Air Travel in the Philippines, Part II
Continuing on from my post yesterday, I mentioned that I would talk about airports in the Philippines. In China, the government has spent billions of dollars upgrading the airport in Beijing and the surrounding airports before the Olympics start. Why is this? Well, aside from the requirements of the IOC, an airport is most people’s first and last impression of a country. A bad experience either leaving or entering a country can color one’s view of a place. In China, most major cities and many minor cities have upgraded their airports in the last five years. Beijing and Shanghai have gleaming new, clean, efficient terminals with minimal queues and relatively polite officials.
What is the situation in the Philippines? Well, there are four major international airports in the country, and a few minor ones. The largest is Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila (NAIA), with the other three being in Cebu, Davao, and Clark. Clark, the old US Air Force base, is primarily used by budget carriers, most prominent of which is Air Asia. There are very ambitious plans to make Clark into the primary gateway into the country. It remains to be seen if these plans ever come to fruition. Davao and Cebu normally receive international traffic from other parts of east Asia. If you are coming from the States, Europe, or Australia, your first impression of the Philippines is most likely going to be at NAIA. There are four terminals at NAIA:
1. Terminal one is International, and if you are flying anyone but PAL, this is where you will arrive. It is around 20 years old, and showing every year of its age. Depressing, dirty, and with few services (DO NOT eat there if you value your belly!) The terminal is operating at well above capacity.
2. Terminal 2 “Centennial” Terminal. This is exclusively for PAL and its domestic arm, Air Philippines. About 10 years old, this terminal is about as clean and hassle-free as airports get here. Queues tend to be relatively short, and the taxi touts are reasonably kept at bay here.
3. Terminal 3. This is, perhaps, one of the biggest…hmmmmmm…..What word am I looking for here?…..MESSES that could befall any city. Initially conceived to be a showpiece for travellers to the Philippines, this project has ended up showing the worst of the country. See, the terminal has been complete for several years now… It has sat there empty. Political infighting, corruption, and general stupidity has surrounded this collossal monstrosity since it was first planned. If you read the whole story, the greed and idiocy surrounding this project will make you ill. It has “technically” opened to some “test” flights this month, with full operation by year-end. We shall see. If, and when, it opens, it should greatly relieve the overcrowding in dingy, depressing, Terminal 1.
4. Domestic Terminal. This structure was built in the 1940’s and is also well over capacity. Mostly outdoors, it reminds me of the airports I used to frequent in Borneo and some of the Caribbean Islands.
Why is all this important to the Philippines? Well, the current impression one receives when landing is not of a tourist paradise, but an impression of a third-world hellhole. Interminable queues, silly rules after landing, taxi touts out the ears, overcrowding… you get the picture. This makes the economy suffer and really gives an unfair and unrealistic impression of the Philippines! I truly hope that the opening of Terminal 3 corrects this situation. I am, by no means, trying to pick on the Philippines or Filipinos. With the natural beauty here and the people, this country has many wonderful things going for it and much to be proud of. I am simply stating that it is a shame that the first impression you receive here is so bad. I have landed at London Heathrow before and believed I was in Nigeria, and had the same experience in Miami and Los Angeles.
I’ll wrap this topic up shortly with Part III and tell you some frequent flyer tips on making travel easier in the Philippines and in general.
Hi John: Thanks for sharing this insightful piece about airports. The Manila domestic terminal is depressing, as is Terminal One; and you’re so right that these structures -as the first point of contact for arriving tourists- create an unfair impression. Terminal Two did surprise me a couple of weeks ago when I had to fly via Air Philippines.
Interesting that you mention the airport in Clark, as I’ve recently gotten hold of information about how ambitious the plans for it are going to be. It looks promising, and I hope that, once these plans are realised, the airport helps improve the image of air travel in the Philippines.
And I just love the way you write. I’m very much looking forward to Part Three!
Hi, I am late. But Migs is very right. i also love the way you write. And thanks for all these valuable information John M.
If I had a magic wand; I would bless the terminals with better food concessions.
Hi John
Sorry but I left this comment on part 1 by mistake, so here it is again
I always book Philippine Airlines on line before I leave Kuwait for my internal Philippine flights from Manila to Dipolog and touch wood I have never had a problem even though my credit card is Kuwaiti which is refused by some sites.
I also book on line for my wife when she comes here using her Kuwaiti card and also never had a problem. I have been doing this for a few years now so hopefully my luck will hold.
Jack
Migs and Klaus…. thank you for your kind words.
Bob… Yeah, I couldn’t agree more. At least a Pizza Hut or something. I tend to wait in the Tinder Box smoking hole even though I can normally use the lounge (The food is no better in there, BTW, even though it is free)
Jack… Funny you mention that… My UAE card nearly always works, but my cards from the States always have problems. Unfortunately, all my expense accounts are US based… I don’t like to pay when the boss will do so!
Jack… Been thinking more about the cards. Makes absolutely no sense that Middle East banks have no problems but US banks do… Perhaps I’ll ask Bob… He may know since he has all his online businesses.
Sorry John, but I have no idea on this one!
Hi John - great couple articles about air travel in the Philippines.
They really need to get the online reservation system fixed to work with US credit cards. Unbelievable hassle trying to figure that out. I was finally able to make reservations with Cebu Pacific by calling them directly. It took more than one call though.
I don’t mind the Davao airport, could be better but not so bad comparatively. I absolutely dread going to the domestic terminal in Manila, and also leaving trough the International Terminal. Both are so crowded and disorganized that it’s a miracle anyway ever gets out. I’m hoping that that direct flights to Davao will continue to increase, which would also help the two terminals in Manila, though only slightly.
Good to know that they are testing flights in Terminal 3. You’ll have to keep us updated to how that goes.
Hi John:
Boy are you right about first impressions of a country being formed by your interactions at the airport. This past Feb-March my wife, me and my two kids from my first marriage ( one adult, one adolescent ) traveled to the the RP to visit my wifes family. In Japan every aspect of our experience in the airport worked like a swiss watch, although no one understands why you have to go through customs again when you never leave the flight side of the terminal. On our return we found Japan’s culture outside of the airport operated very similar to the airport personal interaction.
Conversely going through airports in Manila and Cebu were utter chaos. Totally useless rules and waisting of time were rampant. What one person was allowed through customs with the next was not and little or no reason was given. My adult son and I both carry truckers wallets which have a chain attaching them to our belts. I was required to remove my chain because it could be used to choke someone I was told and here is my son standing right next to me with his chain clearly exposed going through the x-ray with no word mentioned. I had to get a airline travel agent to get mine returned and all the while my sons is right there with his in plain site.
That is just one of the many inefficiencies we encountered and it was totally reflective of our everyday experiences in the RP. To my children’s and my way of thinking the entire country decision making process is chaotic. While to my wife it was almost every day since she grew up there. Although she and her family did often comment about the drawback of transportation in the country and the entire family are educated with Mama a school teacher and Papa a Fiscal.
With that kind of everyday thinking it is no wounder no matter how outstanding the people are the country can not pull itself up from third world status, and it never will as long as there is that kind of everyday acceptance of everyday chaos. Now everyone go ahead and rake me over the coals for stating the obvious.
May you all allow the Lord to help you have an outstanding day! No matter where you are.