PHILIPPINE AIRLINES Sydney to LAX/SFO from $4,320 AUD [Business]

[Gold Member]

Good price if you don’t care for accruals. Shame about the long transits in MNL.

AFotD [Business] PHILIPPINE AIRLINES SYD to LAX/SFO from $3,114/AU$4,320

Today’s AFotD: Philippine Airlines business class excursion fares from Sydney (SYD), Australia to Los Angeles (LAX)/San Francisco (SFO), United States.

loyaltylobby.com

 

[jase05]

The long transits in MNL wouldn’t bother me as I love Manila and will always choose a day or two stop over anyway but their 777 J product is pretty ordinary so wouldn’t be keen on such a long leg in it. A pity because their A330 product is great to/from Australia

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Finally some more realistic fares coming on to the market. Lufthansa recently released $5700 from AU to Athens and $6200 Au to London. Compared to the ‘sale’ fare of ~$9000 being promoted by Qantas.

 

[albatross710]

I just took up this deal, it was about $300 less from BNE. Transit in MNL is 4 hours on the way over and 16 hours on the way back.

So, AUD4,000 in J via MNL or $3,300 with QF in Y. It will be quite a journey.

For the 16 hours I'll probably exit the airport and grab a hotel deal in Makati for the day.

 

[Scarlett]

PR always used to have STPC hotel and transfer for long layovers in MNL. Suggest you call/email and ask them to organise it for you. Think we did it about three times transiting through. Hotels were 3 or 4* older properties about 29 minutes from the airport.

 

[albatross710]

PR always used to have STPC hotel and transfer for long layovers in MNL. Suggest you call/email and ask them to organise it for you. Think we did it about three times transiting through. Hotels were 3 or 4* older properties about 29 minutes from the airport.

thanks for this. fingers crossed.

 

[featheast]

Never tried PR b4, and planning a US trip end of Nov at the moment, PR fares stands out as the best (almost half vs the next cheapest one). How's the service of PR comparing to other popular routes to north America, and specifically what's their on time (or cancellation) performance looks like for flights leaving AU?

 

[jase05]

Never tried PR b4, and planning a US trip end of Nov at the moment, PR fares stands out as the best (almost half vs the next cheapest one). How's the service of PR comparing to other popular routes to north America, and specifically what's their on time (or cancellation) performance looks like for flights leaving AU?

I’ve flown with them several times and find their service and food very good and much better than many airlines. Their A330 that does the leg from Australia to MNL is very comfortable IMO and I always get decent sleep. Their 777 product isn’t as good and wouldn’t be keen to fly long haul in it (BKK-MNL) was bad enough. I do want to try their A350 to JFK one day though. Always luck of the draw but I can’t recall any of my flights not being punctual to/from Australia and intact twice coming back to SYD we have been 30-40mins early

 

[MELso]

Not too bad out of MEL. 6 hour layover going over, but only 2 hours on some dates coming back. $US3240 on some random dates in October (so AUD4620).

Alright to JFK as well - some dates ran to $US4138 ($5.9K), although there's a 13 hour layover on the way back.

 

[jase05]

Not too bad out of MEL. 6 hour layover going over, but only 2 hours on some dates coming back. $US3240 on some random dates in October (so AUD4620).

Alright to JFK as well - some dates ran to $US4138 ($5.9K), although there's a 13 hour layover on the way back.

Manila is a fantastic city and I definitely think it’s worth breaking the journey up for a day or 2 there

 

[randompunter]

Has anyone tried their A321 J class? I would be travelling with my partner so not too worried about not having direct aisle access but of course would prefer their 1-2-1 A330. Shame they don't have a 1-1 config a la American domestic first class on the A321 .

 

[albatross710]

PR always used to have STPC hotel and transfer for long layovers in MNL. Suggest you call/email and ask them to organise it for you. Think we did it about three times transiting through. Hotels were 3 or 4* older properties about 29 minutes from the airport.

Their reply from both telephone attempt and email :

This is to acknowledge your request to check for free overnight hotel accommodation. We appreciate you sending us an email. However, we are not offering free hotel accommodations.

The phone person said I could use the lounge instead.

 

[albatross710]

Never tried PR b4, and planning a US trip end of Nov at the moment, PR fares stands out as the best (almost half vs the next cheapest one). How's the service of PR comparing to other popular routes to north America, and specifically what's their on time (or cancellation) performance looks like for flights leaving AU?

I looked on tripadvisor thread for PR here. They are certainly coping a caning.

I have a friend that has done the MNL-BNE-MNL trip twice this year and had no problems.

Last time I flew with them the meals were kind of basic, the J wines were basic. It's not SQ service.

The J fare makes sense if, like Jase05 & I, we seem to like the pinoy culture and comfortable getting around Manila. For me I get to to do the longer trip on a lie flat seat for $4k verses sitting up in Y with QF for $3.3K

There are $1,400 economy fares which would not be worth the significant longer flight.

 

[jase05]

I looked on tripadvisor thread for PR here. They are certainly coping a caning.

I have a friend that has done the MNL-BNE-MNL trip twice this year and had no problems.

Last time I flew with them the meals were kind of basic, the J wines were basic. It's not SQ service.

The J fare makes sense if, like Jase05 & I, we seem to like the pinoy culture and comfortable getting around Manila. For me I get to to do the longer trip on a lie flat seat for $4k verses sitting up in Y with QF for $3.3K

There are $1,400 economy fares which would not be worth the significant longer flight.

My folks needed a cheap J flight one way from KUL to Australia in October and PR had KUL-MNL-SYD for $856 which was superb value but on further investigation it was only another $500 to turn it into a return trip so they have decided to go back in March. They only have 4hrs on the way home but are going to a stop over next year and check out the sights

 

[robbo135]

What are the transits in MNL like? Have heard horror stories of people connecting in MNL (pre COVID) where apparently it was an absolute circus with no guidance from staff and no clear directions from the airline either. From memory they were connections that involved changing terminals?

 

[albatross710]

What are the transits in MNL like? Have heard horror stories of people connecting in MNL (pre COVID) where apparently it was an absolute circus with no guidance from staff and no clear directions from the airline either. From memory they were connections that involved changing terminals?

the special fare is all in Terminal 2 so no intern-terminal transfer required.

the times I have had to transfer between terminals I have just gone outside and caught a taxi. They were domestic - international so had to clear security and immigration anyway.

For future planning Terminal 3 is the main terminal I would use if thinking about transfers\. SQ, QF, CA <> Cebu Pacific

there is an airside connection but I've just never pursued it.

 

[albatross710]

Well this deal didn't turn out so good for me. Due to some business meeting changes I decided to make a flight change using the "Free unlimited changes" offer. On the seat maps In the J cabin 10 seats available (out of 12 ex BNE), 33 out of 36 available MNL - LAX. Depart a few days later than my original as they have since introduced Thursday flights from BNE. It's still a few months until I depart so it didn't seem such a bad request.

More than $1,100 to change even though same class Z is available and clearly not many seats sold.

Decided to cancel the fare entirely and was given the following options:

a) Keep the fare and wait for the 'expected' reschedule which will allow a free cancelation.

b) Cancel for a fare credit of the same amount which will expire in two years.

c) Refund less $125 AUD.

I took C) then after that's processed the agent says they 'hope' to have the refund to me in three months. Three months!!!!

Oh well, my bad for not finding that somewhere in their fine print. It's easier not to deal with them ever again.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Welcome to dealing with PR - a cowboy outfit if there ever was one - they will always find a way to turn any experience bad

 

[jase05]

Welcome to dealing with PR - a cowboy outfit if there ever was one - they will always find a way to turn any experience bad

I must be lucky *touch wood* as I’ve never had a issue with them in the dozens of times we have flown with them yet I know many who have had horror stories and won’t touch them again

 

[albatross710]

I must be lucky *touch wood* as I’ve never had a issue with them in the dozens of times we have flown with them yet I know many who have had horror stories and won’t touch them again

I've been flying with them for years also. I'm just surprised they can still be using 'covid' as an excuse for slow internal processes while accepting new bookings.