Philippine Airlines' Manila Lounge and Transit Criticized
A traveler reports a poor transit and lounge experience at Manila Airport with Philippine Airlines.
A recent traveler's transit experience with Philippine Airlines at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 was highly critical. The passenger, writing for One Mile at a Time, described a 40-minute wait at a single-point transit security checkpoint and a poorly signed lounge with non-functional Wi-Fi for foreign laptops.
Manila Airport's Challenging Transit Process
International transit at Manila's Terminal 1, a hub for Philippine Airlines' growing network, was far from streamlined. Upon deplaning, the traveler encountered an extremely long line initially mistaken for immigration, which was actually for the transit security screening. The checkpoint operated with just one metal detector and X-ray machine, creating a bottleneck that took approximately 40 minutes to clear.
After security, passengers must carry bags up a flight of stairs, as no elevator is available in that area. The traveler noted this is particularly problematic for seniors, though a separate elevator-equipped area exists for wheelchair users. Finding the Philippine Airlines lounge proved difficult due to minimal and confusing signage, adding another 10 minutes to the process.
The Problematic Mabuhay Lounge Experience
The airline's flagship Mabuhay Lounge presented further issues. The space was crowded, making it hard to find an open seat. More critically, the lounge's Wi-Fi reportedly does not work with laptops from outside the Philippines. A lounge attendant confirmed this limitation, stating it was a known problem. The traveler verified that while a phone could connect, a laptop could not, though public terminal Wi-Fi worked normally.
Ambiance was another major complaint. The lounge was described as having the atmosphere of a live auction due to constant, verbose boarding announcements. The traveler cited one flight to Melbourne being called on four separate occasions, each announcement laden with repetitive phrases. The noise level eventually drove the passenger to seek quiet in the crowded gate area instead.
Airline and Airport Responsibilities
The report acknowledges that many ground experience problems, like security infrastructure and terminal signage, fall under airport authority rather than the airline's direct control. However, the lounge's operational shortcomings-specifically the Wi-Fi issue and the announcement policy-are attributed to Philippine Airlines. The traveler found it ironic that the lounge displayed QR codes soliciting guest feedback on ambiance, seat availability, and Wi-Fi given the experienced deficiencies.
The overall assessment described the Manila ground experience as outright poor, following a previously underwhelming business class flight on the airline's A330. The traveler expressed hope that an upcoming segment on a newer A350-1000 aircraft would improve the journey.
