PR is about to be about eight per cent owned by Japan's largest airline NH, so that's an example as to how its offerings are attracting attention.
PR in total has four weekly flights from BNE to MNL (soon to be five) and daily from SYD and MEL, with SYD soon to be nine. This is a huge increase from even two years ago.
This airline has split schedules for departures and arrivals from/to SYD and for that matter MEL, but the BNE timings are consistent every day.
From SYD or BNE, travel will normally be in an A321neo with lie flat seats in J in a 2-2 arrangement, from memory the first airline to operate these to Australia configured like this.
BNE to MNL flight PR222 departs at 1110 hours on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, arriving MNL at 1710 and making a nice connection to the daily PR102, the 2100 hours MNL - LAX that arrives the latter at the far better time of 1815 - great for hotel check in immediately - than the early morning arrivals so beloved of AA, DL, QF and VA on most nonstops ex east coast Australia.
Out of SYD the flight to go for if one wants a same day connection is PR212 on Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays (but from memory PAL will soon operate more trips per week on this schedule, increasing the total number of SYD - MNL weekly flights each way to nine from seven), arriving MNL at 1650 and also making a pleasant, unhurried connection to LAX as above with PR102.
Returning, PR113, the 1100 hours ex LAX daily arrives MNL at 1855 and makes a good connection to PR221 to BNE (ex MNL on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 2335 hours) and to SYD on PR2121, departing at 2230.
The MNL - LAX flights have a B773ER. Two of the fleet, at least, are fully lie flat in J: the others have seats that are slightly angled but having travelled on them, I had a good sleep. The configuration in J is seven across, so not as good as PR's refurbished A333s that have excellent 1-2-1 Thomson Vantage lie flat seats in J. These A333s (and new A359s) operate on the MNL - MEL route daily that also has a split schedule.
The fares to BKK are a good bargain because PR has increased its MNL - BKK schedules to three each way per day and one flight, PR730 (ex MNL at 0940 hours) sometimes has the new A359 (although also a B773ER, or worst, an unrefurbished A333 that has 2-2-2 in J that while lie flat has the window seat above the aisle seat when lying flat, with only AT (Royal Air Maroc) and perhaps one other airline ever ordering this rather strange J seat.
PR also now runs nonstops MNL to JFK with the new A359s. It's also increasing this frequency.
The airline also runs nonstop to YYZ, so can be a very good alternative to what some say is not very good AC. PR is showing J return fares from MEL, SYD or BNE to YYZ in the A$5700 range.
As well, the new A359s operate to LHR and PR has specials through moa999's link of about A$4750 return in J: excellent value considering the modern equipment. PR208 from MEL and PR214, the early morning departures on three days a week each connect through same day to the LHR flight.
The specials to mainland China moa999 highlighted are interesting in that PR has dramatically increased its flights to that country, and flies to cities that QF and VA do not.
A J class fare MEL to XMN of A$2119 return is excellent and may allow one to break the journey in MNL and perhaps on a separate ticket visit a great beach away from Manila, and combine it with tourism in mainland China.
Travel agents who specialise in Filipino travel may be able to beat these prices, and importantly arrange stopovers. The airline's website may lack this flexibility. There are multiple such agents in Sydney, at least three in Melbourne I've read about and one or two in Brisbane.
I've always found service on board to be very good to excellent. Dare I say it, better than QF.
Unlike some other Asian airlines, Filipinos' English is excellent. There is normally a choice of Western, Asian and Filipino dishes, and in J it's linen tablecloths and a proper table setting. If you ask, usually the crew are happy to change the time of one's meal in J but on occasion I have just gone with the flow.
PR also has a good safety record. It's an airline that Australian website AirlineRatings said was the 'most improved' in 2018.
Like moa999, I recommend The Manila Hotel. It's a bit isolated: two kilometres maybe from a large shopping centre, but the terrific, generously sized rooms (with lovely wooden shutters - classy) fronting Manila Bay have no traffic noise. The buffets and other dining offerings are excellent (good quality despite the huge selection) and it really is one of those old style hotels with a huge lobby, a pianist or others playing...just grand. The staff at reception can be a bit 'meh' (to use a Pushka word) but other staff are great. I haven't been there for more than three years, but there may still have been smoking floors, so ask for a non smoking floor if like the majority of Australians you don't imbibe the evil weed.
The traffic to and from this hotel means the trip to or from the airport takes anything from 35 minutes to (worst case) 70, but there's a new Skyway for part of the route that being tolled is not favoured by many locals, so I gather it has cut down travel times at least a bit. Roxas Blvd, however, is a busy highway when shops are open.
