PAL business class....any good? why so cheap?
Aug 9, 2009, 11:37 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: IAH
Programs: OnePass, Royal Orchid Plus, Mabuhay Miles
Posts: 376
Both 42 & 56 Mabuhay Class configs have been updated with the new cabin. The one with 56 seats was bought from another airline & has a different cabin configuration. That has to cause some planning trauma!
Aug 10, 2009, 12:11 pm
#17
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: People's Republic of HotTubistan
Posts: 1,408
Plus sub an A340 now and then..........
Aug 10, 2009, 7:03 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2009
Location: MAD/LAX/MNL/PIT
Programs: DL DM, PR, TG, UA, CX (Asia Miles), BT, AY, AA
Posts: 906
PAL has four 744s (two refurbished) and a 74M (refurbished), which explains the differing seating arrangements. While the 744s have 42 Mabuhay Class seats (RP-C7473 and RP-C8168 still have 48, as in the old arrangement), RP-C7475 (the 74M) has 56 seats.
Aug 12, 2009, 5:13 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: BCN
Programs: BA Gold · A3 Gold · DL Gold · VY apologist
Posts: 8,545
I've been on those flights, in the old C configuration. It was fine. Nothing special, and certainly not the level of SQ that some people want to compare it to. 
All things being equal I would choose to fly them over say a US carrier like US on that route.
The lounge in MNL is nice enough, again nothing special. It has no showers.
All things being equal I would choose to fly them over say a US carrier like US on that route. The lounge in MNL is nice enough, again nothing special. It has no showers.
Aug 15, 2009, 10:57 am
#23
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: People's Republic of HotTubistan
Posts: 1,408
Seems like 4 frames for those two rotations is tight.............
Aug 15, 2009, 6:56 pm
#24
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: IAH
Programs: OnePass, Royal Orchid Plus, Mabuhay Miles
Posts: 376
Aug 16, 2009, 12:30 am
#25
Join Date: May 2009
Location: MAD/LAX/MNL/PIT
Programs: DL DM, PR, TG, UA, CX (Asia Miles), BT, AY, AA
Posts: 906
The swaps are for the most part inevitable. However, word has been circulating that MNL-LAX and MNL-SFO will become double-daily, using 747s and A340s (originally 747s and 777s, but Cat II prevented that). All I'm hoping for is that RP-C8168 will be refurbished with a hard product comparable to the quality of the Recaros on the owned 747s.
Jul 3, 2015, 1:41 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,056
Here are the results of a recent MNL-SFO business class search on ITA, for the month beginning 20 August 2015:
PhP 219,221 Air China
PhP 104,760 American Airlines Inc.
PhP 116,685 ANA
PhP 103,666 Asiana
PhP 208,473 Cathay Pacific
PhP . 79,140 China Airlines
PhP 146,194 China Eastern
PhP 201,977 China Southern
PhP 130,746 Emirates
PhP 130,927 Etihad Airways
PhP 127,697 EVA Air
PhP 104,868 Japan Airlines
PhP 106,197 Korean Air
PhP 102,457 Philippine Airlines
PhP 157,447 Singapore Airlines
PhP 116,549 United
The current exchange rate is PhP 44.16 per $
Only PR flies nonstop.
PhP 219,221 Air China
PhP 104,760 American Airlines Inc.
PhP 116,685 ANA
PhP 103,666 Asiana
PhP 208,473 Cathay Pacific
PhP . 79,140 China Airlines
PhP 146,194 China Eastern
PhP 201,977 China Southern
PhP 130,746 Emirates
PhP 130,927 Etihad Airways
PhP 127,697 EVA Air
PhP 104,868 Japan Airlines
PhP 106,197 Korean Air
PhP 102,457 Philippine Airlines
PhP 157,447 Singapore Airlines
PhP 116,549 United
The current exchange rate is PhP 44.16 per $
Only PR flies nonstop.
Apr 3, 2016, 3:01 pm
#29
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Miami Beach, Florida
Programs: AA Plat, Sixt Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Platinum, Avis First, Caesars TR Diamond, Mlife Gold
Posts: 4,928
Apr 6, 2016, 6:54 am
#30
Join Date: Feb 2003
Programs: UA 1K MM, AC 50K MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 278
Business Class on PAL
I just flew PAL this week both Trans-Pac and Asia.
YVR-MNL 777
MNL-SYD 330
The legroom on the 777 is outstanding. I'm tall and could not touch the seat in front. It's an angled lay flat seat. I've been on these before and was not impressed. But the PAL version has good length and the angle is slight. Even with completely lay flat suite, I will angle it slightly so my head is raised. The PAL angle was perfect. I got a good night sleep, no problem at all.
As for the 333, it is a true lay-flat seat. But it has a weird configuration where one side of the 2 seats is higher than the other... and your feet are confined to a cubby hole. Frankly I preferred the 777 seat.
Food and service is ok. Don't expect CX or SQ standards. And they don't proactively offer any wine ... you have to request it. Nothing is ever poured at your seat (except water). It's as if they are trying to hide the bottles so other passengers don't decide to order some wine as well.
Having said that... their inflight champagne is simply outstanding!
YVR-MNL 777
MNL-SYD 330
The legroom on the 777 is outstanding. I'm tall and could not touch the seat in front. It's an angled lay flat seat. I've been on these before and was not impressed. But the PAL version has good length and the angle is slight. Even with completely lay flat suite, I will angle it slightly so my head is raised. The PAL angle was perfect. I got a good night sleep, no problem at all.
As for the 333, it is a true lay-flat seat. But it has a weird configuration where one side of the 2 seats is higher than the other... and your feet are confined to a cubby hole. Frankly I preferred the 777 seat.
Food and service is ok. Don't expect CX or SQ standards. And they don't proactively offer any wine ... you have to request it. Nothing is ever poured at your seat (except water). It's as if they are trying to hide the bottles so other passengers don't decide to order some wine as well.
Having said that... their inflight champagne is simply outstanding!