Help! Philippine Domestic Air

[Laine]

Hi,
We are coming to the beautiful Philippines to dive in March, 2009. We are arriving in Manila via Cathay from Hong Kong and our 1st dive leg will be from Manila to Dumaguete for landbased diving. 2nd leg will be from Dumaguete to Manila and then on to Puerto Princessa for liveaboard.

We know very little about the Manila airport and our options for the domestic flight arrangements. Any advice, help, suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks
Laine

 

[pakman]

Just some info. There are 3 terminals in Manila, each separate but reachable by a very short cab ride. Cathay uses Terminal 1 along with all the international carriers. Philippine Airlines (PAL) & its domestic sub Air Philippines use the newer Terminal 2 (Centennial) for both its international and domestic flights. Then there is a domestic terminal for all the other local airlines.

For both legs, check with PAL and Cebu Pacific.

 

[Laine]

Thanks for your prompt reply. That helped alot.

Laine

 

[chip104]

Pak couldn't have explained it better.

Just wondering if you've already booked your flights and what airline you'll be taking? PAL is more convenient (international and domestic airports are connected) but the domestic flights are more expensive than cebu pacific.

Just throwing this option out for you: if you want an adventure you can fly into Cebu airport (instead of Manila) and then take the ferry over to Dumaguete. Takes longer though (4 hours). Air Philippines also has a flight from cebu to puerto princesa but it only runs certain days of the week. So from dumaguete you can take the ferry to cebu and fly to PP.

 

[pakman]

Actually Chip might be onto something. Maybe a Manila->Dumaguete, Dumaguete -> Cebu via ferry, Cebu -> Puerto Princesa** (non daily flights), and then Puerto Princesa -> Manila would be better and save you from having to backtrack to Manila.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Depending where you are staying, the resort can make reservations and coordinate transfers.

 

[flying fish]

btw, they have a free shuttle service going around the three terminals now. starts from terminal1 then goes to the centennial terminal and then finally the domestic terminal. from there it loops back to termnal 1.

 

[eagerbeaver]

personally I would stay away from the flying via Cebu to get to Dumaguete thing. Stick with Air Philippines and go via Manila...unless you like long, bumpy, crazy bus rides when all you want to do is eat/sleep/go diving (delete as appropriate).

for the record...I live in Dumaguete

 

[Laine]

Hi all,

Thanks again for the helpful advice. Now it looks like our liveaboard and Resort legs of the trip have been switched around so it looks like Puerto Princessa first (due to liveaboard availability) then back to Dumaguete.

Laine