Originally Posted by
Braswch
Thanks for the reply! Yes I agree with you on that! In fact that's the route I've already have booked from NYC TO CEB. PAL J is less than CX for obvious reasons... My other consideration is I want to maximize time in Cebu Saturday/Sunday (Feb 1,2) while at the same time get back to NYC on the 2nd rather than 6am on the 3rd. Have to work on the 2nd and kids have to go to school that day.
So.....
Given all that. What's that transit like?
Everything you heard and read about Filipino inefficiency is true. Have patience in dealing with the long lines and slowness of its progress. Don't count on anything you are told by staff as the way things will happen or rules/policies applied.
Plan for the worst-case scenario of picking up your bags in MNL and rechecking it for JFK with a terminal change on the inter-terminal shuttle.
After disembarking at T2, hang around CEB MNL baggage claim a bit to see if your bags show up and find a PR rep as soon as you can to confirm on the system that your bags have been transferred to MNL JFK. Do not just take their word that the bags will be transferred. PR staff will be in PR uniforms, baggage staff will be in a different uniform that is definitely not PR staff.
Hopefully, there will be a PR shuttle for their MNL JFK pax, especially flying in J. You will need to do exit immigration (no class of service quick line as of 5 months ago at T1) and then general flight security. There might still be an additional security checkpoint for US bound flights.