Star Alliance - Very few star alliance flights from Manila

I am a Star Alliance Gold member and am frustrated that there are no star alliance carriers that go to Hongkong, Taiwan, Vietnam, or Japan from MNL. These destinations, although not far from Manila, are not served by star alliance carriers. Why is it so then?

With the exception of Japan there are no *A airlines based in those particular countries.

In most parts of the world, an airline cannot just launch service between two countries if it is not based in one of them. Since there are no *A carriers based in any of the countries you listed (edit: save Japan), it would probably take governmental approval to allow such service.

Interesting reading here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedoms_of_the_air

There are several *A carriers (SQ, TG, LH, OZ) that fly to/from MNL but unfortunately not to the destinations you mentioned. If you fly frequently to HKG or NRT, may I recommend joining OW?

TG flies MNL to Osaka. I understand your frustration. I have ended up flying UA to Taiwan and Cebu Pacific into Manila. However, I did enjoy the prices on CP.

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PS Non MNL flights from the Philippines are available on Asiana (CRK & Cebu). SilkAir flies into Cebu and Davao (earn Singapore/KrisFlyer miles only ???).

PPS Not *Alliance but the MR thread "CX/KA Business Special TPE-CGK/MNL/others US$250-280 R/T" is interesting.

Thanks for the responses.

I travel extensively to NRT, HKG, Taipei and Vietnam but always have to end up on the Cebu Pacific flight(not that I am complaining but I have to book my Cebu Pacific flights 3 months before to get the best deals)...

Its just so frustrating if I go to HKG then I cant use the lounge in HKG, or Taipei for that matter as I am taking a flight not served by Star Alliance. With my requalification on going now, I have to try to find ways to requalify since I fly out to those routes most of the time. Its just so strange that even Narita-Tokyo is not a part of the star alliance route served from Manila, and NW dominates that route.

Used to be United Airlines was based in Manila but its strange that they pulled out their service in Manila...and let NW be the domineering American airline here. Most of the major cities are served by UA but not Manila, I think they got into trouble with one passenger before and decided to terminate their operations here, but strangely they still have a satellite office here in Manila.

one simple solution, join oneworld.

Used to be United Airlines was based in Manila but its strange that they pulled out their service in Manila...and let NW be the domineering American airline here. Most of the major cities are served by UA but not Manila, I think they got into trouble with one passenger before and decided to terminate their operations here, but strangely they still have a satellite office here in Manila.

I'm not sure but heard UA pulled out of the Philippines due to too many silly Philippine regulations, red-tape, and corruption. They just got fed up with it and said it wasn't worth it anymore to fly there when they try to pull stuff on the airlines that no other countries do.

If you're only looking to fly *A in order to get lounge access, look at trying to get a Priority Pass card. They give it away free in many countries with certain credit cards. I've got one and whenever I'm flying and don't have lounge access, I get to use the designated Priority Pass lounge for free. As I primarily fly *A, I don't use it often, but recently found it very handy for overnight transits at BKK when the *A lounges are closed. Give me a nice comfortable and safe place to overnight for a few hours without paying exhorbitant hotel prices. I also used it at SIN when I wanted a shower and to relax but couldn't get my onward boarding pass (on LX) due to the counter not being open yet.

Thanks for the responses.
Its just so frustrating if I go to HKG then I cant use the lounge in HKG, or Taipei for that matter as I am taking a flight not served by Star Alliance. With my requalification on going now, I have to try to find ways to requalify since I fly out to those routes most of the time. Its just so strange that even Narita-Tokyo is not a part of the star alliance route served from Manila, and NW dominate that route.

UA may start a HKG-MNL route (5th freedom from HKG "focus city") looking at the rather short distance in comparison to NRT, but seeing as it's quite congested right now (as with most regional routes), I don't see a chance. Also, many budget airlines are flying HKG-CRK (Zest is starting later this month), also targetting the MNL market.

I am sorry to hear that you can't get *A flights to where you want in Asia. But you should consider joining another alliance like ST or OW, ST very useful for VN code-share fligts with PR to Vietnam, mabe fligts on CX to ;)
MNL have by the year have been loosing international airlines as PR & Cebu increase & become more dominant, especially the EURO airlines pulling out like crazy.

If you say UA flies to all the major cities then your saying SGN is a major city?

I am sorry to hear that you can't get *A flights to where you want in Asia. But you should consider joining another alliance like ST or OW, ST very useful for VN code-share fligts with PR to Vietnam
Please don't mislead. VN is not part of ST yet.

Thanks for all the responses.

I didnt knew Priority Pass had tie ups with credit card, I'll look into this tomorrow but what I know, you still have to pay for membership here...

Off topic though...

Also as far as I can recall, UA does have a codeshare flight with CX from Manila, but my folks had problems with them before, as they were taking a MNL-HK(via CX)-LAX-HK-MNL(VIA CX), they were questioned why they had 3 bags of 70 lbs going back to Manila(* GOLD) wherein UA and CX have an interline agreement with the bags. UA issued the ticket in Manila(MNL-HKG-LAX-HKG-MNL) and yet, UA accepted the bags in LAX. So they had the dilemna of the 3 bags while in HK(they were only on transit there and was questioned about the 3 bags)....good thing they were permitted to bring the 3 bags without charges all the way to Manila but that is one of my concerns as well, with no Star Alliance flights to Manila, I cannot maximize bringing in 3 bags as I might have a similar problem to what my folks experienced on their trip before.

CO Micronesia operates to some of these destinations (NRT, MNL & HKG, IIRC) from GUM.

They will be *A very soon now, won't they?

I am sorry to hear that you can't get *A flights to where you want in Asia. But you should consider joining another alliance like ST or OW, ST very useful for VN code-share fligts with PR to Vietnam, mabe fligts on CX to ;)
MNL have by the year have been loosing international airlines as PR & Cebu increase & become more dominant, especially the EURO airlines pulling out like crazy.

If you say UA flies to all the major cities then your saying SGN is a major city?

I think in Asia only UA does not fly to Manila....

I rather take a Star Alliance flight vis a vis the budget airlines for the extra bags as well. Lots of things to buy in HKG, and TPE, and I cant bring them all at Cebu Pacific hehe

Asiana has a good economy and business product. If traveling from the USA, it is a good option. However, the cheaper economy seats only earn 70% EQM on United. :(

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Asiana has a good economy and business product. If traveling from the USA, it is a good option. However, the cheaper economy seats only earn 70% EQM on United. :(

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actually I am Asiana Diamond(* Gold) but sometimes I dont want to take their carrier from Manila.Too expensive, as the fares from MNL are at 1,300 for a trip to LAX, against a LAX-MNL fare offered at 650.00USD. Sometimes UA has good deals from MNL but via CX though.

I think in Asia only UA does not fly to Manila....

I rather take a Star Alliance flight vis a vis the budget airlines for the extra bags as well. Lots of things to buy in HKG, and TPE, and I cant bring them all at Cebu Pacific hehe
1) buy another ticket
2) pay for the excess baggage


Also as far as I can recall, UA does have a codeshare flight with CX from Manila, but my folks had problems with them before, as they were taking a MNL-HK(via CX)-LAX-HK-MNL(VIA CX), they were questioned why they had 3 bags of 70 lbs going back to Manila(* GOLD) wherein UA and CX have an interline agreement with the bags.
No codeshare. Only ticketing on CX under CX code.

Thanks for the responses.

I travel extensively to NRT, HKG, Taipei and Vietnam but always have to end up on the Cebu Pacific flight(not that I am complaining but I have to book my Cebu Pacific flights 3 months before to get the best deals)...

Its just so frustrating if I go to HKG then I cant use the lounge in HKG, or Taipei for that matter as I am taking a flight not served by Star Alliance. With my requalification on going now, I have to try to find ways to requalify since I fly out to those routes most of the time. Its just so strange that even Narita-Tokyo is not a part of the star alliance route served from Manila, and NW dominates that route.

Used to be United Airlines was based in Manila but its strange that they pulled out their service in Manila...and let NW be the domineering American airline here. Most of the major cities are served by UA but not Manila, I think they got into trouble with one passenger before and decided to terminate their operations here, but strangely they still have a satellite office here in Manila.


Not sure what *A FF you belong to, but unless things have changed, i used the TG lounge in HK every single time I flew YYZ-HKG (AC), HKG-KUL (CX). I'm AC*E. You are (were?) allowed to use the lounge so long as you arrived same day on an AC flight. You might want to look into that to see if they still allow access.

I think you have it better than me in PNH.