This would be my very first trip to Tacloban, so I was excited. However, I also decided to do a review of this flight, though it would just be a normal PAL Express flight. While I thought it would be an ordinary flight, it ended up being extraordinary. The biggest lesson? The little things we do for others can be big for them. So here’s my experience on board PAL Express flight from Manila to Tacloban. This is also for the benefit of those looking for flight reviews for trips to Tacloban.
Airport Review
The first thing I love about PAL Express flights is that they depart from NAIA Terminal 2. While I also enjoy flying Cebu Pacific, their flights depart from NAIA Terminal 3, which is a terminal I prefer to avoid. My flight PR2981 departs at 4:25 am, meaning I had to be at the airport two hours prior. Since I had to be there early, I wanted to get some shut-eye and be comfortable enough to rest before my flight since my schedule in Tacloban would be hectic. If I were to depart from NAIA Terminal 3, I might end up sitting on the floor or standing for two hours since that airport lacks seats. Also, it suffers from power outages, air conditioner shutdowns, and situations that make passengers uncomfortable.
Fortunately, PAL Express flights depart from NAIA Terminal 2. While there were many passengers at the pre-boarding gates, there were still enough seats. I also had access to the PAL domestic Mabuhay lounge, where I could relax. When I got to the pre-boarding area, there were still extra seats, and you wouldn’t see people sitting on the floors, unlike in T3.
Yes, airport terminals can affect the tourism of a country. I was trying to avoid NAIA Terminal 3 because it felt totally uncomfortable. Regardless of whether passengers are flying on a legacy airline or a budget carrier, none of them deserves the uncomfortable service level of NAIA Terminal 3. It’s unfortunate that the best airports in the Philippines, such as Mactan Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 and Clark International Airport, are far away.
The ground attendants at NAIA Terminal 2 were organized and proactive in keeping the lines at the check-in counter short. I already did online check-in, so all I needed to do was drop off my bag. However, one downside is that the line for regular check-in and bag drop was only one. It would be best to have a separate line for those doing bag drops who already checked in online in advance.
To ensure organized boarding, please strictly follow the boarding sequence. This ensures a faster boarding process. Only line up at the boarding gates once your boarding sequence is called. Also, please do not play “VIP” and wait for the ground attendants to call your name. Be aware of your boarding time.
Flight Review
Upon boarding the PAL Express aircraft bound for Tacloban, an A320-214 with registry RP-C8610, I was greeted by the friendly cabin crew, all smiling. I was seated at 49A, so I had to make my way to the back of the aircraft. Whenever I passed a cabin crew member, they greeted me with a smile. One even asked for my seat number because she wanted to hand me coffee. I politely declined for another cup because I already had two cups of coffee in the Mabuhay lounge. However, I appreciated the gesture of the cabin crew.
While walking to my seat, I overheard a passenger say, “Ang sikip naman ng upuan na ito, parang sa Cebu Pacific. Sana doon na lang tayo sumakay.” What immediately came to my mind was that while the flight to Tacloban was a PAL Express flight, the branding carried is Philippine Airlines, hence a legacy carrier. Some passengers have higher expectations when they take a PAL flight, like more comfortable seats and better inflight amenities. However, PAL Express and Philippine Airlines now use a single branding, “PAL” or “Philippine Airlines.” Some don’t even know that “PAL Express” exists. Upon checking, the seat pitch on board PAL Express’ A320s is 29 to 30 inches, while Cebu Pacific’s is 29 inches. Hence, the reason why the passenger must have said that.
Also, PAL Express operates both A321ceo with the same seat configuration “SMC interiors” as PAL, and A320s which are mono-class with 180 seats. Hence, you also see an inconsistent product, which again may confuse customers. The A321ceos of PAL Express have a bi-class configuration, while the A320s are mono-class. Unlike other airlines where both their full-service brand and low-cost brands have distinct branding and offerings. While I personally understand why regular passengers don’t. They just want something worth their money. So maybe, this is something PAL and PAL Express can look into, establishing a more consistent product and branding throughout the group. Just a little constructive criticism from me.
The PAL Express flight departed at 4:47 am for Tacloban, a bit later than the scheduled departure time, but what counts more is the arrival time. Traffic congestion at NAIA was not that bad yet since this was an early morning flight. We were the second plane in the take-off sequence, so we didn’t have to wait long. In a few minutes, we were on our take-off roll on RW06 and off to Tacloban. The take-off was smooth with just very slight turbulence. Upon reaching cruise altitude, you could already see the sunrise. The fasten seatbelt sign was switched off, and the cabin crew began their service.
Now, this is where PAL Express’ service becomes distinct from other low-cost airlines. They serve light snacks. I was served yummy chocolate chips and requested water instead of coffee or juice. Honestly, I loved the cookies. The cabin crew even came back to me, offering more cookies since they must have seen that I really liked them.
The flight was smooth and pretty quiet. I loved the gesture of the cabin crew coming back to me, asking if there was anything else I wanted. This is what I call genuine concern for passengers, and I think this is where PAL and PAL Express excel. The warmth and service of the cabin crew make up for the dated seats and amenities on some of the planes.
The aircraft, RP-C8610, is a 16-year-old Airbus A320 purchased brand new by Philippine Airlines. It is equipped with 180 seats in an all-economy class configuration.
After less than an hour of flying, we landed in Tacloban at 5:46 am, four minutes ahead of schedule, so we were on time. Deplaning was done in an orderly manner, but here’s where things turned extraordinary. The cabin crew of our flight handed me a thank you letter for being their passenger, written on tissue paper. With it were more cookies and a few “pabaons” for me in Tacloban. Of course, I needed to have a picture with them. It’s not actually about the sandwich and the extra cookies, but the gesture of thanks for being their passenger that day that really melted my heart. I still kept that tissue paper with their letter on it. Something that these PAL cabin crew members do ordinarily can be extraordinary for others.
I was the last to deplane and immediately got my bag from the carousel at the Daniel Romualdez Airport terminal. Their new and much bigger terminal is currently under construction. I can’t wait to see it operational soon.
Pros:
- Superb cabin crew services. I swear, they are one the airline’s greatest assets.
- Orderly ground crew. Seemless check-in process.
- Airport is NAIA terminal 2. Aircon is cool, a lot of places to seat, and walk is not that long.
- Free light snacks and drinks.
- On-time arrival.
Things to Improve on:
- Outdated seats and infight amenities. Some planes have business class, and some don’t. Need to improve here.
Watch my full PAL Express Manila – Tacloban flight experience here:
First love never dies. I fell in love with airplanes and aviation when I was a kid. My dream was to become a pilot, but destiny led me to another path: to be an aviation digital media content creator and a small business owner. My passion for aviation inspires me to bring you quality content through my website and social accounts. Aviation is indeed in my blood and blog!
