Philippine Airlines Flight Review: MNL to ILO, June 2010

Name of Trip: Panay Island Adventures 2010
Date: June 13 - 16, 2010

Destination: Iloilo City, Capiz, Aklan (Kalibo & Boracay) and Guimaras Island

Travel via: Air (Philippine Airlines & Airphil Express), Land (van, tricycle, multicab), Water (motor boat)

Arrived at Iloilo Airport

Note of these codes:

MNL - Manila

ILO - Iloilo

PAL - Philippine Airlines

After two weeks of my Mindanao vacation last May 2010, I was on another vacation and this time with my agents at work. It was a planned trip to Boracay Island but since most of the flights and promo fares are fully booked, I suggested to them to have a trip to Iloilo and headed to Boracay via land travel. Good thing that Philippine Airlines had a promo on flights to Iloilo for PHP700 per passenger which taxes, surcharges were included. We immediately booked that flight. It was a one-way flight since we didn't decided on the date of our flight back to Manila.

Our flight was June 13 and we took the first flight of Philippine Airlines to Iloilo: 5AM. We were ten on this trip and I was the only male in the group. We met at the office at 2AM and left at 3AM to the NAIA Terminal 2. We arrived at the airport 30 minutes after due to no traffic.

check-in, the big monitor was not working

Check-in time

My travel buddies

waiting to get their boarding passes

many passengers

me at the check-in counter

my boarding pass

with my boarding pass

with Anne and Lea

Check-in was a breeze and we paid PHP200 Terminal Fee and proceed to Final Security checks. We had our light breakfast and then we went to our gate S1 for final boarding. We roamed around the terminal since it was 4AM and we need to kill some time there. After few minutes, boarding time was ready.

Flight Number: PR 139

Route: Manila-Iloilo

Airline: Philippine Airlines

Aircraft: Airbus 320-200

Flying Time: 50 minutes

Departure Time: 0525H

Arrival Time: 0615H

boarding time, blurred edition! :)

Our aircraft

happily seated

same as we

my self pic

excited? Yes I am! :)

not so full flight

seated at 20E (Echo)

We boarded late by 10 minutes. Our aircraft was parked at North Wing of the terminal so we have to walked few meters from Gate S1 to Gate N1. According to some ground crew, the flight came from Singapore and it was decked in International Wing. We supposed to left by 5AM but it was delayed for 20 minutes due to one person was not boarded in the plane but it was checked-in earlier. So his baggage was remove from the cargo and it took less than 10 minutes. We took off at 5:20AM.

taxiing to the runway

inflight

Iloilo coastline

final descend

excited and ready to rock Iloilo

happy to be here!

deplaning time

Iloilo Control Tower

Iloilo Airport

Going down to Baggage Area

picture time

happy to be here in Iloilo!

our airplane

Thank you PAL!

at Baggage Hall

Waiting for our baggage

waiting...

Welcome to Iloilo!

Our flight to Iloilo was relatively smooth. It was great flying with the flag carrier. They served us biscuits with a choice of refreshments such as coffee, tea or water. Cabin crew were also attentive to passengers' needs. 

Van ride to Iloilo

We rented a van and we used it on our day tour in the city. We were hungry by that time and we took our breakfast in the city proper. 

Maayong aga (Good Morning) Iloilo! :)

Continue to the next blog! :)

My Photo Contributions on "It's More Fun in the Philippines" Tourism Campaign

Ladies and gentlemen, here are my initial contributions on the Department of Tourism's campaign on 

"It's More Fun in the Philippines" 

Baguio Cathedral

Cebu Provincial Capitol

Chocolate Hills, Bohol

Gumasa, Glan, Sarangani Province

Puerto Princesa Underground River

Hundred Islands, Pangasinan

Masskara Festival, Bacolod City

Honda Bay, Palawan

Crown Regency Hotel, Cebu City

The Ruins, Negros Occidental

Calle Crisologo, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

More photos to come! :)

Share this to everyone to show them that 

It's More Fun the Philippines! :) 

Cebu Pacific Flight Review: GES to MNL, May 2010

Name of Trip: My Mindanao Family Affair 2010
Date: May 22 - 27, 2010

Destination: General Santos City, Sarangani Province & Davao city

Travel via: Air (Philippine Airlines & Cebu Pacific), Land (van, tricycle, bus)

Boarding Time at General Santos Airport

Note to these codes:

GES - General Santos

MNL - Manila

CEB/5J - Cebu Pacific

My vacationi in Mindanao was about to end. My relatives accompanied me to General Santos Airport which was more than 12 kilometers from my aunt's house in Lagao district. It took us 45 minutes until we arrived at the airport. General Santos City Airport is located at Tambler, General Santos City. The runway was one of longest in the country. At 3,227 meters, it was the longest in Mindanao. My flight during that time was Cebu Pacific Air. Actually, this was not my first time to ride Cebu Pacific since I have previous post on other blogs (see Bicol trips). Thank once again for the airline promos and I was able to book this flight online. :)

My flight was at 3PM but we arrived at 1:30PM. I checked first at Cebu Pacific counter and I was surprised because my check-in baggage was overweight by 8 kilos. I brought many pasalubong such as pomelo, tuna, mangosteen and many more. But what was more surprising was I don't have enough cash. Good thing I brought my credit card and was able to processed it immediately the ground personnel. After the check-in and paid the terminal fee of PHP40, I went outside the terminal and my relatives were also there. My aunt, uncle, cousins, nephews and nieces waited for me there.

Arrived at General Santos Airport

my relatives

picture time!

picture before my final security check

me and uncle

overlooking General Santos and Sarangani Bay

I bid farewell to them and they thanked me for visiting them and hope to visit soon. I told them no problem and I enjoyed on my vacation since I went to different places here in Mindanao. I went inside the terminal and had the final security check and proceed to the pre-departure area. Actually, the airport was quite small. I was standing already since all seats were occupied. There were two flights, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific so the departure are was filled with many passengers.

waited at Gate 2

too many passengers

expect a full flight

Cebu Pacific arrived on time

up close

Flight Number: 5J 996

Route: General Santos-Manila

Airline: Cebu Pacific

Aircraft: Airbus 320-200

Flying Time: 110 minutes

Departure Time: 1500H

Arrival Time: 1650H

boarding time!

Airbus 320-200

General Santos City Airport terminal

boarding at rear door

seated

seated at 29F (Foxtrot)

cargo loading with PAL taxiing to the runway

As I boarded the aircraft, I saw my relatives waved through the fences. I was happy because I thought they already left the airport as I entered the airport terminal. I also waved them and say thank you for their hospitality on my 5-6 day vacation. :)

waiting to depart

my relatives were still there! :)

ready to take off!

take off! Sarangani Bay

overlooking General Santos City

the view of the city

See you again soon! :)

passing mountains

passing mountains

Note:  We experienced mild turbulence on the first 30 minutes of the flight. The seat belt sign remained lighted for 45 minutes. I was a bit nervous of the turbulence. After that incident, travel became smooth. The captain spoke to us and explained that there was a cloud formation along Cotabato area which we experienced turbulence during that time. Good thing captain did a great job! :)

passing some islands

Luzon island

minutes to land, passing South Luzon Expressway

arrived at the airport

stationed at NAIA Terminal 3

Travel Smart! :)

deplaning and we used stairs instead of tube

to the arrival hall. This terminal was huge!

Thank you Cebu Pacific!

going to Arrival Hall

Baggage Hall.

waiting for my baggage to arrive

Arrival Area

Well wishers were allowed to enter here

Welcome Back to Manila!

Overall, flight was okay. Cebu Pacific doesn't offer free food but there was a selection but you have to buy. Legroom was nice. Flight attendants were smiling. I also love reading Smile Magazine and I also took them home. Arrival was on time. I don't want to remember the turbulence but I want to commend the captain for doing a great job on the flight. This was happened last May 27, on flight number 5J996. I wasn't able to get his name but I am happy that I arrived safe and sound! :)

My parents, uncle and nieces fetched me at the airport. They also brought a vehicle since I told them that I have many baggages I brought due to pasalubong. :) We arrived at the house by 7PM due to heavy traffic and rush hour.

It was nice vacation for me and 5-6 days visiting Mindanao was short but I really enjoyed a lot especially if you have relatives living there. More travel to Mindanao is an assurance because there were some places that I haven't been and hoping to visit someday... :)

Daghang Salamat General Santos, Sarangani and Davao! :)