What is the best option to get from MEL to MNL?

[winfred]

Need to go to Manila for work in early March. First ever trip to the Philippines.

Would you fly Philippines Airlines?

or QF via Syd?

or CX via HKG?

or SQ via SIN?

 

[RooFlyer]

This thread is a couple of years old, but may be of interest.

A trip report to MNL on Qantas.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I've done all three. Depends on status, equipment and $$$.

You forgot MAS.

Personally QF if you want to go via Syd then direct. But also enjoy CX J class.

Not SIN as no longer PPS

 

[winfred]

I've done all three. Depends on status, equipment and $$$.

You forgot MAS.

Personally QF if you want to go via Syd then direct. But also enjoy CX J class.

Not SIN as no longer PPS

Didn't forget MAS. I'm not allowed to fly them for the foreseeable future.

I'm QF WP and can only fly Y or PE for Asia.

I'll probably go for QF as I need the extra SC to retain WP after the halfed the SC for non-QF flights.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Interesting position on MAS. Is that an employer or personal position (ban)?

If WP then CX if time is not an issue. If new 300-300 then QF but I don't believe they have the refurb birds on that route as yet.

 

[Mark3000]

Interesting position on MAS. Is that an employer or personal position (ban)?
.

I was wondering the same thing.
I've booked a trip to The Philippines in Sep and we were lucky enough to get 4 x J tickets using Enrich points via Westpac altitude. Fortunately booked before the recent devaluation

 

[winfred]

Interesting position on MAS. Is that an employer or personal position (ban)?

If WP then CX if time is not an issue. If new 300-300 then QF but I don't believe they have the refurb birds on that route as yet.

The ban imposed by my wife. I have to throw away my MH return tickets late last year and buy a one way back.

Just had a look and CX J from MNL to MEL return via HKG. Only US$3181 or A$4k. Very tempted to do it. Just need to find my way to MNL first.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Get an award ticket to MNL. Are you traveling each year ex MNL. You indicated buying a ticket ex MNL.

 

[Ric]

Get an award ticket to MNL. Are you traveling each year ex MNL. You indicated buying a ticket ex MNL.

Agreed....
Much cheaper to use MNL as origin e.g. travelled on MH from MNL>KUL>SYD return in Jan for USD1600!!...but you are banned from MH!! And I just snagged a MNL>DOH>MXP....ATH>DOH>MNL on J for USD2150!

 

[browski]

Need to go to Manila for work in early March. First ever trip to the Philippines.

Would you fly Philippines Airlines?

or QF via Syd?

or CX via HKG?

or SQ via SIN?

It would have been helpful if you defined what you meant by best - Flight Duration, price etc.

The "best" option when based on price, flight duration, flight arrival time into Manila, Equipment (new Dreamliner) and availability is Royal Brunei Airlines.
$1800 return in J.

 

[downgraded]

Have done CX and QF. "Best" is the key...
- CX has (had?) 4 departures from MEL and similar from Hong Kong to MNL. You can chose day time with evening arrival or midnight departure with morning arrival in both directions (and other options in between). Something goes wrong and CX has the options to still get you there without huge delay. QF has limited flexibility with one return per day, with day up/night back inflexibility.
- Planes - unrenovated QF or latest CX product whether Y or J.
- If measured in $$$, Royal Brunei is probably quickest and cheapest, I seem to recall my colleague saying it was a dry flight though.
- Agree with your wife, wouldn't do MAS, but haven't yet decided if this is irrational or not.
- I wouldn't fly Philippine Airlines (again possibly irrational).

Have done CX and QF in J and Y, and have to say, coupled with the -ve of going via SYD (being mainly the issue of generally needing an extended connection time to ensure person and luggage make it to connection), the flexibility of time of day travel IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, there is no contest really - CX is the way to go (IMVHO). Without the $$$ factor I'd probably still chose CX via Hong Kong. If you're going J you have the best lie flat bed if that's what you want, if you're going Y, then you can do daytime in both directions (and have exit row for free if suitably entitled).

 

[downgraded]

I've just noticed you said Y or PE.

QF only has Y or J to MNL. CX will get you all the way their in PE if that's what you're after, and generally at pretty competitive prices.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Some prefer the CX product over QF. However QF will have their new 330-300 at some stage so that could change everything.

 

[downgraded]

Agree. At some stage they will. At that stage it might influence my decision for this route. But until then...

 

[bsmith]

I fly to the Philippines every 2 months and have most of the options. Got upgraded on MH both ways on my first ever trip with them (no upgrades from QF in 10 years).

Don't overlook Philippine Airlines though, their J class is pretty good and often cheaper than CX PE.

QF Y is average but the refurbishment and the new international food service should raise the bar a bit.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Have QF commenced the new config 330-300 on the MNL route as yet ?

 

[mannej]

Have QF commenced the new config 330-300 on the MNL route as yet ?

No - it may have been there once but it's the exception to the schedule and not something to be expected currently.

 

[Ric]

The MNL route would probably one of the last, if not the last to get it :-|

 

[winfred]

I just changed my plan. I now need to go from MNL to KUL for a few days and possibly Singapore for 1 day at the beginning or at the end of the trip.

I always booked my flights with QF as going via SYD is quicker than going via HKG.

I just came up with the idea that I can do MEL-MNL-KUL-MEL but the quote from QF using the multi-trip option came close to $10k.

Any suggestions?

 

[Mark3000]

We picked air Asia for KUL - MNL but you might not like that option

How about one of the Phillipine airlines?