Philippine Airlines; great fares ex BNE, DRW and PER; reasonable fares ex MEL and SYD

[Melburnian1]

This website is a recent Philippine Airlines (PR) creation. Why it isn't linked into the airline's main international website is anyone's guess:

Philippine Airlines Deals Australia | PAL Flights

Nonetheless, it has just extended its cheap fares from PER (A$520 return), BNE (A$543) and DRW (A$392) to 'until further notice' - when I last looked, they were due to expire on 30 June 2013. These flights only started in early June. They're only on Airbus A320s, and are all via DRW but nonetheless you get a meal and drinks on PR (including the famous San Miguel beer now that the airline is owned by that company) so it's way better than JQ.

From MEL (A$900) and SYD (A$918 return) the fares are not as cheap but normally you'll normally be travelling in a young Boeing 777-300ER which has at seat entertainment, free meals and drinks so again it's ahead of QF's decade old Airbus A330s that QF uses between SYD and MNL. PR runs 4x weekly from MNL to PER and SYD, 3x weekly to MEL and BNE and daily (overnight from MNL, by day going back) to or from DRW.

In business class between SYD (A$2186 return) or MEL (A$2169 return) the fares are very cheap as the B773 has an excellent amount of leg room. That said, it isn't lie flat, but angled - however I had no probs. at all getting some shuteye on the overnight flight back to MEL. The B773 has seatback TV screens in both classes: the A320 does not, so with the latter take your tablet, iPod or whatever you use to while away the interminable hours (a book?)

I find for this airline that going to a travel agent with Tagalog speaking staff (and there are a few in MEL and SYD) typically saves at least A$20 return and sometimes more. At times, however, PR only releases a few MEL or SYD seats at the cheaper fares. PR's planes mostly run on or close to time.

 

[Inver]

Re: Philippine Airlines; great fares ex BNE, DRW and PER; reasonable fares ex MEL and

I find for this airline that going to a travel agent with Tagalog speaking staff (and there are a few in MEL and SYD) typically saves at least A$20 return and sometimes more. At times, however, PR only releases a few MEL or SYD seats at the cheaper fares. PR's planes mostly run on or close to time.

Thanks for letting us know.

With your travel agent can they also book PAL domestic flights for you?

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Re: Philippine Airlines; great fares ex BNE, DRW and PER; reasonable fares ex MEL and

Nonetheless, it has just extended its cheap fares from PER (A$520 return), BNE (A$543) and DRW (A$392) to 'until further notice'

From MEL (A$900) and SYD (A$918 return) the fares are not as cheap but normally you'll normally be travelling in a young Boeing 777-300ER which has at seat entertainment, free meals and drinks so again it's ahead of QF's decade old Airbus A330s that QF uses between SYD and MNL.

Sounds like a QF red e deal to BNE would be in order...a nice little $300 saving (whether $300 is worth the direct flight and 777 is up to the individual)

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: Philippine Airlines; great fares ex BNE, DRW and PER; reasonable fares ex MEL and

Inver, I have not asked but I think yes.'

However if it's a standalone (i.e. not a connecting flight ex Australia) you might well opt to use PR's internet site, as I could not see domestic fares being any cheaper through an Australian travel agent.

MrMaxwell, your suggestion works well on the return into Australia (BNE) but on the forward trip, an overnight in BNE would be necessary as the c. 0600 hours departures from MEL or SYD to BNE on either VA or CF would not connect to the PR BNE departure.

Travelling via DRW (using VA or QF to DRW and then PR to MNL) is probably expensive given that apart from the odd redeye that VA operates, the fares are very expensive on the Australian leg, negating any savings from PR's cheap DRW - MNL - DRW fares.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Re: Philippine Airlines; great fares ex BNE, DRW and PER; reasonable fares ex MEL and

MrMaxwell, your suggestion works well on the return into Australia (BNE) but on the forward trip, an overnight in BNE would be necessary as the c. 0600 hours departures from MEL or SYD to BNE on either VA or CF would not connect to the PR BNE departure.

I don't like early international flights - not a morning person!

 

[aikman]

Re: Philippine Airlines; great fares ex BNE, DRW and PER; reasonable fares ex MEL and

A bit OT but DRW seems to be in fashion at the moment with AirAsia returning, Philippine Airlines launching and now Malaysia Airlines starting services. MH's current fares out of DRW are way too high though.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: Philippine Airlines; great fares ex BNE, DRW and PER; reasonable fares ex MEL and

Commencing on 9 July 2013, PR is withdrawing its excellent Boeing 777-300ER from the MNL - MEL - MNL run and replacing it with the 16 year old Airbus A340-300s. The latter only have cinema screen entertainment, not AVOD for each passenger.

However the 773 planes will continue on the 4x weekly MNL - SYD - MNL flights.

This is shortsighted: it would be better to advertise a bit and slowly build up passenger numbers on the MNL - MEL route. I can understand PR's accountants though who would be saying 'we're losing money on the MEL route.'

PR does not sell (at least through my travel agents interline fares e.g. VA from MEL to SYD return then PR to or from MNL). However one can always travel on separate PNRs.

The Boeing 773s are great for an overnight snooze in Mabuhay (business) class; the A343s have similar seats to those found on older SQ planes.

It will be interesting if PR brings back the 773s on the MEL route for the busy Christmas holiday period.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: Philippine Airlines; great fares ex BNE, DRW and PER; reasonable fares ex MEL and

The Philippine Airlines Deals Australia | PAL Flights website now has a special of A$826 return from MEL to MNL and A$852 ex SYD.

These fares are available for sale until 2 August 2013. They are unavailable during the busy pre-Christmas season, but if you can pick one up they are good value as they are 12 month (not 35 day) return fares. QF also flies direct SYD to MNL four days a week, but its A330 planes on that route are older than PR's Boeing 777-300ERs. Only PR flies direct between Melbourne and Manila.

PR210 on Saturday 27 July had 231 of its 264 seats occupied which given it is low season and not school holidays is a very good load factor. Mid week departures ex SYD, MEL or MNL such as the Tuesday night PR209 ex MNL to MEL and the Tuesday PR212 from SYD to MNL often carry fewer passengers than the weekend flights, an occurrence not limited to PR as many of us want to depart Australia on a Friday, Saturday or even Sunday and we want to return on a Saturday night flight ex southeast Asia (Manila included) so that we can become wage or salary slaves again on the following Monday.