PAL Express Flight Review: Manila to Cagayan de Oro (Round-Trip)

My friend and I decided to fly to Cagayan de Oro just to enjoy the nation’s second most competitive city after Makati City.

Being the paranoid traveler that I am, I arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NIAA) Terminal 3 three hours before our flight. My friend (the constant crammer) was still at home so I decided to roam around first.

There wasn’t much to see or to note any glaring difference after the renovation especially this escalator leading to the floor above the departure hall. It seems that it’s almost always under repair more often than it is working.

I then started noticing how there was a long queue building up at the check-in area and decided to take my place as well. I told my friend to just come to look for me when she arrives. Whereas before, each flight had its own designated counters, PAL Express has now opened at least eight counters to accommodate all domestic flights making the check-in process real fast.

Boarding commenced on time. But before that, I noticed there were so many people at the departure gates that my friend and I almost didn’t find seats for us or should I say, no one was willing to remove their bags from the seats beside them to accommodate us. I even tried sweet-smiling one elderly Caucasian so he would remove his bag but it only made him hold on to it tighter. “Okaaay…..” I drawled at him.

This is the first time I have been on a shuttle bus that had the seating arrangement of a regular bus.

I used to hate it when we had to climb the stairs instead of using the tube to board the plane. But now that I am writing for Philippine Flight Network, I prefer it this way because tube pictures are not as photogenic.

Good to see that no one was seated in my reserved seat….

Along with the safety demonstration, we were told that absolutely no bags were allowed underneath the seats.

Snacks were offered…

….and although it may look cheap, I really enjoyed the crackers---and it’s not because I was hungry.

The flight was uneventful---the best kind there is. It was even informative and educational as the man seated across the aisle from me never shut his mouth up from waiting for take-off to landing as he conducted a business meeting with his seat mate. His voice could be heard within the radius of five rows. No exaggeration. It was like an adult version of a screaming baby. If I were his competitor, I would already have an arsenal of counter-strategies to beat his company. When we landed, two women blurted out, “Ang daldal!” (What a chatterbox!) I turned to look at them and we laughed together---only after making sure the culprit had left.

As soon as we got to the baggage claim area of Laguindingan International Airport, my friend and I were impressed at how clean and well-lit the airport was compared to other provincial airports we had been to.

The porters hollering for our attention and business made me homesick for NAIA.

As soon as you walk out of the baggage claim, you will be greeted by the information counter that will instantly remind you what Cagayan de Oro is most famous for---whitewater rafting.

But first, some duty-free shopping.

Nice to feel safe at the airport.

Before leaving Manila, I asked our hotel, The VIP Hotel, about its airport transfer fee but was discouraged by the amount which I cannot remember. I was then told of my options: the “ulo-ulo” shuttle or the yellow taxi.

The “ulo-ulo” is where you share a ride with fellow passengers in a private van and they drop you off at a busy place such as a mall. The hotel told us that this would cost P200 per head and advised us to take the metered taxi instead. Although it would cost P500, at least it will bring us directly to the hotel unlike the “ulo-ulo” where we have to take a tricycle to get to our hotel. As the difference wasn’t that much, we decided to take the metered taxi.

That is, if the sea of “ulo-ulo” operators and rental services would allow us. They were shouting at the top of their lungs trying to get our business while one just simply went for my luggage and told us to follow him. I then screamed, “Yellow taxi!” as I couldn’t find the airport taxi booth.

As soon as I screamed, some of the voices died down and fingers started pointing the way to the booth. Turns out that it was at the far end. May I suggest, dear Laguindingan International Airport, that the booth be the very first tourists will see to avoid the cacophony?

GTG, CDO!

The airport was forty-five minutes away from our hotel so we took the same cab that brought us to our hotel upon our arrival after a private arrangement.

Like our flight to Cagayan de Oro, our check-in was so fast that I had to confirm if we were indeed done.

With a fast check-in, there was more time to do some last-minute shopping.

I have to give it to this shop that sells nothing but its pastel (bun with sweet fillings) bread. This is an excellent marketing strategy where one feels the need to buy the product otherwise miss out on a must-buy. The funny thing was, it’s not even a product of Cagayan de Oro but rather Camiguin’s -- its neighboring island.

After the pastel shopping, we headed to pay the obligatory terminal fee.

And like before, the departure lounge was crowded.

The airport may not be that huge but it sure knows how to give that big space feeling.

Our plane from Manila arrived exactly around the time we were supposed to depart, so obviously our flight was going to be delayed.

I then took the opportunity to buy some take-outs.

Boarding commenced some twenty minutes later.

I did not opt for a choice seat this time and unlike our earlier flight, we were allowed to store our bags underneath our seats. And speaking of seats, noticed the white dots on the seat? I didn’t check what they were and I certainly did not touch them as they looked gross. It wasn’t only this seat that had them!

With a “mababaw na kaligayahan” (appreciation for the simple pleasures in life) attitude, I was looking forward to the wheat crackers but alas, we were given a mocha brownie fudge instead. As I do not have a sweet tooth, I just gave mine to my friend and settled for my Seattle Best’s adobo pan de sal take-out which I have to say was terribly disappointing for its blandness of the bread and too sweet adobo.

Upon landing, we did not wait that long for our luggage to come out although I wouldn’t say that the waiting time was short either. Things can still be improved.

Especially this one, NAIA! You can’t announce a much improved airport and have these kind of signs plastered! What is this? The 1980s? Can’t even do a printout?

---THE PARANOID TRAVELER---

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6 comments:

AnonymousApril 14, 2015 at 1:04 PM
...is or was? Nakakahilo yung grammar
AnonymousApril 15, 2015 at 4:09 PM
As a 70 year old frequent flyer I often come across fellow travelers who consider that their hand-carry baggage has more rights to the limited seating in departure lounges than other passengers. My simple solution is to ask them to remove it, if they refuse I remove it myself and sit down. I consider my health is more important than any baggage.
AnonymousApril 16, 2015 at 6:18 AM
a lot of work needed sa airports!
AnonymousApril 16, 2015 at 10:15 AM
Is = up to the time being

Was = patay na, nawala na, hindi na

Mali nga naman yung paggamit ng is and was anu ba yun...

PAL Express Flight Review: Manila to Cagayan de Oro (Round-Trip)

6 comments:

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