MANILA NONY AQUINO AIRPORT review : 10 December 2008 : by J Levitsky

Customer Rating : 2/5

Having used both Terminals, I would rate MNL very low, especially since neither Terminal appears to be a real improvement over the old terminals.Lounges very poor representation for JL, CX, and PAL at an international terminal. No one can use an e-ticket only, as all passengers are required to produce a paper itinerary. This will result in the unaware international passenger making a lengthy detour to the ticket offices upon departure. Multiple ineffective X-ray checks of passengers and baggage. Shoe carnival at the departure lounge. Disorganized check-in queues for all airlines. Separate airport tax of PHP750 or $20 required to be paid in cash. Air conditioning that ranges from insufficient to Arctic, but does not settle on comfortable. Seedy snack bars and souvenir stores. Inoperable toilets, usually unclean. Very long waits for baggage to arrive at the luggage carousels. Incredible amounts of luggage consisting of paper bags bound with twine. No sense of propriety when it comes to passengers waiting to collect their baggage, just a crazed crowd of people standing as close to the carousel as possible, whether or not their bag is in sight. Terrible traffic patterns for ground transportation to the airport. I recommend that passengers aim to minimize the amount of time they spend actual in the MNL airport by arriving as close to departure as possible, and by not checking any luggage when arriving on MNL-bound flights. I also recommend that departing passengers remember to Print their itinerary and Have PHP750 in cash ready for the airport tax. While not a downright obstacle to travelers like the old Djakarta International or the two Bombay airports, MNL is way below par.

MANILA NONY AQUINO AIRPORT review : 28 November 2008 : by N Sutherland

Customer Rating : 2/5

NAIA-2. Check-In is fine as is the Arrivals Area. Being far less crowded than NAIA-1 Immigration and Security are reasonably quick. Airside however reminds me more of an upmarket Bus Station than an Airport - limited eating facilities, poor Duty Free both in terms of selection and price, totally incomprehensible announcement system and the total lack of Flight Information screens. This, combined with uncomfortable seating, brutal air conditioning, no pay-lounges and a 3-hour delay on a 3-hour flight in the middle of the morning conspire to produce a fairly negative customer experience. It's been a couple of years since I've been through NAIA-2 and hopefully it'll be at least that long again before I have to endure this terminal.

MANILA NONY AQUINO AIRPORT review : 5 November 2008 : by E Mallari

Customer Rating : 3/5

Arrived via Northwest Airlines. Still the same old terminal. Passed through immigration in no time. Avoided the men's room near the baggage carousel, notoriously dirty. Customs check is quick. Used the passenger lounge for hotel car transfer, employees on break watching t.v. in the lounge and occupying the seats meant for arriving passengers. Departed Manila airport on October 26th. Baggage x-rayed as soon as passengers enter the terminal. Only ticketed passengers are allowed inside the terminal. Three hours before my 7:30 a.m. flight Northwest Airlines check-in line already long but organized. After checking-in passengers enter a room and pay the airport departure tax, then go through passport check and then enter the terminal where gift shops and restaurants are located. Walk to the gate area is a little long, passengers have to go through second x-ray check. The gate areas have snack bars and souvenir stores. Used men's room and found that toilet doors were broken, shame on the airport management. This has been a chronic problem in this particular men's room in the pre-departure area. To get in the pre-board waiting area, passengers have to go through the third x-ray check! Boarding was organized, airline employees assisted by uniformed airport personnel. The sooner the international airlines like Northwest move to the newly opened Centennial Terminal, the better.

MANILA NONY AQUINO AIRPORT review : 26 September 2008 : by N Sutherland

Customer Rating : 3/5

NAIA-3 actually looks like a proper airport... kind of. Check-in is very good with a pier-style layout which makes best use of the available space - though the place was a bit dark... I think they're saving electricity. There's a selection of food and drinks places both land-side and airside - all of it seems a bit 'temporary'... 'camping out' rather than here to stay... Airport Tax is still PHP750. Signs are adequate. There's a Smoking Room airside which is a sensible provision. There's no computerised flight information system or video flight screens in the terminal, nor in the Baggage Area. This is not a problem with Cebu Pacific being the only airline using the terminal but will need fixing if/when it fills up. The arrivals area looked very good - 20 minutes from getting off the plane to getting into a taxi, including luggage which is excellent. Without luggage would be less than 10 minutes. My main criticisms of the other terminals has always been the chronic overcrowding. This will only be alleviated if NAIA-3 takes some of the load - it's arrived but it's some way away from the finished article and would struggle to handle say 6 airlines.

MANILA NONY AQUINO AIRPORT review : 27 August 2008 : by Emiel van Daalen

Customer Rating : 3/5

NIAI terminal 3 is finally open. For now only for all Cebu Pacific flights. There's not much in the Terminal yet, in the International part maybe 2 or 3 bars/restaurants. A lot is still under construction inside. The checkin area is nice, just like the spotless restrooms. (just for how long)

MANILA NONY AQUINO AIRPORT review : 27 August 2008 : by Robert Chua

Customer Rating : 3/5

NAIA Terminal 1 is old and not at par with the rest of Asia, however there is something about this old cramped terminal that makes me like it. Maybe it is the fact that you can actually get lounge service even if you are not on a business/first class passenger. Sampaguita lounge is just an elevator away. It is hidden and not many people know that. Theres food and drinks which is not bad for 400 pesos (roughly around $8 us dollars). The relative small size of the airport is also an advantage since you do not have to walk great distances to go to your plane. Major downsides are the long lines from check-in to immigration. One time, it took me 2 hours and a half to get checked in to a MNL-HKG flight via Cathay Pacific. The immigration people had to open a special immigration desk for us so that we can be accommodated right away as the plane was about to leave.

MANILA NONY AQUINO AIRPORT review : 28 June 2008 : by Francisco Pinyata

Customer Rating : 2/5

Stepping into the NAIA terminal is like stepping into a time machine back into the 70s. Everything, except the few LCD flatscreens at the at the check in counters, are in need of a major technical makeover. The walls on the entire structure looked extremely dull and dirty. Very slow immigration and customs officers whom all seem to want to squeeze a buck out of every passenger. There are not enough baggage conveyors so between 1pm to 2pm when my flight arrive together with 5 other flights, there barely was sufficient room for the passengers waiting for their luggage. Before you even get out of the terminal you will be approached by sales people selling you everything from taxi rides to sim cards to bottled water. Departing from this airport is not that much different. Duty free shop is microscopic compared to most other international airports in that part of the world. Not enough seating for passengers waiting for gate boarding announcements. Smoking area is located within a small cafe with very poorly working ventilation system. Your clothes will smell as if it was rubbed against a wet ashtray. Only star this airport will get is for the polite and helpful security and staff (immigration and customs people not included).

Manila Ninoy Aquino by J Olfato

17 June 2008   Customer Rating :

NAIA Terminal 1 is a nightmare, and a bad ending to a nice vacation. Arriving past midnight, all airbridges were occupied, despite the fact that only 1 or 2 of the planes were actually departing from the airport, so we were whisked to the terminal in a bus. The lady attendant at the gate would not let us in, and left us in the middle of the tarmac for 15 minutes! After finally letting us in, we complained, and she actually had the audacity to shout at the passengers! Baggage was terrible, with the ancient machine that spew bags carelessly, breaking a glass souvenir in my bag (with a fragile tag). Thinking the painful experience was over, the worst was yet to come! The customs people noticed that we were young tourists, and claimed that our were taxable. He actually asked 150 US$ for an electronic item worth only 250 US$. We were completely devastated, but he would not return our passports, so we were forced to pay. All happy memories from our well-deserved vacation was erased because of the terrible experiences in that airport! Terminal 2 is more tolerable though, but still not good enough.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by J Broome

19 May 2008   Customer Rating :

Terminal 2 was fine on arriving although I have no idea why, as a dedicated terminal for Philippines Airlines, baggage takes so long to arrive. Terminal staff were all helpful and access to 'hotel cars' was easy. The return was not so encouraging. Check-in was fine was the counter was found (did not appear on the screen) but then immigration took ages - the waiting areas are less than hospitable although seating was (just) OK. The place was heaving with people so getting a drink and something to eat was not the easiest of jobs! Then the necessary trip to the loo. The lines of ladies waiting to get in to theirs were all very long. I hope theirs was a good deal cleaner then the make loo. Filthy, smelly and cramped - why did anyone get away with designing, what would be a busy terminal, with such small loos along with poor ventilation and unclean floors, Then the long lines of passengers waiting for the gate to open, as they waited they blocked the passage of others trying to get to their gate.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by N Sutherland

23 April 2008   Customer Rating :

Travelled through NAIA-1 on a night flight with Cebu Pacific. Check-In was very busy at CP but they still had a dedicated desk allowing passengers an early check-in before your flight actually opened, which is an excellent idea that many other airlines could consider - but probably won't... Because I'd checked in a bit early the hassle getting through Immigration and Security wasn't nearly so stressful as when your flight is boarding in an hour and it's going to take you 45 minutes to get your Passport stamped... Since CP don't have a lounge you're presented with the option of a dreadful wait in the Bar/Duty Free Area which has about as much atmosphere as a Car Wash or an equally dismal wait in those horrible seats in Departures. Since I'd saved a chunk of money by choosing CP as against some of the larger carriers I decided to splash out PHP 550 or so getting access to the Manila Lounge? - one of the non-airline Lounges upstairs. Good choice - it's spacious and comfortable unlike most of the airline lounges which are always crowded. There were reasonable food and drinks choices - nothing special but perfectly adequate if you've been travelling for some time. They have a Business Centre and helpful staff, though no Flight Information Screens. (Same in all the Lounges in NAIA?). I think they had showers also, but I'm not certain. My flight was delayed by an hour or so, but the staff kept passengers informed, and all in all was a more enjoyable way to get through this airport. Upon return we landed at around 5.30am which is most certainly the best time to arrive in NAIA - no queues in Immigration, quick and slick on baggage and in the taxi within 15 minutes of landing - perfect. So, although NAIA-1 is still a poor airport, getting through it, like good comedy, is all in the timing.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by R Silverio

12 April 2008   Customer Rating :

The airport now has a metered taxi service which is almost half of the price of coupon taxis. Several problems persist. All comfort rooms especially at the international wing of Terminal 2 are way too dirty, smelly and the automatic flush do not work. NAIA should consider constructing at least 4 new toilets both at the arrivals and departures area. Bank and foreign exchange services remain a hassle, are very limited and are not open during late evenings. In NAIA 1, I have to go out of the departure area, take the stairs down to the arrival sections and questioned by security guards before having an access to the ATM's that are located only at the arrivals section. Long lines have not been addressed, especially during peak hours, and one has to wait for at least 30 minutes before his/her passport could be stamped. Food being sold, especially at Terminal 1, remains to be poor and highly expensive. The airport should consider opening branches of major food chains and restaurants to provide good quality service to passengers. Airport seat both at Terminal 1 and 2 are dirty, many metal seats are already rusting.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by D Chen

5 April 2008   Customer Rating :

Terminal 1 is poor in many aspects - most lines involved in the airport very long at peak hours. The security is also overly tight especially with flights to the US (4 or more checkpoints) with many checkpoints actually unnecessary. Immigration is terrible, taking almost 30mins to 1hr. Duty free prices are rocket high and the lounges are poor in quality compared to other airports. Terminal 2 is slightly better than T1 because it is newer although it too, shares many of the problems of T1. Queues here are also very long in immigration. Shops are very few and many things here are considered outdated compared to modern airports like HKG and SIN. Such are the things like the use of stairs instead of escalators. The lack of more shops, the lack of more decoration, etc. As for Terminal 3, It is a way better terminal than T1 and T2. Too bad there's still no definite date to open it, and by the time they open it, T3 might already be an outdated and old terminal like T1. And for the Manila Domestic Terminal, this is the worst out of the 4 terminals.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by I Burgess

27 March 2008   Customer Rating :

If you use the 'other airlines' terminal where for example Emirates comes into you will experience delays and problems. The queues can be difficult and after a long flight that is frustrating to say the least. However my regular trips to manila are with Philippines Airlines from Hong Kong and that uses their own dedicated terminal which is great. I have literally been through immigration within five minutes of coming down the staircase. On departures I would agree that the terminals, both, are not up to much. Even the third terminal for domestic flights is bad news. Usually stuffed with people and you always get asked for an excess baggage fee. How strange!

Manila Ninoy Aquino by L Groundwater

25 March 2008   Customer Rating :

Having used NAIA 1 regular for several years now I sadly agree with most of the negative comments, especially the need for the "new" NAIA to open.Staff have always been friendly enough and helpful, don't expect much in the way of quality food etc, so eat before going to airport. Never had any trouble my hand carry is two items, a trolley and a backpack, no problem here. I must be one of the lucky few that have not encountered long delays at immigration or had any problems with getting through in or out even though I overstay my three weeks visa, you can buy a new visa at the kiosk just before immigration, it entitles you to fast track lane as well. The double security checks though are a pain and I hate having to remove my belt & shoes.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by Geoff Wyndham-Jones

28 February 2008   Customer Rating :

I have to agree with Richard Walder: lots of long, slow-moving lines at Immigration for both arrivals and departures, with no special lines for visitors. (One tip - if you can pick a line with a female Immigration official, it will move slightly faster than those with male staff). Allow at least one hour for Immigration alone in both directions. On arrival, your baggage tags will be checked against the stubs you were given when you checked-in, so remember to keep these on hand. Baggage is slow to arrive, but as you have spent an hour getting through Immigration, it will probably be circling on the belt already by the time you get there. Baggage trolleys and porters are at a premium: do not expect either, and you will not be disappointed. Transfers to/from the Domestic terminal can be made using the free mini-bus, but this only seats 14 people plus their baggage; there seems to be only one bus, and it suffers from the traffic congestion found between the terminals, therefore does not run to any sort of schedule. If you are in a rush to make a connection, use a taxi from the Taxi Office just outside the Terminal Building rather than the bus. Be aware that uniformed officials are usually helpful and honest, but that the character who sidles up to you muttering "Taxi, Sir?" is probably not so trustworthy. Be aware that you will need local currency on both arrival and departures to pay various taxes, including the Departure Tax of 750 pesos: these are normally included in the airfare at other airports, but in Manila, this is not so: if you cannot get hold of pesos, US dollars will do at a pinch.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by Richard Walder

25 February 2008   Customer Rating :

Inbound after midnight from a delayed flight, Immigration slow and unfriendly, and no banking facilities open despite several further flights due. Departing from NAIA is just as horrendous as is the traffic to the airport. The queues and the pushing and shoving just to get into the poor dark terminal is terrible. It took us over 45 minutes just to get in. Check in itself was efficient thanks to the airline staff, not helped by the airport. Going through departure formalities was even more painful, taking over an hour, to get a passport stamp and pass another X-Ray scan, but still they made no comment nor spotted my wife's spray can accidentally left in her hand luggage, so much for all that shoes off, belt off, body searching etc. Once through the gate areas are appalling and food choice terrible unless you like a microwaved burger. It really is time this appalling airport gets into the 21st Century like the others in the Far East.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by S Regalado

25 February 2008   Customer Rating :

Should have more space in control of passport in arrival. When we arrived there was a lot of people accumulated and queues was disordered, though the people are hospitable and fast. I've heard that there's a new international airport in Manila - where we took our domestic flight it was really nice actually. Hope for our next trip we can use the new international airport in Manila.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by N Sutherland

19 February 2008   Customer Rating :

Having used NAIA-1 regularly for nearly two years now, very little improves and the previous comments say it all. There is a small food stall available now in the Check In Area, selling sandwiches etc., (right hand side of the terminal, near the entrance doors), and there are toilets located to the left of the entrance where you go through to pay departure tax - near the Thai Check In). Lengthy Immigration queues both on arrival and departure are still the most frustrating and time consuming aspects of this desperately crowded terminal... 1hr 15mins to get your passport stamped in the middle of the night is not acceptable. I shudder to think what would happen in an emergency. I think the bickering and arguments need to stop, and Terminal 3 be opened - now.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by W Pollitt

17 February 2008   Customer Rating :

International airport is a real dump. Arriving from the USA via Narita at 10:50 pm is chaos as there are 4 other international flights arriving at the same time. If you are later than the other 3, then expect a long line at immigration. Poor facilities, especially in the departure lounge, duty free is barely acceptable, and food choices are the poorest I have seen. The funniest thing is seeing the exclusive brand names on a sign above immigration departure only to arrive at that area and not see any of the products!! The terminal that handles Philippine airlines somewhat better, better duty free and better food, but the PAL lounge needs some upgrading.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by G Chew

24 January 2008   Customer Rating :

I arrived at NAIA on Cebu Pacfic from Shanghai at 0430. The queue for immigration was fast (only ten minutes), and the wait for baggage, another few minutes, and I was out of the airport by 0455, so everything was much better than expected. Airport workers were all grumpy, but efficientish. Outside was very quiet (no meeters or greeters), and taxis were reasonably well organised. Departing from the domestic terminal was fine too. It's far too small in the departures lounge, but there was no queue for check in (Asian Spirit), and nothng took too long. There were quite a few decently priced food options, and a massage place. Neither the worst nor the best places on earth, but far for the nightmare I was expecting.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by T Venzon

13 January 2008   Customer Rating :

Used the Centennial Terminal. I expected that since this a new terminal and dedicated to a single airline, things will probably be smoother and faster. The arrival from Guam was ok but I guess whoever designed this airport did not take into account transiting passengers. We were connecting onto Saigon and, instead of having a transit lounge like any civilized airport, we had to wait for an escort through immigration onto the departure area. That was annoying but nothing compared to waiting for three hours on seats with no cushions. Oh and that was even tolerable compared to what ensued on our way back. No one in the Philippine airport system knows the meaning of the words efficient and streamlined. The check-in on the way back to Guam was a nightmare. We were subjected to 3 security checks before being penned inside Gate 4. If one wanted to use the bathroom, one has to go through the whole rigmarole again! Why? Because no one figured out how to design an airport that took 3 security checks into account while making sure passengers had access to a bathroom after the final check without having to bring their boarding pass, passport and 10 pesos for the bathroom attendant. Yes the bathroom attendant also needs to make a living of you besides the cleaning guy that greets you with that tone of expectation imploring you to fork out something.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by J Sabaduquia

29 December 2007   Customer Rating :

Check-In in NAIA1 was very crowded and smelly, Immigration is fast, Duty Free was adequate. Departure Area near the gate is nice, big glass so you can see the whole airport, Staff where friendly and smiling, Nice airport staff but not so good facilities.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by Rob Luff

16 December 2007   Customer Rating :

Just returned from Manila, departing from NAIA1, and as usual, it was the same old chaos and disorder, only this time immigration took 1 hour 10 minutes, the worst I have experienced in the many years I have used this airport. NAIA1 reached capacity in 1991, and its obvious the airport cannot cope with the volume of passengers using the facility, yet the much bigger and much better NAIA3 lies empty and decaying.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by Gerhard Boegli

4 December 2007   Customer Rating :

Horror airport as always. During the last 25 years I visited the Philippines around 30-35 times and Manila Airport is looking still the same. After arrival at midnight the moneychangers was closed. At the departure any security-checks and, if you like to enter the restaurant, an extra security check again. Since 15 years the same shops with the same items. Slow passport control. High Departure-Tax (Pesos 750) - even for a 2 year old child. The question - what really they do with the extra income Departure Tax, as you can't see something renovated or new at the airport?!

Manila Ninoy Aquino by R Silverio

14 November 2007   Customer Rating :

NAIA is one which Filipinos will definitely not be proud of. It's an airport which is not user- friendly, too crowded, and facilities antiquated. Toilets are old and most often dirty. Long queues before entering the airport, during check-in and especially during immigration. I had an experience where I have to wait for nearly an hour at immigration. There are many places to eat inside, but all are overpriced. Bottled water costs 45Php which is more than double the standard retail price. All restaurants and cafes do not serve plain drinking water for free. Travelling from NAIA to other parts of Manila is a hassle and unfriendly even to Filipinos. Airport taxis are way too expensive. Airport officials think that all those who use the airport are rich and can pay the hefty amount. Why can't they just allow metered taxis to get passengers and require passengers to pay an airport surchage, eg. 50 pesos, the same way they do in Bangkok. I have used this airport more than 50 times and have not seen any improvement.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by Brett Watson

2 August 2007   Customer Rating :

Definitely not a good airport, although staff very friendly and polite. Queues and more queues: one to enter the terminal (one security check); another to check in (not too bad); one to pay airport fees (why aren't they included in ticket prices like most other places?) and then the worst - to pass immigration. Forty minutes to have my passport stamped! And finally another security check where shoes and belt had to be removed. All in all not efficient. Shopping poor and other facilities barely adequate. A pity to see the new terminal unused after around three years of being unused. The friendly staff make it a little more bearable - hope things improve sometime soon.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by S Grynkewich

3 July 2007   Customer Rating :

What a mess! It's pandemonium from the minute you attempt to enter the front door until you finally reach the peace and quiet of your airplane. I departed Manila on GF 155 on 20 June. The entrance was crowded with a security check as one entered the building that was messy. Further confusion followed at the check-in counter where the ground staff apparently were not up to snuff. From there it was the wasteful step of lining up to pay airport fees (why the Filipinos refuse to allow airlines to do this and add another unneeded step in an already messy process is impossible to determine - as is the utilization of the funds collected). From there it was to incredibly long immigraton lines. And finally after that, another security check - why I cannot imagine. This one makes people take off shoes and belts and the confusion is incredible. It seems Manila is the only airport in the region to require shoes and belts off - a matter that security personnel can't seem to explain. After the scanning, there's a filthy floor to walk across to find a bench to sit on to replace belt and shoes - it's a mess. And then one last security check before boarding. The airport is an old facility and while people try to be friendly, working there must be a nightmare. Until Manila can open it's new terminal (sitting unused and unoccupied for 4 years), there is little hope for improvement in service and creature comforts in its airport. Manila International Airport has to be one of the worst in the world.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by Brett Watson

20 June 2007   Customer Rating :

Not the most modern of airports in Asia but friendly staff. Immigration quick so long as not too many flights arriving. I managed to get through in less than ten minutes. Immigration didn't check my business visa so had to ask them to enter the correct departure date. Baggage arrived quickly but not many flights arriving at the time. Security tight but this is Manila. Customs was a perfunctory check. No one in arrivals area and few signs. Easy to find transport though and very helpful and polite people throughout. From what I read, the departure may not be so easy

Manila Ninoy Aquino by David King

6 June 2007   Customer Rating :

A friendly airport and most helpful staff. Once again I felt at ease and relaxed regardless of the fact that it was busy. From aircraft to arrivals hall it took 10 minutes!! Great service

Manila Ninoy Aquino by Christian Villegas

5 May 2007   Customer Rating : n/a

Since I fly NW/KE, I also use NAIA terminal 1 every time I fly to MNL. The facility itself is very much run down, poorly maintained and is, admittedly, a shame compared to its counterparts around the region. However, the airport staff (immigration/customs) are very friendly and polite to foreigners and locals alike. Unfortunately, NAIA terminal 3 wont be opening anytime soon. Security checks upon departure much more stringent than most US airports but nothing really to complain about.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by Mike Davies

10 April 2007   Customer Rating : n/a

I am a TG frequent flier, and have therefore been obliged to use the old NAIA terminal for years. It's shabby, run-down, and there are nearly always immigration bottlenecks on the way in, and out. I've stopped getting frustrated - it changes nothing, and takes years off your life. Even if upon arrival you clear immigration quickly, you will have to wait some time for your luggage anyway. Upon returning to Manila, I enjoy the four-man acoustic guitar band playing its wide repertoire in the arrivals corridor. On one occasion the band, me and the security man who was frisking me were all singing a Dire Straits number together. Only in the Philippines! Nice touch, in an otherwise un-nice terminal. There needs to be a fast-track immigration route, in and out, for F and J travellers. If your flight is delayed, or if you managed to get airside quickly and have time to kill before your flight, try the Sampaguita Lounge. You pay a few hundred Pesos to get in, but the soft drinks, coffee/tea, fruit and snacks are free, and its quiet and spacious. (You have to pay for canned/bottled drinks). Even though I have business lounge access in NAIA, I usually go to the Sampaguita if I have an hour or two before my flight. Good internet connection, massage facility, spotlessly clean toilets, comfortable chairs, a good view outside, and friendly helpful staff. Oh yes - there's a smoking section there too.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by Norman Sutherland
1 April 2007

Airport Tax has gone up from PHP 550 to PHP 750 ($15). What are passengers getting for the extra 4 bucks? I read elsewhere it was to pay for new X-Ray Machines -. well at 18 million passengers / year, the extra $72 million / year siphoned off the hapless public should buy a few of those. They'd be better spending the money on a few toilets and other basic facilities landside which seem sadly lacking in what must be the poorest International Airport in the region. On the Taxi front - getting an 'airport' Taxi to Makati cost PHP 550, but a similar ride, over a similar time from Makati to the airport was PHP 250.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by Norman Sutherland
29 January 2007

NAIA -1 continues to present challenges to the poor people trying to use it - both passengers and staff. In the Terminal Departure Area there is very little seating, nowhere to buy food or drinks, no toilet facilities that I could find and lengthy queues snaking in all directions. Not good if you have to wait a few hours. Check-In will normally be open 3 hours before flight departure. I suggest not going into the terminal at all until shortly before they open your flight. There is a small restaurant off to the left but you have to go out of the terminal and run your bags through security before you can enter there - not good. The terminal is far too small for the amount of passengers trying to be funnelled through it. Airport Tax is PHP 550 and there are adequte booths. Immigration most times of the day is a lengthy process - 15 minutes would be quick, 30 more typical, and an hour not unusual. There is a further security check jammed in between Immigration and the Duty Free Stores which, depending on your airline could be your 3rd security check since entering the Terminal. (5th if you got hungry and went to eat...) I rarely bother with Duty-Free in Manila - it's cheaper to buy in town. NAIA-1 is in bad shape. The sooner they get the new Terminal operational and take some pressure off the existing massively over-stretched facilities the better.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by Elwyn Mallari
19 January 2007

Terminal 2 being used exclusively by Philippine Airlines for its international and domestic flights is much better than the old Terminal 1. Terminal 2 is modern, commodious, well lit, and clean. Boarding areas can get very crowded. Security is very tight. Passengers and luggage are x-rayed and screened three times! PAL's business class lounge is too small and located in one corner and can be inconvenient for some passengers. Public restrooms are clean, snack bars are conveniently located, announcements are made in English.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by Andy Healey
15 December 2006

NAIA is without doubt the worse airport I have been in this year - not only do you have to show your ticket to a security guard before you are allowed into the building, (Very inconvenient when you have booked over the net and not able to print a ticket). You go through security (again) once through the door, and then on some airlines you are screened again before you even get to the check in. Immigration is slow and booths are frequently closed even when the immigration hall is full. Once through immigration - another security screening and then onto half a dozen tired looking shops, the first time I flew out I was waiting in a depressing departure lounge for 3 hours (flight delay), the second time at least I had access to the KLM lounge it made it much more pleasurable.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by Norman Sutherland
13 October 2006

Hadn't been through NAIA-2 for some time, but quick and efficient in both Immigration and Baggage, and I was out the door 15 minutes after getting off the plane - which is really what you want to be doing in NAIA. And the last thing you want to be there is to be in a hurry.

Manila Ninoy Aquino by Robbie Francisco
12 October 2006

Departing from the Ninoy Aquino Centennial Terminal Two can be frustrating starting from check-in. Being on an early morning flight means that there were only 4 counters open out of more than a dozen that seemed to be for display purposes. This simple layout though is convenient but gets to be boring for passengers who arrive early for their departing flight. A small duty-free can be found after entering the waiting hall. Tacky glass tint destroys the look of the central core where the Mabuhay Lounge can be found. So much for showing off the interior gardens and architectural elements of this ill-maintained airport. But this is way better than the older airport (NAIA 1) that seems to fall apart by the day and seems to harbor cockroaches and rats. After the violent typhoon, NAIA 1, had so many plastic buckets (to catch water from the leaking roof) that passengers would look into them as if they were about to drop coins and wish for a safe flight!

Manila Ninoy Aquino by Steve Corry
10 October 2006

Arriving at the newer Philippine Airlines terminal in May I found the queue at immigration to be about an hour, on Oct 2 at the older terminal a lot better. Airport taxis are an institutionalised rip off at about four times the metered price. Walk up the stairs to arrivals (ask if you cannot find the stairs) and hop in one that someone has gotten out of - nobody will care. Go by the meter and add a few extra Pesos. When heading to the airport make sure you tell the taxi driver which terminal, if you go to the wrong one it is another taxi ride across to the correct one. The Philippine Airlines terminal is much newer and cleaner. The old one (NINA) is well past it's use-by date. Check in involves a long disorganised queue. Once past security there are a couple of tiny food & beverage outlets and tired looking shops, but the less time spent waiting there the better!

IMPORTANT NOTE

Comments and opinions contained in these pages do not represent the views of Skytrax. All features contain unsolicited input from site visitors, and we seek to exercise the minimum level of editorial control and censorship to ensure the widest debate and platform for customer opinions. We will not publish submissions that contain abusive language. We cannot guarantee to publish all opinions submitted.

ADD YOUR COMMENTS HERE

  These Review pages are designed to offer guidance and assistance to other travellers, and we ask respondents to use an "informative" style of comment and share any travel tips for the airport in question.

  Your First Name (or initial) and Family Name, and E-mail address MUST be supplied.

  When submitting comments, please DO NOT insert paragraphs.

  Please check you use Upper and Lower case only - submissions made all in CAPITALS will NOT be accepted.

  Comment submissions that require extensive text editing CANNOT be published.