I had a customer service nightmare with Philippine Airline, it was holiday season several years back, and they dropped my reservation because I didn't "confirm it" in the last 3 days before the flight. Then they left me to sleep in the airport for 3 days until a flight had an extra seat.
I'm one of the inflight catering personnel that loads meals aboard Philippine Airlines flights ex-Manila. Glad you enjoyed the meals! It's awe-inspiring to see the meals and tray-setups we count and check prior to aircraft loading get reviewed on social media in vlogs like these.
I love PAL FC. Nicest FA great food and non alcoholic drinks. Flat bed seats are not cramped. I'll pay the FC fair even though I can fly free standby on my airline
I fly PAL from Vancouver to Cebu twice a year. The Filipina flight attendants are the nicest friendliest most beautiful flight attendants on any airline. I’ve never had a bad experience flying with PAL, the ❤️ of the Filipino.
Hi, Nonstop Dan. Thank you for sharing about your previous trip with Philippine Airlines on your flight from Hong Kong to Dubai via Manila. While we are very pleased to learn that your airport to inflight experience from Hong Kong to Manila was smooth and delightful, we regret to hear your sentiments on your experience from Manila to Dubai. We have taken note of your feedback regarding the aircraft change. We understand you were expecting a different seat layout particularly for Business Class, and we recognize that this change may have caused disappointments. We also took note of your sentiments on the aircraft having no embedded inflight entertainment and the manner our inflight crew handled our passengers during the flight. We believe that passenger feedback is vital in helping us determine which service areas we can still enhance. We recognize how these factors greatly affect the overall journey of all our passengers, and you have our commitment that we are continuously improving our products and services to provide an excellent experience that all our passengers rightfully deserve. Thank you for the opportunity to communicate with you, Nonstop Dan, and we hope to serve you even better in the future. ✈
It may sound like a corporate template, but bonus points to PAL now that this is the first time I have ever seen an airline respond directly to a review on the reviewer's channel
@@LetsJamFunkit looks like PAL’s social media team are now obliged to comment on a flight review that mentions their airline. And i think their quick response to this video is a Filipino thing/habit. Anyways, kudos to PAL’s social media team for their quick response! No other airline does this.
This the most professional and direct reply from an airline to a TH-camr passenger on his own channel. I am quite impressed with their reply that didn't demonize the passenger's observations and remarks like some of other most famous airlines do. Keep it up and I am confident that Dan's remarks will be handled promptly.
I think you are one of the best flight reviewers! You are no nonsense, honesty, and makes it a real experience and not a curated one that people fall for. Thank You Dan for providing the world with amazing flight information throughout the years!
@@NorthernMike-1 josh cahill is not on par with dan, he tries to be too controversial for views. There are so many aviation youtube channels but somehow all the extraoridinarily bad things only happen to him and on a very frequent basis!
I flew the same flight to Dubai in business class. I can say that the hard product is really disappointing considering that newer planes already have the new business class seats. While I was not able to sleep, I can say that the service is top-notch, cannot be surpassed by my previous business class flights in Emirates and Qatar Airways. The purser is the one attending to all my needs and she's the best. The food is great too.
PAL deploying its dated product to Dubai makes sense. On this route, it doesn't compete with the Middle Eastern carriers but with Cebu Pacific. More Middle East-based Filipino diaspora tend to work blue collar or lower paid jobs. More highly paid professionals in North America and Oceania. East and Southeast Asia are somewhere in between. If you want to try PAL's premium product, I suggest you fly one of these routes. They will deploy their most competitive premium product in markets where quality matters more than price.
@@LetsJamFunk If PRs ticket price is offered similarly with 5J then I will expect less. But most of the time their airfares are priced nearly identical to gulf carriers even during a promotion.
It seems Philippine Airlines reserves its most contemptuous attitude for its flights from MNL to the Middle East. The vast majority of passengers on those flights are overseas contract workers, people of very little means, headed for relatively low paid jobs in the Gulf. It’s a shame that PAL cabin personnel have this attitude towards contract workers, evidently they feel this crowd is just not worth impressing.
@@avesraggiana Totally agree. But the thing that I can’t accept is that their asking ticket price is nearly similar or similar to World class airlines like Emirates, Qatar and Etihad.
Filipinos do not celebrate Christmas early! They only hang Christmas decors on the streets, in the malls and at home early but it doesn't mean the celebration starts as early September!
I flew with business class from Honolulu to Manila and the seating are not bad on that flight. I agree the food at Mabuhay lounge is mediocre, although the view while you wait for your flight there is amazing, watching all those planes coming and going. I can't wait to fly with them again. It's not the most perfect airlines per-say, but I think they are doing their best. Thanks for the video. Aloha from Hawaii
Philippine Airlines is basically flying a roulette. A321 and A330 have fleets with IFE, fully flat seats and well, fleets with no IFE or just streaming. B777 also is a roulette. It’s either you get the 2-3-2 business class, or the 1-2-1 business class in the ex-Garuda 777s. Regardless both have working IFEs. Previous owner was trying to fly cheap and trying to make it low cost. Then they’re back to being premium again because they aim to reconfigure ALL fleets with IFE.
@@ajorbista I still remember that A340. SFO to MNL. They handed out iPad Minis to use as in flight entertainment. The seatbacks were also designed so that I can hang the iPad and use it hands free.
Glad to see you try PAL. Just a note about those dense A330s: they were meant for the Middle East, at least since nearly half of those were refurbished. The refurbished ones were once all-economy with the same 3-3-3 economy. One of the previous managers, which will soon be the operator of Manila's airport, focused on making it compete with low-cost brands like Cebu Pacific. And it was during his time the dense A330s were in. Speaking of that manager, that same management will be operating the New Manila International Airport which would be operational in 5 years' time.
Hey Dan, I was really hopi g you'd get on the 309 seat 333. I am an extremely large man and so traveling has become a chore on health and pocket book (yes I'm trying out your program to see if it works for someone like me who needs a larger seat 💺 and who lives in a traditionally leisure destination where costs are not as flexibly low as most make them out to be). I've been on the Business Class in the 309 seat (1-2-1 A333) and as a large person, it is astiundingly comfortable and far larger than even I expected. The A321s and A220s have 20.5"-21" width which is very comfortable (though i fit between just barely), these A333s are 24" wide and amazingly comfortable. While the even window rows (2AK/4AK) aslre the best for privacy, if you can manage the galley area, 1ADGK has so much more room to spread out your legs and thusfar no extra premiums on the cost. I also think the crew you got on the ME flight was a bad luck draw, it happens. My flights HNL-MNL and return have been staffed with wonderful attendants and pursers, knowing your name as you take your seat, and getting yiur furst meal order and pre-departure drinks and hot towels set almost before you are fully seated. Self-service in the galley was there, but never needed it as they checked in every 90 minutes to 2 hours if I was awake. Snd food has always been a highlight. Overnight breakfast with jumbo prawns in a coconut curry sauce and crab fat fried rice with fruit and scrambled eggs, blew my mind! 🤯 They even offered sardines and rice porridge. And yeah, their alcohol offerings are very impressive. I hope you get a chance to ride on that 309 seat A333. If it brings you out this way, drop a line on Instagram @cewgarcia and we can have a chat about difficulties and other potential advantages? about being out here travel wise. - Craig 🤙🏼🏝
I fly USA-Manila several times per year. I love/hate PAL. Their flights are nonstop and the crew is always nice. But economy is basic and uncomfortable, food is just OK, and the flights are always full because they accept an unlimited number of OFW Filipinos on standby. I'm trying business class for the first time this fall. It was $2800 round trip which was $1000 cheaper than anyone else, we'll see how it goes! Also, I've always breezed through customs in Manila, I must be really lucky. The drive from the hotel to the terminal is the only sticky point. Thanks for your review!
Manila airport T1 is like going back to the 1970s. T3 is modern and fine, it’s no Doha or Changi, but it’s ok. You were crazy lucky at immigration though!
tbh T1 could have been given the justice it deserves. It's one of the brutalist icons by one of the premier national artists (L. Locsin) yet it's tossed around as old and ancient by the ones that run it. It could have been updated while keeping its historic feel as a national icon, but instead it's just run to the ground and gives off a terrible arrival experience for foreigners.
I actually find T1 pretty charming and the most interesting among the four terminals at NAIA. It's not for everyone's taste, but what I can appreciate about it is that it stands out. It feels like entering an old East Coast American airport especially airside. Sure, T3 is clean and modern but it also kinda feels like any other terminal in the world.
Same sentiments Dan. PAL really needs to be consistent on their onboard products for the price that they are asking for and for them to be competitive. Hopefully in 3-5 years they will be more consistent of being a full service carrier. For now regional and domestic I would fly Cebu Pacific(value for money! Piso Fare!) , for Europe and Middle east i would choose gulf carriers and for transpacific definitely a Japanese Carrier.
@@barrs817 That’s my opinion. A 3-4 hours flight with either PR or 5J will not make much of a difference since PR is still using their old LCC configured 320/321. I have an unlimited access to PAGSS and Marhaba lounge so I don’t necessarily need a food on board. The only difference is the luggage allowance of PR. 5J even flies younger fleet means newer and cleaner aircrafts. If I could get a 5J plane ticket quarter of what PR is asking, I would definitely go with 5J. Delay or cancellation with 5J? I flew with them more than 10 times per year and I never experienced a delay for more than an hour. My worst flight cancellation is with PR. Like what Dan is telling, you don’t necessarily need them(PR) cause there are far better “FULL SERVICE CARRIER” in the region that has a better all in all service with even cheaper airfare. PR needs to be more consistent in their on ground and on board service to be competitive with other legacy carriers within the region.
Hi Nonstop Dan!! I was born and raised in the PH and I've never had a problem passing through the international airport. I don't really get the complaints either hahaha
Probably because your flight doesnt coincide with the ticket sales in the Philippines. Airline companies usually have those in certain dates thus if you got caught in it, youll really have a bad time.
Yep! The cabin configuration was the original "Business class" for Philippine Airlines by Ramon Ang. Ramon Ang set the bar too low when he ordered the aircraft for Philippine Airlines.
They ordered another one of the 363-seat config A330s really recently so I wouldn't call it non-refurbished 😶 Their a350-1000s are going to be 3-4-3 in economy too, it feels like they're going for a low cost hard product but charging more anyway
Great review on this PAL A330 configuration. I’m also curious about this one, and thank you for your insights on this. Fun fact: This configuration on the MNL-DXB flight is usually the configuration that they use on almost all their Middle East flights. According on some PAL Pilots that I’ve talked to, the configuration that you were expecting is usually applied on Hawaii-bound or Australia-bound flights (before the Wamos Air lease). Sometimes, they use the better configuration on DXB flights depending on the passenger demographic. But for other MidEast flights like Riyadh and Doha flights, do expect the old ones like the one you rode on. Great review! 👏🏻
Dan, when I lived in Oceana in Virginia Beach, we used to have a lot of Filipino neighbours. They were very friendly and welcoming people Through them, I got a taste of Filipino cuisine. I fell in love with lumpia. It is absolutely delicious! Both my late father and my brother were stationed in the PIs.(Navy) My brother sent home a picture at Christmas of him waterskiing! I was so envious! It is a lovely culture, and all our neighbours were really great. I hope to be able to go there. Dan, have you ever been to Bahrain? Do they have an airline? Have you ever flown it?
Valid point and great review overall 😊 My only unwanted opinion is even though the pax might be in a roulette when it comes to PAL product I would still choose to ride PAL because of their pilots. One of the best in the world specially when it comes to landing 😊
I'm really quite surprised people are saying PAL is the option you take when you're desperate and looking for something cheap. I've flown between North America and Manila a lot over the years and PAL always seems to be the most expensive option on SkyScanner or Google Flights and I've tried plenty (Asiana, Korean, EVA, Cathay, United, ANA, Hong Kong Airlines, etc.)
Yeah agree. I remembered booking an LA flight from Manila round trip with PAL and only found out too late that korean air was 100 dollars cheaper back in 2017.
Philippines has the longest celebration for Christmas. We play Christmas songs as soon as September (hence the Silent Night) and have gatherings which stretch until Jan.
Loved that you got to have the Calamansi + sugar cane drink and the drink with the cotton candy on top! I have never seen a piece of cotton candy on top of the drink!
the drink is called boracay cocktail- a very famous beach resort in the country with a fabulous famous sunset. the blue cotton candy represents the clouds in the sky. pretty cool ha!
A fascinating and little known fact as to why the purser dresses like an uncle from Hawaii. I learned this as a former Honolulu based flight attendant. Before Hawaii became a state, and even before Hawaii became US territory, Hawaii was Polynesian territory. The Filipinos and Polynesians are both of Austronesian ancestry and they share a similar culture. I love your videos, bro!! As a 20 year UA flight attendant, who is half Asian, and half European, as well as someone who was born and raised in the US, I'm more than happy to answer any questions to the best of my knowledge. Last but not least, after over 20 years of flying, I can tell you why airlines do some of the weirdest things.
PR has amazing crew and a superb business product.... if you're lucky to get a new one lol. The A350 they gave back to LH had a better business product than LH did in theirs lol. The crew though. LX can afford better service, but PR seems to be the friendliest all around, but by far the most professional and capable I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. PR113 and PR434 come to mind. It sucks that their full-service flight fares end up competing with LCCs for most domestic and short-haul international routes out of MNL and CEB, since they can't shine their best while in a price war with an airline that has the most-cramped A330, ceo and neo. Hope they bounce back strong from the bankruptcy filing in the US.
This is why I never fly PAL anymore. Nothing is ever as advertised and or predicted. I don't care about service, I don't eat on airplanes, bring my own entertainment. It's all about the equipment to me and PAL's lack of consistency and honest information is a deal breaker for me.
The solution is go for KE/OZ🇰🇷 BR/CI/JX🇹🇼 JL/NH🇯🇵 🇸🇬SQ 🇲🇾MH 🇹🇭TG combine those premium Airlines services with PR fleet you get CX🇭🇰 in HKG. That's your solution over PR. To North America take 🇸🇬SQ 🇯🇵JL/NH 🇹🇼BR/CI/JX🇰🇷KE/OZ 🇭🇰CX over PR🇵🇭
I would suggest trying their A350s. Its their best widebody aircraft. They mostly use it in their nonstop flights to New York and Toronto, and if youre lucky sometimes they also use it in asian routes. PAL also has A321neos, which all have IFE including economy, and the business class seats are lie flat. They mainly use this aircraft in their Manila to Brisbane flights, also sometimes to Asian Destinations as well.
My employees who fly on PAL always complain about them because it’s the only option from HNL to MNL. They are almost always delayed by several hours so they always miss their connecting flight and PAL doesn’t pay for food vouchers or hotels so they either stay at MNL airport or book a last minute hotel. PAL wouldn’t honor a price on their website and I had to help my employees get the pricing after back and forth with their call center which took 45-60 minutes. Then walking from Hawaiian airlines to United Airlines at HNL the PAL crew arrived and I could hear them talking so I asked my employees to translate and they were saying oh we are late by a couple hours and another attendant said oh it doesn’t matter they can’t leave without us. Smh 🤦♂️ PAL or more specifically the San Miguel group needs to overhaul their management and fix it top down.
PAL isn't owned by San Miguel anymore. It's now under the Lucio Tan group again (another Filipino conglomerate) and they're trying their best to make PAL more competitive. That said, the onboard product that you see in the video is a remnant of the San Miguel era of PAL, where they tried to position them as a hybrid carrier. But the delays, cancellations, and frequent aircraft swaps still happen.
@@yomama383 it always has been there but it is also not favored because of the transition at GUM for connecting flights for them. also have they upgraded the jet and the soft product for that route? i believe they were using an older jet and soft product compared to the other options.
@@oregonduc The Lucio Tan group regained control of PAL in 2015, shortly after it was sold to SMC. But the airport will now be under SMC control (taking over from the government) starting September 15th.
As someone who used to fly to Manila every year from the US, the reason I avoided PAL was because it would typically cost me 15 to 35% more and I never knew what I was going to get in terms of the seats and the service. Plane changes and seat changes are to be expected from them, and making adjustments due to those changes is never easy
I think the seats are awesome. A flat seat on a 10 hour flight for $800, thats amazing. You dont need entertainment if you have a bed. sleeping on a flight is very entertaining for me. 2 2 2 is not the best config for busienss, but it's better than economy.
You just gave me a great idea showing all these interesting drinks LOL. I used to be a bartender but I'm not anymore and I almost never drink but I got all these leftover bottles of alcohol lol. I'm going to start a new format on my channel called "Drinking with Izzy" where I make an original drink (I'm really good at inventing drinks and naming them) based off of a subscriber's suggestions,likes and personality. And I'll also make a non alcoholic version. Fun times ahead!! Thanks for the inspiration!!🎉
Agree with your sentiments. Flown with other airlines going to Europe, Middle East, and Oceania. Seems like PAL doesn't always have the best prices from the Philippines unfortunately. I would still fly with them if the price is right.
Looks like you have granted my request that you should try to make a flight review about PAL. Their middle eastern route seems to offer a mediocre service compared to other gulf carriers. That has been flying there for a long time without significant upgrade but the food is always tasty. Maybe try to make flight review in one of their transpacific route where they use B777 or A350. Hopefully PAL will bounce back in the years to come with their newly ordered A350-1000.
Christmas music because you're on the way to the Philippines during BER months so that's designed specifically for Filipinos, who really feel this and sometimes when you haven't gone home for a while really makes you emotional.
I flew from Sydney to Manila and return on CX via HKG to watch the finals of the FIBA Men’s World Basketball Cup, the traffic can be a challenge (and I remember that from working there in 1990), my terminal experience was generally ok, I think mainly due to the time of the late afternoon my CX flight left it wasn’t to bad, but I have seen it really bad - consider yourself very lucky.
Wanted to go to a different terminal to use the sleep pods since I had a 12 hour layover and the staff told me I couldn't leave the terminal I was in? So bizarre. When I boarded and flew Philippine Airlines from Manilla to DMM, i.e. 10 hour flight, no overhead A/C , had no screens for in flight entertainment-- I was shocked. Won't ever fly with them again.
That’s the problem with PAL. It’s Russian roulette in terms of product. New, old, happy, bored, IFE, none. lol. The pandemic really affected their product overhaul since what you’re seeing is the product from previous owner/management San Miguel, vs the newer products they’re trying to replace them with. They’ve become more risk averse since the pandemic but I hope they’re bullish again with providing an elevated experience all around once the new A350-1000s come online and they start to revamp their A321s to the new cabin standard next year. They have half the elements there, especially with the food, but just missing consistency in hard products and actual planes to alleviate the overutilization hence as you saw, a AC swap, but if you’re really unlucky, you would’ve gotten a cancellation.
Also PAL shows no sign of returning to Europe. There are 1,000s of Filipinos living and working here and right now most have to fly home with the Gulfies or mainland China airlines (these expats count their pennies).
@@alexmcwhirter6611actually, they are planning on returning but unfortunately it’s a matter of aircraft. PAL NEEDS new planes desperately but the powers that be don’t feel it’s necessary to aggressively acquire aircraft. It seems like they are reactive rather than proactive which is a shame. They publicly announced they were studying Paris, Rome, Brussels, but it’s contingent on new planes. They say they’ll be able to do it when new A350s come in but a lot of those planes will replace the existing B77W fleet. There won’t be much capacity for expansion.. they need more planes. Lol
@@erichanson134 it doesn't feel like the 77W fleet is retiring anytime soon. Otherwise we would see press reports suggesting SFO, LAX, and YVR would be seeing the new birds.
I have flown with Philippine Airlines a number of times and the products vary quite a bit. Most people fly with them because of price, as not everyone can afford 5 star Business Class. On my flights between Melbourne and Manila on the long haul A330 configuration I had 2 excellent flights. I would pick Philippine Airlines ahead of Qantas tbh. If I was to fly with Qantas I would have had to fly to Sydney before the onward flight to Manila. The service and seat were better on PAL in any case. I flew to LA on a PAL 777 and that was less impressive. Very sorry you got caught with a short haul configured plane on a long haul route. But $800 USD should help with pain relief somewhat. Cheers now.
I honestly loved their service before some of their A350s got pulled out. It just became so inconsistent for their JFK route after covid. But I’m looking forward to fly with them again once their A350-1000 orders get delivered. Their refurbished A330-300 is actually pretty solid too but then again its inconsistent cause either you’d get that or this high-density A330. Great review though! 😊
Glad you won the lottery with the PAL business class experience. I remember watching another youtuber have everything not working in in their business class seat - it was an older 777-300er flight from US to Manila though.
Hi Dan! First off, this is a well-rounded review of Philippine Airlines' outdated business class products. The one you rode from Hong Kong to Manila was the exact type I hopped on during my PAL flights to Incheon and Narita, and it's actually the old A321 configuration, which I hope would be replaced with the upcoming refurbishments on all their classic A321s. As for THAT A330-300 configuration, YEAHHHH, it's really outdated. We can all thank and/or blame San Miguel Corp. for that layout because when it was in charge of PAL, SMC thought of converting PAL into a low-cost carrier to compete with the largest airline in the Philippines, JG Summit's Cebu Pacific, an ACTUAL low-cost carrier. Aside from what you stated in the video, there's another A330 configuration that's considered to be a hybrid of the old and new layouts, where the business class seats are the newer, long-range ones like in A350 but retains the LCC-style premium economy and economy seats. Wishing that PAL can just stick to one A330 layout in the coming years since the airline is about to acquire new A350-1000s soon. I know that this is already stated in the previous comments, but you'll get a higher chance of experiencing PAL's premium product on the Manila-New York and Manila-Toronto routes, since these two routes use the A350, which has the best overall cabin among the rest. I may not be a PAL employee, but I'm glad that you had a great time onboard my home country's flag carrier, although I also acknowledge the hiccups you experienced on your journey.
As an OFW, I would say that PAL service flight in ME (middle east) is quite different compared to flight going to US/Japan/EU/Aussie. And so I will urge you to try and experience the flight going to these places via PAL. I would say that PAL treated mostly OFW area flight less attention as I experienced flying both to ME and flight outbound to considered first world country.
Same sentiments Dan. PAL really needs to be consistent on their onboard products for the price that they are asking for and for them to be competitive. Hopefully in 3-5 years they will be more consistent of being a full service carrier. For now, regional and domestic I would fly Cebu Pacific, for Europe and Middle east i would choose gulf carriers and for transpacific definitely a Japanese Carrier.
I agree, why would anyone take a chance on PR when you can fly a plethora of other Asian or Mid Eastern carriers and have 100% certain service. On the other hand, if the price was discounted then it would be an option
@@NorthernMike-1 Definitely… Price is really a big contributing factor. But most of the time their prices are almost similar with a difference of +/- $100.
I have no idea why I haven't seen any of your videos until yesterday, but here we are. You've got a new subscriber and now I'm going to binge watch your videos. I'm going to be flying solo 🤞🏼to China, Japan and Korea within a year or so and am keen on learning about your experiences on various airlines. If I can manage it, I might change the trip to Korea for a trip to Dubai. I'm a senior disabled (but able) woman and am planning on spending the rest of my RRSP on myself. The last time I flew, smoking was allowed on board, so I know so much has changed. I used to fly Air Canada to Nova Scotia and would take either United or Air Canada to Logan airport and catch a puddle jumper to Lebanon NH where my parents were living. I love the honest reviews I've seen so far and want to avoid American Airlines like the plague 😂 Not sure if you'll see this, but I really appreciate someone who doesn't have their nose in the air about flying business class. I've seen a few videos in the past from entitled travellers and they don't interest me at all. Cheers from the Niagara Region 🇨🇦😊
Very great video Dan! I know it was an amazing deal and a funky flight but overall Philippine Airlines 🇵🇭 still looks okay and I’d be happy to try them someday! Especially their longest A350 operated route from Manila to New York JFK! Cheers 🥂 Dan!
Yes, I agree with you. Hong Kong Airport is very much underrated in the airport rankings. HKG Terminal 1 is no doubt the best airport terminal in the world. They have upgraded a lot of the airports' features and facilities in the last few years. It's really easy to travel through HK airport.
@@nursepaolo2420 Transiting through any airport for the first time can be somewhat confusing and stressing. I'm sure you'll change your mind if you begin your journey from check-in.
Dan, there is so much I like about your channel. The images, the filming, the humor, the honesty, the feedback. To many more years of aircraft/airport joy!!
Good for you for questioning the window shades announcement. We were on a United 787 daytime flight (UA 761) from Munich to Denver recently and the flight crew max dimmed all the windows. This was a 10.5 hour DAYTIME flight landing in Denver at 6:40pm. Exactly the type of flight you want to stay awake on. I complained to United corp about it and they gave me a ridiculous answer, which I put below. Why adjust lighting to match the departure time zone? I think it was more for the crew's benefit. "Dimming the lights is not a United Policy but, it helps to keep the cabin quiet so passengers can rest. The adjustment is in line with the time zone in Europe. Lights are also dimmed to help with jet lag."
Great Share! Love the Belmont Hotel. Cozy rooftop pool and a one minute walk to the elevator that leads you to terminal 3 for your domestic flight connections! Mabuhay!
20:50 Most likely the reason why the air con is so cold on this flight is because nobody bothered to adjust it from the cabin temperature control panel (I'm guessing 16 degrees), which is located just ahead of your position, and left it at the last setting. OR.... they started off using maximum cooling before boarding and forgot to adjust it afterwards when the aircraft was already in-flight. Anyways, I fly for another airline and I would have adjusted the cabin's AC temperature when there aren't that much pax aboard any particular flights.
My last flight with PAL is quite disappointing. Like you I also booked Business class. That time I travelled with my 2 mons old baby. I asked the senior FA to help me put my luggage in the overhead compartment since I was carrying my baby. Though he already saw me carrying my baby, he still asked me to carry the luggage “with” him. That FA is lack of compassion and inconsiderate, the fact that he’s a male and his body is firm, he still insisted me to help him carry my bag. Compared to other FAs from other airlines who are doing their best in providing exceptional care to people with special needs, that PAL FA is sucks.
I was keen to see your experience in this video Dan. It looks like PAL has not changed in surprising their customers with old dated planes, which is a shame. I had a lovely flight on PAL from London to Manila on their 'new' Boeing 777 in 2014 with TV screens and decent food. Unfortunately the return trip was surprisingly on an old A330 with no TV screens on the 15 hour return leg. I've not flown PAL since.
20:53 From what I know, the lack of individual air vents seems to only be a problem on wide-body aircraft like the A330, 777, 787, or A350 and not as much on narrow-body aircraft like the A320, 737, or 757. Correct me in the replies.
I flew Philippine Airline from SAN to Manila back in the 80s and I thought they were great. When living in Philippines took many regional flights and never had a problem
Same experience. I was suppose to fly their A321 neos (the more humane aircraft). But they downgraded the flight to a very dense A321CEO on the day of the flight. Unpredictable.
8:36 Filipino here and a frequent traveler to Manila. That airport is an embarrassment. Honestly one of the worst. I’m relieved you had a good experience (at the airport) though
Exact same sentiments, Dan. Flying PAL internationally is a Russian roulette in itself. Old and new, weird and cool. An inconsistent fleet, unpredictable hard product, as well as frequent delays and equipment swaps. I have experienced the same situation in 2017. Our flight from Singapore to Manila was delayed by 4 hours, and the scheduled 777 got swapped to an A340 with an outdated product, just 3 days before the flight. My seat got reassigned and my original window seat was gone. Even the onboard streaming IFE through the myPAL app did not work, and the overhead monitors only showed the flight map. At least they are consistent on the soft product and inflight service, and at least I got to fly the A340 one last time. Since then, I vowed to never fly them internationally again, considering that foreign carriers offer a better hard product and inflight service at almost the same price. But domestically, they are one of the better options.
I fly to Philippines 2 to 3 times a year. PAL business is ok, definately in need of updating. The last 4 times the Tv did not work and the chair did not recline. For what they are charging it should be working and more up to date.
@@NonstopDan I’m literally your biggest fan! I was wondering sometime in the near future you can try Qatar Airways or Turkish Airways Business Class from Washington IAD. So I know what to expect in a year or so. Anyways I’m your biggest fan and I enjoy watching your calm vids!
For a full service airline, I would at least expect IFE in this day and age for international flights, especially on PAL's smaller planes and in business class (edit: also on the A330!). Personally, I would not pay that price if we don't get all the hard product versus other regional airlines.
The reason why you’re hearing Christmas music on these planes is, the Philippines is gearing up for Christmas. They don’t have other holidays that get in the way, like Halloween or Thanksgiving, so they’re fast forwarding to Christmas with the music. Also: So the plane didn’t have those giant TV screens like planes did in the 2000’s and earlier? Because it’d be weird to not even have communal screens.
I had a Phillipines airlines flight up from Davao a while back connecting with a qantas flight delay out of Davao landed different terminal with 15 minutes to boarding the fantastic Philippines staff met me at the airbridge and transferred over the tarmac to the QF flight fantastic service. First flight with them out of Brisbane was on a jumbo with the small upstairs and business seats like the original business seats that Qantas had when they originally introduced business class - another story LHR TO PER
I actually flew on a short haul flight with their long haul a330, the flight was Bangkok to Manila, which is intresting because bangkok gets served by the A321, 777, A350, and A330s from PAL. It switches unexpectedly causing many delays like my 45 minute delay. But the seats were really comfy in my flight, to be fair I was flying in a long haul config.
Equipment swaps are common, especially the PR507 and PR508 route from SIN - MNL vice versa. The older A321s have no IFE but the newer A321neos have IFE. A330s im not sure whether some have IFE or not but Boeing B777-300ERs definitely have.
I've been on the same flight Qatar -MNL. It's so frustrating. Delayed flights how many times and I felt like Im not in a business class. I feel it's not worth it.
If you heard Silent Night on Sept 1 in the Philippines, it must have been because of the blast for the traditional opening day of the long Christmas Celebration. But it will die down a bit and pick up again in November.
Wow, quite rhe experience! I’d coin it the ”bunk bed” set up. I’d get no sleep. Either I’d be stressed of falling down, or someone falling on top of me. At least with beds at the same level, you’d be able to play footsie. 😂😂😂😂
Dan, I was there a month ago in that exact part of the departure gates and Chatime wasnt there yet! Also, we were on that exact ZipAir plane in your video :D Keep up the great content!
![[#2024MAMA] BIGBANG (빅뱅) - 뱅뱅뱅 (BANG BANG BANG) + FANTASTIC BABY | Mnet 241123 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EQsYfiPR9uM/mqdefault.jpg)
🌏 Get NordVPN 2 year plan + 4 months free here ➼ nordvpn.com/nonstopdan - it’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee!✌
I had a customer service nightmare with Philippine Airline, it was holiday season several years back, and they dropped my reservation because I didn't "confirm it" in the last 3 days before the flight. Then they left me to sleep in the airport for 3 days until a flight had an extra seat.
I'm one of the inflight catering personnel that loads meals aboard Philippine Airlines flights ex-Manila. Glad you enjoyed the meals! It's awe-inspiring to see the meals and tray-setups we count and check prior to aircraft loading get reviewed on social media in vlogs like these.
You retired navy?
@@jadebench That's Mike Slattery from The Last Ship.
Can you get me a discount on a first class ticket?
@@raytonwhite4187 No, but he can probably sneak in on one of those catering carts, less the meals that were meant for it.
I love PAL FC. Nicest FA great food and non alcoholic drinks. Flat bed seats are not cramped. I'll pay the FC fair even though I can fly free standby on my airline
I fly PAL from Vancouver to Cebu twice a year. The Filipina flight attendants are the nicest friendliest most beautiful flight attendants on any airline. I’ve never had a bad experience flying with PAL, the ❤️ of the Filipino.
You're right. It's the purser who sets the mood, the service level and the general working atmosphere for the rest of the crew.
Hi, Nonstop Dan. Thank you for sharing about your previous trip with Philippine Airlines on your flight from Hong Kong to Dubai via Manila. While we are very pleased to learn that your airport to inflight experience from Hong Kong to Manila was smooth and delightful, we regret to hear your sentiments on your experience from Manila to Dubai. We have taken note of your feedback regarding the aircraft change. We understand you were expecting a different seat layout particularly for Business Class, and we recognize that this change may have caused disappointments. We also took note of your sentiments on the aircraft having no embedded inflight entertainment and the manner our inflight crew handled our passengers during the flight.
We believe that passenger feedback is vital in helping us determine which service areas we can still enhance. We recognize how these factors greatly affect the overall journey of all our passengers, and you have our commitment that we are continuously improving our products and services to provide an excellent experience that all our passengers rightfully deserve.
Thank you for the opportunity to communicate with you, Nonstop Dan, and we hope to serve you even better in the future. ✈
It may sound like a corporate template, but bonus points to PAL now that this is the first time I have ever seen an airline respond directly to a review on the reviewer's channel
This is the first time I've seen an Airline respond to Non-stop Dan! Filipino Culture and Service at it's best! Nakaka proud, Mabuhay!
Well done @PhilippinesAirlinesTV on your comment in response to the @NonstopDan’s review. @QataAir perhaps should take note.
@@LetsJamFunkit looks like PAL’s social media team are now obliged to comment on a flight review that mentions their airline. And i think their quick response to this video is a Filipino thing/habit. Anyways, kudos to PAL’s social media team for their quick response! No other airline does this.
This the most professional and direct reply from an airline to a TH-camr passenger on his own channel. I am quite impressed with their reply that didn't demonize the passenger's observations and remarks like some of other most famous airlines do. Keep it up and I am confident that Dan's remarks will be handled promptly.
I think you are one of the best flight reviewers! You are no nonsense, honesty, and makes it a real experience and not a curated one that people fall for. Thank You Dan for providing the world with amazing flight information throughout the years!
Great job Dan!!!! You da best!
Dan is good, not to diminish his work. But I can’t understand the lack of recognition to Josh Cahill
@@NorthernMike-1 josh cahill is not on par with dan, he tries to be too controversial for views. There are so many aviation youtube channels but somehow all the extraoridinarily bad things only happen to him and on a very frequent basis!
I agree. Phlipinos are some of the nicest people on the earth. Much love from India.
Love my step mother sister and brother all mean
I flew the same flight to Dubai in business class. I can say that the hard product is really disappointing considering that newer planes already have the new business class seats. While I was not able to sleep, I can say that the service is top-notch, cannot be surpassed by my previous business class flights in Emirates and Qatar Airways. The purser is the one attending to all my needs and she's the best. The food is great too.
PAL deploying its dated product to Dubai makes sense.
On this route, it doesn't compete with the Middle Eastern carriers but with Cebu Pacific. More Middle East-based Filipino diaspora tend to work blue collar or lower paid jobs. More highly paid professionals in North America and Oceania. East and Southeast Asia are somewhere in between.
If you want to try PAL's premium product, I suggest you fly one of these routes. They will deploy their most competitive premium product in markets where quality matters more than price.
@@LetsJamFunk If PRs ticket price is offered similarly with 5J then I will expect less. But most of the time their airfares are priced nearly identical to gulf carriers even during a promotion.
It seems Philippine Airlines reserves its most contemptuous attitude for its flights from MNL to the Middle East. The vast majority of passengers on those flights are overseas contract workers, people of very little means, headed for relatively low paid jobs in the Gulf. It’s a shame that PAL cabin personnel have this attitude towards contract workers, evidently they feel this crowd is just not worth impressing.
@@avesraggiana Totally agree. But the thing that I can’t accept is that their asking ticket price is nearly similar or similar to World class airlines like Emirates, Qatar and Etihad.
a Philippine airline playing Christmas music at this time of year is not surprising we kinda tend to celebrate Christmas earlier than most
Considering this video was uploaded SeptemBER 1... I'd say its very on brand 😆
Phillipines starts Christmas in September
Here in the US, you'll see Christmas movies listed on TV in mid-summer. And many stores already have Christmas decoration stuff for sale - in August.
Filipinos do not celebrate Christmas early! They only hang Christmas decors on the streets, in the malls and at home early but it doesn't mean the celebration starts as early September!
Happy BER months! Christmas playlist begins!
I flew with business class from Honolulu to Manila and the seating are not bad on that flight. I agree the food at Mabuhay lounge is mediocre, although the view while you wait for your flight there is amazing, watching all those planes coming and going. I can't wait to fly with them again. It's not the most perfect airlines per-say, but I think they are doing their best. Thanks for the video. Aloha from Hawaii
Philippine Airlines is basically flying a roulette. A321 and A330 have fleets with IFE, fully flat seats and well, fleets with no IFE or just streaming.
B777 also is a roulette. It’s either you get the 2-3-2 business class, or the 1-2-1 business class in the ex-Garuda 777s. Regardless both have working IFEs.
Previous owner was trying to fly cheap and trying to make it low cost. Then they’re back to being premium again because they aim to reconfigure ALL fleets with IFE.
there was a time in recent history that PR had a 77W with no IFEs. A friend of mine had the absolute pleasure of flying economy in one on MNL-LHR
@@beehard44 there was a time they did fly to LHR with a A340 that had no IFE.
@@ajorbista I still remember that A340. SFO to MNL. They handed out iPad Minis to use as in flight entertainment. The seatbacks were also designed so that I can hang the iPad and use it hands free.
I prefer MID rather than Paleco
Glad to see you try PAL. Just a note about those dense A330s: they were meant for the Middle East, at least since nearly half of those were refurbished. The refurbished ones were once all-economy with the same 3-3-3 economy. One of the previous managers, which will soon be the operator of Manila's airport, focused on making it compete with low-cost brands like Cebu Pacific. And it was during his time the dense A330s were in.
Speaking of that manager, that same management will be operating the New Manila International Airport which would be operational in 5 years' time.
Hey Dan, I was really hopi g you'd get on the 309 seat 333. I am an extremely large man and so traveling has become a chore on health and pocket book (yes I'm trying out your program to see if it works for someone like me who needs a larger seat 💺 and who lives in a traditionally leisure destination where costs are not as flexibly low as most make them out to be). I've been on the Business Class in the 309 seat (1-2-1 A333) and as a large person, it is astiundingly comfortable and far larger than even I expected. The A321s and A220s have 20.5"-21" width which is very comfortable (though i fit between just barely), these A333s are 24" wide and amazingly comfortable. While the even window rows (2AK/4AK) aslre the best for privacy, if you can manage the galley area, 1ADGK has so much more room to spread out your legs and thusfar no extra premiums on the cost.
I also think the crew you got on the ME flight was a bad luck draw, it happens. My flights HNL-MNL and return have been staffed with wonderful attendants and pursers, knowing your name as you take your seat, and getting yiur furst meal order and pre-departure drinks and hot towels set almost before you are fully seated. Self-service in the galley was there, but never needed it as they checked in every 90 minutes to 2 hours if I was awake. Snd food has always been a highlight. Overnight breakfast with jumbo prawns in a coconut curry sauce and crab fat fried rice with fruit and scrambled eggs, blew my mind! 🤯 They even offered sardines and rice porridge.
And yeah, their alcohol offerings are very impressive.
I hope you get a chance to ride on that 309 seat A333. If it brings you out this way, drop a line on Instagram @cewgarcia and we can have a chat about difficulties and other potential advantages? about being out here travel wise.
- Craig 🤙🏼🏝
I fly USA-Manila several times per year. I love/hate PAL. Their flights are nonstop and the crew is always nice. But economy is basic and uncomfortable, food is just OK, and the flights are always full because they accept an unlimited number of OFW Filipinos on standby. I'm trying business class for the first time this fall. It was $2800 round trip which was $1000 cheaper than anyone else, we'll see how it goes! Also, I've always breezed through customs in Manila, I must be really lucky. The drive from the hotel to the terminal is the only sticky point. Thanks for your review!
Manila airport T1 is like going back to the 1970s. T3 is modern and fine, it’s no Doha or Changi, but it’s ok. You were crazy lucky at immigration though!
Sounds about right, opened in 1982 but designed and built in the 70's.
Sooo true🤣
tbh T1 could have been given the justice it deserves. It's one of the brutalist icons by one of the premier national artists (L. Locsin) yet it's tossed around as old and ancient by the ones that run it. It could have been updated while keeping its historic feel as a national icon, but instead it's just run to the ground and gives off a terrible arrival experience for foreigners.
I actually find T1 pretty charming and the most interesting among the four terminals at NAIA. It's not for everyone's taste, but what I can appreciate about it is that it stands out. It feels like entering an old East Coast American airport especially airside. Sure, T3 is clean and modern but it also kinda feels like any other terminal in the world.
@@beehard44Architecture isn't anything if it isnt functional
Same sentiments Dan. PAL really needs to be consistent on their onboard products for the price that they are asking for and for them to be competitive. Hopefully in 3-5 years they will be more consistent of being a full service carrier. For now regional and domestic I would fly Cebu Pacific(value for money! Piso Fare!) , for Europe and Middle east i would choose gulf carriers and for transpacific definitely a Japanese Carrier.
Ceb Pac? NO.
@@barrs817 That’s my opinion. A 3-4 hours flight with either PR or 5J will not make much of a difference since PR is still using their old LCC configured 320/321. I have an unlimited access to PAGSS and Marhaba lounge so I don’t necessarily need a food on board. The only difference is the luggage allowance of PR. 5J even flies younger fleet means newer and cleaner aircrafts. If I could get a 5J plane ticket quarter of what PR is asking, I would definitely go with 5J.
Delay or cancellation with 5J? I flew with them more than 10 times per year and I never experienced a delay for more than an hour. My worst flight cancellation is with PR.
Like what Dan is telling, you don’t necessarily need them(PR) cause there are far better “FULL SERVICE CARRIER” in the region that has a better all in all service with even cheaper airfare. PR needs to be more consistent in their on ground and on board service to be competitive with other legacy carriers within the region.
@@cedwanders 5J is still a no to me. Ypu had yours. I had mine.
@@barrs817 Largest national airline base on passengers flown, fleet and profit says it all. 😂😁✌️
I will never fly Cebu pacific again, it’s terrible!
Hi Nonstop Dan!! I was born and raised in the PH and I've never had a problem passing through the international airport. I don't really get the complaints either hahaha
Probably because your flight doesnt coincide with the ticket sales in the Philippines. Airline companies usually have those in certain dates thus if you got caught in it, youll really have a bad time.
You are given the oldest business class seat of their non-refurbisbed A330.
Yep! The cabin configuration was the original "Business class" for Philippine Airlines by Ramon Ang. Ramon Ang set the bar too low when he ordered the aircraft for Philippine Airlines.
“tHiS aIrLiNe HaS pOtEnTiAl To Be ThE bEsT iN tHe WoRlD”… just absolute garbage
Still they shouldnt use this to fly for 10 hours
They ordered another one of the 363-seat config A330s really recently so I wouldn't call it non-refurbished 😶 Their a350-1000s are going to be 3-4-3 in economy too, it feels like they're going for a low cost hard product but charging more anyway
@@dudinacas oh! You mean the 359 seater A333? They converted some tri-class A330s into bi-class "Hybrids"
last time i was at NAIA T1 I was waiting in a queue for 3h, from that point on I only fly into T3 or Clark
Great review on this PAL A330 configuration. I’m also curious about this one, and thank you for your insights on this.
Fun fact: This configuration on the MNL-DXB flight is usually the configuration that they use on almost all their Middle East flights. According on some PAL Pilots that I’ve talked to, the configuration that you were expecting is usually applied on Hawaii-bound or Australia-bound flights (before the Wamos Air lease). Sometimes, they use the better configuration on DXB flights depending on the passenger demographic. But for other MidEast flights like Riyadh and Doha flights, do expect the old ones like the one you rode on.
Great review! 👏🏻
Thanks for the review. Honestly, I don't think we will be flying Philippine Airlines anytime soon.
Watching this in an economy seat with IFE is hilarious
Dan, when I lived in Oceana in Virginia Beach, we used to have a lot of Filipino neighbours. They were very friendly and welcoming people Through them, I got a taste of Filipino cuisine. I fell in love with lumpia. It is absolutely delicious! Both my late father and my brother were stationed in the PIs.(Navy) My brother sent home a picture at Christmas of him waterskiing! I was so envious! It is a lovely culture, and all our neighbours were really great. I hope to be able to go there.
Dan, have you ever been to Bahrain? Do they have an airline? Have you ever flown it?
Bahrain ? That is Gulf Air. Flew them from Paris on a … A 330
@@woutergijs5246 ahhh! Thank you! Wonder if Dan's ever flown them? Maybe he can do a video!
Dan!!
You are almost at 900K! Let’s help him get there!
What's stopping you?
@@empmmus3579 what you mean
Valid point and great review overall 😊
My only unwanted opinion is even though the pax might be in a roulette when it comes to PAL product I would still choose to ride PAL because of their pilots. One of the best in the world specially when it comes to landing 😊
I'm really quite surprised people are saying PAL is the option you take when you're desperate and looking for something cheap. I've flown between North America and Manila a lot over the years and PAL always seems to be the most expensive option on SkyScanner or Google Flights and I've tried plenty (Asiana, Korean, EVA, Cathay, United, ANA, Hong Kong Airlines, etc.)
Yeah agree. I remembered booking an LA flight from Manila round trip with PAL and only found out too late that korean air was 100 dollars cheaper back in 2017.
@@JigsCatedrillakl00 nonstop flights tend to be more expensive than flights with 1-2 connections.
Philippines has the longest celebration for Christmas. We play Christmas songs as soon as September (hence the Silent Night) and have gatherings which stretch until Jan.
Loved that you got to have the Calamansi + sugar cane drink and the drink with the cotton candy on top! I have never seen a piece of cotton candy on top of the drink!
the drink is called boracay cocktail- a very famous beach resort in the country with a fabulous famous sunset. the blue cotton candy represents the clouds in the sky. pretty cool ha!
A fascinating and little known fact as to why the purser dresses like an uncle from Hawaii. I learned this as a former Honolulu based flight attendant. Before Hawaii became a state, and even before Hawaii became US territory, Hawaii was Polynesian territory. The Filipinos and Polynesians are both of Austronesian ancestry and they share a similar culture. I love your videos, bro!! As a 20 year UA flight attendant, who is half Asian, and half European, as well as someone who was born and raised in the US, I'm more than happy to answer any questions to the best of my knowledge. Last but not least, after over 20 years of flying, I can tell you why airlines do some of the weirdest things.
PR has amazing crew and a superb business product.... if you're lucky to get a new one lol. The A350 they gave back to LH had a better business product than LH did in theirs lol.
The crew though. LX can afford better service, but PR seems to be the friendliest all around, but by far the most professional and capable I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. PR113 and PR434 come to mind.
It sucks that their full-service flight fares end up competing with LCCs for most domestic and short-haul international routes out of MNL and CEB, since they can't shine their best while in a price war with an airline that has the most-cramped A330, ceo and neo. Hope they bounce back strong from the bankruptcy filing in the US.
The time you went around NAIA on a holiday was probably in the middle of the long weekend in which a lot of the people were already away.
16:48 oh my goodness, yes, calamansi juice! I love the taste of it. Even just soy sauce with calamansi in it is delicious 😉
Our Philippine Airlines is rated 4 star by Skytrax. Hopefully in the near future we will be joining the 5 star airlines too. Thanks for this vlog.
4 star hunter lng ang PAL siguro soon magiging 5 star hunter na sila😂
This is why I never fly PAL anymore. Nothing is ever as advertised and or predicted. I don't care about service, I don't eat on airplanes, bring my own entertainment. It's all about the equipment to me and PAL's lack of consistency and honest information is a deal breaker for me.
E di wag. Arte mo
Philippines wanted to one-up Qatar, but ended up imitating the "getting Qatar'd" experience 😅
Pal for me is quite the best.
I dont care about the food or late the best part we do have the best PILOT !!!!
The solution is go for KE/OZ🇰🇷 BR/CI/JX🇹🇼 JL/NH🇯🇵 🇸🇬SQ 🇲🇾MH 🇹🇭TG combine those premium Airlines services with PR fleet you get CX🇭🇰 in HKG. That's your solution over PR. To North America take 🇸🇬SQ 🇯🇵JL/NH 🇹🇼BR/CI/JX🇰🇷KE/OZ 🇭🇰CX over PR🇵🇭
I would suggest trying their A350s. Its their best widebody aircraft. They mostly use it in their nonstop flights to New York and Toronto, and if youre lucky sometimes they also use it in asian routes.
PAL also has A321neos, which all have IFE including economy, and the business class seats are lie flat. They mainly use this aircraft in their Manila to Brisbane flights, also sometimes to Asian Destinations as well.
My employees who fly on PAL always complain about them because it’s the only option from HNL to MNL. They are almost always delayed by several hours so they always miss their connecting flight and PAL doesn’t pay for food vouchers or hotels so they either stay at MNL airport or book a last minute hotel. PAL wouldn’t honor a price on their website and I had to help my employees get the pricing after back and forth with their call center which took 45-60 minutes. Then walking from Hawaiian airlines to United Airlines at HNL the PAL crew arrived and I could hear them talking so I asked my employees to translate and they were saying oh we are late by a couple hours and another attendant said oh it doesn’t matter they can’t leave without us. Smh 🤦♂️ PAL or more specifically the San Miguel group needs to overhaul their management and fix it top down.
PAL isn't owned by San Miguel anymore. It's now under the Lucio Tan group again (another Filipino conglomerate) and they're trying their best to make PAL more competitive.
That said, the onboard product that you see in the video is a remnant of the San Miguel era of PAL, where they tried to position them as a hybrid carrier. But the delays, cancellations, and frequent aircraft swaps still happen.
@@lnnthl when was that sale done? Also isn’t Manila airport still under San Miguel too?
United has HNL-GUM-MNL route if those folks want a different airline, they've had them a long time.
@@yomama383 it always has been there but it is also not favored because of the transition at GUM for connecting flights for them. also have they upgraded the jet and the soft product for that route? i believe they were using an older jet and soft product compared to the other options.
@@oregonduc The Lucio Tan group regained control of PAL in 2015, shortly after it was sold to SMC. But the airport will now be under SMC control (taking over from the government) starting September 15th.
As someone who used to fly to Manila every year from the US, the reason I avoided PAL was because it would typically cost me 15 to 35% more and I never knew what I was going to get in terms of the seats and the service. Plane changes and seat changes are to be expected from them, and making adjustments due to those changes is never easy
I think the seats are awesome. A flat seat on a 10 hour flight for $800, thats amazing. You dont need entertainment if you have a bed. sleeping on a flight is very entertaining for me. 2 2 2 is not the best config for busienss, but it's better than economy.
Let's get Dan to 900K! Also, hope you can attempt to fly on Kuwait Airways sometime soon and get your thoughts on the airline...
I subbed and it still said 899K🙁
You just gave me a great idea showing all these interesting drinks LOL. I used to be a bartender but I'm not anymore and I almost never drink but I got all these leftover bottles of alcohol lol. I'm going to start a new format on my channel called "Drinking with Izzy" where I make an original drink (I'm really good at inventing drinks and naming them) based off of a subscriber's suggestions,likes and personality. And I'll also make a non alcoholic version. Fun times ahead!! Thanks for the inspiration!!🎉
Sounds like a great idea!
Agree with your sentiments. Flown with other airlines going to Europe, Middle East, and Oceania. Seems like PAL doesn't always have the best prices from the Philippines unfortunately. I would still fly with them if the price is right.
Looks like you have granted my request that you should try to make a flight review about PAL. Their middle eastern route seems to offer a mediocre service compared to other gulf carriers. That has been flying there for a long time without significant upgrade but the food is always tasty. Maybe try to make flight review in one of their transpacific route where they use B777 or A350. Hopefully PAL will bounce back in the years to come with their newly ordered A350-1000.
Christmas music because you're on the way to the Philippines during BER months so that's designed specifically for Filipinos, who really feel this and sometimes when you haven't gone home for a while really makes you emotional.
I flew from Sydney to Manila and return on CX via HKG to watch the finals of the FIBA Men’s World Basketball Cup, the traffic can be a challenge (and I remember that from working there in 1990), my terminal experience was generally ok, I think mainly due to the time of the late afternoon my CX flight left it wasn’t to bad, but I have seen it really bad - consider yourself very lucky.
one of my favorite airline reviewers keep it up dan!!!
Wanted to go to a different terminal to use the sleep pods since I had a 12 hour layover and the staff told me I couldn't leave the terminal I was in? So bizarre. When I boarded and flew Philippine Airlines from Manilla to DMM, i.e. 10 hour flight, no overhead A/C , had no screens for in flight entertainment-- I was shocked. Won't ever fly with them again.
That’s the problem with PAL. It’s Russian roulette in terms of product. New, old, happy, bored, IFE, none. lol.
The pandemic really affected their product overhaul since what you’re seeing is the product from previous owner/management San Miguel, vs the newer products they’re trying to replace them with.
They’ve become more risk averse since the pandemic but I hope they’re bullish again with providing an elevated experience all around once the new A350-1000s come online and they start to revamp their A321s to the new cabin standard next year.
They have half the elements there, especially with the food, but just missing consistency in hard products and actual planes to alleviate the overutilization hence as you saw, a AC swap, but if you’re really unlucky, you would’ve gotten a cancellation.
Also PAL shows no sign of returning to Europe. There are 1,000s of Filipinos living and working here and right now most have to fly home with the Gulfies or mainland China airlines (these expats count their pennies).
Absolutely!never again! Worst business class in my opinion person nxt to you stepping over to go to the loo wtf! No entertainment on board!
@@alexmcwhirter6611actually, they are planning on returning but unfortunately it’s a matter of aircraft. PAL NEEDS new planes desperately but the powers that be don’t feel it’s necessary to aggressively acquire aircraft. It seems like they are reactive rather than proactive which is a shame.
They publicly announced they were studying Paris, Rome, Brussels, but it’s contingent on new planes. They say they’ll be able to do it when new A350s come in but a lot of those planes will replace the existing B77W fleet. There won’t be much capacity for expansion.. they need more planes. Lol
@@erichanson134 Thanks for the detailed reply. Pity that the couple of A350s which PAL did operate were transferred to Lufthansa.
@@erichanson134 it doesn't feel like the 77W fleet is retiring anytime soon. Otherwise we would see press reports suggesting SFO, LAX, and YVR would be seeing the new birds.
PAL is really nice and the crews are so friendly
That strange seat is also available on Biman Bangladesh, Royal Air Maroc and Air Europa
I have flown with Philippine Airlines a number of times and the products vary quite a bit. Most people fly with them because of price, as not everyone can afford 5 star Business Class. On my flights between Melbourne and Manila on the long haul A330 configuration I had 2 excellent flights. I would pick Philippine Airlines ahead of Qantas tbh. If I was to fly with Qantas I would have had to fly to Sydney before the onward flight to Manila. The service and seat were better on PAL in any case. I flew to LA on a PAL 777 and that was less impressive. Very sorry you got caught with a short haul configured plane on a long haul route. But $800 USD should help with pain relief somewhat. Cheers now.
I honestly loved their service before some of their A350s got pulled out. It just became so inconsistent for their JFK route after covid. But I’m looking forward to fly with them again once their A350-1000 orders get delivered. Their refurbished A330-300 is actually pretty solid too but then again its inconsistent cause either you’d get that or this high-density A330. Great review though! 😊
Glad you won the lottery with the PAL business class experience. I remember watching another youtuber have everything not working in in their business class seat - it was an older 777-300er flight from US to Manila though.
Hi Dan! First off, this is a well-rounded review of Philippine Airlines' outdated business class products. The one you rode from Hong Kong to Manila was the exact type I hopped on during my PAL flights to Incheon and Narita, and it's actually the old A321 configuration, which I hope would be replaced with the upcoming refurbishments on all their classic A321s.
As for THAT A330-300 configuration, YEAHHHH, it's really outdated. We can all thank and/or blame San Miguel Corp. for that layout because when it was in charge of PAL, SMC thought of converting PAL into a low-cost carrier to compete with the largest airline in the Philippines, JG Summit's Cebu Pacific, an ACTUAL low-cost carrier. Aside from what you stated in the video, there's another A330 configuration that's considered to be a hybrid of the old and new layouts, where the business class seats are the newer, long-range ones like in A350 but retains the LCC-style premium economy and economy seats. Wishing that PAL can just stick to one A330 layout in the coming years since the airline is about to acquire new A350-1000s soon.
I know that this is already stated in the previous comments, but you'll get a higher chance of experiencing PAL's premium product on the Manila-New York and Manila-Toronto routes, since these two routes use the A350, which has the best overall cabin among the rest.
I may not be a PAL employee, but I'm glad that you had a great time onboard my home country's flag carrier, although I also acknowledge the hiccups you experienced on your journey.
Thank you for your comment Edward 🙏
As an OFW, I would say that PAL service flight in ME (middle east) is quite different compared to flight going to US/Japan/EU/Aussie. And so I will urge you to try and experience the flight going to these places via PAL. I would say that PAL treated mostly OFW area flight less attention as I experienced flying both to ME and flight outbound to considered first world country.
Same sentiments Dan. PAL really needs to be consistent on their onboard products for the price that they are asking for and for them to be competitive. Hopefully in 3-5 years they will be more consistent of being a full service carrier. For now, regional and domestic I would fly Cebu Pacific, for Europe and Middle east i would choose gulf carriers and for transpacific definitely a Japanese Carrier.
I agree, why would anyone take a chance on PR when you can fly a plethora of other Asian or Mid Eastern carriers and have 100% certain service.
On the other hand, if the price was discounted then it would be an option
@@NorthernMike-1 Definitely… Price is really a big contributing factor. But most of the time their prices are almost similar with a difference of +/- $100.
@@cedwanders exactly
I have no idea why I haven't seen any of your videos until yesterday, but here we are. You've got a new subscriber and now I'm going to binge watch your videos. I'm going to be flying solo 🤞🏼to China, Japan and Korea within a year or so and am keen on learning about your experiences on various airlines. If I can manage it, I might change the trip to Korea for a trip to Dubai. I'm a senior disabled (but able) woman and am planning on spending the rest of my RRSP on myself.
The last time I flew, smoking was allowed on board, so I know so much has changed. I used to fly Air Canada to Nova Scotia and would take either United or Air Canada to Logan airport and catch a puddle jumper to Lebanon NH where my parents were living.
I love the honest reviews I've seen so far and want to avoid American Airlines like the plague 😂
Not sure if you'll see this, but I really appreciate someone who doesn't have their nose in the air about flying business class. I've seen a few videos in the past from entitled travellers and they don't interest me at all.
Cheers from the Niagara Region 🇨🇦😊
Singapore Airlines has a route from the US to SG that stops in Manchester, the biz class is 2k cheaper than United’s SFO direct to SIN
Very great video Dan! I know it was an amazing deal and a funky flight but overall Philippine Airlines 🇵🇭 still looks okay and I’d be happy to try them someday! Especially their longest A350 operated route from Manila to New York JFK!
Cheers 🥂 Dan!
A decade is actually impressive. Amazing work as always!
Thanks so much! 💙
Yes, I agree with you. Hong Kong Airport is very much underrated in the airport rankings. HKG Terminal 1 is no doubt the best airport terminal in the world. They have upgraded a lot of the airports' features and facilities in the last few years. It's really easy to travel through HK airport.
Agree to disagree. I have only been there once for a connecting flight en route to Manila and I find the Airport chaotic.
@@nursepaolo2420 Transiting through any airport for the first time can be somewhat confusing and stressing. I'm sure you'll change your mind if you begin your journey from check-in.
Dan, there is so much I like about your channel. The images, the filming, the humor, the honesty, the feedback. To many more years of aircraft/airport joy!!
Good for you for questioning the window shades announcement. We were on a United 787 daytime flight (UA 761) from Munich to Denver recently and the flight crew max dimmed all the windows. This was a 10.5 hour DAYTIME flight landing in Denver at 6:40pm. Exactly the type of flight you want to stay awake on. I complained to United corp about it and they gave me a ridiculous answer, which I put below. Why adjust lighting to match the departure time zone? I think it was more for the crew's benefit.
"Dimming the lights is not a United Policy but, it helps to keep the cabin quiet so passengers can rest. The adjustment is in line with the time zone in Europe. Lights are also dimmed to help with jet lag."
Great Share! Love the Belmont Hotel. Cozy rooftop pool and a one minute walk to the elevator that leads you to terminal 3 for your domestic flight connections! Mabuhay!
The review ive been waiting for, thanks for this review dan 🎉
20:50
Most likely the reason why the air con is so cold on this flight is because nobody bothered to adjust it from the cabin temperature control panel (I'm guessing 16 degrees), which is located just ahead of your position, and left it at the last setting. OR.... they started off using maximum cooling before boarding and forgot to adjust it afterwards when the aircraft was already in-flight.
Anyways, I fly for another airline and I would have adjusted the cabin's AC temperature when there aren't that much pax aboard any particular flights.
In my experience, T1 has never given me trouble. I think T3 is where everyone has had bad experiences.
From those soft seats to the drink to the hot towel! I’m sold on this flight! I hope you fully enjoyed your flight! 😊
My last flight with PAL is quite disappointing. Like you I also booked Business class. That time I travelled with my 2 mons old baby. I asked the senior FA to help me put my luggage in the overhead compartment since I was carrying my baby. Though he already saw me carrying my baby, he still asked me to carry the luggage “with” him.
That FA is lack of compassion and inconsiderate, the fact that he’s a male and his body is firm, he still insisted me to help him carry my bag.
Compared to other FAs from other airlines who are doing their best in providing exceptional care to people with special needs, that PAL FA is sucks.
I was keen to see your experience in this video Dan. It looks like PAL has not changed in surprising their customers with old dated planes, which is a shame. I had a lovely flight on PAL from London to Manila on their 'new' Boeing 777 in 2014 with TV screens and decent food. Unfortunately the return trip was surprisingly on an old A330 with no TV screens on the 15 hour return leg. I've not flown PAL since.
20:53 From what I know, the lack of individual air vents seems to only be a problem on wide-body aircraft like the A330, 777, 787, or A350 and not as much on narrow-body aircraft like the A320, 737, or 757. Correct me in the replies.
I flew Philippine Airline from SAN to Manila back in the 80s and I thought they were great. When living in Philippines took many regional flights and never had a problem
Another great review Dan. Thanks!
You're amazing! Love your videos ❤ you're very easy on the eyes as well. Keep up the good work!!!!
Thanks so much! 🙏
Same experience. I was suppose to fly their A321 neos (the more humane aircraft). But they downgraded the flight to a very dense A321CEO on the day of the flight. Unpredictable.
Happy to see you reading the Satsuma Complex, it’s a great book and Bob’s new book is brilliant
17:15 Christmas season in the Philippines starts September.
So you'll see random Xmas decorations and Carols being played if you go around.
Big D, love all the great amount of content you're sending our way recently. Can't get enough! Great job, as always.
Glad you enjoy it!
8:36 Filipino here and a frequent traveler to Manila. That airport is an embarrassment. Honestly one of the worst. I’m relieved you had a good experience (at the airport) though
Exact same sentiments, Dan. Flying PAL internationally is a Russian roulette in itself. Old and new, weird and cool. An inconsistent fleet, unpredictable hard product, as well as frequent delays and equipment swaps.
I have experienced the same situation in 2017. Our flight from Singapore to Manila was delayed by 4 hours, and the scheduled 777 got swapped to an A340 with an outdated product, just 3 days before the flight. My seat got reassigned and my original window seat was gone. Even the onboard streaming IFE through the myPAL app did not work, and the overhead monitors only showed the flight map. At least they are consistent on the soft product and inflight service, and at least I got to fly the A340 one last time. Since then, I vowed to never fly them internationally again, considering that foreign carriers offer a better hard product and inflight service at almost the same price. But domestically, they are one of the better options.
I fly to Philippines 2 to 3 times a year. PAL business is ok, definately in need of updating. The last 4 times the Tv did not work and the chair did not recline. For what they are charging it should be working and more up to date.
Amazing Video Dan!!!!!
It makes my day so much better when Dan posts! I'm very happy to watch something so entertaining with my lunch!
Thanks so much Abdullah!
@@NonstopDan I’m literally your biggest fan! I was wondering sometime in the near future you can try Qatar Airways or Turkish Airways Business Class from Washington IAD. So I know what to expect in a year or so. Anyways I’m your biggest fan and I enjoy watching your calm vids!
For a full service airline, I would at least expect IFE in this day and age for international flights, especially on PAL's smaller planes and in business class (edit: also on the A330!). Personally, I would not pay that price if we don't get all the hard product versus other regional airlines.
The reason why you’re hearing Christmas music on these planes is, the Philippines is gearing up for Christmas. They don’t have other holidays that get in the way, like Halloween or Thanksgiving, so they’re fast forwarding to Christmas with the music.
Also: So the plane didn’t have those giant TV screens like planes did in the 2000’s and earlier? Because it’d be weird to not even have communal screens.
I had a Phillipines airlines flight up from Davao a while back connecting with a qantas flight delay out of Davao landed different terminal with 15 minutes to boarding the fantastic Philippines staff met me at the airbridge and transferred over the tarmac to the QF flight fantastic service. First flight with them out of Brisbane was on a jumbo with the small upstairs and business seats like the original business seats that Qantas had when they originally introduced business class - another story LHR TO PER
I actually flew on a short haul flight with their long haul a330, the flight was Bangkok to Manila, which is intresting because bangkok gets served by the A321, 777, A350, and A330s from PAL. It switches unexpectedly causing many delays like my 45 minute delay. But the seats were really comfy in my flight, to be fair I was flying in a long haul config.
Equipment swaps are common, especially the PR507 and PR508 route from SIN - MNL vice versa. The older A321s have no IFE but the newer A321neos have IFE. A330s im not sure whether some have IFE or not but Boeing B777-300ERs definitely have.
I've been on the same flight Qatar -MNL. It's so frustrating. Delayed flights how many times and I felt like Im not in a business class. I feel it's not worth it.
Thanks for the review. Been commenting a while for this review and here it is. I've experienced this seat change/plane change happens quite often.
❤You she try royal brunei airlines business class from manila to BRUNEI ❤
1:17 interesting that you mention that, I always prefer airlines who just give me food and that's all. less talking the better
If you heard Silent Night on Sept 1 in the Philippines, it must have been because of the blast for the traditional opening day of the long Christmas Celebration. But it will die down a bit and pick up again in November.
The Philippines is a major exporter of labour to the middle east . this could explain the layout and the fare.
Wow, quite rhe experience! I’d coin it the ”bunk bed” set up. I’d get no sleep. Either I’d be stressed of falling down, or someone falling on top of me. At least with beds at the same level, you’d be able to play footsie. 😂😂😂😂
People basically get scammed by PAL, they change it the last minute(or last day), that's probably why it's cheaper? i guess, IMO.
Wait till SMC completes the renovation of NAIA and I will appreciate your time to show the improvement in the airport.
What a unique seat layout on that long flight! And that cotton candy cocktail was so wild! Always enjoy your videos Dan!
Thanks so much!
Dan, I was there a month ago in that exact part of the departure gates and Chatime wasnt there yet! Also, we were on that exact ZipAir plane in your video :D Keep up the great content!
Thanks so much!
it was smooth because you were in terminal 1, the terminal with the expensive airlines 💀 Terminal 3 is the definition of pain
Terminal 3 has Airlines like Cathay, Singapore Airlines, ANA or Thai - it's just a bad Terminal