QF in Manila

[Mrmaxwell]

Anyone else travel through MNL much on QF?

Due to work commitments I have been travelling to MNL quite a bit on QF19/20 and really cannot understand why QF choose to continue using the mess known as Terminal 1. It is really the worst terminal of the three international terminals in MNL and I feel CX did the best thing for its pax by moving to T3 and establishing the best lounge in MNL.

Having recently tried out CX a few times I can say the difference in customer experience is night and day for departures. T3 has positives such as up to 60mins less travel time from the major business districts, numerous entrances to the airport (T1 has ONE entrance to the entire terminal which can take 30 mins just to get inside!), bigger terminal, more check in counters, more SPACE! More everything, oh, and the CX lounge which is IMO the top airport lounge in MNL. By comparison the joke that QF call a lounge in T1 is a small compact room with chairs so close you rub shoulders with the person next to you - if you manage a chair at all, with air conditioning optional. Add to this the mess of the departure gate where you must drag your cabin bags down a flight of stairs, only to be manually searched by customs for a second time (which doesn't happen in the other terminals) and then try to find a seat again.

Having experienced the QF departure process several times this year, as many other regular pax have (I recognise several each time I fly) surely QF can enlighten me as to why they feel this is good for the customer. I know CX have four flights per day whereas QF have 4 per week, however I do not feel that this is an excuse. If others with MNL experience feel differently and enjoy the above then I am happy to be corrected...

T1 check in mess;



T1 QF 'lounge' 2hrs before departure;



T1 departure gate - standing room only (with sole entrance stair case visible at the back);



CX Lounge at T3 by comparison;

 

[eminere]

Those photos of MNL T1 remind me of NOU...!

 

[Mattg]

I don't know too many fans of MNL as an airport generally, and especially of T1.

Which terminals do PAL and Cebu Pacific use?

 

[yohy?!]

i doubt it's by choice that QF were operating from T1 - T3 has been opened for years but seems to have been preserved for PR in that time.

you get used to MNL after a few trips, it isn't the worst airport i've been to...

 

[whughes3]

T1 is a great deal more bearable since the other airlines departed, though I agree that T3 is much better in most respects. The single entrance to T1 appears to be a temporary thing; checkin, at least for J pax, is pretty painless; and queues for customs/immigration have pretty well disappeared. The QF lounge is indeed fairly ordinary, but I usually flash the Diners card and use the PAGSS lounge across the way (ex-SQ) which is larger and better appointed; in fact it appears that QF are using it for "overflow".

 

[Mattg]

The interesting thing is that QF's MNL flights are very often full. So they must be doing something right.

 

[BD1959]

Oh joy, good to see little has changed in the 2 years since I last flew from MNL (ncluding the sandwiches under those plastic domes)- except in those days the CX Lounge was next door to the QF Lounge and the QF Lounge was miles better!!

One thing to note though Mrmaxwell, my understanding is that the secondary security (gate) check is a requirement of ALL international flights to Australia and that this would still occur if QF moved to MNL T3.

Regards,

BD

 

[whughes3]

One thing to note though Mrmaxwell, my understanding is that the secondary security (gate) check is a requirement of ALL international flights to Australia and that this would still occur if QF moved to MNL T3.

Regards,

BD

Correct; it is supposedly a final check for LAG's, though IME it is fairly perfunctory in this regard.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

queues for customs/immigration have pretty well disappeared. The QF lounge is indeed fairly ordinary, but I usually flash the Diners card and use the PAGSS lounge across the way (ex-SQ) which is larger and better appointed; in fact it appears that QF are using it for "overflow".

Agreed the immigration hold up has gone my last few trips. The PAGSS lounge is just a bigger version of the QF lounge so still not anywhere near what a 'business' lounge should be - but at least there is more room - my last two trips I had to ask to for a pass to go to PAGSS as the QF cubby hole was full 90mins before departure.

The interesting thing is that QF's MNL flights are very often full. So they must be doing something right.

Correct - the latest Australian traffic stats shows the SYD-MNL route operating at 90%+ which is one of the highest if not the highest utilised route for QFi...another reason to move to a bigger modern terminal no?

One thing to note though Mrmaxwell, my understanding is that the secondary security (gate) check is a requirement of ALL international flights to Australia and that this would still occur if QF moved to MNL T3.

Correct. I recall the same thing happens in BKK, as well as clueless PAX having their duty free alcohol confiscated while they look on in disbelief. The placement of the checks however is right at the bottom of the stair case meaning PAX are lined back up the stairs dragging their cabin bags behind them, and it gets messy when the elderly PAX have to get assistance down the stairs because the lift is broken (which occurred before my last QF20 flight)

 

[dajop]

i doubt it's by choice that QF were operating from T1 - T3 has been opened for years but seems to have been preserved for PR in that time.

It had limited operations - initially 5J (Cebu Pacific) in 2008, and then PR's "express" subsidiaries (not mainline PR, they are in T2). It was only 12 months ago they started transferring some international carriers to T3. But I too doubt it's by choice that QF are still operating from T1.

 

[JohnK]

The QF lounge is looking much better than when I was last there a few years ago. Actually looks civilised now.

 

[davistev]

I think the Manila Airport Authority is still waiting on Qantas to pay a huge transfer fee (aka bribe).

 

[YSSY]

Absolutely awful setup, I won't be doing QF MNL-SYD again, would rather go CX and have a night in HKG.
Never call the local QF number in Manila if you need assistance, it is an absolute waste of time. I spent almost two hours trying to change a ticket through them, and lots of hassle trying to get them to compute and figure out the cost differences. In the end called the Australian number, and the ticket was changed in <5 minutes.

 

[Spongbob]

The QF lounge is looking much better than when I was last there a few years ago. Actually looks civilised now.

So is the CX lounge - vast improvement.

 

[banger2]

I don't know too many fans of MNL as an airport generally, and especially of T1.

Which terminals do PAL and Cebu Pacific use?

PAL uses T2, and Cebu Pacific uses T3, although I did spy some 5J planes at the old domestic terminal(T4) a few weeks back...so maybe some domestic services use that terminal as well?

The QF lounge in T1 and the CX lounge in T3 are like night and day. That CX lounge is fantastic...one of the better lounges I have visited

 

[Mrmaxwell]

PAL uses T2, and Cebu Pacific uses T3, although I did spy some 5J planes at the old domestic terminal(T4) a few weeks back...so maybe some domestic services use that terminal as well?

Some clarification on what airlines use what terminal;

T1:
QF
3K
MH
KE
OZ
AF
EY
ET
MF
WY
7C


T2:
PR


T3:
5J (Cebu Pacific)
2P (PAL Express)
Z2 (AirAsia Zest)
CX
SQ
EK
NH
EK
DL
KL

I've left out T4 which is the domestic terminal.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Try being in the MAS Golden Lounge at KUL from where I am typing this. They have run out of beer.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Try being in the MAS Golden Lounge at KUL from where I am typing this. They have run out of beer.

Nothing golden about running out of beer!

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Absolutely awful setup, I won't be doing QF MNL-SYD again, would rather go CX and have a night in HKG.
Never call the local QF number in Manila if you need assistance, it is an absolute waste of time. I spent almost two hours trying to change a ticket through them, and lots of hassle trying to get them to compute and figure out the cost differences. In the end called the Australian number, and the ticket was changed in <5 minutes.

Agreed on the local service offered by Qantas Manila ticketing office. Several times I have tried calling for different trips and not ONCE have I ever managed to speak to someone. Always ringing out or you're put on automated hold which then transpires into 30+ mins of hold music until you hang up in frustration.

I've had the QF check in staff have to call ticketing before QF20 departure in the afternoon and even they are put on hold! If they cannot get through what chance does the average passenger have?

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Now on my return to Sydney via CX.

Only 35min Uber ride to T3 from Makati (on a Friday afternoon!), no lines at T3 to enter the terminal, CX desks with low traffic so I was served immediately. Upgraded to premium Y (that's 1/2 so far!) and now relaxing in the CX lounge with some wonton soup and a bubbly and feeling pretty good. Again, the Qantas T1 departure experience is a thousand light years behind this.



Terminal 3 @ MNL (EK check in at gate 4 - there is a total of 5 gates)






Great made-to-order food options at the CX lounge in T3