Melburnian1
Enthusiast
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2013
- Posts
- 24,673
Full service carrier PR (lie flat 1-2-1 ex SYD/MEL on the A333, lie flat 2-2 on the new A321neo ex BNE and new route ex PER) has a great business class sale to MNL, with return tickets starting from A$1545 to A$1580 depending on Australian origin.
Note that the travel period from PER is more generous, starting in March 2020, but the others only have these promotional fares available from August to November:
www.philippineairlines.com
A minimum of two persons must travel together on the Oz - MNL special fares, so the MNL fares are a 'companion sale.' This restriction does not apply to other destinations on the extensive PR network, so one can travel alone if purchasing a SYD - PEK fare.
Fares to other destinations are not quite as cheap per kilometre but the J fares are typically way below what overpriced QFi, and other carriers, charge. A$2399 return in J MEL - BKK is lower than most if not all on this route, but one has to change planes in MNL. A$2239 MEL - TPE J return is also very good, while PEK at A$1949, or SYD - PEK/PVG at A$1959 J return is even better, though not all MNL - regional Asian destination flights have lie flat J seats. Check FlightRadar24 by typing in the flight number on Google to see what 'equipment' normally operates each route radiating from MNL and then look up Seat Guru's site to see the configuration.
In short, the A321neos (2-2 narrowbody), all A359s and a majority of the A333s (both 1-2-1 in J, widebody) have lie flat seats with seatback entertainment. The older B773ERs have 2-3-2 in J and 'almost' lie flat but regional older A321(ceos?) and A320s have B738-like 2 plus 2 J seating.
One could travel J return to MNL and if budget was tight, use the ITA Matrix site to find an economy return fare on PR (to LHR only) or another carrier typically of about P40000 (roughly A$1150) to somewhere in Europe, and have an 'open jaw' itinerary (inbound to say LHR to minimise travel tax, back to MNL from VIE, ZUR or FRA) with a Eurostar ticket plus Eurail Pass or other rail travel arrangements in between.
If any fares involve overnight in MNL, get a good travel agent such as My Travel (03 9314 6957) to contact PAL and organise an 'STPC' hotel (free overnight accommodation, plus transfers and all meals.) That way one can briefly see MNL that while hardly representative of Philippines because it's so urbanised, is nonetheless another megacity to tick off.
A further option is to have a few days in Philippines in one direction. If connecting to or from a different carrier in MNL, I strongly recommend overnighting in an hotel. August to November is in typhoon season and while these do not occur everyday - - far from it - they are (like volcanoes) unpredictable and can wreck travel plans if one was relying on connecting within a few hours. GRAB (not UBER, which sold out to GRAB in SE Asia) is available at MNL airport terminals: typically, there's an inner roadway staffed booth so no problem even if one doesn't have data or a local SIM card. White street taxis are also available from Bay 11 of Terminal 2, inner roadway and are cheap as flagfall is only P40 (A$1.15.)
I find the J catering on PR to be good to excellent, but lack the 'foodie' expertise of some AFFers such as N860CR or Cruiser Elite. However on the Oz - MNL - OZ flights, one typically receives a welcome drink (champagne seems sometimes to be offered, but I don't drink it), canapes, a sizeable entree, a main with choice of Asian, Western or Filipino, dessert (can be as simple as Serendipity ice cream ex Oz or Carmen's Best ex MNL) plus if desired a cheese plate.
Certainly way better than what QFi offers on some routes, and on PR if one wants it - I often don't - a full breakfast is on offer if one is on a night flight that lands +1.
AFF has a MNL stopover guide within its hallowed pages:
www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au
Note that the travel period from PER is more generous, starting in March 2020, but the others only have these promotional fares available from August to November:
404
www.philippineairlines.com
A minimum of two persons must travel together on the Oz - MNL special fares, so the MNL fares are a 'companion sale.' This restriction does not apply to other destinations on the extensive PR network, so one can travel alone if purchasing a SYD - PEK fare.
Fares to other destinations are not quite as cheap per kilometre but the J fares are typically way below what overpriced QFi, and other carriers, charge. A$2399 return in J MEL - BKK is lower than most if not all on this route, but one has to change planes in MNL. A$2239 MEL - TPE J return is also very good, while PEK at A$1949, or SYD - PEK/PVG at A$1959 J return is even better, though not all MNL - regional Asian destination flights have lie flat J seats. Check FlightRadar24 by typing in the flight number on Google to see what 'equipment' normally operates each route radiating from MNL and then look up Seat Guru's site to see the configuration.
In short, the A321neos (2-2 narrowbody), all A359s and a majority of the A333s (both 1-2-1 in J, widebody) have lie flat seats with seatback entertainment. The older B773ERs have 2-3-2 in J and 'almost' lie flat but regional older A321(ceos?) and A320s have B738-like 2 plus 2 J seating.
One could travel J return to MNL and if budget was tight, use the ITA Matrix site to find an economy return fare on PR (to LHR only) or another carrier typically of about P40000 (roughly A$1150) to somewhere in Europe, and have an 'open jaw' itinerary (inbound to say LHR to minimise travel tax, back to MNL from VIE, ZUR or FRA) with a Eurostar ticket plus Eurail Pass or other rail travel arrangements in between.
If any fares involve overnight in MNL, get a good travel agent such as My Travel (03 9314 6957) to contact PAL and organise an 'STPC' hotel (free overnight accommodation, plus transfers and all meals.) That way one can briefly see MNL that while hardly representative of Philippines because it's so urbanised, is nonetheless another megacity to tick off.
A further option is to have a few days in Philippines in one direction. If connecting to or from a different carrier in MNL, I strongly recommend overnighting in an hotel. August to November is in typhoon season and while these do not occur everyday - - far from it - they are (like volcanoes) unpredictable and can wreck travel plans if one was relying on connecting within a few hours. GRAB (not UBER, which sold out to GRAB in SE Asia) is available at MNL airport terminals: typically, there's an inner roadway staffed booth so no problem even if one doesn't have data or a local SIM card. White street taxis are also available from Bay 11 of Terminal 2, inner roadway and are cheap as flagfall is only P40 (A$1.15.)
I find the J catering on PR to be good to excellent, but lack the 'foodie' expertise of some AFFers such as N860CR or Cruiser Elite. However on the Oz - MNL - OZ flights, one typically receives a welcome drink (champagne seems sometimes to be offered, but I don't drink it), canapes, a sizeable entree, a main with choice of Asian, Western or Filipino, dessert (can be as simple as Serendipity ice cream ex Oz or Carmen's Best ex MNL) plus if desired a cheese plate.
Certainly way better than what QFi offers on some routes, and on PR if one wants it - I often don't - a full breakfast is on offer if one is on a night flight that lands +1.
AFF has a MNL stopover guide within its hallowed pages:
Manila (MNL) Stopover Tips
This thread is a place to share tips and recommendations for stopovers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines. You can discuss things like: How to get from the airport to the city Things to do in Manila Where to stay/hotel recommendations (both near the airport and in the...
www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au
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