It's weird, because my recent self-transfer at T3 was very pleasant. Unusual for the home carrier to have much the worst of it at their own hub.
Hoo boy. Taking the new ORD-MNL flight in November, followed by MNL-MEL and SYD-MNL, then back to ORD. That's about 50 hours of flight time on PAL. Wish me luck!
There are a number of challenges at MNL but in fairness they have been making significant improvements over the past 2 years. At the moment, these improvements have been primarily seen at T3, and compared to a couple of years ago, the T3 experience is much better and in my opinion better than some of the other airports in SE Asia. As an example, the First Meridian Lounge experience is quite impressive. The Grab pick up process has been completely streamlined so that there is a dedicated pick up area with properly numbered posts. The food court Area has been completely revamped. I hope it is only a matter of time before these types of improvements come to T1 as well, but I do feel things are on the right track.
Do you work for San Miguel?
Grab picking location is in a hot humid gross parking lot with no working Wifi.
Food has been improved? Gross San Miguel branded hot dogs. They removed the Burger King which is an improvement over what was replaced.
San Miguel forced the Cathy Pacific and Singapore Airlines lounges to close. They also closed all the priority pass lounges.
“It took roughly 40 minutes from the time I deplaned to being through transit security, which is a mighty long time. That just feels totally unnecessary.”
Interesting commentary. That’s what I also thought about every US security line before I got TSA Pre. 😂 40 minutes is hardly long by US standards, even in 2026. Especially in Miami.
US standards are hardly aspirational 🙂 There's a reason why many of us go great lengths to avoid connecting there.
Forty minutes is exceptionally long by US standards. I don't have pre and it usually takes under 15 minutes to clear security which is why I haven't bothered getting pre despite having multiple cards that reimburse the fee
The U.S. immigration at JFK is horrible. They treat even their own like cattle with unending lines. Was actually a privilege to arrive as an international traveller and get through in fifteen minutes while secretly gloating at the desperate looks being offered by the locals who were just not moving forward.
To be fair... I flew through ICN 3 times in August and the first time (which was an international to international transit) was the same exact experience as this in every way, except the security line was even longer. I had just over a 2 hour layover and the security line took over an hour and a half. Bad combo of multiple flights arriving at the same time, limited machines open, and just general chaos. The next two times were incredibly seamless though, so wonder if there's any chance you just got unlucky?
I have flown through MNL enough times to know it's awful, but I've read that it's been much improved lately....
The transit seems no worse than major European hubs - LHR in particular is abysmal - and U.S. airports. Oh wait! No U.S. airport offers a sterile transit experience. Now that’s laughably bad.
Still looks better than all the airports around DC.
"Laughably bad" according to who, of any significance?
No US airport (in particular the 4 US gateways with facilities for sterile international passenger transit) has petitioned the government for exemption to use them, in more than 20 years. And if you have evidence of some US airline expressing an opportunity cost in not offering SIT to passengers, feel free to present it.
Yep - mine. Mine is the only opinion which matters to me.
Let’s go one step further - US airports are a disgrace and a sore first impression to international travellers. Probably better to use the tunnels to the south since they offer a superior immigration experience.
"Yep - mine. Mine is the only opinion which matters to me. "
Meh, at least you seem self aware enough to grasp just how insignificant that is, in regard to: everything else.
Because no airport nor airline gives a squat about that, since (other than east Asia to South America) there's very few i2i connections via the USA that do anything more than pointlessly burn more fuel, at lower yield, than a nonstop.
Seems to matter enough to you to keep responding! Frankly I’m flattered. Must be so sad living in your head seeking validation from the outside and having little perspective nor opinions.
Love how the US airlines and airports offer so little yet when any foreign airline is interested in fifth freedom flights through the US, everyone is suffering in a frenzy. Good thing the domestic airline market dominates in the US. Otherwise neither the airlines nor the majority of airports would survive. Not that it would be a big loss to my area around DC - shudder to call any of them airports instead of a bus station.
What’s either of your points? It’s well known that airports in the US are little more than bus stands. Everyone’s seeking a bargain. Comparison to any US airport is hardly aspirational.
Apart from the queues, it seems like a pretty standard bad airport experience? I mean, it's bad but not exceptionally bad.
Lounge signage is generally problematic in my experience, at many airports. I imagine it's low priority for airports due to it being irrelevant to the vast majority of passengers. It took me something like a dozen flights at CPH before I stopped losing my mind trying to find the SAS lounge each time I was there, lol.
I was just at T2E Hall M at CDG and had a terrible time finding the Air France lounge. It’s like they hide them.
I’m fairly certain PAL has CCTV footage proving you were enjoying yourself in that lounge. Kindly cease this libel before the tapes are released.
As you can see, some people don’t realize that the Terminal 1 lounge situation and overcrowding is substandard. It’s easier to claim libel than fix the problem (which, as proven by the new lounge in terminal 3, can be done in just a few months.)
The lack of WiFi connectivity was probably attributable to a single router for 200+ passengers. The explanation you got? Its the sort of thing you expect to hear at MNL.
The single security checkpoint was ok before Terminal 1 turned into an international transit point, but funneling passengers to the newly expanded check point upstairs would address the situation.
Everything you mentioned is fixable, but the question remains, when?
hmm... seems @ Darryl Macklem is the Tim Dunn of PAL!
100%, although it’s deeply unfair to compare Delta with the pathetic fiasco that Ben describes in this report. If PR wants to play in the big league with the likes of JL, NH, SQ, and CX, they have a vast amount of work to do. Likewise MNL is not in the race of competing with BKK or KUL right now, let alone Changi or Chek Lap Kok. Face it, Daryl.
Ha! I am headed to Manila now, transiting through Narita on JAL, which was so seamless, I did not even know I had done so!
On my return to the US I begin my trip on PAL, and based on your review, I will absolutely skip the Mabuhay lounge.
In contrast, I am in the JAL Sakura lounge, which is a bit noisy in the dining area, but there are many quiet zones to retire to. And the food and drink are nourishing and superb. The service is impeccable, of course.
And PAL will be OneWorld in a year. Hard to believe, since its more LCC than OW carrier. I can assure you that Filipinos who have OW status who can travel on Cathay or JAL rather than PAL will do so.
NAIA has never been good, though I am pretty certain it has been worse before. As for the lounge noise, noise cancelling works wonders but half the review would be missing also then. And do not get me started on US security lines, frequently worst in the world for those of us who cannot get TSA pre or clear. Glad to see US travelers get an authentic cr@p experience abroad from time to time, to see what we have to endure.
My thoughts exactly. Going through U. S. security for the average person from abroad is like getting a colonosocopy without the sedative.
Ben, you kvetch about standing in long lines to get transit. Oh, you mean like standing in long lines to gain entry into U. S. lounges.
Of all people, you should know that every country has ups and downs while traveling.
The experience I had for a MIA-MAD security line was laughable. A scanner from the 80s. I was flying J and was told No fast track, like wth. Whilst I was waiting I couldnt help admire that this would not look out of place in Burundi.
I'm shocked that people tolerate and accept long lines as norm.
MNL sucks.
MIA sucks.
One is not an excuse for the other.
Not good.
One of the worst Airports in the World--- the irony is that Filipinos defend the horrible service as normal because everything is done poorly in the Philippines 🇵🇭
MNL Airport is absolutely horrible to travel through
MNL T1 lounges are all dire. You're far better off heading for the Little Flower Cafe - a way better experience. There's also a Starbucks, although the seating area can get busy. For a better experience, always use an airline operating out of T3, and ensure it's negotiated access to the relatively new First Meridian Lounge, which is only open to ticketed business class passengers with selected airlines and with no access for CC/Premium/Dragon. Again the alternate lounge options at T3 are dire and honestly you're better off grabbing something from Bo's Coffee and finding a spot at the gate. I've been in PH for 12 years, traveling every 6-8 weeks.
That was a terrible transit experience. Part of that was bad timing though: NAIA Airport is shuffling airlines between terminals and PAL’s international flights will move to Terminal 3 (as early as Oct 1), so PAL won’t invest in a lounge and NAIA won’t invest in transit for this temporary set up. Fingers crossed, this will improve the PAL international-to-international transfers. International-to-domestic transfers will still be from terminal-to-terminal though…
NAIA has operated for more than 10 years beyond its design capacity. The new, private operator has made many small, common sense changes at the airport, so the overall situation is improving…
Shocked by the survey responses from the famously non-confrontational Ben