering on a sauna, after a quick shower. The water from the shower spilled out after the shower door was opened, so dressing was on a bare partially wet floor.

I miss the excellent Cathay Pacific lounge that was forced to close by the commercial interests behind the airport. Singapore Airlines was also forced to close their lounge. If you can't beat them, you close them.