Transit in MNL

[clifford]

I'm thinking about booking a CX ticket from HKG to MNL that would give me 2 hours 40 minutes to make a connection to an EY flight. Both fights at T3 and in business class on separate Tix.

Anyone had recent experience of a similar transit at MNL T3? What are the chances of making it?

Normally I would fly the day before, but due to other commitments it won't be possible on this occasion.

 

[clifford]

I'm thinking about booking a CX ticket from HKG to MNL that would give me 2 hours 40 minutes to make a connection to an EY flight. Both fights at T3 and in business class on separate Tix.

Anyone had recent experience of a similar transit at MNL T3? What are the chances of making it?

Normally I would fly the day before, but due to other commitments it won't be possible on this occasion.

Well, in the absence of any other comments, let me answer my own question.

I have decided to book SIN-HKG-MNL using 20,000 Qantas points (rather than going J), as I can get decent lounge access in SIN and HKG and CX Y apparently isn't too bad if you can get an extra legroom seat.

In the event that I'm likely to miss the EY connection I can cancel the ticket at a cost of USD$300, so it's a chance I'll take. A little excitement in life stimulates the ailing brain..

 

[exceladdict]

My recent experiences at mnl T3 have been reasonably on time, with the main pinch being immigration. Bags can be fast, or like any airport, less so. Will you be hlo?

I'm not sure if there's a way to bypass immigration if you're connecting airside (I've never done so).

How much will it cost to get a replacement flight out of MNL though, even if the cancel cost isn't too bad?

 

[clifford]

How much will it cost to get a replacement flight out of MNL though, even if the cancel cost isn't too bad?

Yes, I'll be HLO, and I'm not sure how much a replacement flight would cost, but I'd be prepared to fly Y or PY instead of J if necessary, so it probably wouldn't cost much if any more.

The arrangements at my destination in Europe are fairly flexible, and if it meant missing the first day or two of the planned trip it wouldn't be the end of the world. However, it would be much better not to miss the flight from MNL, so for now I have held off booking SIN-MNL and will monitor the various options for a while, as my trip isn't for another few months.

SIN-MNL is the only piece of the puzzle I haven't yet booked, and, of course, there are a number of alternatives available. This whole dilemma of how best to get to MNL has come up as I'm trying to use a much-postponed Jetstar business ticket from MEL to SIN.

Your comments are appreciated.

 

[Austman]

I did an air-side international to international transit in MNL recently but it was T1. PR to PR.

A breeze. Just some routine transit security. Almost no waiting at all for me. But I was HLO. But I later chatted with some on the same connection who had checked bags. They were not too happy. For some reason they had another process they had to follow - identifying their checked bags or something like that ...

I'd imagine T3 would be the same?

Arrivals passport control on the other hand... I've done that too. Can take an hour or more.

 

[clifford]

Arrivals passport control on the other hand... I've done that too. Can take an hour or more.

From recollection, at T3 you have to exit airside via Immigration/Customs and then check-in and proceed airside again.

That's the worry really, although when I was at MNL in October last year they did give me some priority as a senior. However, I don't think I want to rely on this happening again in the future.

 

[Austman]

From recollection, at T3 you have to exit airside via Immigration/Customs and then check-in and proceed airside again.

All I can say is that I did NOT have to do that in T1 (HLO). This was just a few months ago.

 

[clifford]

All I can say is that I did NOT have to do that in T1 (HLO). This was just a few months ago.

Fair enough, but I guess you were on one ticket (PR) and didn't have to check in again. Unlike me.

 

[Austman]

Fair enough, but I guess you were on one ticket (PR) and didn't have to check in again. Unlike me.

Well yes, unless your check-in luggage can be through checked and you can use a transit counter for any new boarding pass.

MNL seemed to me to be like a typical international airport. Just not a very great one!

 

[exceladdict]

Well yes, unless your check-in luggage can be through checked and you can use a transit counter for any new boarding pass.

MNL seemed to me to be like a typical international airport. Just not a very great one!

T3, ime, is a very different airport to t1 and T2, and by far the best option (but note that most of the time we don't pick airlines based on that).