Philippines Airlines Intro fares BNE-MNL

[Inver]

It is much more likely to be the PAL system as the system is so buggy it would not even take my Mabuhay membership number.

Yes I totally agree the only reason I mentioned it is I had one PAL or Cebu Pacific transaction blocked by 28 Degrees in 2008.

Anyway, I just booked it, $438 in J OW. Really wish they would do a deal with Air NZ or another carrier for their lounge in BNE.

My first paid J flight! and second ever after South Korean upgraded me NRT-ICN when I flew out of Tokyo the day before the earthquake/tsunami.

Please let us know how it went. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[jetlagger]

Thank you.

Firstly I am coming from a viewpoint of knowing virtually nothing. I have seen some alluring pics of great pics etc, and so it is on my horizon, but I have never really investigated it as a destination. So YES I know there are some amazing beaches etc. But equally have heard tales of the separatist movement, terrorism, and kidnappings. (by the way that does not in itself phase me as for example I backpacked around the Middle east the xmas after 9/11 with my three daughters then aged 6-11)

You have mentioned some good places to go, but what are the places one should not go?

I understand that as you say there are 7000 islands, and so is a vast country in that may. So I would be interested in your insights of where not to go.

Mabuhay..
As I spend considerable time in PI, I am well versed to mention that the country is charming, challenging, ugly in parts & absolutely gorgeous in others.
There is always an element of risk venturing into certain areas & safety standards for some transport modes are not prioritized as much as the developed world.
Like most places, money talks, inclusive of transport, hotels & flight arrangements, so simply the more one pays in either pesos or dollars, options are comfortably extended.
As for Philippine Airlines, well yes I have also endured my fair share of flight delays & booking frustrations equally so, with all the other mainline carriers.
For the PR J intro fare offer at present, surely for such little money I would lower my expectations, or perhaps trump up to a $5k J on QF/CX/SQ.
In any case, with an open mind & adventurous spirit you would & could enjoy all the wonders & great diversity all of which the Philippines offers.
Cheers,
jl

 

[Inver]

Thank you.

Firstly I am coming from a viewpoint of knowing virtually nothing. I have seen some alluring pics of great pics etc, and so it is on my horizon, but I have never really investigated it as a destination. So YES I know there are some amazing beaches etc. But equally have heard tales of the separatist movement, terrorism, and kidnappings. (by the way that does not in itself phase me as for example I backpacked around the Middle east the xmas after 9/11 with my three daughters then aged 6-11)

You have mentioned some good places to go, but what are the places one should not go?

I understand that as you say there are 7000 islands, and so is a vast country in that may. So I would be interested in your insights of where not to go.

Basically avoid the western side of Mindanao in the southern Philippines.
Specifically Ipil, Basilan,the Zamboanga province, North Cotabato, Pagadian City, Lanao Del Sur and Del Norte.

That is impressive how you took your daughters backpacking around the middle east. I don't think you will have any issues with the Philippines. I think it's much easier to have a holiday there compared to heading there for work. Where ever you go get to know the locals they can be very helpful and I'm sure you will have some interesting conversations.

 

[Limewood]

I'm tempted to grab 2 x J as have a friend who owns his own island off Davao (well more like a an atoll), we had few days there last year as a guests, water and sandy beaches pristine, paradise.

Update:
This is it!.

 

[albatross710]

Secondly, I can also accept with MNL-BNE as a trial service, I won't actually get any lounge access in BNE or DRW although they have agreements with New Zealand in Melbourne, etc.

hmmm..I must have missed that lack of lounge part. hopefully they might have that sorted out by the time operations start (this week?). Then we'll start getting some good feedback as members survive the journey.

I asked the lounge question on the forum and it was resolved in post #4 of this thread as being QF Int lounge in Brisbane. I'm hoping Jetlagger is more up to date than the PR webmaster.

I have used the 28 degrees in 30+ countries and they never block nothing. It is much more likely to be the PAL system as the system is so buggy it would not even take my Mabuhay membership number.

I had a similar issue with 28 Degrees flagging one of my transactions. I did two bookings where the one booking for two people went through as

AIR PHILIPPINES ECO PASAY CITY PHL $3.23
AIR PHILIPPINES ECO PASAY CITY PHL $3.23
AIR PHILIPPINES ECO PASAY CITY PHL $56.23
AIR PHILIPPINES ECO PASAY CITY PHL $56.23

I'm sure it made sense to PR internally but it flagged an issue to 28 degrees.

I'm getting a feeling we will soon have some Brisbane threads..."My PR travel adventures..."

Alby

 

[jetlagger]

hmmm..I must have missed that lack of lounge part. hopefully they might have that sorted out by the time operations start (this week?). Then we'll start getting some good feedback as members survive the journey.

I asked the lounge question on the forum and it was resolved in post #4 of this thread as being QF Int lounge in Brisbane. I'm hoping Jetlagger is more up to date than the PR webmaster.
Alby

It has been validly confirmed by PR that For J class, PR shall be using the QF INT lounge in BNE & NZ lounge in SYD & MEL.
There is no lounge access in DRW due to apparent space restrictions.

Hope that helps!

I can also share many of my PR adventures, if you so desire..

Cheers,
jl

 

[albatross710]

It has been validly confirmed by PR that For J class, PR shall be using the QF INT lounge in BNE & NZ lounge in SYD & MEL.
There is no lounge access in DRW due to apparent space restrictions.

Thanks for that.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Not necessarily, a lot of agents use their own cards as payment, and this can fall over as a group of people discovered with SQ earlier this year.

yes, agents are a sly bunch. don't deal with them. how many is 'a lot' out of interest?

 

[Melburnian1]

As implied, most of Philippines is safer than some Sydney suburbs. The areas to totally avoid are the few provinces in southern and western Mindanao (the most southerly island group) previously mentioned, but Davao and Cagayan de Oro cities are safe as apparently is Iligan City to Cagayan de Oro's slight west. The central Visayan islands have amazingly beautiful beaches (as do parts of Mindanao such as Glan, south of General Santos City) with some of the best Visayan beaches including not just Boracay but Moalboal on Cebu Island, Malapascua and Bantayan Islands to Cebu Island's north and Siquijor and Apo Islands near Dumaguete. El Nido, Palawan is apparently excellent but I've not been there. There are some new luxury resorts opening this year such as Huma off Busuanga Island (Palawan area). Off the main island of Luzon (the northern group and where Manila is), Hundred Islands is well worth a peek as are parts of Mindoro (Puerto Galera has great diving) while Pagudpud and historic Vigan to the north of Manila plus the world famous Banaue rice terraces are drawing more visitors.

PR (PAL) now has an increasingly modern fleet. The airline is about to be 100 per owned by San Miguel (the brewery that's a conglomerate, and a successful one at that). PAL has five Boeing 773ERs in its fleet, one of which should be continuously on the Sydney and Melbourne direct flights ($X and #X weekly respectively). A sale finished yesterday offering fares as low as A$690 return but it is likely there'll be another one before the year is out as they have to fill the seats. PR's business class is quite good (angled flat seats, but comfortable enough with a large IFE screen, although not as wide a selection to view as on some other Asian carriers).

I have no idea if the one stop (DRW) A320 flights from BNE and PER to MNL (again, 3X and 4X weekly respectively) will be a drawcard. One's attempts at 'sleep' will be interrupted on the way back home at the unattractive hour of 0300. However fares are cheap and timekeeping so far has been pretty good. Some of PAL's A320s are new or almost new.

 

[mono88]

As implied, most of Philippines is safer than some Sydney suburbs. The areas to totally avoid are the few provinces in southern and western Mindanao (the most southerly island group) previously mentioned, but Davao and Cagayan de Oro cities are safe as apparently is Iligan City to Cagayan de Oro's slight west. The central Visayan islands have amazingly beautiful beaches (as do parts of Mindanao such as Glan, south of General Santos City) with some of the best Visayan beaches including not just Boracay but Moalboal on Cebu Island, Malapascua and Bantayan Islands to Cebu Island's north and Siquijor and Apo Islands near Dumaguete. El Nido, Palawan is apparently excellent but I've not been there. There are some new luxury resorts opening this year such as Huma off Busuanga Island (Palawan area). Off the main island of Luzon (the northern group and where Manila is), Hundred Islands is well worth a peek as are parts of Mindoro (Puerto Galera has great diving) while Pagudpud and historic Vigan to the north of Manila plus the world famous Banaue rice terraces are drawing more visitors.

I agree with this. I can say that El Nido, Palawan was one of the highlights of my stay in the Philippines. Stayed there for a few days in 2001 and it was a great place to stay and very peaceful. Had an interesting flight to/from Manila/El Nido in a 19 seater, unfortunately no SC's or ff points for that.
I also enjoyed Baguio City in the highlands north of Manila,the strawberry and ube jam from the Good Shepherd nuns were delicious. I think any savings you make on the cheap PAL fares should be put to these sort of experiences if possible.

Security in Asian countries (as anywhere) should always be considered by the traveller. The reference to Sydney suburbs is irrelevant, you need to gather all information possible (including from all the AFF experts) and make your own risk assessment.The general availability of guns in the Philiipines was always an issue for me, so this needs to be considered in your assessment. I always felt safe there but you do need to keep your wits about you.

Enjoy your trip on the cheap airfares.

 

[Inver]

I am looking to book a flight BNE-MNL and PAL's web and customer service systems leave a lot to be desired.

.......

What I can't accept is that after spending heaps of time filling out my info, it won't accept my newly registered Mabuhay miles account number, and then my 28 Degrees Mastercard gets declined and it kicks me back to the start instead of asking for a different card. And I can't choose to pay in USD instead of AUD and accept their terrible conversion rate of 92 cents.

I've just spent a frustrating 30 minutes having 4 credit cards declined for a domesting PAL flight. I tried 2 x Citibank Visa cards, a HSBC Visa card and the good old 28 Degrees Mastercard. So annoying being declined and having everything you typed in completely cancelled.

 

[albatross710]

In the intro period I booked a J class fare for travel later this month. It was a long shot as I didn't know my itin. I know that the fare is refundable (less $55) and that it changes would be heavily restricted. Now that the dates are fast approaching I'm look for ideas to maximise my return on this valuable tix as I can be away for the two weeks, one week or less is all I can justify.

What I know.

J Tix BNE-MNL-BNE purchased for $700, booked I class
Able to be changed prior to departure with repricing to current best fare +$55
Refundable less $55

Tix can be changed after departure so I can bring my return forward, provided there is I class itinerary. This change cannot be made until after departure. Searching on expertfyer shows zero I class on any interim days. I could be there until the original return date anyway. Interestingly there is J6 showing available but they are unwilling to permit me to change my ticket unless upsold.

Name changes not permitted so can't move it onto another staff member. Interestingly the Fare Conditions are silent on Name Changes but both times I've tried to change it via the call centre it has been denied.

Before I bite the bullet, request a refund and give up on this February tropical paradise escape....does anyone have any other ideas on persuading PR to chane it from a 14 days excursion to a 4 day quick trip?

Alby

 

[jayday13]

I too booked the same deal as you way back last year for travel in April this year. I tried to change the return date but PR wanted around US$1150 to change it (current J fare pricing). Fortunately I booked the trip as 2 x one-way trips so I will probably cancel the return and look at another way home.... SQ has points availability around that time. PR does have a one-way Y fare for US323 + taxes but I will decline as I will not do the night flight via DRW again!

 

[jetlagger]

In the intro period I booked a J class fare for travel later this month. It was a long shot as I didn't know my itin. I know that the fare is refundable (less $55) and that it changes would be heavily restricted. Now that the dates are fast approaching I'm look for ideas to maximise my return on this valuable tix as I can be away for the two weeks, one week or less is all I can justify.

What I know.

J Tix BNE-MNL-BNE purchased for $700, booked I class
Able to be changed prior to departure with repricing to current best fare +$55
Refundable less $55

Tix can be changed after departure so I can bring my return forward, provided there is I class itinerary. This change cannot be made until after departure. Searching on expertfyer shows zero I class on any interim days. I could be there until the original return date anyway. Interestingly there is J6 showing available but they are unwilling to permit me to change my ticket unless upsold.

Name changes not permitted so can't move it onto another staff member. Interestingly the Fare Conditions are silent on Name Changes but both times I've tried to change it via the call centre it has been denied.

Before I bite the bullet, request a refund and give up on this February tropical paradise escape....does anyone have any other ideas on persuading PR to chane it from a 14 days excursion to a 4 day quick trip?

Alby

Good luck Alby.. PR are very underwhelming for changes, even for elites.

 

[albatross710]

PR does have a one-way Y fare for US323 + taxes but I will decline as I will not do the night flight via DRW again!

The return trip is the reason I'm considering letting it slide. I remember when I arrived in BNE I certainly didn't feel fresh.

From a marginal revenue thought, if it was my humble business I might as well carry the pax as I have 6 J seats available. Instead I will cancel and they give the cash back. I guess my idea wouldn't fly across the complexity of the airline business.

I am happy to adhere to the T&Cs that I purchased with....I'm just thinking out loud for alternates.

Alby