Transfer at Manila Airport NAIA (MNL)

Transfer at Manila (NAIA)

Good news first: There is finally a luggage hold in NAIA-3. It is operated 24h/7days by Luggage & More!
Read more here.

So, if you have more than 3 hours transfer time, why not have a trip downtown or to the nearby Mall of Asia, one of the biggest shopping malls in the world. And all this with no hassle with your luggage.

When you arrive and/or depart from another terminal, you will have to take your luggage with you. But the Mall of Asia has a very good luggage hold which is open from 08:00 AM to midnight (24:00). Your luggage is safely kept for free.

Manila Airport (MNL) is rather a national than an international hub. Except those passengers heading to Luzon or downtown Manila, everybody needs a connecting flight to the Island of destination.

There are 3 (three) other terminals within Manila NAIA that deserve domestic routes: NAIA-2 is reserved to Philippines Airlines and Air Philippines; Domestic hosts South East Asian Airlines SEAIR and the newly created ZestAir and the new Terminal-3 used by Cebu Pacific Air, PALexpress and Air Philippines.

Follow our guided and illustrated^* tour and enjoy your Transfer at Manila NAIA.

Luggage Hold

There seems to be no luggage hold in Manila's NAIA. But there are. In NAIA-1 and NAIA-2 you find a luggage hold near the baggage carousels on arrival level. There is only a little door and no sign. So when you are near the carousels, ask an employee for the Interline Baggage Room (phone: +63 2 877-1109 local 3633).

At this moment the fee is PHP 300 per day and per piece of luggage.

Transfer Time

Plan enough time for your transfer in Manila. We strongly recommend to reserve 3 hours for transfers from and to international flights.
Why so much? Your incoming flight may be delayed. There may be several heavy carriers arriving at the same time. The result are congestions at the immigration desks, at the luggage carrousels, at customs and finally at the luggage ticket check. If you are short in time, you get stressed and if you get stressed you may stress the officers and staff. The result: everything processes even slowlyer.

We once did the transfer NAIA-1 to NAIA-2, aircraft door to aircraft door in 50 minutes. But this only happens only 1 time in a traveler's life. So again: Do reserve 3 hours for your transfers.

This transfer time is also valid for transfers within the same terminal. You may need to queue up at security checks, luggage carrousels, check-in counters and so on.

Manila Aiport Shuttle Bus and
Yellow Manila Airport Taxis

To catch a Manila Aiport Shuttle Bus at Manila International Terminal you simply have to turn right at the exit of the Arrival Lobby. Look up at the concrete pillars to find the new"Airport Shuttle" sign.The shuttle busses are clearly marked mini-busses. The driver helps you getting your luggage in. The only thing you have to tell him is the carrier's name of your next hop. The driver will then tell you, when to get off the bus.The ride to NAIA-2 takes about 10 minutes and the journey to NAIA Domestic Terminal lasts for about 15 minutes. Add 10 to 15 minutes during rush-hour when there are lots of jeepneys congesting the connecting roads. And to NAIA Terminal 3 think of 30 minutes.

The Yellow Manila Airport Taxis are all clean and all metered. They are faster than the bus and the rates are acceptable. From NAIA-1 to:

NAIA-2: PHP 80 to 100
NAIA-Domestic: PHP 90 to 120
NAIA-3: PHP 100 to 130

The rates depend on the waiting time. Without any traffic jam we had to pay PHP 74 to NAIA-2, PHP 86 to NAIA-Domestic and PHP 94 to NAIA-3.

Manila NAIA-2 Terminal

Philippine Airlines (PAL)

The PAL (Philippine Airlines) Terminal is not purely domestic. The south wing is domestic and the north wing is international. But very few people still arrive with PAL from overseas. "NAIA Terminal 2" is also known as the "Centennial Terminal".

The PAL (Philippine Airlines) Terminal is a beautiful and functional building. The procedures are about the same as anywhere: Ticket check, first security check and you are inside.

NAIA-2 (international) has also a luggage holding service. This service is on arrival level near the luggage carousels. It is not easy to find, so you to ask for. The fee for one day is PHP 300. (Rate in fall 2007).

You should already have your PAL ticket. If not, you have to return to outside, then turn to your right and get the ticket in the circular part of the building. There you can also pick up your e-ticket in case the PAL website has again problems and you heve not been able to print your e-ticket.

OK, you have a valid ticket! Proceed to the check-in counter. Be prepared! The free luggage allowance of PAL chances frequently. At this very moment it is 17 kilograms per person.

Excess luggage must be paid at the cashier desk on your left. Fortunately PAL is not too excessive with their Excess Luggage Fees, overweight charge is only PHP 50.00 per kilogram.

Do you have some pesos in your pocket? No? You will have to get them at a currency exchange boot. Why? Terminal Fee!

Sorry, you do not yet know this Filipino particularity? Every time you depart from a terminal (air or sea); you have to pay for the usage of the terminal. This fee costs from PHP 20 up to PHP 750 depending on the terminal's status.

PAL Domestic Terminal in Manila NAIA costs PHP 200.00.
In the international wing you have to pay PHP 750.00

When you get the ticket stapled on your boarding card you are ready to proceed to security check number two.

If you are in transit within the Philippines, e.g. you fly Cagayan de Oro - Manila - Iloilo, you do not have to pay the terminal fee in Manila. But you must show the terminal fee ticket from Cagayan de Oro.

Below the flight schedule display you can see a part of security check #2. You will have to strip off anything metallic - and your shoes. No problem, there is a carpet, but the smells...

Usually you pass this check point without problems. But it might cost you valuable time.

Once passed the check point you are in the departure lobby.

The Departure Lobby is one of the pleasures of NAIA Terminal 2. It is spacy, there are food stalls, phone boots and clean (really clean) toilets. At the northern end you find a bar where smokers are welcome and the beer is ice-cold. If you are a photographer you find interesting perspectives and if you are still bent from your long haul flight you have over 500 meters to walk.

This might be the plane to your final destination in the Paradise called Philippines. PAL (Philippines Airlines) deserves most of the large airports on the Philippines Islands.

And a last hint: reserve one of the morning flights. If you catch it, you will be at your final destination before noon. If you miss it, you may catch the afternoon flight. There is no warranty, but we think that PAL reserves always some seats in their afternoon planes for jet lag struck people who slept a bit too long.

MABUHAY ! Welcome in the Philippines.

Manila Domestic Terminal

SEAIR and Zest Airways

You did it! No jeepneys crashed? Welcome to Manila Domestic Passenger Terminal. We call it Old Domestic, because it is really old.

Here you find your connection with South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) and Zest Airways. There might be other carriers, but they appear and vanish as the sun rises and sets after 12 hours.

You should be informed that Manila Domestic Passenger Terminal is an ugly box. Not more - not less. So let's step in - no, let's queue up.

Still outside of the terminal you have to present a valid ticket and your passport at checkpoint #1. Heaving passed this first checkpoint you are confronted with check point #2: X-Ray and metal detector. You already do have a mechanical smile in your face, don't you?

After these security checks you are in the check-in hall where you find the counters of SEAIR and Zest Airways.

Be prepared! The free luggage allowance chances frequently. At this very moment it is 15 kilograms per person. For Caticlan (Boracay) it is only 10kg and your body weight together with all your baggage is noted.

Excess luggage must be paid at the cashier desk on your left. Fortunately excess luggage charge is only PHP 80.00 to 120.00 per kilogram.

If you are in a hurry, call a porter. It seems that the porters can bypass any queue and you will get your boarding pass within minutes.

Are you (still) a smoker? Between the check-in counters and the terminal fee boots is your last chance. There is a small (3 x 6 meters) cabin reserved for smokers.

If you have plenty of time (1 hour or more until boarding), get out of the terminal building. Then turn right around the corner. About 200m later you find a fine Chinese restaurant with reasonable prices, the Lin-Lu.

Do you have some pesos in your pocket? No? Sorry, you got a problem! We have not yet found a currency exchange boot at Manila Domestic and the terminal fee must be paid in PHP (Pesos). Ask a fellow passenger for 200 Pesos. (This is equal to about $4 USD).

Sorry, you do not yet know this Filipino particularity? Every time you depart from a terminal (air or sea), you have to pay for the usage of the terminal. This fee costs from PHP 2.50 up to PHP 750.00 depending on the terminal's status.

Domestic Terminal in Manila NAIA costs PHP 200.00.

If you are in transit within the Philippines, e.g. you fly Cagayan de Oro - Manila - Iloilo, you do not have to pay the terminal fee in Manila. But you must show the terminal fee ticket from Cagayan de Oro.

When you get the ticket stapled on your boarding card you are ready to proceed to security check #3.

Congratulations! You are now in the passenger waiting area. The most important word is WAITING! I have already passed 7 hours in this most awful place, so I know about what torture I am writing about.

There are toilets. The cleaning staff tries to keep them clean - emphasis is on the word "tries".

There are also a newsstand and food stalls. Well, you may do your first "balut test". But there are also cool "San Migs" available (for newcomers: this is a fine smooth local beer).

One thing we can really recommend is a massage. In the very first boot after the Terminal Fee Check Point you find immediately on your right hand a massage cabinet. The staff is composed of blind masseurs. They do a really good job and while relaxing you help this people to keep their self estimation and earn their lives.

Uff! Is it really your flight that's called? Are you sure or are you dreaming of a comfortable airplane seat?

If it's real, you should process to the gate. Get your boarding card torn into two pieces and proceed to your plane.

If it rains, you get an umbrella for your tarmac walk.

Congratulations! You did it!

MABUHAY ! Welcome in the Philippines.

^* There are no photos from security sensitive areas like customs, immigration and checkpoints.

Manila Terminal 3

Cebu Pacific Air, Air Philippines and PALexpress

You did it! Welcome to the new Manila NAIA Terminal 3.

This terminal has a long history. Nobody could believe it when Cebu Pacific Air announced in June 2008 that they will move their entire operation to this terminal. They did it! And from August 1, 2008 it has been operational. Meanwhile also Air Philippines and PALexpress did move into the new NAIA Terminal 3. There is still a lot of construction work in progress. The "restaurants" are the typical Filipino food stalls.

Departure is on the upper level, arrival on the lower one. IMPORTANT: The free shuttle bus deserves only the upper (departure) level.

At the departure entrance there is the usual ticket control followed by the first security check. Early in the morning and late in the evening only one entrance is open. During rush hours there may be 2 or 3 open doors. Trolleys are available before and after the security check. Let you help by a porter in a blue blouse, you proceed much faster and it doesn't cost you more than PHP 50.

You find yourself immediately in the large and high lobby with the check-in counters. Over 20 Cebu Pacific Air counters are dominating the hall. The counters ofAirphilExpress are in the second line.

The gates are clearly indicated. So you won't have any difficulty to find your plane. Distances are not too long, but if your plane is at gate 128 or 129 you will need up to 10 minutes.

Here you also find some food stalls and small shops. The empty holes on the left and the right make us think, that one day there will be much more activity.

Gates 116 to 130 are on upper level.

Gates 131 to 134 are on lower level.

And there are good news for our smoking readers. There are smoker's lounges on both levels. Look for these signs on the ceiling.And there you even get a fine coffee or another drink.