MNL Connection CX-TK
 

Have wondered around the Asia forum for this but figured I should consult with CX experts here:

Thinking about doing HKG-MNL (on CX) then onward to a TK flight out of MNL (separate J ticket) and coming back the same. I will be looking at T3-T1 transfer. Questions:

1) Can I check in luggages all the way through (CX-TK interline in MNL) or they have to be taken out in MNL along with immigration?

2) What is the current traffic situation in MNL? (Heard the airside bus seems reliable and the new elevated HWY has drastically helped traffic congestions). Is 3HR+ still an absolute minimal for transfers at MNL?

Thanks for your help!

There is no airside connection, so you need to get out of the terminal, there are shuttle busses from what I recall. There is a new elevated expressway that connects the two terminals so traffic isn't that bad, however I do think 3hrs is just right, considering that some flights between HK and MNL do get delayed.

Buses run every 30 minutes from 5am-11pm, from 11pm to 5am, they run every 50 minutes. Traffic will depend on a few factors, time of day, day of the week, and the weather. Fridays from 3:30pm onwards are the worst, more so if it's a long weekend or a holiday, and , if it's raining, expect even more traffic. If by chance you decide to take a taxi from T3 to T1, get the price before you get in the cab, it shouldn't cost you more than 100-200 PHP ($4-6). People have been charged in excess of $50 for a taxi from one terminal to another.

As for the luggage, I'm uncertain, if CX checks it all the way through then there should be no need to collect in MNL.

I'm not sure it's possible to check through the luggage from CX to TK in MNL. The two airlines are in different terminals, accross the runway.

Not sure this applies to you, NAIA will reassign all airlines from 31 Aug. and CX and TK will both be at T3.

1.) Highly doubt this could be done as CX and TK aren't partners and they operate in different terminals. However, best to call CX and make sure.

2.) 3 hours is more than enough transferring from Terminal 3 (CX) to Terminal 1 (TK). The elevated highway really made moving between terminals and into the city much faster.

Just be forewarned that you need to clear immigrations and customs and get onto a bus/cab to make the transit. Also, MNL is notorious for holding. I have had on time arrivals and held up to ETA +50, so get yourself enough buffer.

CX and TK have interline agreement and the CX policy is to check through whenever possible. I don't know the particular situation at MNL but I don't think transferring between different terminals preclude baggage through-check (or else many through-check would not have been possible).

Not sure if TK does it, though.

Thanks for the info! But unfortunately my travel dates are end of June / beginning of July.:(

This is good information. Thank you for this!