Manila Airport

Compared to the other terminals in NAIA terminal 3 is quite impressive. There is ample shopping and whilst waiting for your flight. The customs were also very quick. The departure halls are large enough.

NAIA T1 is too small to accommodate all flights especially the ones leaving in peak hours. When airlines with a large passenger count opens check-in at the same time (eg SQ and CX) check-in lines are un- organized and blocks the way to immigration. Lighting at the Check-in hall is very poor except for the hallways at the airside where it is full of windows. Gate holdrooms are very small and lacks amenities like Free Internet and food shops.

I have used all three terminals at Manila over the last few years. Most international travellers arrive in Terminal 1. An imposing concrete manifestation that might be right in the 1950s or 1960s but not today. The terminal is simply too small for its needs and has a very depressing feel about it. There is often congestion in the bag screening area and the departure lounge is very basic however the optional and fairly priced lounges makes the stay more pleasurable. For arrivals the immigration queues can be very slow sometimes especially when several international flights arrive together and the meet and greet area is always just chaotic. The other terminals (2 and 3) are much more built for purpose and are more cheery. The satisfying Terminal 3 is clearly designed as an international terminal but why isn't it being used as such after several years of operation? Overall for international passengers this airport doesn't befit the welcome of the people of the Philippines.

During the course of my trip I used T3 three times and T1 for final departure. T3 is ok and has a generally upbeat feel. T1 was dimly lit and poorly arranged. Nothing about it seemed "world class" and the time spent there made me glad to leave. Very poor overall experience.

A trip back in time to the 1980s best describes this airport. Last trip I was lucky and missed the massive queues which are typical of Terminal 1. Rude security staff general inefficiency and people on the lookout for tips/bribes make the place worse than even LAX. Only good point is free WIFI but it doesn't extend down to the departure gates. Avoid speaking to anyone you don't have to toilet attendant pointed out the soap for me while I was washing my hands and pulled some tissues from the dispenser obviously angling for a tip so I just ignored him and walked off.

Transfering terminals. Flight arrived 1.15 pm in Manila (T2). Our connecting flight was leaving 2.50 pm in terminal 3. We were seated in the front walked quickly to immigration (no queue helpful) got suitcase and at 1.45 pm we were standing outside at terminal 2. Shuttle bus wasn't leaving until 2 so arranged a taxi for PHP150 to go to terminal 3. Traffic wasn't too bad took about 10 minutes. We already had luggage tag and boarding passes. Short security line outside T3. Inside to Philippine Airlines thinking to drop off bag but new boarding passes needed since our seats were given away already. Also a new luggage tag. Paid terminal fee (no line) and line up again for security. Then straight to gate where they were already boarding. Took us exactly 1 hour 5 minutes to get from T2 to T3 with taxi. No assistance on the way by PAL. We were on our own. Smooth but lucky. Way back. Not so lucky. Had slightly more than 2 hours for transfer which should have been fine. However plane from TAG was supposed to leave at 11.25 am didn't come in until a little past noon. Took off at 12.45 pm arriving an hour later. Headed to luggage (took a little) then to transfer desk (2.15/2.20 pm) at that point and were told we would not make our flight (2.50 pm). Flight was leaving on time. No special action and/or assistance. There were 7 for us. Immediately directed to next flight. Took shuttle to T2 (was leaving straight away) and arrived at T2 around 2.45 pm (a lot of traffic). Tried again for flight as terminal was very quiet and no lines but they would not give us a chance to book us on initial flight. Check in on new flight took 30 minutes. No lines for terminal fee immigration or security at all (around 3-4 pm). Ended up travelling from 9.30 am in the morning to 10.00pm at night with 3 small children from Philippines to Hong Kong. I've done 2 directs to MNL both T2 and T3 in the past. T3 is fine T2 that day was a nightmare with long lines (security check-in fee immigration security again plane) very busy. Advice transferring between terminals requires a lot of time and is basically getting on 2 different flights doing everything over again.

Terminal 1 is easy to walk around on the bad side lines snake everywhere no place to sit and wait for your flight and the PA can sometimes be irritating. Poorly lit airport old and filthy no travelator. Immigration queue is the worst of all I waited 30 mins to pass through.

Good quality airport easy to understand check in areas less chaotic than expected fast track service for Business Class security slow. Lounge is terrible much like a hospital waiting room. Too many airlines use the main lounge rarely has seats available food terrible and limited range of drinks. It is actually more comfortable at the gates.

Chaotic disorganised dirty and unfriendly. Make sure you have plenty of time to check in the queues start before the taxi even drops you off with a supposed vehicle security check then the taxi has to queue to get to the drop off point for a document check before you enter the building queue for a security check to enter the building to check in to pay the 750PHP terminal fee for immigration and then for another security check. You are now in the departure lounge where overpriced food and filthy toilets await.

NAIA-3 is getting there. International check-in is pretty efficient at Cebu Pacific. Upstairs the food court has been extended and looks much more permanent. There are other shops located Landside (luggage clothing etc.) but they seem quite expensive. Terminal Fee Payment Immigration and Security are all reasonably efficient. Airside there are a few more eating places than before and although the Duty Free area is small the prices are quite good. Departures is OK as long as they're flying A320's and ATR's but if larger aircraft were to use T3 I'm pretty sure things would get worse. Arrivals is spacious and reasonably efficient but they are strangely scanning the carry-on bags of passengers arriving in the Luggage Hall but they now no longer check bag tags as you leave the Arrivals area. Taxi ranks have minimal waiting times. All in all a pretty good terminal (better than 1 or 2). If however as is planned it goes over to the other international airlines it'll be immediately overcrowded and will join the nightmare that is Terminals 1 and 2.