Funky Spike

Posting from onboard. Seat is comfortable enough, I slept for around six hours. Food has been OK, just waiting on my Chicken Sausage and Egg for breakfast.
Judging by the ooo's, ahhh's and photographs being taken on boarding there were a few people that had taken advantage of this deal.
I'm in 3A if there is anyone else from here on the flight.

Spike

ChocolateFactory

Funky Spike

Looks like it's not only the airline updating things. Big queues for immigration tonight. Signs saying "we are updating our systems please be patient" took around an hour to get to the desks.
I then got escorted from the immigration desks to the PR transfer desk because even though I had an overnight stop I still needed some paperwork from the airline. Still don't understand what it was all about but I need to do it on the way back too (I have an overnight then too)

Spike

flightlevels

deco105

I didn't do the transfer desk on the return leg with an overnight in Manila, just went to the immigration quickly, was one of the 1st there, was out of the airport with my bags in less than half an hour from leaving the plane (and stopping for the loo!)

Poolek

plunet

Overall we were impressed with our PR flights which we completed last weekend.

The business seat really does lack some sensible storage. Unless you have a really small laptop there is nowhere to sensibly stow a laptop for takeoff or landing.
On our outbound LHR-MNL flight the crew seemed to be a little too focussed on getting the food served and the cabin dark and the passengers sleeping. The service on the return long haul sector was more refined and less rushed.
The food on the LHR-MNL sector wasn't quite as good as on the return MNL-LHR sector, I wonder whether the catering is all done from MNL and the food wasn't quite a fresh for the return sector coming out from London? Not quite QR quality, but overwall very good.
The IFE selection on our outbound flight was very limited, just 60 movies - but on the return 10 days later therre was more than 120 movies including a number of the bond movies that had been added. I feel there is much more they could offer, especially for music.
On the LHR-MNL sector the moving map appiication was completely unavailable for everyone for the entire flight despite the crew trying to fix it. And on the MNL-LHR flight the screen were suffering from a lot of lag and unresponsiveness. Headphones were ok.
The A350 itself was great and we enjoyted the flights and left all the flights feeling relatively fresh. I wasn't totally sold on the air cushion seating, but it wasn't a disaster either, but I suspect that it will be a problem to maintain in the longer term.

Despite the planned works on the PR IT systems last weekend, our check-in wasn't affected at HKG on your return flight, although it might have been useful if the particularly grumpy member of check-in staff on the business counter desk had told us that the departures immigration channel wasn't open in HKG T2 at 6am and we had to treck back to T1 to pass through security and immigration

The transit experience at MNL wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great. The lounge at MNL was OK but and better than being in the cramped terminal area outside.

I don't know if we need to thank PR or lastminute.com for the great value tickets travelled on, and a hattip to @Raffles who originally posted the deal, but we benefitted for travelling in style on a carrier we otherwise would have probably not considered or proactively chosen. Overwall, and based upon our experience, I think PR deserve their 4* Skytrax status, onboard they try hard, the hard and soft product was good, albeit not quite as good as QR. But they do need to sort out the MNL airport experience, although that's not all their fault, as their hub it does reflect poorly on the overwall experience.

Thanks to everyeone on the thread that has shared their questions, concerns and experiences; it's been an amazing journey online and onboard, and for those of you still to fly, I hope you enjoy your experience as much as we did.

ralfp

Has anyone tried to change their return flights? I've already flown the outbound. PR told me they couldn't see the fare rules and told me to call the travel agent. Lastminute wanted 1000's of GPB depending on the dates.

I was quite impressed with PR. The product (hard and soft) was better than expected. The exception being the MNL transit & lounge experience, which was just okay (as expected).

Palty

I've tried to change my outbound flight but they (lastminute) came back to me telling me that there wasn't any avalibity.
also to where did you credit your flight?

skycruiserNL

I have done these flights and was NOT impressed at all. I mean, regardless of the fare paid, PR failed (im my opinion) on following (service related) items:

1) the LHR lounge: despite a certain 'reserved for PAL' tables, these were used by just anybody. The lounge was packed with annoying pax for Hainan Airlines and another weird Chinese carrier. Very annoying.
2) the LHR lounge: a gin & tonic was not possible. The tonic-machine was out of order. Asked for cans > they didn't have. Champagne then? Only for sale. Same for prosecco. Unacceptable for a 4* airline imho
3) LHR boarding > Mobile boarding pass not accepted for boarding (PAL regulation according staff) >> why do they offer it then ? (I used Apple passbook/folder)
4) LHR pre-departure: water and juice offered. The juice in my aisle had no 'flower' in it, the juice in the righthand aisle did have a flower in it. Why different? But, I asked champagne: this was NOT possible at first, because it was not chilled (ouch!). I insisted and told them to chill it right away since there was time. They did, and after I got served, more people were asking for champagne
5) Speakers in cabin producing unacceptable 'beep noise' all time upon boarding. Staff didn't care. Aircraft 3506, one of the latest ones.
6) LHR departure: seats were not checked well for safety > me and other had my champagne glasses still on the seat, and they did not seem to care
7) LHR-MNL 1st meal starter: had to be eaten by hand.. I do not like it. Very bad for health reasons and the cucumber-crab thing became a mess when you touch it so... this was bad!
8) Manila arrival >> waited 45 minutes for a gate (!). That is SO nice after a 13 hour flight.... I mean, we were not really expected apparently...
9) Manila Mabuhay Lounge: 2 male toilets. 2 !! Always waiting time, plus staff have no moment to clean those thoroughly once in a while. No wonder I saw 2 cockroaches in my comfort room (restroom in the rest of the world)

10) PR313 0750am departure ex HKG: Check-in in T2, but boarding in T1 means a long walk. Weird ?!
11) PR313 0750am departure ex HKG: Welcome drink I ask champagne, crew refused. Reason: we only serve champagne on longhaul flights Sir! I laugh and tell him it is on my menu-card, so if he can deliver me. He again says he cannot because they not have it... I ask the purser who was nearby. The purser immediately apologized and told me the Champagne was not chilled (again!). He did and served me 2 glasses in the end before take-off.
12) Mabuhay lounge: no champagne/sparkling wine/prosecco.
13) PR720 MNL-LHR: handout of amenity kits > my aisle they brought it by hand, carried by the crewmember. Righthand aisle > 2 female crew used a trolley with the amenity kits placed on top and were handing out.
14) PR720 MNL-LHR: Aircraft is 3501, WiFi is broken all flight, so no connection to the world (despite their promises)
15) PR720 MNL-LHR: Aircraft is 3501, IFE was stopped 3 times during the 1 movie I was watching. Very annoying!
16) PR720 MNL-LHR: no paper towels in lavatory. Only the thin tissues available and these are crap to dry your hands with!! I complained the crew and they said it was not loaded in Manila. Bad!
17) PR720 MNL-LHR: midflight snack was "chicken bbq sandwich". I ordered it. Before delivery crew comes and tells me the sandwich is kinda small size, if I still want to have it?! Of course! They forgot to put the crisps on my plate that come with the sandwich, according the description on the menu...
18) PR720 MNL-LHR: they do not have sparkling water as a choice. 4* airline?!

I cannot complain, but I have a critical eye. I do fly a lot and have seen a lot elsewhere. PAL needs to get their act together because they are far from an acceptable standard. Why? Because so much inconsistency in their delivery of the product. Crew does not seem to know what they are doing or have to do. They sometimes walk like a headless chicken through the aisle, forget items, do not follow procedures or maybe just lack a training.

Not impressed on PR720/721. The Airbus 321 MNL-HKG v.v. flights were all good though, despite the minor issue with the champagne and weird setup at HKG.

bittihuduga

Flying out of LHR tomorrow.
Any key points to know?
Is online check in possible ?
Also for aspire lounge access, should we get any stamp on boarding pass?
We have connection time of 2hrs 30 mnts. So I doubt we can use lounge in manila.

danam

You can check in online, but it may not work for boarding.
Lounge pass is given at check in, though the aspire lounge isn't worth the time.
You have time for the lounge in MNL, just don't hang around getting to the transit desk for the required stamp on your boarding pass.

dsf

I checked in online using the PR app on my iPhone. The mobile boarding pass got me through security at LHR T3 and into the lounge. At the gate (I arrived a little early; the Aspire lounge didn't make me want to stay very long) they called me to the desk and issued me with paper boarding passes.

I had over an hour in the lounge in MNL between PR721 and PR312 (1840-2120).

deco105

I had enough time for a shower and some food in the lounge, it was really hot in that airport.

bittihuduga

Thanks for the info. Didn't know aspire lounge was a waste. I'm arriving from Dublin at around 6pm. Unfortunately I Have to spend few hrs there.
Will download the app for online check in.
If we skip transit stamping at manila would it cause any trouble while boarding?