New Manila CX lounge

[Melburnian1]

Quite a good feature ('advertorial'):

Cathay Pacific opens Manila lounge - Business Traveller Asia

However the review does not say how many passengers the lounge can fit.

Just one question: the leather (?) lounge (with dividers to stop us curling up: sad) is low backed.

Why oh why do these sorts of public facilities have low back furniture that is so uncomfortable compared with a supportive higher backed seat or chair?

 

[yohy?!]

135 pax is mentioned I believe which is necessary given the old lounge was always heaving before 747 flights

 

[Flying mermaid]

I have a friend who is travelling J on QF20 (Manila to Sydney). If I am correct he can go to the third party Qantas lounge or the CX lounge as a J passenger. Is there anything else? He has no one world status. Also any feeling on which is the best option (or should I tell him to lounge hop and try both?)

 

[Melburnian1]

QF20 departs from T1 at Manila NAIA; CX uses T3. Using the CX lounge would not be logistically possible.

 

[Flying mermaid]

QF20 departs from T1 at Manila NAIA; CX uses T3. Using the CX lounge would not be logistically possible.

thanks - that makes it easy. The Qantas one doesn't sound at all nice from the reviews I have found, but I won't tell him that

 

[Melburnian1]

Yes, it's pretty poor but unfortunately QF has not been one of several airlines to make the long overdue move to the newer T3. T1 has had some cosmetic work in the last year or so but it's an ugly building suitable for a wrecker's ball. If you like 'brutalist' architecture (I do not) you'd possibly like T1 at Manila.

 

[JohnK]

QF20 departs from T1 at Manila NAIA; CX uses T3. Using the CX lounge would not be logistically possible.

Is T3 the new terminal?

I have been considering CX -> QF connections which could pose a slight issue. Has SQ moved as well?

 

[dajop]

Is T3 the new terminal?

I have been considering CX -> QF connections which could pose a slight issue. Has SQ moved as well?

T3 is the most recently built terminal. New, I guess you could call it that. Although opened to Cebu Pacific 7 years ago and stood empty for some time before that .....

And yes, SQ have moved there as well.

 

[Melburnian1]

JohnK, yes:

https://www.singaporeair.com/jsp/cms/en_UK/press_release_news/140824-mnlnewtermandloungeupdate.jsp

Japan's ANA, Cathay Pacific, Delta, Emirates and KLM have joined Cebu Pacific and PAL Express in using T3 at Manila NAIA:

Airline Directory

It's the newest terminal, opened in 2004 if I recall after some long battle with the construction company (from Germany?) who either wanted payment or had lots of contract variations.

 

[JohnK]

Thanks guys. I had forgotten not everyone had moved away from the old terminal 1. I am assuming terminals are interconnected and don't need to clear customs/immigration and go back through security and immigration again.

Need to do some research.

 

[dajop]

I am assuming terminals are interconnected and don't need to clear customs/immigration and go back through security and immigration again.

Haha. Nice joke . This is Manila Airport we're talking about.

It's about 5km between the terminals as they are on the opposite sides of the airport. Think domestic to international at SYD - landside - and overlay Manila traffic. All part of the experience.

 

[dajop]

JohnK, one more thing, I quoted the distance in last post for T1 to T3. In the other direction, which would be for CX to QF transfers it is probably at least 2km further due to traffics directions. Furthermore it has taken me 35 mins just to travel the length of T3 (on main road parallel to it ) which you need to go along to get to T1. But that has also taken only 5 mins. In other words I would allow at least 3-4 hours between flights, and I'm the sort of guy who gets to the airport 50 mins before an international flight.

 

[JohnK]

Haha. Nice joke . This is Manila Airport we're talking about.

It's about 5km between the terminals as they are on the opposite sides of the airport. Think domestic to international at SYD - landside - and overlay Manila traffic. All part of the experience.

I should have realised. Their coding at work is awful so why would this be different.

This changes things slightly. One of the connections I was investigating was ~2 hours which I thought was plenty of time.

Time to revise the plan.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

I have been flying CX quite a bit lately due to work commitments in Manila and have been impressed. I really have no idea why QF cannot move to T3 like the rest of the OW group did as soon as T3 opened. Add to this the facilities are a million times better and closer to the main business districts - throw in the best lounge in MNL (being CX) and there is NO reason not to move...except the hassle for poor old QF I guess.

Current QF lounge at T1 (available seating & air conditioning optional);



CX Lounge at T3 (What QF pax miss out on);

 

[docjames]

QF would have to pay CX a per pax entry fee plus terminal charges that are also (possibly) higher so i'd say there's a fair dis-incentive from QF's side to the switch.


Entering the QF J lounge at SYD Int on Friday (travelling CX J although i'm QF Gold in any event), i was paused at entry "so we can scan your boarding pass as we have to on-charge to CX". I assume the same will work in reverse....