Haiiiiis PAL...:((

"First in Asia", that is Philippine Airlines much proudly ballyhooed motto.... that is for having the distinction to have National Carrier that flew Internationally... So on this count, I give it to them... they are first, indeed.... But when it comes to everything else - they are always last in my book, and I have flown many, many airlines already....

Each and every time I fly them, they seem to find new ways to somewhat aggravate me, and from what i see, other passengers, too.... Forget about the food or total lack of service.... let me start of by just pointing out that most of the senior crew not even able to deliver one thing that is FREE of CHARGE and should have been a prerequisite with this type of jobs: SMILE!!! My God, is the job really that hard that one cannot muster a simple smile.... even fake one??? I did not see any of them crew on my flight give anyone a single smile... but when i did go to use the toilet in the back of the plane - they sure were having a jolly old time, gabbing.... Not even the PURSER of the flight extended a smile when they were greeting everyone on and off the plane... WTF!!! and if one of your main duties on board it to give out the food and drinks, then do so willingly.... suck it up.... get over it... I mean, it should already be routine, robotic, second nature... so why act as if the passengers are asking for too much when asking for a second cup of Orange Juice.... it does not come out of your paycheck so give willingly.... But then again, maybe it does - with your recent company troubles going around - has it gotten that bad that the management is requiring you all to conserve and give less? LOL

And now let's talk, Terminal... how on earth could you have your own carrier's airport, a nice one at that, and still not be able to run it properly.... possibly the worst manned Airport terminal i have ever have been to... The longest wait ever, each and every time, for the bags to come... and how hard could it be when each time I arrive, only the flight from Taipei and Japan comes at the same time... How come you cannot get it together??? Only two flights - two baggage carousels... it does not take a genius how it should be... so how come there are times when both flights' bags are on the same carousel.. and at times, on separate carousels... and on this particular one - some of the Taiwan's luggage were picked up on carousel 4 along with the luggage from japan, while the rest had to be fetched on carousel 5... LOL....

And my Biggest Beef this time... the captain actually got us on the ground and on the bus terminal at the exact time we are to arrive - ON TIME!!! But where were the buses??? we actually had to wait a good half hour on the plane before the shuttle buses to take us to the terminal arrived... we saw a couple passed by fetching the Japanese passengers - so this means, the company only had two shuttle bus at your disposal? I don't think so.... Just another badly planned/badly organized day at PAL.....

NOTE TO PAL: "Just because you land the plane on time, does not necessarily mean it was not a DELAYED FLIGHT!"

Friendlier Way to Fly : PAL, Take Two

could they have really READ MY BLOG.. and LISTENED?

well, I would like to think so as the last flight I took with Philippine Airlines - I was TRULY SURPRISED and AMAZED!!!

Some of you must have heard me gripe about a flight I took with PAL a few months back.... it left such a bad taste in my mouth, I actually had to blog about it (You Get What You Pay For - Indeed!) back in July last year.... I hated that so much that, though I fly to Manila once a month, I try to avoid flying PAL unless I really had to (TICKET PRICE being the main factor to consider) - and was LUCKY enough to not have to experience them again except November - it was the Holiday Season so Cebu Pacific was charging a tad bit more....

This past February though, I once again, did not have any choice - last minute booking ended with me having to do PAL once again... and much to my SURPRISE - how things have changed!!! Still for the same price as the ECONO LITE fare that I always take - PAL now, not only let you choose your seat upon check in - they even FEED you - not just a couple of bags of peanuts - but what everyone else is getting on the flight... heck, even the dessert came from one of the BEST dessert places in Manila, BIZU (a personal FAVE of mine) -- TRULY AMAZING!!!

Maybe it is because of the slow/low passenger traffic lately due to the economy and competition? Maybe, many others besides me, have logged in complain? Or as I would like to look at it" "I BLOGGED, THEY TOOK NOTICED and COMPLIED!" - hahahahaha Whatever reason it might have been... am just glad they changed their ways... it is even reflected in one of their newest Magazine Advert....

So, couple that with a better flight schedule - I must say, PAL has WON ME OVER ONCE MORE!!! Now if only we can get a younger, and better looking, cabin crew... which I know they do have but are relegated to DOMESTIC FLIGHTS... but that's another story - for now, am just Happy with the change....

COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE

surviving friday the 13th....

..so I spent a good half of yesterday traveling in the rain.... had to catch a flight to Manila, an early one - so I was up by 5:30AM.... and out of the house by 7:30AM... it did not help that I kept waking up all nite long every hour... must be the anxieties that comes from having to wake up early (always scared I'd miss the alarm - so I end up waking up before it even rings!); or the sound of the heavy rain on the windows; or most likely, the thought of flying on Friday the 13th....

First up was the bus ride to CKS Airport... normally takes me a about 40/45 minutes but actually took so much longer - because of the traffic in the rain.... good thing I left the house with much more allotted time.... then it was just a bit of time till I have to face the HORRORS of it all: Philippine Airlines Flight. Yes, you read that right, i flew PAL again, not by choice but because we are in the Holiday season once more so I have to be wise in finding the cheapers airfares... and they had it for this month...

since i already knew what to expect from my previous flight, i was all set... and I only had the turbulence to be scared of... and it surely was a bit topsy turvy flying in the rain almost throughout the entire close to 2 hr flight... But I survived, and got to Ninoy Aquino Airport in Manila at the expected arrival time... then it was the HORRORS of BAGGAGE CLAIMS.... I could not believe I actually waited for almost an hour to get my one single suitcase.... how could this be for a modern airport terminal... well, it did not help that on one conveyor, three flights' luggage's were all being dispersed...LOLs!!!

Anyway, all I kept saying to myself - just deal - and once out of the terminal you will be fine... sunny skies ahead - as it was only about a little after 2PM.... WRONG!!!! as i must have brought the rain from Taipei with me.... waaaaah!!!!

So maybe Friday the 13th was BAD LUCK after all.... still, am happy to have SURVIVED it once more!!!

U Get What U Pay For - Indeed!!!

Okay, so if you TRAVEL between Taipei and Manila as often as I do, basically once a month, you have to be wise and find the BEST FARE available.... A few years back, I used to pay about $350US RT (round trip), about 17,000Php, but with CEBU Pacific it was cut down to about $100 US or 5,000php.... of course with that low fare, one does not get to carry as much (only 15KGS allowed) - and you have to know that for a BALIKBAYAN - that is just way too little.... Also, no food or drinks available for you (unless you pay on board!) - much less, MILEAGE to ACCRUE.... still, for a two hour flight - this is all OK, as am basically saving $200US each flight...

This cheap fares made PAL took notice enough to introduced the ECONO LITE FARE - as advertised, you also allowed just 15 KGS... 1 hand carry.... NO MEAL... but UNLIMITED PEANUTS & DRINKS... PLUS VIDEO SCREENS... hmmmm.... this caught my eyes of course.... enough to take them up on their offer this time around...

Boy did I make a BAD DECISION - which I came to CONCLUDE right from the start. Upon checking in I was told I cannot ask for an AISLE seat... with my fare I sit where I am placed in the last few rows - no matter if the aisle seats in the last rows are available, which they were.... so I ended up with the toilets right behind me and all the toilet goers feels that my seat was there for them to lean and rest on while they wait for their turn in the loo.... HEADACHE from too much SHAKING much!!!Then as the FOOD CART was rolled, ECONO LITE people were passed over and were taken care of last... a couple of little bags of peanuts (about 25 pcs) in each bag -- if even) and a glass of drink... unlimited they said??? well, they did not even come back to offer anything else and I had to wait till they were already cleaning up and picking up trash to get another glass of orange juice...And then there's the VIDEO SCREEN.... well, nothing to get EXCITED about... you would think with this 2 hour flight they could play a 1 and 1/2 hour movie or a couple of 30 mins sitcoms - nope... "an episode of JUST FOR LAUGHS" played twice is what we got!!!

Well, I learned my lesson.... am going back with CEBU PACIFIC... at least I know there is nothing to expect, therefore, I will not be disappointed!