Manila Airport

This is the worst airport I have ever been to. This airport was worse than Tan Son Nhut back in 1968. Before one enters the international terminal you must show a policeman your typed itinerary. Inside one is subjected to four inept security checks. There is no food court once you pass security. There are kiosks along one wall selling foul looking and foul smelling what I assumed was food. However the highlight of my adventure was when I left the main terminal area to go to the boarding gates I was directed by another cop to go to the immigration window where a staff member demanded I pay 550 pesos ($12.70) for an exit fee. About this time I would have paid $550 just to get out of that airport. I must say in closing Philippine Airlines was a wonderful airline.

Had experienced NAIA Terminal 2 six times last month (July 2013) Security personnel seems handicapped and inefficient without hand-held metal detectors. So passengers are inconvenienced if they forget to take out coins or keys in their pockets. Public Address System is really bad depending on where you are it could be inaudible. Toilets have too few urinals just 2 toilets to access and each has 2 urinals only. After security checks there is only one monitor for flight information the monitors at the gate were all not working.

First time to fly international (actually regional) out of T3 30 July 2013. This is a definite step up from T1 and even T2. Clean uncrowded and surprisingly efficient. Got through Philippine travel tax bag drop (checked in online via 5J) terminal fee (I don't mind paying this if the facility as good as T3) customs and immigration in less than 15 minutes! Shopping and eating choices inside is limited but I didn't expect to get airside that fast so I think it contributed to the sense of lack of activity airside. I allotted 45-60 minutes for landside activity and found myself airside so fast I didn't know how to bide the time. Ended up eating lunch at one of the restaurants. Terminal was not crowded and didn't exude an air of surliness sometimes found in T1 and less often in T2. I wish some international airlines transfer to T3 so we wouldn't have to put up with T1's crowds and inefficiency.

The worst airport terminal. Airport staff need to be trained in customer service. Heavy crowds angry staff no clear information and very noisy.

My family and I recently flew out of NAIA and went through 3 screenings just to board our flight. The last screening was right by the gate. If you decide to use the restroom prior to boarding you must once again go through the security check pat down and your luggage x-ray and inspected. If you decide to purchase any beverage including water to take on the flight it must be consumed or dispose prior to the last security check. Most airports provide restrooms and access to beverage and food by the gate without having to go thru another screening process. And water may be taken on board the flight. We brought packaging tape with us just in case there was any problem with our stuff. During the final screening by the gate it was confiscated. When we left LAX we had the same packaging tape in our carry-on luggage but NAIA refused to allow us to board the flight with it. It was not on the list of prohibited items. Why subject passengers to multiple security checks isn't one security check enough. This is one of the major problems with the Philippines too many unnecessary employees. You see them everywhere at the mall airports etc. They need to spend their money on necessary improvements instead of employees that are just standing around.

NAIA T1 is still a nightmare on all aspects queues everywhere unhelpful staff dirt and grime almost everywhere. Truly a real turn off for any fist time visitor to the country as this is the first impression you get as to how the rest of the country works and this airport is one of the worst in the ASEAN region compared to say Changi. Avoid if you can from lunchtime onwards as the place is overloaded with the mass of people & can't handle 4-5 flights arriving all at the same time. Forget connecting to a local flight as allow at least 3-4hrs just to transit to another terminal!

As a Filipino it pains me to say landing in terminal 1 is really the pits. The first thing that greets you when you arrive and leave are the long lines at immigration. It is much easier for a Filipino to clear Singapore immigration than Manila immigration. The next hurdle is getting your baggage. Pray that there are carts available. If there are none you will see upon exit from the terminal they are all over the outside with not enough effort to collect and return them inside. On immigration HK immigration has set up the e-channel for returning residents. Now that we have new passports can't PHL immigration at least take a look at using the features of this to make it easier to entry our own country?

Terminal 1. This really is a test of endurance. Traffic jams to get there no matter what the time. Chaos and mess on arrival a huge meandering line for immigration in a poorly air conditioned hall. Many desks empty. Local people questioned and have to show form after form as you wait behind. Then another long line for security afterwards. Terminal one is dirty messy chaotic and unpleasant. People were lining up for a flight in 6 hours time with people running to catch a flight.

Terminal 3 at NAIA is nearly world-class. More shops and facilities need to be added. We went to Boracay on Philippine Airlines just before Christmas and were quite impressed both with departure and arrival facilities. Terminal 1 is a different and sad story. It is outdated and dirty it needs to be torn down.

I have visited Manila 3 times in the past year. There has been considerable improvement over that time. We have connected with internal flights but always leave 3 hrs to spare. There is a free shuttle bus from T1 to T2 and T3 but taxis are cheap anyway. Manila traffic is a nightmare and therefore if staying you need to be close to the airport. There are always long queues when Jetstar is flying out in the evening but if you play by the rules you will not be disappointed.