$1210 J class round trip on PR MEL/SYD to S.E Asia

[MEL_Traveller]

without being too melodramatic, how likely are this mob to put a bird into the sea ?

They have a pretty decent safety record.

 

[mushypeas]

just curious given jb's comments earlier in the thread about D7

 

[Melburnian1]

without being too melodramatic, how likely are this mob to put a bird into the sea ?

While I am only another passenger like you, during the past decade and for some years prior to that PR has a pretty good safety record.

The Airline Ratings website run out of Western Australia gives PR a 6/7 compared to Garuda Indonesia (4/7), so that perhaps puts PR into perspective. The website claims to be objective rather than subjective in granting these ratings.

From what I can assess as a passenger - admittedly with a degree of subjectivity - the PR flight crew appear to take their job seriously.

It is Asia's first airline (from 1941) so it predates many others around the world. It also has quite an extensive international (and domestic) network, flying for instance to North America (i.e. USA and Canada) many more times a week than VA does, and about a tie with QF (not that I've done the sums.) For instance, it operates MNL - YVR - YYZ four times a week, has a monopoly on MNL - HNL and also operates MNL - YVR - JFK as well as MNL - LAX and MNL - SFO.

PR also operates to Australia more than 80 times a month with SYD daily, MNL - CNS - AKL 4x week, MNL - DRW - BNE 4x week and MNL - MEL 3x weekly, so while not in the same league as QF, SQ, CX or EK, it is nonetheless way bigger into and out of Oz than NH, for instance.

MNL airport has become extremely busy and its lack of two parallel runways is a concern. General aviation has not fully moved out of Manila airport as far as I know (a while since I've been there though) so that is at least a slight 'red flag' as it's a bit like roads with passenger cars and loads of heavy trucks, or passenger and freight trains sharing a railway: it can be best that the two discrete types of operator are separated as much as possible.

Never say never regarding accidents or safety breaches, but PR is most certainly on my list of those that I'm happy to patronise. D7 is not!

 

[tarinp]

Guys,

Please be very cautious with Phillippene airlines. I took advantage of these seats thinking that I was getting a good deal, but I just arrived back from Japan to Melbounre with a 1 day stopover at MNL. When I arrived home I realised my bags were slashed and about $400 of goods were stolen from my checked baggage.

Lucky I have travel insurance, but getting the loss report is worse than drawing blood from a stone at this point.

Even though we got cheap flights the loss equated to more than we expected. If things are to good to be true they usually are. :-(

 

[Melburnian1]

Guys,

Please be very cautious with Phillippene airlines. I took advantage of these seats thinking that I was getting a good deal, but I just arrived back from Japan to Melbounre with a 1 day stopover at MNL. When I arrived home I realised my bags were slashed and about $400 of goods were stolen from my checked baggage.

Lucky I have travel insurance, but getting the loss report is worse than drawing blood from a stone at this point...(

I have never had any problems with PR or any other airline in this regard. Perhaps God is looking after me. Any theft is inexcusable and disgraceful but compared to the number of travellers passing through it is minimal.

It is not possible in every case (especially for business travellers) but if they are within weight and size limits, it is generally preferable to carry more valuable items on one's person. However I don't wear expensive clothing and or expensive second pairs of shoes with me and I usually do not purchase expensive souvenirs or heirlooms like artworks.

PR has a Sydney office (which no longer entertains personal callers), so if you continue to find obtaining a loss report difficult, you may wish to liaise via Sydney.

 

[Melburnian1]

If this fare or similar is again available in the future, it is worth bearing in mind that on Wednesday 12 July, the first visit of one of PR's currently two refurbished A333s (in this case, RP-C8784) occurred on PR209 to Melbourne with it finally having had in flight entertainment monitors fitted to all seatbacks, Y seating reduced from nine across to eight across, conventional lie flat beds installed in J in a comfortable 1-2-1 configuration and premium economy seating also introduced. Overall the seat count has reduced to 309 so these planes (there may be seven being done initially but all 15 may end up like this) will be much more competitive.

Another refurbished A333 is meant to commence on the MNL - SYD route in mid August 2017 to match the improvement in equipment for the MEL flights.

 

[Melburnian1]

Here is a blurb about the refurbished A333s, one of which is already operating PR209/PR210 MEL - MNL - MEL (three times a week) with SYD to start in mid-August 2017:

https://www.philippineairlines.com/TravelInformation/InFlightExperience/a330

 

[dandandan]

Hi, any tips with STPC for these flights? I have rung the Philippines number and they wouldn't provide STPC, do I just ring Sydney office? thanks in advance.

My understanding is that PR will supply an STPC provided that the fare was booked through an Australian-domiciled (and the usual bit about registration) travel agent or the airline's own website. The airline will not do this if one books through the likes of Webjet from memory, but ring the airline and find that out.

As Limewood implies, the added 'free' accommodation is only available if there is no same day connecting flight. For instance to TPE some days there is, and on at least one day northbound (Wednesdays ex Melbourne) there isn't. It has to be a PR connecting flight not a codeshare with CI I think. Southbound, at least from TPE, the free overnight in MNL seems to be on offer which means an opportunity for good shopping.

This condition is exactly the same as with north Asian carriers such as JL and KE that historically northbound at least have offered a free stopover for one night because the London flights traditionally left before flights ex Oz pulled in to NRT or ICN respectively.

As usual, the agent has to arrange this with the airline office (which I gather is in Sydney: it used to have a Melbourne ticket office but that closed) or if a passenger books it on the website, one has to telephone PR in Sydney and ask the staff member arrange it.

I am told that there are a number of choices for the business class fare STPC including the Diamond Hotel Manila that fronts Manila Bay. From Internet reviews the rooms are allegedly a bit dated, but it gets a lot of positive comments, has a good restaurant and buffet breakfast (latter is part of the deal, and perhaps dinner as well - check) and is near a major shopping centre.

A friend just booked MEL - MNL - TPE for well under A$1250 return business class. If this airline can be trusted to deliver the refurbished aircraft on the route when it says it will, the configuration will be 1-2-1 not the current 2-2-2 in J, so a big improvement. Even if a substitute of an unrefurbished one is used, the business class will still be OK. Royal Air Maroc is one of only a tiny number of airlines that also have the latter (about to be superseded on PR) business class beds: there are photos online if one looks hard enough.

I reckon this J return fare is extremely good value. It isn't available every day of the week from MEL or SYD and availability also depends on which destination beyond MNL. Given that sometimes there is availability to Japan, as well as Taiwan and perhaps Thailand and Vietnam among others, it's an interesting range of destinations.

If one wanted to be a real cheapskate and still visit Philippines, one could use the fare, then book a return economy ticket from the 'beyond' destination to Philippines and back. The cheapest would probably be Taiwan (about A$300 return with a cheaper carrier like 5J or BR) as Taipei is only a MEL - BNE sector length in time, and as often the case with Asia, there are either four or five airlines competing on the route.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi, any tips with STPC for these flights? I have rung the Philippines number and they wouldn't provide STPC, do I just ring Sydney office? thanks in advance.

Call Sydney. If STPC not available there are plenty of local hotels... The Manila is one of the best, with lots of history. It's about $120 a night (aussie). Private transfers about $15 each way.

 

[Melburnian1]

Hi, any tips with STPC for these flights? I have rung the Philippines number and they wouldn't provide STPC, do I just ring Sydney office? thanks in advance.

Like many airlines they will only provide STPC if there is no same day connecting flight. You must also have used an Australian-domiciled bricks and mortar travel agent, booked through Philippine Airlines' website, as I said above.

As MEL_Traveller says, call the airline in Sydney during business hours on weekdays. Have your reservation number ready if you have made a booking. If STPC is given to you, typically transfers and breakfast will be part of the deal. Some other airlines offer full board but perhaps not PR: ask the staff in Sydney.

I believe that this airline now routinely offers an hotel called Century (Place or Park?) in Manila as STPC plus a limited range of others for business class. The Manila Diamond Hotel is allegedly no longer on offer.

Economy class passengers will be in a cheaper, basic hotel that may have a very small room. Someone informed me the Century is owned by the same Chinese-Filipino gent who owns the airline, a Dr Tan. Try to quickly look each offering up on a review site so you get a very quick idea, subjectively, of which may be the best choice.

The Manila Hotel is indeed very good: it's like Raffles in Singapore, colonial in its design and impressive. It's a lot cheaper than Raffles per night, and if you have to pay yourself, it won't break the budget. It has an excellent huge spread for the buffet brekky.

 

[dandandan]

Thanks very much Melburnian1 and MEL_Traveller. I will call the Sydney office as general Philippine's number said no STPC is available. My onward flight is to Osaka and there is no same day connecting flight. The booking was with Australian Domiciled Travel Agent that has Sydney office however they said to contact the airline when I queried with them! I have the Conrad booked but for such a short stay it's probably better to get the free STPC is possible or probably book something cheaper.

Has anyone flown on the new config yet?

Like many airlines they will only provide STPC if there is no same day connecting flight. You must also have used an Australian-domiciled bricks and mortar travel agent, booked through Philippine Airlines' website, as I said above.

As MEL_Traveller says, call the airline in Sydney during business hours on weekdays. Have your reservation number ready if you have made a booking. If STPC is given to you, typically transfers and breakfast will be part of the deal. Some other airlines offer full board but perhaps not PR: ask the staff in Sydney.

I believe that this airline now routinely offers an hotel called Century (Place or Park?) in Manila as STPC plus a limited range of others for business class. The Manila Diamond Hotel is allegedly no longer on offer.

Economy class passengers will be in a cheaper, basic hotel that may have a very small room. Someone informed me the Century is owned by the same Chinese-Filipino gent who owns the airline, a Dr Tan. Try to quickly look each offering up on a review site so you get a very quick idea, subjectively, of which may be the best choice.

The Manila Hotel is indeed very good: it's like Raffles in Singapore, colonial in its design and impressive. It's a lot cheaper than Raffles per night, and if you have to pay yourself, it won't break the budget. It has an excellent huge spread for the buffet brekky.

 

[Melburnian1]

...Has anyone flown on the new config yet?

There is one favourable review in some YouTube video but upon trying to find it I couldn't a second time. There are also the various promotional videos by bloggers that one usually sees: just type in 'refurbished A330-300 A333 Philippine Airlines new' or similar to Google and see if you can find something.

One of the two refurbished birds again came to Melbourne this morning and the Sydney one looks to be commencing in a few days' time.

From what you've said, you definitely qualify for STPC. It's quite common for travel agents to palm you off to airline offices to get this 'freebie' - presumably the agent doesn't want the hassle of multiple phone calls to and fro.

 

[dandandan]

Yes, I have seem some of the promo videos and the new seat looks very good. Not many reviews yet;

Here is a site with some good pictures; https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2017/...n-cabins-for-revitalised-philippine-airlines/

There is one favourable review in some YouTube video but upon trying to find it I couldn't a second time. There are also the various promotional videos by bloggers that one usually sees: just type in 'refurbished A330-300 A333 Philippine Airlines new' or similar to Google and see if you can find something.

One of the two refurbished birds again came to Melbourne this morning and the Sydney one looks to be commencing in a few days' time.

From what you've said, you definitely qualify for STPC. It's quite common for travel agents to palm you off to airline offices to get this 'freebie' - presumably the agent doesn't want the hassle of multiple phone calls to and fro.

 

[Melburnian1]

According to FR24 it appears that the first use of the refurbished A333 on PR211 MNL - SYD will be on Saturday evening 12 August 2017, returning on PR212 on 13 August from SYD back to MNL. This flight makes four returns a week if I recall.

PR213/PR214 may not be the reconfigured aircraft just yet. I don't know when (or if) this airline will have sufficient to allocate one to this three times a week return flight.

 

[dandandan]

According to FR24 it appears that the first use of the refurbished A333 on PR211 MNL - SYD will be on Saturday evening 12 August 2017, returning on PR212 on 13 August from SYD back to MNL. This flight makes four returns a week if I recall.

PR213/PR214 may not be the reconfigured aircraft just yet. I don't know when (or if) this airline will have sufficient to allocate one to this three times a week return flight.

According to Google flights, the 12th August is A340 and checking Philippines Airlines website shows the same. Looks like the 14th August will be the first use of the refurb with lie flat out of Sydney.

 

[Melburnian1]

According to Google flights, the 12th August is A340 and checking Philippines Airlines website shows the same. Looks like the 14th August will be the first use of the refurb with lie flat out of Sydney.

RP-C8786 that looks to be the third refurbished A333 departed SYD on Sunday 13 August on the 1030 hours PR212 to MNL, so PR209/PR210/PR211/PR212 (but not, it seems always PR213/PR214) should have the completely refurbished aircraft. A huge stepup from what this airline previously offered.

I met someone who travelled on PR209 from MNL to MEL recently: he said the staff were as pleased as punch because no longer would they receive complaints about (the previous, narrow) horrible 3-3-3 configuration in Y, or the lack of at seat in flight entertainment.

He said the food in J wasn't great on this southbound flight but commented that he slept well, and doesn't normally manage to get much shut eye so sleeping properly was novel for him.

He said the J cabin was full, something he'd never seen on PR before to or from Oz (and he's used it a bit.) Presumably word gets out.

From mid September 2017, PR is temporarily reducing its MNL - LHR - MNL flights to 4x week but concurrently is placing a B773ER on the route, again a vast improvement.

Not all flights ex or to Oz will immediately connect in MNL if going to or from LHR, but the airline will typically offer STPC free overnight in a MNL hotel (see conditions above, a few posts back.) Now that it has better aircraft MEL/ SYD - MNL and soon MNL-LHR, it could be a good choice for travellers with a bit of time up their sleeves. Even better if one has the time to visit a beautiful beach such as Malapascua Island via CEB as a stopover (there are heaps more, many of which I've not been to.)

 

[Melburnian1]

Both PR211/PR212 and the differently timed PR213/PR214 on the MNL - SYD and return route have each had a refurbished bird for one trip but as only three A333s have been done thus far, it is insufficient to cover all of these flights plus Honolulu and Melbourne.

 

[Limewood]

What are the current dates for these low cost OZ to ASIA PR J flights?

 

[Melburnian1]

What are the current dates for these low cost OZ to ASIA PR J flights?

Limewood, I don't believe these fares are available at present but as with all airlines subscribe to email updates through www.philippineairlines.com and in among the dross there may occasionally be some jewels.

I did a quick search for MEL - HND - MEL via MNL, northbound 11 October, returning ex HND 24 October (and arriving MEL on 25 October early morning.) The online return J fare was A$3995 (but good specialist Filipino travel agents will beat this) while on www.jetabroad.com.au the cheapest was what I'd consider inferior CZ (China Southern) at $3860 while SQ for instance was almost A$4600 return.

QF MEL - HND return in J for these dates was $4703 for its nonstops, a 20 per cent premium in the cost to PR. JL nonstops were not showing a fare, strangely only one in conjunction with PR and that was $6290 return.

SYD to BKK online return for the same dates was $3211 online at the PR website. Again, good specialist Philippines travel agents based in Melbourne or Sydney should offer a lower J return fare than this. On the Jetabroad website, the closest completely full service airline return J fare was VN at $3306 but some flights took up to 33 hours one way. On its website, QF (nonstop, not via MNL) was $3772 for a few seats but often just above $4000, so the PR fare for those with a little extra available time is good value.

PR's MEL - MNL only return for the same dates in J was $2860 online at the airline website, but strangely SYD - MNL (a route with two nonstop competitors - QF and low cost 5J) was $3244.

For the same dates despite QF19/QF20 operating, QF was not showing an available nonstop SYD - MNL - SYD J option, instead routing passengers via HKG with the shorter leg on CX, and the fare return in J $4760.

This airline (like a lot of others) needs to fill seats in low season months like November and February as it does not cut frequencies during these months. Expect sales at some stage, but often with not much notice and annoyingly with a short period in which to book.

Even however without a sale fare, PR is consistently 40 per cent or so cheaper in J (at least) than QF for SYD - MNL return. Try to make sure with PR that you will have the refurbished aircraft which on the SeatGuru website is A330-300 version 3 (1-2-1 configuration in J.) If travelling, look carefully at the seats as 2K for instance has the bigger divide console or whatever one calls it to the aisle, whereas 3K has the narrow armrest and the console close to the window, so one will get bumped more by other passengers or the dreaded trolleys more in seat 3K.

 

[dandandan]

I organised an STPC however was provided with Crown Regency in Manilla! The Lobby Lounge is impressive!!

What did everyone else get? If this can't be changed I will not be using the STPC.