Philippine Airlines' Mabuhay Miles' "no points expiry"

[Inver]

Finally received an email from Philippine Airlines and my mabuhay miles membership number issue has been fixed.

 

[Melburnian1]

The European Commission today (for Philippine Airlines only) removed a ban on it flying to Europe. It kept a ban for all other Filipino airlinesbut apparently the Filipino aviation regulator can determine which airlines (my tip is Cebu Pacific) can also if they wish fly to Europe.

PR is buying new planes and has leased some from the International Airlines Group or whatever it is caklled that owns BA and Iberia.

Perhaps the Mabuhay Miles FF program is going to get a bit more valuable. It's 15 years since PR flew European routes ex MNL.

 

[Melburnian1]

Occasionally when travelling on a discounted whY return ticket that claims to credit Mabuhay Miles points at 25 per cent of the miles flown, the MM software seems to have a glitch and instead credits my FF account for 100 per cent of the miles flown.

I have not experienced this with airlines such as VA or QF. Perhaps the gremlins enjoy living in the tropics.

 

[albatross710]

Occasionally when travelling on a discounted whY return ticket that claims to credit Mabuhay Miles points at 25 per cent of the miles flown, the MM software seems to have a glitch and instead credits my FF account for 100 per cent of the miles flown.

haha..how apt. Just today I checked on my miles posting from my travel last week. 2 x Mabuhay Class legs BNE-MNL-BNE about 3,905 miles each way plus 125% loadings. Both posted as 100% earning only.

I've sent them an email.

 

[Melburnian1]

PR has abolished its rather unusual 'Sports Plus' initiative for all but its top tier 'Million Milers.' This had allowed the carriage of heavy sports equipment in the aircraft hold, giving an extra 20 kilograms free.

 

[albatross710]

haha..how apt. Just today I checked on my miles posting from my travel last week. 2 x Mabuhay Class legs BNE-MNL-BNE about 3,905 miles each way plus 125% loadings. Both posted as 100% earning only.

Received a reply which advised

Please be advised that effective 08 May 2013 Business class revenue tickets with BCC “I” will now earn 100% miles on selected Philippine Airlines routes as part of Low Fare Business Class Promo.Thus, explains the 100% miles accrual for your above mentioned flight.

I did try pointing out that the only people that know about that are PR themselves. Even as I write this post and three months after they updated their policy the website still reads as follows:

Class of Service	Booking Class Codes (BCC)	Domestic/Regional/ International Flight
Mabuhay Class (Business)	J / C	150% of actual flown Miles
D / I / Z	125% of actual flown Miles
Fiesta Class (Economy)	N / S / L / M / H / Q / V / B / X/ K / E / T	100% of actual flown Miles
U / W / P	25% of actual flown Miles
Code -share flights (International)	Y	100% of actual flown Miles
All Economy BCC, except Y	50% of actual flown Miles

​

*As of September 2012

They just don't reply to my email any more and I guess that solves it!

 

[yohy?!]

"Never expire" until PAL is bankrupted again....

 

[Melburnian1]

yohi?!, anything is possible - after all many were caught unaware when the then AN folded - but PR is now owned by a famous brewing crowd, so if it continues to lose money like so many other airlines worldwide, it's more likely to be picked up by the Japanese ANA airline, or perhaps even EY. Time will tell. It is not a member of an airline alliance which is becoming more unusual.

 

[yohy?!]

yohi?!, anything is possible - after all many were caught unaware when the then AN folded - but PR is now owned by a famous brewing crowd, so if it continues to lose money like so many other airlines worldwide, it's more likely to be picked up by the Japanese ANA airline, or perhaps even EY. Time will tell. It is not a member of an airline alliance which is becoming more unusual.

Indeed.. The collapse is a fascinating study in corruption and cronyism. It could easily happen again today in the Philippines if another 'Don' decided to take control again then strip out all of cash through their own companies through dodgy deals.

 

[jetlagger]

Indeed.. The collapse is a fascinating study in corruption and cronyism. It could easily happen again today in the Philippines if another 'Don' decided to take control again then strip out all of cash through their own companies through dodgy deals.

Replicated by MH..
I was amusingly observing the procession of entertainment in HKG Central today outside Mandarin Oriental with posters megaphones & the like highlighting the Philippines 'pork barrel" corruption scheme.
FWIW, due to my recent experiences on PR, I just don't trust or rely on them anymore.

 

[Melburnian1]

With PR commencing flights from MNL to LHR five days a week from early November 2013 and the PR Mabuhay Miles lounge for international departing passengers now renovated, MM has become a more attractive FF program.

I have also come across passengers travelling from SYD to LAX via MNL on PR (including in J) so it's not as if no Australians ever transit on longer haul flights via MNL.

 

[jetlagger]

With PR commencing flights from MNL to LHR five days a week from early November 2013 and the PR Mabuhay Miles lounge for international departing passengers now renovated, MM has become a more attractive FF program.

I have also come across passengers travelling from SYD to LAX via MNL on PR (including in J) so it's not as if no Australians ever transit on longer haul flights via MNL.

I was having a chat with one of the gracious FA's on a recent PR flight & she mentioned that many Australians used to utilise the Australia -> Europe -> Australia via MNL flights back in its heyday.
PR used to have a wonderful F class & was a very popular routing via MNL I'm led to believe.

FWIW.. The new lounge in MNL T2 is not so much of utopia though

 

[Melburnian1]

jetlagger, you are correct from what I too have been told by older travellers than me.

In 'those days', there was less competition between Oz and Europe. PR once had sleeper beds (probably heavier construction than today's suites on carriers like EK) on some 744s. I vaugely remember inspecting one when en route to Europe 20 or so years ago. It was a milk run then via AUH and KHI of all places.

However PR's fares will still (once it gets around to issuing an Oz - LHR combined fare - it so far hasn't from what I can see: one has to book sector by sector, which is coughbersome) have quite competitive fares.

The attraction of MNL is that it's a hop step and jump to some of Asia's most beautiful islands in the Philippine archipelago, particularly in the central Visayas islands. Malapascua and Bantayan are but two of many with beautiful clear turqouise water and soft white sand. Better than Thailand! Philippines is becoming more and more popular each year for Australians although some of the traffic must be Australian citizens of Filipino origin returning 'home' for a holiday. For instance PR has an A$760 - A$780 return fare ex MEL or SYD to MNL (bookings for this close on Wednesday 23 October - tomorrow) and one could then add on a MNL - LHR - MNL fare.

There'll be a few who in time travel MEL (or SYD, BNE or DRW) - MNL - LHR and reverse (requiring an overnight stay on the forward trip, similar to Korean carriers and JL) but PR needs to start marketing it. It must be hard these days not being an alliance member as the main three worldwide alliances seem to be fairly good at ensuring their member airlines receive publicity worldwide (perhaps sometimes initiated by individual carrier members though).

I agree: the renovated lounge is no bigger than the old one (since it's on the same footprint), there's only one shower (in total: not per gender!) and there's a pretty skimpy variety of Western food available (think chicken nuggets). As with all legacy airlines, one does get fed and watered once on board but no, the lounge isn't up to SQ, CX, VA or QF standard (mind you, AFF suggests that QF and CX's T1 MNL lounges are ordinary, but I was more comparing the PR MNL lounge with QF International Oz offerings and the same for the other airlines.

 

[jetlagger]

jetlagger, you are correct from what I too have been told by older travellers than me.

In 'those days', there was less competition between Oz and Europe. PR once had sleeper beds (probably heavier construction than today's suites on carriers like EK) on some 744s. I vaugely remember inspecting one when en route to Europe 20 or so years ago. It was a milk run then via AUH and KHI of all places.

However PR's fares will still (once it gets around to issuing an Oz - LHR combined fare - it so far hasn't from what I can see: one has to book sector by sector, which is coughbersome) have quite competitive fares.

The attraction of MNL is that it's a hop step and jump to some of Asia's most beautiful islands in the Philippine archipelago, particularly in the central Visayas islands. Malapascua and Bantayan are but two of many with beautiful clear turqouise water and soft white sand. Better than Thailand! Philippines is becoming more and more popular each year for Australians although some of the traffic must be Australian citizens of Filipino origin returning 'home' for a holiday. For instance PR has an A$760 - A$780 return fare ex MEL or SYD to MNL (bookings for this close on Wednesday 23 October - tomorrow) and one could then add on a MNL - LHR - MNL fare.

There'll be a few who in time travel MEL (or SYD, BNE or DRW) - MNL - LHR and reverse (requiring an overnight stay on the forward trip, similar to Korean carriers and JL) but PR needs to start marketing it. It must be hard these days not being an alliance member as the main three worldwide alliances seem to be fairly good at ensuring their member airlines receive publicity worldwide (perhaps sometimes initiated by individual carrier members though).

I agree: the renovated lounge is no bigger than the old one (since it's on the same footprint), there's only one shower (in total: not per gender!) and there's a pretty skimpy variety of Western food available (think chicken nuggets). As with all legacy airlines, one does get fed and watered once on board but no, the lounge isn't up to SQ, CX, VA or QF standard (mind you, AFF suggests that QF and CX's T1 MNL lounges are ordinary, but I was more comparing the PR MNL lounge with QF International Oz offerings and the same for the other airlines.

Shh... don't tell too many people about the delightful Philippine natural beauty..
Well as for the T1 lounges. QF = Joke. CX = Joke. SQ = Joke. All disappointing at best.
I see T1 has the won the coveted trophy of the 'World's Worst Airport" again.
As for the honest opinion of PR lounge in T2 INT. Furnishings are an improvement. Fridge full of cold San Mig. = . But as for the food variety, lacklustre in variety & quality.
As for the PR T2 DOM lounge.. It's a dungeon styled staff cafeteria at best.
PR is trying but the challenge against the LCCs is evidently affecting the legacy carriers reputable service level.
IMO It appears caught between a new age hybrid model trying to be a LCC in the marketplace (fare dumping) & at times a full service airline all at once.

 

[Melburnian1]

jetlagger, your last comment is prescient. You make PR sound like VA in Oz (although VA has higher revenues and loses much more money).

While a topic for another thread, it seems to me that carriers like CX are also 'caught' in this conundrum (even though CX has Dragonair). It's exacerbated in Philippines where LCCs domestically have something approaching 85 per cent market share. This is not replicated anywhere else worldwide (yet) but is daunting for any full service (legacy) airlines as clearly the market (while growing, as is the excellently performing Filipino economy) remains very price sensitive.

And no, I promise not to tell anyone about the enthralling Filipino forest or beach beauty, nor the terrific beer such as San Miguel Light or San Miguel Pale Pilsen. Truly one of the Asia Pacific's, if not the world's, best brewers and thankfully now (if you ask) usually available on PR (which historically was not the case as San Mig is the opposition to Asia Breweries' horrid beers).

 

[Sprucegoose]

PR has abolished its rather unusual 'Sports Plus' initiative for all but its top tier 'Million Milers.' This had allowed the carriage of heavy sports equipment in the aircraft hold, giving an extra 20 kilograms free.

Clearly aimed at golfers!

 

[Melburnian1]

I recently travelled from MEL to MNL and return on a cheap PR fare. I thought it was T class but am not sure.

Going up, I was upgraded to J and received Mabuhay Miles points, plus a tier bonus for Elite membership plus a 25 per cent bonus for travelling in J.

Coming home, no points. This is inconsistent, because one would think if points were awarded going up, at least the base level of points for Y travel would be credited on the southerly trip.

 

[Melburnian1]

In 2015, PR has increased the Mabuhay Miles to redeem a MEL or SYD to MNL one way 'free' flight in economy class from 20,000 to 30,000.

This 50 per cent 'hit' must reinforce the view of some AFF members to 'spend' points as soon as one reaches a particular goal. This may not be practical for every FF member but unfortunately as PR has just done, and QF arguably has also done in the past, airlines control the systems and at will can make FF schemes less attractive overnight should they so desire.

 

[albatross710]

In 2015, PR has increased the Mabuhay Miles to redeem a MEL or SYD to MNL one way 'free' flight in economy class from 20,000 to 30,000.

This 50 per cent 'hit' must reinforce the view of some AFF members to 'spend' points as soon as one reaches a particular goal. This may not be practical for every FF member but unfortunately as PR has just done, and QF arguably has also done in the past, airlines control the systems and at will can make FF schemes less attractive overnight should they so desire.

I guess the problem we have is that we were expecting to redeem for flights which is contrary to what the airline was thinking. Getting to reward people whom fly with them must be irritating.

I've been trying to line up a domestic redemption and just never get availability when it suits me. So I think the reason they have "no points expiry" is because it will take that long to get a redemption.

 

[albatross710]

"Never expire" until PAL is bankrupted again....

As previously discussed in this thread I keep Mabuhay miles to a minimum.

Checking my account today I was happy to see that I earned miles last year for to flights that I failed to board. Love it.

You may be interested to know that the "no expiry miles" now have an expiry date. In the ambiguous nature of the filipino language it does say "possible miles to expire" not "Miles to possibly expire".