PR BNE - LHR return J $3950; Y $700 incl. taxes, baggage and meals

[Melburnian1]

PR has a sale that I've already created a thread for from SYD and MEL.

However it's just added BNE (which has five A321neo flights a week BNE - MNL - BNE - 2-2 lie flat in J, 3-3 in Y) with return 'all in' fares from A$3950 return in J and A$700 in Y.

Between MNL and LHR travel is normally on its new A359s that have 1-2-1 in J suites, 2-4-2 in Y and also a W class premium economy small section, 2-3-2 across. This also runs five days a week at present.

The flights will not suit everyone, because by a quick calculation three of the five days ex BNE see one spending about 44 hours in MNL - possibly at airline STPC expense in an hotel - as PR222 arrives MNL at 1700 most days (1805 hours on Fridays) but the MNL - LHR flight departs at 1310 hours. On the other couple of days, one spends overnight in MNL.

However leisure travellers could explore a new city (in MNL) or even catch a local flight to a Filipino island for a night.

I don't know how many seats are available but the deal is available for many months, but not the peak six weeks of the Christmas period:

404

www.philippineairlines.com

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sensation fare in economy! And business too.

Even if the airline provides a hotel I'd be keeping an eye out for sepcials at The Manila Hotel: The Manila Hotel

Shopping around you can get this for as little as AUD150 a night.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sometimes in these situations it can pay to call the airline to enquire re STPC free hotel accommodation at the intermediate stop, transfers and meals.

PR retains call centre staff in Sydney but they apparently only work 0900 - 1700 Monday to Friday. Ideally one's travel agent should find this out if going through him or her.

I have also stayed twice at The Manila Hotel and agree it's pretty good: sort of Manila's version of Raffles. Grand entrance lobby, pianist often playing further down the hall, excellent buffet breakfast and pleasant colonial style rooms that don't skimp on the square meterage. In traffic it can be up to 70 minutes from the airport but during less busy periods maybe 25 minutes or a trifle more.