Philippine Airlines Flight Review: Manila to Taipei (Round Trip)

Let me start my flight review with my visa application experience. It will be as brief as the process itself. In fact, it was the quickest ever (less than ten minutes) as well as the most convenient as I did it all while in my PJs.

Fortuitously, months before my trip to Taipei, I read on Cebu Pacific’s Smile magazine about Taiwan’s online visa application for those with current visas from countries like the US, Australia, Japan, among others. All we had to do was apply online and voila! Our visa is in our inbox! No more bank certificates, income tax return, etc. to prepare. Thank you, Taiwan!

Now, on to my flight review.

The signs may say, “closed,” but they were actually open to accept passengers checking in for the Manila-Taipei flight and the entire process including immigration and clearance at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 (NAIA 2) was quick.

But it wouldn’t be an authentic NAIA experience if all the lines were short and quick. This was the line to the ONLY working women’s washroom, which has been the case for months now.

I killed time at the computer table some meters away and only went to our gate when it was time to board, but minutes passed and we were still waiting. And then there was this female ground crew member who seemed busier than the rest with her constant going back and forth. An irritated and impatient Filipina came up to her demanding why we had not boarded yet. I didn’t hear the answer but I overheard the Filipina later telling her Caucasian companion how they were looking for a---not the---pilot.

A few minutes later, we started boarding. I guess they finally found a pilot…

After a smooth take-off, the flight crew started working by making sure that we, economy mortals, could never bother the business class gods.

And as you can see, we had the endangered species called in-flight entertainment (IFE). As it was not a personal IFE, I did not bother as I was not interested in the programs that were shown. One of them was “The Mythbusters.”

Out came the meals.

I asked for a glass of soda and I was given the entire can which made me happy as it helped leave a (literal) good taste in my mouth after consuming the blah food. I chose the chicken, by the way.

Anyway, the smooth flight more than compensated for the meal and soon, we were having an equally smooth landing at Taoyuan Airport.

The money exchange counter came before immigration so I decided to change some dollars. Afterwards, I joined the queue at the immigration section. As many counters were opened, I was third in line. Almost all transactions in my line as well as the others were fast until it was my turn.

The immigration officer opened my passport to the personal information page and looked at me to see if I resembled the photo. Then he looked again at my passport photo and looked up to compare what he had seen on the photo with the face in front of him. I removed my glasses to help him with the identification but it didn’t seem to work as he flipped to the other pages of my passport that might carry my photo like some of my visas. Passengers from my neighboring counters were zooming past me as the officer was trying to make up his mind. I could feel my cheeks getting hot and red from embarrassment so I tried to look as much as I did on my passport to convince him I was no impostor. (It’s all the fault of the Department of Foreign Affairs for taking a crappy photo of me after three hours of waiting for my turn to have my photo taken and not giving me another take!) It was only then that the officer cleared me.

Because my immigration clearance took some time, my waiting time for my luggage was cut shorter.

Zaijian, Taiwan!

A few days later, reality was calling me home.

The counters were still closed when I arrived so it gave me time to observe Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport which placed fourth in the list of best airports with 30-40M pax per year.

The food court had a lot of cuisine on offer but since it was still too early for me to have dinner, I decided to eat after I had checked in which was a big mistake. The only restaurants near our gate were serving pricey noodles so I just bought some mochi at a souvenir shop and stuffed myself hoping they will tide me over until meal time on the plane.

The Wi-Fi service actually worked and worked real fast.

I sincerely suggest that this company change its acronym.

This is so far the only thing that made the airport different from all the rest I have been to, world-class or not. If I didn’t think it would get me into trouble, I would love to see what’s behind the door.

And then it was time to check myself in. While waiting for my turn, an airport official conducted a survey with the group behind me asking the usual questions, “Why did you come to Taipei,” “When did you decide to come,” “What hotel did you stay in,” etc.

On my way to my gate, I noticed this wooden toy exhibit.

During my trip, I saw a lot of these wooden toys for sale but it was only until this exhibit did I realize the significance of wooden toys in Taiwanese culture.

Taiwan’s airport is not the only airport I have seen with exhibits inside. Wouldn’t it be nice to have the same at NAIA not only to beautify it, but to orient both locals and foreigners to our rich heritage? Not to mention, help kill time with its notorious hours-long delays?

And here’s another exhibit at our gate.

The cushioned seats were so comfortable that you’d almost never want to get up.

The temptation not to get up is stronger with these recliners!

Seeing our aircraft being prepared was a good sign that our flight was going to fly as scheduled…

…which was the case.

Take-off was smooth and everything was uneventful…

…and predictable. I predicted I was not going to like my meal and I was right. Once again, my soda saved the day, or should I say the evening. The dessert all the more cemented why I have no sweet tooth.

I also predicted that the baggage claim area would be crowded and mine would be one of the last to come out. Sadly, all my predictions came true.

----THE PARANOID TRAVELER---

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6 comments:

AnonymousJanuary 27, 2015 at 9:48 PM
pal can put self check in kiosk like Korean air to reduce the lines. not everyone can check in online.
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Philippine Airlines Flight Review: Manila to Taipei (Round Trip)

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