My Worst Flight Experience Ever: How to Navigate NAIA Airport in the Philippines
I had my fair share of bad experiences with airports, immigration officers, flight delays and more. I’ve never blogged about them but this one made me want to share my experience. The most significant reason is that I almost missed my flight. Let’s go!
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Tale of Unfortunate Events
Here’s my nightmare experience, I have nothing against the airline and I’m simply sharing my tale of unfortunate events.
Flight Route: Cebu - Manila - USA
Flight: Cebu - Manila via Famous Airline
The flight was delayed, as always.
Got off the plane and had no assistance whatsoever, not a single Famous Airline Crew assisting in transferring passengers. The other passengers said it was normal while the tourists and other clueless passengers like me were lost.
Arrival at Domestic Airport to Transfer to Connecting Flight
Do Not Leave Without Your Check-In Bag
First, make sure to pick up your luggage at the Domestic Airport “carousel” or baggage conveyor belt.
Manual Inspection
Second, asked the Transfer desk which carousel to go to for manual inspection. It turns out you need to pick up your luggage in the carousel and then go to another carousel where you need to submit your luggage for manual inspection. You need to open your bag and a security personnel will swab the insides of the bag to check on something. Afterwards, you place the luggage back to the nearby carousel.
Go to the International Airport
Third, find the International Airport outside the Domestic Airport as they’re not in the same building. I went outside the Domestic Airport and I got lost. Normally I try to avoid Manila as a stopover as much as I can as I heard a lot of horror stories from my friends during flight transfers. If you’re from Manila or you’ve done this before then lucky you, you’re very well oriented to the chaos at NAIA.
From the Domestic Airport, you have to go outside the building and find an elevator to the third floor, or maybe an escalator is somewhere there hidden in the beautiful facade of NAIA. And, I did ask for directions and the personnel were not that helpful too.
What made it harder to find the International airport was that there were no signs at all. I might have missed it as our flight was delayed and I was in a hurry. The signs might have been hidden again in the beautiful facade of NAIA.
Inside Ninoy Aquino International Airport
First Security Check
Security check: carry-on bags, body check and shoes off.
Make sure to have Boarding Pass on Hand
Make sure to have Boarding Pass on Hand
If you have your boarding pass for your next flight you are one lucky passenger. I met one who didn’t have a boarding pass for his connecting flight so he had to line up again in the check-in section for his boarding pass.
I had my boarding pass with me for my connecting flight, so I went straight to the immigration area.
Immigration Section
There’s always a line going at the immigration area which is normal. Another reason why I had to find my way in a hurry was to avoid missing my flight.
Fill out the Departure Form
If you have a Philippine Passport you will need to fill out a Departure form. For Foreign passport holders, you don’t need a Departure form.
I flew Monday night and there were only two immigration officers on duty. There were more than ten counters set up in the immigration area but only two people were on duty and two other personnel to chat with inside the small cubicle. The line got longer and longer. I only had 1 hour to complete all these security checks for my flight.
Two Security Checks After Immigration
All these security checks include the normal checking of carry-on bags, AND body checks AND shoes off, yes shoes off.
Second Security Check
Third Security Check
We were asked to go to personnel to check on our passports for I don’t know what reason. The personnel then manually wrote down each passenger's name and then we proceeded to the security check. Another security check for carry-on bags, body check again and shoes off again.
The security offer then said my water bottle was not allowed. Then to make things more pleasurable my flight was delayed.
Boarding Gate
There’s this blue line that separates the boarding section from the non-boarding section or food section or charging section. If it’s your first time in NAIA you wouldn’t know this line existed.
Listen Carefully
The crew shouts for your group number like we’re in a wet market. Yes, they just shout so if you’re seated far then good luck.
This is my experience. This is my story. I’ve been to a lot of airports, I have done a lot of flight transfers and so far this was my worst flight transfer experience. Perhaps things are now more organized and less complicated. I pray this positive change benefits everyone.
I had my boarding pass with me for my connecting flight, so I went straight to the immigration area.
Immigration Section
There’s always a line going at the immigration area which is normal. Another reason why I had to find my way in a hurry was to avoid missing my flight.
Fill out the Departure Form
If you have a Philippine Passport you will need to fill out a Departure form. For Foreign passport holders, you don’t need a Departure form.
I flew Monday night and there were only two immigration officers on duty. There were more than ten counters set up in the immigration area but only two people were on duty and two other personnel to chat with inside the small cubicle. The line got longer and longer. I only had 1 hour to complete all these security checks for my flight.
Two Security Checks After Immigration
All these security checks include the normal checking of carry-on bags, AND body checks AND shoes off, yes shoes off.
Second Security Check
Security check: carry-on bags, body check and shoes off.
My bag was inspected as they thought my water bottle had water in it. The bottle was empty.
I thought after completing immigration with my empty water bottle that I could go ahead and refill it with water - so I did.
Reminders
If you still want to eat something, buy something or go to the restroom then don’t go through the third security check yet. I did and regretted it as I was starving and was told we needed to stay in place.
My bag was inspected as they thought my water bottle had water in it. The bottle was empty.
I thought after completing immigration with my empty water bottle that I could go ahead and refill it with water - so I did.
Reminders
If you still want to eat something, buy something or go to the restroom then don’t go through the third security check yet. I did and regretted it as I was starving and was told we needed to stay in place.
Third Security Check
We were asked to go to personnel to check on our passports for I don’t know what reason. The personnel then manually wrote down each passenger's name and then we proceeded to the security check. Another security check for carry-on bags, body check again and shoes off again.
The security offer then said my water bottle was not allowed. Then to make things more pleasurable my flight was delayed.
Boarding Gate
There’s this blue line that separates the boarding section from the non-boarding section or food section or charging section. If it’s your first time in NAIA you wouldn’t know this line existed.
Listen Carefully
The crew shouts for your group number like we’re in a wet market. Yes, they just shout so if you’re seated far then good luck.
This is my experience. This is my story. I’ve been to a lot of airports, I have done a lot of flight transfers and so far this was my worst flight transfer experience. Perhaps things are now more organized and less complicated. I pray this positive change benefits everyone.
I hope this guide will provide some insights into how to survive the chaotic world of the NAIA Airport in the Philippines.
Have fun and be safe ^__^
Do you want more adventure?
Here is a Compilation of all my thrilling escapades over the past few years. Perhaps it's time to revisit your own bucket list and make some progress towards achieving your goals.
Where am I going next?
For my next adventure, we're thrilled to finally visit one of California's most breathtaking mountains – Mammoth Lake!
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