Hi all

I'm tempted to purchase a flight from the US to BKK, connecting through MNL with PA. It is significantly cheaper than other options.

I would book direct with PA. The connection time in MNL is 1 hour exactly. So, I assume that this is seen as adequate connection time. But it leaves me nervous! How realistic is that connection time (with a direct airline booking with PA)? And, if I am delayed so I miss my connecting flight to BKK, what is likely to be the damage in terms of the extra time it is likely to take to get to BKK?

The US flight gets to MNL at 6.15pm, with a 7.15pm departure flight from MNL to BKK.

Thanks

FWIW PR = Philippine Airlines. PA is better know among those here as Pan Am (PAWA).

My apologies, yes, I mean PR

So you might make your connection, or you might not. What you should be asking yourself and checking is what would be PRs next flights to BKK if you were to mis-connect? And if you were to have to rely on those options would that be a schedule disaster for you or just an inconvenience? Don't just look at the PR schedule (although that will be their default option), if you were to give plausible excuses you could probably insist on a reroute onto another carrier although whether that would include LCCs I am not sure.

You are also dependent upon there being a seat available if you are a mis-connect but for regional flights like this there should be something. If it turned into an overnight stop I think local regs mean that PR would need to give you a hotel but having your own travel insurance coverage would be sensible.

A one hour connection in MNL is asking for trouble. It is a very congested airport and the Gate delays are there. Not all the Gates are working all the time so even if your flight comes on time, your Gate might still be busy. Yes PR use the same terminal and there is currently an issue with Passenger Rights in The Philippines and they will obviously put you on THEIR next flight though TG (Thai) and 5J ( Cebu Pacific) fly from MNL to BKK and Air Asia fly from MNL to DMK. I am sure that at this moment in time PR is not going to put you on a different airline though the Philippines Government is working on a new act to get airlines to put on any available airline. If it is not a significant amount a better routing is always the option to choose. If you get a few hours in MNL then it would not be a problem.