Temukan Penerbangan Murah di Philippine Airlines

Never flying PAL again

Pro: Getting off the flight.

Kontra: More often than not, Philippine Airlines has been our airline of choice because we found their rates to be fair and flights direct and easy. Despite the fact that the PAL terminal was pretty poor, and the food on board was never really decent, we remained loyal to PAL for quite a few years. On our way back to Melbourne from Manila on June 17, Saturday, Colin, Hendrix and I were awaiting boarding at gate 10 for flight PR 209. Having flown with PAL from Melbourne to Manila (as well as with another airline from Manila to Manchester and back), we understood that the usual procedure was to allow passengers with infants to board first. Due to the lack of order (there were no clear queues in sight), Colin decided to ask 3 different PAL personnel if there was, indeed, a priority queue for people travelling with infants. ALL THREE PERSONNEL ASSURED US THAT THEY WERE NOT YET BOARDING AND THAT WE WOULD BE CALLED UPON PRIOR TO THEM LETTING ANYONE ELSE ON THE PLANE. 2 minutes later, a PAL personnel appears with signage that reads certain row numbers and begins to call out to ALL PASSENGERS FOR BOARDING. Colin swiftly rushes to the front (me and baby in tow) and demands an explanation as to why we were told one thing but are watching them act upon something completely different. I wish I was joking when I tell you that the personnel just stared blankly at us and then carried on checking boarding passes. No apologies, no explanation offered. As soon as we boarded, Colin turned to the first flight steward he saw and asked for a complaint form and told this could ONLY be done online, to which Colin requested we be given the email/web address upon take off. The seats assigned to us were on the right most side of the aircraft, a window and a middle seat. As Colin was placing our bags in the overhead compartment, the steward called to Colin from across the aisle (past the 3 seats in the middle of the plane) to introduce the purser, Jolly Bello. Please note this was happening while people were also trying to get past and get to their seats -and Mr. bello called out across the aisle, "I heard you have a complaint??" to which Colin, baffled, replied "yes do you want to come over here so we aren’t shouting over these people?". Colin yet again told this purser what the complaint was about and was asked (verbatim) "so would you like to make a complaint against THEM?" Would the correct protocol not be to 1. Apologise for any confusion, miscommunication or poor service, 2. Take some responsibility and acknowledge the complaint and 3. Maybe come approach us AFTER TAKE OFF and not while everyone is trying to board the plane? We are no longer choosing Philippine Airlines.

Never again

Pro: Food wasn't too bad, stewards were pleasant but had to wait ages for water. Like the 2 4 2 layout so we didn't have to disturb anyone for "comfort" breaks.

Kontra: Checking in, a few kg overweight, they made us put the excess into our hand baggage, it meant opening our 4 cases, actually moving things which weighs less than half a kg, complete waste of time, over half an hour. Complete waste of time as it's on the same plane FFS. Entertainment via iPads, poor selection of films.

Flight delayed

Pro: Crew service

Kontra: No announcement for boarding and flight delayed.

PAL - Plane always late

Kontra: We boarded the plane approx on time but we were sitting for a while when an announcement asked for 2 passengers to identify themselves with the crew. Nothing more was said until we were now 40 minutes past departure time and the Captain comes on to say we were waiting for a take off slot from the Air Traffic Control!!! No apologies or advice as to what had happened. We finally were on the runway at approx 12 midnight or 1 hr 25 mins late. To top it all I get an email from PAL at 1.56am (I saw this after arrival of course) which said the plane had changed its arrival time to 9.30am - but the departure time remained the same!!! How am I also going to receive an email when I am already flying?? Food was aweful Entertainment system was also aweful - my future flights on PAL will be only a last resort

Airline

Pro: The flight attendants were pleasant

Kontra: The food was horrible and not really a choice. The children's meals should be more simple like fruit and chicken and fish without sauces

OK

Pro: Boarding was ok Crew was great and very friendly Entertainment was ok on the flight there there was tv in the head rest on the way back there was none you had to have your own devices and watch over the planes WIFI

Kontra: When I was boarding my carry on was 2 kg over and they wanted to charge me $100 with no other option just pay the money or throw your things away. On both flights going a and coming there was no way to charge your devices I.E. plugs or USB ports... This become much more important with flights don't have tv in the headrests and you have to use your own devices to watch movies over the planes WIFI The food is airplane food and being a cheap airline it's worse than most.