Manila Airport

Terminal 3 in the morning has a long line outside of the airport. Terminal 3 has a good air conditioning. Not that crowded yet. The waiting area is in a basement so you can't see any views. There are food stalls at the airport which is good for us waiting for boarding. The seats have cushions but are not comfortable enough to sleep into it. The speaker or the audio for the announcements are too low, so we couldn't hear much.

Terminal 2 in Manila Airport is hot and overcrowded with dirty bathrooms, little food, and a glut of pointless duty-free shops. Basics like seating, air conditioning, and plumbing have been totally bungled by the airport management. Transferring by PAL shuttle bus from Terminal 1 is an even bigger hassle (the bus operates in landside mixed traffic). Without major changes, NAIA 2 will hobble PAL's attempts join an alliance or meet its goal of becoming a 5-star airline.

Was a quick exit from the gate. Straight thru immigration. Very proficient young lady called us back to ensure we had the correct stay visa. Baggage claim took time. Straight thru customs. Watch the touts on exit. We had arranged for pick up so were assisted on exit. Traffic is horrible as expected. Its definitely a culture shock.

After my arrival at the same terminal 3 airport, I was looking forward to my departure. First of all I had to wait outside in the rain and there is a long queue and was subject to a luggage scan, I was not happy at all. After my fast check in at Cathay Pacific check in, I proceed to the international departure lounge, I was shocked to see so few shops and very expensive as well, I look down and see the domestic lounge and that is full of shops, the escalator pathways were not working and I did read a review here in March and they still not fix it, not surprise really, it really is bad and the most boring departure lounge I have ever come across, luckily I travel first class and was able to use the Cathay Pacific new lounge and that is very good. I am not surprise really as Cebu Airport is just as bad.

I have heard so many horror stories about Manila Airport, anyway this is my experience, I arrived and went through passport check and straight to the luggage part of the airport, so far very good and fast and terminal 3 looked clean. However, it took over 45 minutes before I could pick up my luggage, not good. Delighted to see my friends are inside the airport unlike Cebu Airport where they are not allow inside the airport, overall quite good apart from waiting for my luggage.

As we had forward seats, we were out of the aircraft earlier than expected. At immigration was cleared promptly by a very observant immigration officer, who noticed my partner was a returning Filipina and called us back and re stamped my passport for a years stay. At the baggage claim our bags came off fine, but noticed some commotion with a local and a lot of shouting and pushing. Walked out thru green channel - nothing to declare. Watch out for touts outside, they are a menace. We had transport arrangements made so was not too stressed. Was picked up by the arrival and taken straight out. Overall I would say what it was what I had been expecting.

Arrived at Terminal 1 on a Philippine Airlines flight in transit to another international flight at Terminal 2. So the sign said "Transfer desk for Philippine Airlines customers" but no, your next flight needed to be with them to get the airside transfer. We had to clear immigration, get bags and lug them out onto the street where no one greeted us but taxi drivers on the make. Thankfully a decent policeman advised us where the free bus was and we made it back through security and immigration - again. 30 minutes in the country. Both terminals dingy and overcrowded. Why no airside transit arrangements is beyond me. Other comments about expensive duty free are also very true. One of the worst airports I have encountered in my travels.

Worst airport in the world, they say? I don't know but NAIA comes pretty close. Family or friends who bring you to the airport are not allowed to go into the building. So, no opportunity to have a last chat or hug after checking in. Passing security they will take your cigarette lighter. That's OK but after passing customs there are shops where you can buy lighters! Duty free shops have prices that are 2 to 3 times more expensive than what you pay in any mall. Although I must say that the last couple of years immigration officers are much friendlier.

Traveling with my family from CEB and arrived at Manila Terminal 3 for a connecting flight to PEK with Cebu Pacific. Some of the moving walkways were not functioning. The signs and directions were too small and we got lost. The airport staff were not clear in giving directions. We asked where the gates for international departures are but they pointed us to the domestic departures instead. On top of that, the queue for immigration was painstakingly long and slow for Philippine passport holders. After passing the immigration and security checks, there were small electric cars on standby - a great idea especially for seniors. They can drop you to your assigned boarding gate. There were very few restaurants so limited choices. The seats at the boarding gates are quite comfortable and spacious. I could lie down and sleep while waiting for my flight. The aircon was functioning and the boarding gate was cool during that time. However, one must not expect a very good connection when you use their WiFi. I was the first one in my group to connect and there is no password needed to connect. I experienced intermittent connection. My cousin attempted to connect to the WiFi but no website could load on her web browser.

NAIA-2. Philippine Airlines. Arrivals had barely functioning air conditioning and no functioning travelators. A lengthy, sweaty walk to Immigration but the queue was only a few minutes wait in the early hours of the morning. Baggage was slow in coming but I was out of the terminal within 30 minutes of landing which is reasonable and taxi queue was fairly quick at that time of the day. Departures was mid afternoon and I checked in 3 hours before departure. The terminal was busy but again a few minutes wait in check-in, no queue in Immigration and I was airside within 10 minutes of entering the terminal, which is pretty good. But with 2.5 hours to kill, the dreadful Departures Area was the worst part of the trip - massively overcrowded everywhere - eating places, toilet(s), smoking room (joke of a place) and again poorly functioning airconditioning. Reminds me more of a Bus Station than an airport terminal.