Manila Airport

I flew out using terminal 1. The terminal looked really old but shiny floors clean toilets. Check-in security and immigration queues were a nightmare. Be ready to sit on your suitcases on these lines. Terminal 1 has all the vitals like a coffee shop a restaurant (upstairs) and a few souvenir shops. But don't expect the luxuries offered by most Asian airports. The staff working were professional and helpful.

One important thing you must bear in mind when departing from this airport is to make sure you are there at least 3 hours before your scheduled flight. No later than this. I spent 30 minutes getting into the terminal - you have to queue up in a long line of passengers just to get in. And a gruelling 90 minutes just to check in my bags. Then 20 minutes to pass immigration another 30 minutes to get through airport security. I had to run to my gate and barely made it. On the way to the gate the I could hear the final call announcements for my flight. Had I arrived at the airport a half an hour later I would've missed the flight. Very disorganized and chaotic airport terminal.

I have travelled through the international wing of Terminal 2 several times since last year. The problem remains the same. Airport management has not increased the number of toilets at the boarding area causing long lines of women passengers taking their turns to use such limited facility. Cleanliness is not maintained well. The airport leaves an impression how a country like the Philippines does not care about health and hygiene of passengers.

NAIA-1 still needs lots of improvement. The terminal is old and I think the staff do the best with what they have. You definitely have to get there 3+ hours prior to your flight unless yoiu like being at the tail-end of a very long line at the scanners and check-in desks. Customs is one big cluster-flop especially when arrivals is bombed with 400+ passengers off of a B747; I've never made it through customs in less than 40 minutes there either way. All the seats in the boarding area are metal and are quite uncomfortable if you have to wait long. Upon arrival once through customs and baggage it's easy to find a metered taxi but if you're meeting someone you have to go outside and downstairs to the parking garage where it's total chaos.

Terminal 1 flew into and out of the Philippines from here. It is a lot better than I remember it from 2008. Seems better organised less idiots ordering you here then there. Facilities are still very limited as is the seating until you are through to the checked in side. Staff are pleasant which is nice. They should consider using the excellent terminal 3 building as this would give a far better impression to newcomers to the Philippines.

Best part of NAIA-2 is Arrivals - not too far to walk quick and slick through Immigration in the early morning and in Taxi within 30 mins of landing. Departures however are dreadful. For sure do not arrive more than 2-3 hours before your flight because there is simply no place to sit in the check-in area and no place to eat or relax. Check In will typically open 3 hours before your departure time. Immigration and Security are reasonably efficient but the Departures Area is cold and noisy with uncomfortable seating very poor eating and drinking places poor Duty Free in selection and price and not a single Flight Info Screen in the Departures Hall. A very basic terminal where passenger comfort is not a very high priority.

Arrived March 31st and was out of the terminal quickly. Waiting area for arriving passengers to meet relatives/friends to pick up passengers very crowded and chaotic. Departure lines start outside the old International Terminal but lines moved quickly. Uniformed guards directed passengers and did not ask for bribes. Luggage x-rayed upon entering the terminal. Then passengers proceeded to their respective airlines to check in.

It is hard to believe that it is an international airport especially the Intl' terminal . Old- fashioned design and the whole airport is dirty rubbish everywhere. Only a few of seats and you may need to stand to wait for boarding unbelievable! There is only a few shops and no choice to buy. Serious communication problem poor English of the unhelpful staff.

Have used NAIA terminal I several times and have not found it that bad until I arrived on a late flight a few months ago. There are a large number of planes arriving around 23.00 and the customs area cannot cope. Takes around an hour to reach the passport control people. If there was a queuing system that would be fine but unfortunately there were loads of Koreans cutting in front. During the trip I also flew Cebu Pacific and was able to use the new terminal (Terminal III) - it's a world of difference and one only hopes that the Philippine government can solve the legal issues surrounding it soon so that all the international flights can use it.

Somebody else posted here that the Manila airport terminal 1 is like a 1970s time-capsule for travellers. It still is. Very out of date architecture that leaves much to be desired and floor layouts that does not impress. Immigration officials not the most professional in the world - they would ask me how my vacation was in annoying detail like where I was how much I paid to stay there what I loved about the place who I was with etc. Security quite thorough although they could turn on a few more x-ray machines as the lines were 20 minutes long. Smoking area located inside a cafe that had no ventilation. I pity the cafe employees who have to endure that every day for hours. The bathrooms were dirty and did not provide free toilet paper. Only one sink out of five had water coming out from the faucet. But on the lighter side the airport staff was courteous helpful and kind which is lacking in many major airports.