KNOW YOUR DESIGNATED AIRPORT TERMINALS

Finally, I see this tarpaulin at the airport! It is the answer of the questions many have been asking a few months back: whether Airphil will take over PAL or not... 

 This is the link and news release from Philippine Airlines on this issue:
https://www.mabuhaymiles.com/program_news/news/project_winter_announcement.jsp

News

Earn and Redeem Miles on AirPhil Express!!

We are pleased to inform you that effective October 28, 2012, AirPhil Express will become a program partner of our Mabuhay Miles program. This means you will now be able to earn Miles and redeem Travel Awards on both Philippine Airlines and AirPhil Express.  Selected benefits and privileges currently being offered to all our elite- status members can also be enjoyed when flying on both airlines.

With an expanded network of more Domestic and International destinations, this partnership gives you more ways to make the most your Mabuhay Miles membership. 

You may also want to note that starting October 28, 2012 Airport Terminal assignments for Domestic Flights will be by DESTINATION and no longer by airline (for PAL and AirPhil Express ). 

The terminal designations by then will be as follows : 

DOMESTIC Departures and Arrivals

(Starting 28 October 2012)

Domestic Departures and Arrivals
PAL (NAIA) Terminal 2 (near Nayong Pilipino)		NEW (NAIA) Terminal 3 (across Resorts World)
Bacolod	Iloilo	Butuan	Masbate
		Busuanga	Naga
		Cagayan de Oro	Ozamiz
Cebu	Laoag	Calbayog	Puerto Princesa
		Catarman	Roxas
Davao	Tagbilaran	Caticlan	Surigao
		Cotabato	Tacloban
		Dipolog	Tuguegarao
General Santos	Kalibo (PAL)	Dumaguete	Zamboanga
		Legazpi	Kalibo (AirPhil Express)

Well, my friend had already mentioned this about a month ago when we casually met at the airport, but I guess I was hoping it wouldn't push through.

So Zamboanga now departs and arrives at Terminal 3.☹

So much for Elite status... 1) there is no Mabuhay Miles lounge in NAIA Terminal 3... 2) the additional 10 kilograms could not be transferred if the small plane is used... 3) quite inconvenient when travelling abroad since we have to change terminals!☹☹☹

I might use Cebu Pacific more.... we'll see...

Anyway, here is a related link for the next few days from a newslink reminding on the changes of Terminals for some of the realigned flights:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/279809/economy/companies/pal-airphil-to-use-naia-3-for-nov-1-and-2-passenger-traffic-spike 

PAL, AirPhil to use NAIA-3 for Nov. 1 and 2 passenger traffic spike

October 26, 2012 2:55pm

Philippine Airlines and AirPhil Express will use the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) to accommodate the spike in number of passengers expected to head for the provinces on All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2, the Manila International Airport Authority said Friday.

The reshuffling of flights is supposed to decongest NAIA-2, home to PAL’s domestic and international flights. PAL and AirPhil are sister airlines – both owned by PAL Holdings Inc.

The realignment of PAL and AirPhil flights will start on Sunday, Oct. 28, said MIAA Public Affairs Office chief Consuelo Bungag. 

“Several PAL flights will be moved to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 while some AirPhil Express flights will also be operated at the Terminal 3 ,” said Bungag.

MIAA said domestic passengers taking PAL and AirPhil should check with their respective carriers and confirm their booking and the corresponding airport terminal.

“We expect a big number of travelers this weekend up to next week who will be traveling to their respective provinces for the All Saint’s Day break,” said Bungag.

“A lot of passengers who had purchased their tickets might have been uninformed of the flight changes and may be inconvenienced by the new operational changes,” she noted.

“We appeal to all passengers to be at the airport two hours before their respective flights and allot enough time for heavy traffic in and out of the terminals.

“Passengers affected by the flight changes will be ferried by PAL and AirPhil to their correct terminals, free of charge,” Bungag added. — VS, GMA News

Such a big change... we will see the repercussions!!!

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS: BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

The first time that I felt that Baggage Allowance was important was when I was in Dubai in 2007 and during the check-in at Cathay Pacific for a Dubai-Manila flight, my cousin was unloading some of her things just so the baggage wouldn't go over 30 kilos.

The allowed check-in baggage is 20 kilos per person and since they were three of them, they were allowed 60 kilos. However, none of the baggages should go over 30 kilos per person.

Excess baggage fee for this route is USD 8/kilo. 

Another guy came with a large "balikbayan" kind of box and so he had to pay an extra USD200.00 for the excess.

I was surprised at how strict Cathay Pacific (manned by Filipinos) was, but then considering Filipinos, who love huge baggages, maybe they were right in doing so.

I was comparing this when we checked in through Emirates also for the Dubai-Manila flight, wherein the Dubai local who was at check-in didn't really mind the baggage limits. Well, I can't say how strict Emirates is with baggage these days.

Philippine Airlines is also very strict with the baggage allowance. Beware of the present base allowance which is only 15 kgs. An additional 10 kgs. is given if you are an Elite Mabuhay Miles member.

For local flights, the excess baggage is P150.00 + 12%VAT.

For international flights in Asia, the excess baggage is USD 10.00 per kilo!

Philippine Airlines was very strict with the cabin baggage in the San Francisco-Manila flight since they only wanted two pieces. Me with my big bag, laptop bag and camera bag really had a dilemma!

To make the most of the baggage from the US, many use the balikbayan boxes. 

Just make sure, that this comes home intact. One friend lost 18 pounds in her box and my other friend lost all the branded shirts, bags and perfumes she got from the Labor Day sale in the US! She pointed out that they didn't mind the shirts that came from discount stores. In fact, she found small shorts which she didn't buy - - therefore, were there other boxes opened? 

Don't know who to blame for the loss in two of my friends' balikbayan boxes, because it was taped back as if not opened - - must be experts, huh!

I do hope the system changes or else Dishonesty would stick in the minds of the nationals and the tourists everytime they step on Philippine soil!

For other US carriers, the internet is so important for the baggage limits - - some have the 20 kilo limit, others a 25 kilo limit and others give you a 2-bag limit whatever the weight!

Lots of shuffling happens when you have lots of domestic flights.

The time, I felt that the flight carriers were so considerate was when I was on the Singapore Airline flight from Manila-Singapore and also on the transit on the Silk Air flight from Penang-Singapore. I know, I went over the baggage limit of 20 kilos (for economy) but I think that they gave another 20 kilos just because I signed in online at the Krisflyer Frequent Flyer program at the Singapore Airlines website.

The same way with Thai Airways. Just because I signed in at the Royal Orchid Frequent Flyer Program website a few days before leaving, I was able to be checked in online (1) and this is very helpful for a breezy check-in. The baggage allowance for economy is 20 kgs. plus an additional 10 kgs. for the Royal Orchid rewards. Excess baggage is USD119 for an additional 10 kgs.

What was most interesting for me was my Alitalia trip from Rome to Paris! Their baggage allowance is 2 bags = 23 kgs. each! I also checked in their Mille Miglia rewards but I dont know if that mattered.

So for the next leg from Paris to Bangkok through Thai Airways, which was not of the same alliance, the allowance was 30 kgs. I couldn't shuffle my bags anymore. I had to carry an additional 15 kgs. by hand-carry!

Check online for the individual baggage policy per airline.
Even Cebu Pacific (depends on what you chose and Air Philippines (watch out it is only 10 kilos) have very high excess baggage fees!

Well, inasmuch as everyone says "Travel Light!", I think only the guys can do this!

Well, just be prepared if you travel heavy... the fees are also heavy!!!