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.

manila airport terminal 3
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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.

naia terminal 3
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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.

manila airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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.

ninoy aquino airport terminal 3
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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.

philippine airlinesbus
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
This is the first time I have been on a shuttle bus that had the seating arrangement of a regular bus.

pal express a320
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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.


ninoy aquino international airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
pal express magazine
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pal express a320 cabin
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 Good to see that no one was seated in my reserved seat….

pal express a320 cabin
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
Along with the safety demonstration, we were told that absolutely no bags were allowed underneath the seats.

philippine airlines flight attendant
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
 Snacks were offered…

pal express snack
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
 ….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.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
The porters hollering for our attention and business made me homesick for NAIA.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
 But first, some duty-free shopping.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
Nice to feel safe at the airport.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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!

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
Like our flight to Cagayan de Oro, our check-in was so fast that I had to confirm if we were indeed done.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
 With a fast check-in, there was more time to do some last-minute shopping.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
After the pastel shopping, we headed to pay the obligatory terminal fee.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
 And like before, the departure lounge was crowded.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
The airport may not be that huge but it sure knows how to give that big space feeling.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
Our plane from Manila arrived exactly around the time we were supposed to depart, so obviously our flight was going to be delayed.

Laguindingan International Airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
 I then took the opportunity to buy some take-outs.

philippine airlines a320 economy
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
Boarding commenced some twenty minutes later.

pal express economy seat
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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! 

pal express flight attendant
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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.

naia manila airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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.

ninoy aquino international airport
Copyright photo: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN
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:

  1. ...is or was? Nakakahilo yung grammar

    ReplyDelete
  2. 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good on you. It seems to be a very strong characteristic here in the Philippines of people holding down seats even when people, including seniors, who otherwise stand or squat on the floor.

      Delete
  3. a lot of work needed sa airports!

    ReplyDelete
  4. 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...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As I will undoubtedly continue to encounter travelers who consider their carry-on baggage has seating priority over fellow passengers and my reaction to them will be unchanged, "is" is the correct word, not "was'.

      Delete

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