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

[Melburnian1]

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?

Have a look at the PR delays/cancellations thread where I've noted some recent cancellations and also delays.

It "seems" better ex MEL than SYD, but the good news is its refurbished A333s are back on both routes. BNE retains the smaller A321 but it has 2+2 lie flat in J (not as good as the 1-2-1 Thomson Vantage seats on the A333s. I haven't been on these A321s).

Food (assuming it's back to normal) is very good on PR, and service generally good to excellent, though a minority of attendants can be lazy in my experience.

PR also flies nonstop MNL to JFK but on the return inserts a YVR stop (possibly to refuel). The timetable says "may" stop in YVR but without looking up FR24, it may happen every trip.

There are heaps of hotels in Metro Manila reasonably close to the airport, though not at T2 that PR uses for most flights: T3 is where they're near. Road traffic can be heavy.

I haven't used PR since very late 2019 but yes, it typically offered STPC. One hotel was Century Plaza in Malate, an old hotel (probably now c.50 years old) but owned by Lucio Tan, who, surprise, was the head honcho of the family owning PAL (PR). The hotel had refurbished some but not all rooms when I was last there a few years ago, so insist on the better room if you find yourself there. There's an excellent shopping centre called Robinsons Mall (Ermita IIRC) less than two kilometres away with a huge range of restaurants, and a terrible ancient small mall next to the hotel, but last I heard, the latter had closed and was possibly to be demolished.

Your travel agent ought be able to arrange any STPC provided you are on the next available connection.

 

[Melburnian1]

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.

Three months' wait is far from ideal but have you seen how long passengers wait in many cases for QF to issue a refund (or in many cases, initially or constantly refuse to issue anything but a travel credit)?

As with jase05, I've never had a 'disastrous' experience with PR internationally or domestically in Philippines. Thw worst lateness has been about two hours Oz to Manila IIRC.

 

[Scarlett]

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

On the ground I agree with you CE, but for the soft product inflight we’ve never had a problem.

Transits in MNL and generally dealing with PR staff was a bit of a twilight zone feeling: surely these people are doing the same job they’ve done hundreds or thousands of times before, yet it’s slow, disorganised and the people come across to either be making it up as they go or doing it for the first time. Maybe every dealing I had was with a staff member on their first day…

 

[Melburnian1]

Most unusually, perhaps not the case for a few years, PR210 from MEL to MNL (running a trifle early) is B773ER RP-C7782.

As jase05 reminded us, it only has seven across (2-3-2) J 'angled lie-flat' seats. There's excellent leg room, and on a three hour trip MNL - BKK three years ago I found it perfectly adequate but it's substandard compared to the excellent 1-2-1 arrangement with proper lie flat beds on most A333s.

 

[Inlander]

I found a PAL Return Bne- Manilla (A321), Manilla - Vancouver (777)for May 2023 at $2940 return one night about 3 weeks ago but it disappeared by the next day! and reverted to the standard $4400

 

[albatross710]

I found a PAL Return Bne- Manilla (A321), Manilla - Vancouver (777)for May 2023 at $2940 return one night about 3 weeks ago but it disappeared by the next day! and reverted to the standard $4400

what was your methodology for searching? which site or direct on their site?

 

[Inlander]

what was your methodology for searching? which site or direct on their site?

Just Google flights nothing special

 

[jb747]

Transits in MNL and generally dealing with PR staff was a bit of a twilight zone feeling: surely these people are doing the same job they’ve done hundreds or thousands of times before, yet it’s slow, disorganised and the people come across to either be making it up as they go or doing it for the first time. Maybe every dealing I had was with a staff member on their first day…

I’ve paxed in and out of Manila lots of times over the years….and twilight zone is a pretty good description.