It’s always good to be able to write about our local airlines here in the Philippines … especially when things just seem to be improving. I learned something in some sort of Principles of Management course that said most managers make the mistake of telling their workers all their strong points and then souring the moment by throwing out a "but you could do better ‘zinger’" at the end of the conversation. I’ve been guilty of that often myself, so let me try to bring this little update into good management standards.
Philippine Airlines: This is the national airline of the Philippines and is both an international and important domestic carrier. I’m pretty sure many will have read that last month the US FAA placed PAL on it’s special ‘watch list’ of carrier who are not living up fully to FAA standards. This mainly involved problems here in the Philippines with the ATO (Air Transportation Office) an arm of the Department of Commerce which most closely corresponds with the FAA’s role in the United States. It caused a tremendous ‘smoke and light’ show here in the government, with the president firing the head of the ATO and a whole lot of head shaking and finger pointing going on. Not much else transpired, though. Will the problems get fixed soon? I wouldn’t bank on it. But the issues don’t really have any direct safety implications and in my view, PAL is as safe to fly as ever … so don’t go canceling your tickets and postponing your trip just because of what mainly amounts to bureaucratic wrangling. If you’re a regular reader (and if you aren’t may I ask you to subscribe, please?) you’ll know that PAL is not one of my recommended carriers anyway, especially since my last trip on them, so you really should be buying your tickets on another airlines … in my opinion.
OK, that’s all the bad stuff. Some good news is due, and here comes some:
Pacific Pearl Airways is the newest airline in the country, based in Subic Bay Free Port in Zambales. They are the first passenger airline to operate in Subic. Starting last December 19 regular flights from Subic to Boracay (via Kalibo), Davao, Cebu and Manila were initiated. One can fly direct from Subic to Davao using the B737-200 Advance aircraft. for reservations call or text: Manila: 02.879.3375, Globe: 0916.383.1545, Subic: 047.252.8312, Smart: 0918.524.0608. I haven’t yet flown these guys so this is for information only, but I certainly welcome competition and it is great that someone is now serving Subic (the former US Navy base). The airport there is well equipped and Subic is close to some great beach resort areas that are nowhere near as crowded as the better known places down south, like Boracay. My friend Bob will no doubt be happy to see yet another airline offering direct service to Davao as well.
SEAIR (South East Asian Airlines) is a local carrier I haven’t written about before. based in Cebu, they have been around a few years now and fly mainly 32 passenger turboprops to many of the Philippines smaller tourist destinations. Again a company I haven’t used, but they have a good reputation and I’m bringing them up here now because they are yet another airlines that is now serving Clark. I’m really happy to see all the activity there, Clark is going to be a very important hub as time goes on and it is so refreshing to see airlines taking the big step of not serving the over-crowded, tourist-hostile NAIA. Any day you can fly somewhere and bypass NAIA is a good day for flying to me.
Cebu Pacific. hardly a newcomer to this site, I’ve written often about Cebu Pacific and they are hands-down my favorite carrier in the Philippines. Today I’m updating them because boy, have they been busy. Just a few months ago they added quite a few new international routes and now more are opening up. Of particular interest are direct South Korea and Hong Kong flights to Cebu and Davao. All the more well know international carriers have their problems with serving the Philippines from their major hubs, like Hong Kong. With these locations being served by Cebu pacific now it makes a lot of sense to book flights to Hong Kong on a transpacific carrier and then book your final Philippines destination via Cebu Pacific … possibly avoiding an overnight in dear old Manila and other travel trials and tribulations. Recommended.
No more excuses, fly and have fun!
Philly,
I can recommend SEAIR. Flew with them from Caticlan (Boracay) to Cark back in 2005. We changed to a smaller plane in Manila for the trip to Clark. This was a fun short trip….one of those “I’m definitely in a different country” experiences. I think the pilot navigated by following the expressway from Manila to Clark because he had his head out the window for most of the trip.
If anyone is thinking of travelling to Boracay, then Caticlan is a closer than Kalibo.
Hi Laurence, you do get around … I really have to travel more within the Philippines, I’m kinda stuck in thesame rut here. Thanks for the report on SEAIR.
Philly,
You mentioned that there are some great beaches near Subic. Which ones would you recommend ?
Wow .. so many to chose from. First i would say check out the numerous resorts on the SMBA property itself … the former US Naval base. There are three or four within site of the airport itself. The, all along the shore road from Olognapo City north through Subic Bay are dozens of beachfront resorts … then drive about 1 hour north, through San Marcelino to San Antonio and the Caponies Islands .. and then all the way up the South China sea cost as far as you want to travel. here’s just one list to whet your appetitie:
http://www.zambalesresorts.com/
My wife (formerly a Filipino native) who I have been married for over 41 years and living in Australia. We very regularly travel to the USA & Canada, had the misfortune to book with Cebu Pacific Airlines for our recent flights to Tacloban.
On Monday 17th October 2011 for our flight from Manila to Tacloban, at Terminal 3 the checkin is a nightmare.
Cebu Pacific do not have separate queues for those with prepaid seating and baggage, then people holding bookings for others, who not at the front of the queue try to push pass those who are waiting. Complete lack of manners and consideration for others, Cebu Pacific should say those passengers can hold their own itenaries and wait in line.
The return on Friday 21st October was a bigger nightmare for 5J656 at 1-40pm. They knew but did not inform us at check in at 11-20am plane was over 2 hours late.
I could have booked another airline, then the Aircraft was declared a failure on arrival, the staff at Tacloban airport DID NOT inform passengers of delay.
Informally by word of gossip we were told a replacement aircraft will arrive at 6-00pm, but in fact replacement wheels were to be sent on another plane. This plane was also running 1 1/2 hours late.
Airline manager hid in office and would not inform passengers of reasons for delay. Food for passengers at 6-20pm after nearly 5 hours delay, if you could call it food, greasy piece of chicken, hamburger size package of boiled rice and a cold drink (on top of hot chicken). my wife is a diabetic, Cebu Pacific staff said ‘bad luck’ eventually got a seat on the 6-35pm plane that departed at 7-55pm and arrived in Manila at 9-05pm instead of 2-55pm. Other passengers on 5J656 would not have arrive in Manila till at least 10-30pm.
Worst airline in Asia, including Thailand and India, they need to go to Singapore Airlines and learn about customer service, no wonder Philippines has fallen 2 places to 136th in world of countries wishing to set up business in a foreign country.
Cebu Pacific needs a good hard look at its status in the Philippines as part of global trade and tourism. Definitely WILL NOT fly with them again, have been travelling to the Philippines for 40 years with my wife!
Thanks for the report, Bob. It’s unfortunate you had such an experience. In many cases Cebu pacific is the only choice. The problem of delayed departures, especially at outlying locations is continuous and you’ll find it on all airlines. See why I always say to people that if you are making a choice about living in the Philippines you shouldn’t be making the choice on cost factors. There’s a lot of things about the Philippines that are “different” that have nohting to do with cost. Of course, the week you had this unsatisfactory experience was just a week before one of the world’s most prestigious airlines just cancelled all their flights and left their passengers stranded all over the world … Hmmm, what was their name. Started with a “Q” … can’t remember now, but I’m sure it was also some jerkwater airline from some third-world country …