Manila International Airport (MNL)

Transfer at Manila (NAIA)

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 two other terminals within Manila NAIA that deserve domestic routes: Domestic-1 is reserved to Philippines Airlines and Air Philippines; Domestic-2 hosts South East Asian Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Asian Spirit.

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

To catch a transfer 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 green "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 Domestic-1 takes about 5 minutes and the journey to Domestic-2 lasts for about 15 minutes. Add 5 to 10 minutes during rush-hour when there are lots of jeepneys congesting the connecting roads.

Manila Domestic-1 Terminal

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. We therefore call this terminal "Domestic-1" while the official name is "NAIA Terminal 2".

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.

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 Terminal in Manila NAIA costs PHP 200.00.

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, their 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-2 Terminal

You did it! No jeepneys crashed? Welcome to Manila Domestic Passenger Terminal. We call it Domestic-2.

Here you find your connection with South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR), Cebu Pacific Air and Asian Spirit. 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. On your left hand you find the counters of SEAIR and Asian Spirit. Straight ahead you see the row of the Cebu Pacific counters.

Be prepared! The free luggage allowance 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 overweight charge is only PHP 50.00 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-2 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 20 up to PHP 750 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.

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.