Manila Airport

Arrived at Manila airport Terminal 1 and departed Terminal 3. For arrival Terminal 1, although it is obviously dated it functions well with minimal queuing and quick baggage arrival. Terminal 3 is by far the pick of the MNL terminals. Do yourself a favour a pay a porter to avoid the long queues to enter the building but after that it all works pretty well for Manila.

Worst major airport in the world. I travel a lot, both business and leisure, so I experience a lot of airports all over the world. But my 2 transits in Manila airport were the worst I have experienced. You have to pick-up your, already checked-in luggage and clear it at customs, and then a staff member will put it back on the baggage carousel again. The terminal transfer takes around an hour, and you have to give up your boarding card to an employee while waiting for the terminal transfer bus. I went to the airport twice in June, horrible both times. The signs when you arrive with the terminal bus, in terminal 3, are wrong. Restrooms are really dirty.

Manila airport T2 is for exclusive use of PAL with the North Wing reserved for international travellers and the South for domestic travel. In either terminal you go through layers and layers of security. The first one begins as you enter where there is an initial document check. Only ticketed passengers are allowed in the terminal. Next is an x-ray and metal detector prior to check in. Then immigration then a final security. For those whose flights head for the US, an additional layer is required by the TSA. It is therefore no surprise that even before one boards the aircraft a certain feeling of fatigue sets in. On the departure leg (MNL-HKG), since this was an early morning flight, little resistance was met in all layers, but one can feel the inefficiency, especially of the check in process (considering I was travelling in Business Class). I'd expect the Business Class lane to be free at this time, but it seems that they allowed some lanes to be open for economy class passengers. No biggie, just a little confused. Short lines through immigration and final security was pretty quick too. However, again, since there were layers of what I see as pointless stops, the entire process to reach the gates were just tiresome. The boarding process also was pretty chaotic where there were absolutely no semblance of queueing order (even in the priority lanes). The return experience was no less unpleasant. Queues in the submission of the health declaration was unreasonably long where the officers collecting the forms had no sense of urgency, notwithstanding the simultaneous disembarkation of an A330 and B777. Same experience in the immigration queues and baggage claim. I think Philippine airport authorities of late have mastered the art of chaotic organisation.

Terminal 2 in Manila is dedicated exclusively for Philippine Airlines. It is not a fancy or new looking terminal, nor one with very modern equipment, but it's still quite orderly and clean. Because of the exclusivity, the queue at the immigration is acceptable and processes people at fast enough speed. Priority check in luggage came delivered promptly. Upon departure, it's a blessing to fly in PAL business class. From check in at special counters to the use of Mabuhay lounge, it enhances the whole experience. One complaint though, the airport is not sufficiently air-conditioned, causing it to be quite hot, especially in the afternoon. Boarding arrangement is clear and orderly.

Not only are the facilities inadequate, the staff are dismissive, the queues are long, and the stores and options inside are lacking. Similar to the rest of Manila, it will take 10 times longer to get anywhere or do anything in this airport. Plan to leave 6 hours earlier to make your flight as you must pass through 3 security checks before you can sit down at your gate. The first one is outside. To get between the terminals, you must pick up any checked bags, go through customs, get a taxi, get stuck in Manila traffic, go through the pointless security check outside, check in again, and go through the inside security again. Although wifi shows up, it is actually non-existent since you are unable to connect, or browse on the off chance it connects. Save your juices in trying as there are no plugs for electronics anywhere as all 3 of them are used up by mobile air conditioners that blow hot air. Don't count on asking any of the staff here for assistance, they are incompetent. You will spot many workers sitting in the wheelchairs they are supposed to push. Least of all, the poor PA system combined with thick accents mean you must listen very carefully to the announcements to not miss frequent gate change notices. But don't worry, you'll be able to hear the announcements anywhere in the terminal as they are not isolated to the relevant gates. All 3 flights we've taken from this airport, whether connecting or departing, have been delayed, even with fair to excellent weather outside. I recommend any and all people to consider another airport for layovers, or avoid traveling to Manila.

Terminal 3 is awful and stressful. First, the long queues almost at every stage. One has to wait in line for around 15 to 20 minutes just to go inside the terminal. Thereafter, a long queue awaits just to go through the check in area. Lines at immigration and security are too long as well. Second, air-conditioning does not work. Third, cramped seating. Whoever designed the interior never thought of the need for space of passengers who will carry luggage and will be packed for hours in airplanes. Fourth, dull interior. I arrived at around 2am and there is even no adequate lighting at the check-in area. Fifth, toilets are lacking, dirty and unmaintained. Sixth, upon arrival one will be met by touts offering "airport taxi" that are overpriced - more than triple than the prescribed rates. Meanwhile, airport management seem not to take feedback seriously.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 is a clean airport. Signage is clear and easy to follow. The real disappointment are the food outlets and also the queuing times. The first thing that you will do is go through a very long line up outside the terminal. Once you are in, you must put your luggage through an X-Ray machine. You then proceed to your check in counter where you will again join a queue to check in. Food outlets are on the second floor and that's where chaos is. So many flights going on at the same time that most food outlets are full and the one's that are not, usually don't offer decent tasting meal (well, from the pictures posted outside their restaurant). There are limited food stalls as well once you are inside but again, mostly full and nowhere to sit. Air conditioning was not working properly at that time so the departures area are so warm. You can see the discomfort on everyone's face.Boarding was fast and organize though. Clear and loud announcements from the airline staff. Wifi is spotty and kicks you out all the time and I think it was limited to 1 hour only (not sure). Don't come to the airport hungry because you will probably lose your temper finding a place to have a decent meal. Bring extra patience, you may need it as well.

Manila airport is a dump and it makes it even worse when you have to spend 14 hours here. We thought we'd be able to leave the airport and visit Manila for the day, however, were told that we would have to be staying for 4 days in order to leave the airport, which leads me to believe that if you book a couple of nights in Manila, they wont let you leave, surely this can't be right? I can only think I got a grumpy immigration officer. There were no comfortable chairs, apparently there is a new transit lounge coming soon, which was of no use to us of course. There are day rooms and sleep loungers that can be booked in terminal 1 and 3, but of course we were in terminal 2, therefore stuck in limbo. Terminal 2 gate side, only has kiosk type shops, all you can get is sandwiches, hot dogs and pasta in plastic containers. Worst airport to transit for more than a couple of hours, horrendous. With so many transit passengers, you'd think they'd make the most of it to bring some income into the country, but it would appear they are not interested. The one good thing was they had some WiFi and charge points.

I recently used Manila airport Terminal 3 for a domestic flight and then, a week later Terminal 2 for an international flight. I have to say the experience in Terminal 3 was almost enjoyable this time. Aside from the pointless security check before entering the terminal and the long lines of people with many big cases and boxes that no one at security was remotely interested in in - once inside everything was fine. The check in process with Cebu Pacific was a breeze. There are much better shops and choices for eating upstairs these days (landside) although options are still fairly limited when you go through security. But at least Terminal 3 feels like a more modern airport now. Sadly the same can't be said of Terminal 2 which, rather than needing an overhaul needs demolishing. The last time I passed through an airport with the same kind of regimented negative ambiance was Berlin in the 1970's. Few shops, and even fewer options for food and drink. The sad thing is that this is the terminal used by PAL the national airline and until they or the authorities look around at what sort of impression it must give to first time visitors I doubt much will change, because I don't think any of them care. But I'll give NAIA 6 out of 10 purely for T3 because improvements have definitely taken place. However I never want to see T2 again.

Still the worst airport in the world, even after a few upgrades. I arrived in international terminal 2, and departed from domestic terminal 2. Nothing has changed in this terminal in over 10 years. The luggage area is a zoo with no coordination on domestic luggage transfer. Everything is old and dated in this terminal. The departure area has very uncomfortable metal seats, very bad lighting and disgusting toilets. There were 2 small device charging stations that were always full during the 2 hours I waited for my flight. On my return I arrived in Terminal 4 which has been upgraded slightly but is still a mess with poor air conditioning and only 1 toilet for the entire luggage area. The lineup outside of the woman's toilet had over 20 women waiting. I took the airport transfer bus which operates inside the airport thinking this would be faster than using a taxi to go to terminal 1 as it took me over 1 hour last year but it still took over 1 hour. You wait in this tiny overcrowded room for the bus which arrived 40 minutes later (amazing they do not have a bus every 10 or 15 minutes given the amount of people using this airport). Terminal 1 has been upgraded and is slightly better but has huge lines in the ticket area, for some reason they do not have switchback line ups, but allow people to que up in lines with over 100 people in them so you have to cut through the lines just to get to the immigration area. The wifi in Terminal 1 and 2 is terrible. It unusable. There is only 1 toilet after security near the very poorly stocked duty free shops. Again long lines to use the woman's toilet. The departure area is newer looking with semi-comfortable seating and good lighting. This is an improvement but it is still no where near the standard of Hong Kong or Singapore airports. The Philippine government should be very embarrassed that this is the airport they welcome international travelers with to their country. From what I read there is no plans of a new airport or any other major changes in the existing airports. The traffic between terminals is atrocious, and although there are plans to build a raised highway above the connecting roads it has been under very slow construction for many years now with no end in sight.