PAL business class....any good? why so cheap?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: star alliance United
Posts: 28
PAL business class....any good? why so cheap?
Im about to take a business trip from LAX to Manila and i noticed PAL business class is very cheap compared to the other carriers.
What's the deal? How bad is it compared to the others? I usually fly business on Asiana, Singapore, and Thai. How can they sell their tickets at these rates?
Is the food bad? limited menu selections? No alcolhol? Are the seats not updated or really old? or doesn't incline flat? entertainment sucks?
Anyone has a link to pictures and a description of what i can expect? I tried the website but its not very helpful.
Will i have a plug to power my laptop? or other electronic devices like Ipod and phone? How is the lounge at LAX? or in Manila?
Thanks in advance.....
What's the deal? How bad is it compared to the others? I usually fly business on Asiana, Singapore, and Thai. How can they sell their tickets at these rates?
Is the food bad? limited menu selections? No alcolhol? Are the seats not updated or really old? or doesn't incline flat? entertainment sucks?
Anyone has a link to pictures and a description of what i can expect? I tried the website but its not very helpful.
Will i have a plug to power my laptop? or other electronic devices like Ipod and phone? How is the lounge at LAX? or in Manila?
Thanks in advance.....
#3
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: IAH
Programs: OnePass, Royal Orchid Plus, Mabuhay Miles
Posts: 376
What's the deal? How bad is it compared to the others? I usually fly business on Asiana, Singapore, and Thai. How can they sell their tickets at these rates?
Is the food bad? limited menu selections? No alcolhol? Are the seats not updated or really old? or doesn't incline flat? entertainment sucks?
Is the food bad? limited menu selections? No alcolhol? Are the seats not updated or really old? or doesn't incline flat? entertainment sucks?
TPAC ex-LAX has a 75% chance of getting a 747 reconfigured with Recaro inclined lie flat seats with 15" AVOD screens. Entertainment options are about the same as on TG.
These are the same seats on LH. The remaining 747s are to be reconfigured soon. I don't know if they have power! The LH seats do.
See pix here
My experience with their biz class FAs is that they are as good as any on TG & as many on SQ. (A lot won't agree with me!) I think they are less mechanical than those on SQ. They are typically much older but competent.
Food is just fine though not served in as nice of a setting as TG or SQ. The portions aren't as generous, I think. Their wine & beer selection are rather severe. It may have more to do with availability in MNL than being particularly cheap.
They use the non-aligned airline lounge at LAX. I've not been to the new one. The MNL lounge is ok. Nothing worth remembering.
I have no problems flying PR. Mileage can only be booked on their program & they have no partners to speak of.
My only bad experience was with a canceled flight MNL-SGN. They handled the delay & getting hotel rooms poorly. But the room & meal vouchers were fine.
#7
Join Date: May 2009
Location: MAD/LAX/MNL/PIT
Programs: DL DM, PR, TG, UA, CX (Asia Miles), BT, AY, AA
Posts: 906
If you're flying PAL, Manila isn't that bad airport-wise. You'll be landing in an exclusive terminal (Terminal 2) where it is not as busy as the arrivals area in the very small Terminal 1. PR 103 arrives in Manila at around 4:00 am, so you will definitely avoid the morning rush hour, and if you're catching a domestic flight, the timing will allow you to choose from a multitude of domestic flights.
In-flight service is great, though there are cases where you may get a bad crew (which I hope will not happen). If Fiesta Class has good F/As, I'm sure Mabuhay Class will have better ones. If you need a peek at PAL, I have a trip report somewhere here on FT.
In-flight service is great, though there are cases where you may get a bad crew (which I hope will not happen). If Fiesta Class has good F/As, I'm sure Mabuhay Class will have better ones. If you need a peek at PAL, I have a trip report somewhere here on FT.
#8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Europe
Programs: UA:1K MM, AF:FB-Platinum; QR: PC Platinum, FI: Saga Gold
Posts: 2,925
Thanks Akiestar for you're very interesting trip report. For the benefits of others, I've attached a link to it. It' in Y.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...eb-mnl-pr.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...eb-mnl-pr.html
#9
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Europe
Programs: UA:1K MM, AF:FB-Platinum; QR: PC Platinum, FI: Saga Gold
Posts: 2,925
#10
Join Date: May 2009
Location: MAD/LAX/MNL/PIT
Programs: DL DM, PR, TG, UA, CX (Asia Miles), BT, AY, AA
Posts: 906
* SAFETY: PAL is a very safe airline. It's IOSA-certified, the only Philippine airline to receive that certification. Lufthansa Technik maintains its planes. Some even say that PAL is doing a better job than the CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines). Who on Earth would say that PAL isn't safe?
* SERVICE: There may be hitches in PAL's service, but their service can be considered at par with the likes of SQ and TG. Their trans-Pacific crews may be "older", but as they say, it's all about experience. They were a great airline from my point of view. Maybe you should fly PAL and see for yourself.
* UP-TO-DATE EQUIPMENT: PAL's oldest aircraft is fifteen years old (their 744s). The hard product may need updating, but they are doing this with the 744s, and eventually their A340s as well. They're also receiving 77Ws to boot.
Before making preconceived judgements against PAL (like what you did with Garuda in another thread), please fly the airline concerned first, and not rely on second-hand (or heck, third-hand) Google hearsay.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: star alliance United
Posts: 28
Cool! thanks guys....
I guess i will be flying 747-400s on PR103 and PR102 from LAX-MNL.
Anyone knows if they've upgraded already? I really hope so. My flight is not till Oct anyways.
Yeah, the worst thing i heard about PAL was their occassional tardiness in the schedule. But, i can deal with that.
I forgot about the exclusive airport for PAL flights...that definitely is a plus!
Thanks again guys. I'll post some pics when i get back.
I guess i will be flying 747-400s on PR103 and PR102 from LAX-MNL.
Anyone knows if they've upgraded already? I really hope so. My flight is not till Oct anyways.
Yeah, the worst thing i heard about PAL was their occassional tardiness in the schedule. But, i can deal with that.
I forgot about the exclusive airport for PAL flights...that definitely is a plus!
Thanks again guys. I'll post some pics when i get back.
#12
Join Date: May 2009
Location: MAD/LAX/MNL/PIT
Programs: DL DM, PR, TG, UA, CX (Asia Miles), BT, AY, AA
Posts: 906
Three 747s have been upgraded, with the last one scheduled to be refurbished within the year. Just make sure not to get RP-C8168, which will get a different product than the other four 747s.
#13
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: IAH
Programs: OnePass, Royal Orchid Plus, Mabuhay Miles
Posts: 376
#14
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: IAH
Programs: OnePass, Royal Orchid Plus, Mabuhay Miles
Posts: 376
* SERVICE: There may be hitches in PAL's service, but their service can be considered at par with the likes of SQ and TG. Their trans-Pacific crews may be "older", but as they say, it's all about experience. They were a great airline from my point of view. Maybe you should fly PAL and see for yourself.
The 744s are undergoing D-checks before the cabin upgrade so they are essentially new planes. Relax & enjoy.
#15
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: People's Republic of HotTubistan
Posts: 1,408
The May press note quoted in the other PAL thread made it sound like the 56 seat Mabuhay set-up was the new one....or?