I will be making a few trips to SE Asia over the next few months. Like most of us here; I sought to travel these long flights in reasonable comfort at an affordable price.

YVR-NRT-BKK or YVR-HKG-BKK were *A options, but too expensive if booked as Bizz Class fares, YMU fares are less expensive but then the upgrading game begins and NRT-BKK-NRT cannot be upgraded. The best option that I saw was to purchase return tickets that start in BKK, C$3,200 for a C fare (on ANA ticket stock) BKK-NRT-YVR and back again, on a mixture of TG, ANA and AC. No upgrade hassles, flexible, status mile earning, simple.

Searching for Bizz Class flights YVR-BKK Expedia produced all sorts of option ranging in price from $1,800 to stratospheric, duration from 19 hours to weeks, well almost. Philippine Airlines (PA) had the lowest price and shortest duration. I searched the net best I could to find info on PA’s comfort and service, given they are a smaller carrier the information is limited. PA’s website is short on information as well. Seat guru was some help.

I used a TA to book both the PA and ANA flights as I have never booked through Expedia and was skeptical about it for some reason. I was not a good CF/FTer and let the TA call the airlines for seat selection with no input or research done by myself.

Upon arrival at YVR, stand in line in the Mabuhay line up, two people in front, one ckin agent for our line. A very efficient and mildly officious gent was grabbing people, literally, from our line and leading to the next available ckin desk while holding up a hand to ward off the plebs in the regular line. I asked to see a seat map for seat selection and was firmly and politely told I would be very happy with my seat. It was spoken in such a way, I daren’t question it. Was given an invite to the Plaza lounge at YVR, I had never been there before so had a look around and walked to slightly lover level in the far right corner where no one was, likely because a sign said it was for Eva First pax only, seemed a good reason for me to be there.

Boarding was efficient, the transit pax from LAS were boarded first, and I let almost all others board before me, the less time spent in the sardine can the better. Upon entering the aircraft and taking the left turn we all love I walked through a Bizz Class cabin and thought the seats and their arrangement were much the same as the old NZ intl Bizz Class, cradle style, so-so recline, the seat in front reclines into you a little. I kept walking to find my seat, 2H and realized I was in a different cabin, the old First Class. Two rows of six pairs, twelve seats in total. The seats and their configuration are pretty much the same as the old NZ First Class, later on I discovered that they are better as they recline flat. Leg room is borderline absurd when the seats are not fully reclined, at 6’4”, legs fully extended, there is still two feet until the seat in front. Another way I measure the space, I have five windows! Although PA does not sell First anymore, the service for the six of us in this cabin was First as in we were catered from our own galley by our own crew, the curtain between First and Bizz remained closed the entire flight. The staff is very courteous and efficient, nothing was a bother, and food was not bad, not great, but not bad. I would rank it very slightly below AC’s Exec First offering. Champagne was Heisdick, wine is red or white, non descriptive past that. Entertainment system is old style swing out of the arm.

The most important thing for me is value received. My criteria are personal comfort (privacy, recline, leg room, width) service level, food, entertainment. I never expect a really good meal on an aircraft so I am rarely disappointed. IMO, the value received was extraordinarily good. I wish PA was a *A partner as I would fly them more.

When traveling alone as I was the AC et all seating pods are nice in many ways, but for two people who want to interact with each other, the old style First cradle seats are hard to beat in my opinion.

The other thing I like, maybe my suppressed inner snob coming out here, I like the exclusivity of a small First cabin. I was fortunate to travel First on NZ quite often, all on award bookings. It had a much cozier more exclusive feel than the herringbone milking parlour look that the pods give. Maybe one day I will find a way to fly First on another *A carrier to experience First pod style.

This was a very long winded way to endorse PA as a carrier that offers terrific value for a comfortable flight to SE Asia ex YVR.

The above was all written from the plane, more to add now from the Mabuhay Lounge at MNL.

Left the plane, followed signs for Transfers, everyone toy pass greets you with a friendly good morning, down some stairs, hang a right for the transfer desk. Behind the desk is a slotted board similar to ones you see in some hotels or car rental firms, with the rental contracts and key envelopes. Presented my onward BP, the lady produced and invite to lounge, a uniformed gentleman asked me for my passport, BP and lounge invite, led me past an immigration desk, into a small non descript elevator having shown a guard my stuff, got out a level higher, bypassed two different line ups for documentation, right to the front of the security line up and escorted to the lounge. Concierge service in the extreme. What a great way to avoid all officialdom and line ups. I seem to get stared at a lot here. White and 6’4” does that <inappropriate comment deleted by moderator>

The lounge is perfunctory , wifi, good food selection, odd breakfast offering such as pasta, but good nonetheless. No showers though, anywhere in the aiport.