Ever wonder what the new normal for air travel will be like? Perhaps you’re wondering, is it safe to fly to the Philippines? What are the new normal protocols for air travel? What do I need to know before, during and after the flight?
The check-in counters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) with scarce people traveling in the new normal
On this blog, be oriented about what the new normal for air travel in the Philippines will be like. You’ll also gain practical tips about finding the cheapest flights to Philippines, how much it costs and which airline to book. Plus, be guided on what to expect before, during and after your flight when you travel in the new normal.
Stay updated. Have the the peace of mind knowing that you have everything sorted out for your flight and remember to “travel light” – fly with clear thoughts, free from hassles and unwanted surprises.
Nobody knows exactly when this COVID-19 will end. But certainly, the Philippines will always be a favorite destination – with or without the pandemic.
Soon, you will find yourself looking that next flight to the Philippines again. 🙂
Why Choose Philippines? #SafeTravel
Traveling may have temporarily stopped but the “travel itch” has not totally disappeared. A lot are still expressing a strong desire to take flights to Philippines, especially after months of lockdown.
Google search trends suggest that people are looking for destinations – everyone is on a “dream” phase now. The Department of Tourism (DOT) resonated it well when they launched the #WakeUpinPH campaign.
Video: DOT’s Wake Up in Ph Campaign
In September 2020, the Philippines received the “Safe Travel” stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). The Safe Travel stamp recognizes the adoption of global health and hygiene protocols which enables travelers to recognize destinations around the world that have adopted health and hygiene global standardized protocols. | Source: PhilStar Global
In October 2020, the Philippines made new heights as we bagged 4 coveted awards in the recently concluded World Travel Awards, such as:
- Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction: Intramuros
- Asia’s Leading Dive Destination
- Asia’s Leading Beach Destination
- The award-giving body also declared the Department of Tourism (DOT) as this year’s Leading Tourist Board in Asia, besting 11 nominated countries. | Source: World Travel Awards
World Travel Awards Posters | Source: DOT
These recognitions only add up to the many reasons it is safe to travel to the Philippines and why it will always be “More Fun in the Philippines”.
Book a Flight to Philippines: Airlines Offering Flights to Philippines
Airlines in Philippines
Philippine Airlines (PAL) – this airline is the flag carrier of the Philippines. It operates in 31 domestic destinations as well as a good number of international flights.
Cebu Pacific – this is a low-cost airline carrier and is considered the country’s largest airline based on the number of passengers flown on domestic and international routes. It offers flights across 36 island destinations in the country
Airswift Philippines – this is a regional airline that offers flights to Batanes, Busuanga, Clark, Boracay, Cebu, Manila and Sicogon. It is also affiliated with El Nido Resort in Palawan which serves as the official airline carrier to its estate resorts.
Skyjet – the first boutique airline in the Philippines which operates flights to Batanes, Camiguin, San Vicente and Manila.
Philippines Air Asia – it is the Philippine affiliate of AirAsia, a low-cost airline based in Malaysia.
Royal Air Ph – it is a budget chartered airline that operates domestic and international non-scheduled airline and cargo services
International Airlines that Offer Flights to Philippines
Cathay Pacific Philippines
Air Asia Ph
Royal Air Ph
Eva Air Philippines
Singapore Airline Philippines
Jetstar Philippines
Delta Air Lines Philippines
All Nippon Airways
Air Canada
Qatar Airways
Japan Airlines
Domestic Flights to Philippines: Fly to Philippine Destinations
Most flights going to island destinations are available at major airport hubs such as Manila (Philippines’ capital city) and Cebu.
However, if you intend to transfer from one island to another (for instance you want to fly from Palawan to Siargao), it is most likely that you will have to take a connecting flight that has a stop at either Manila or Cebu. If not, you also have the option to take a ferry transfer via 2Go Travel, Supercat, Oceanjet and the like. Taking inter-island ferries in the Philippines is also a great way to have a little bit of adventure and have a more authentic travel experience.
| Available Flights to and from Manila, Philippines | Available Flights to and from Cebu, Philippines | Flights With Specific Days / Schedule |
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Manila to Cebu flights Manila to Bohol flights Manila to Boracay flights Manila to Siargao flights Manila to Davao flights Manila to El Nido flights Manila to Coron (Busuanga) flights Manila to Puerto Princesa flights Manila to Legazpi flight Most island destinations in the Philippines |
Cebu to Manila flights Cebu to Clark flights Cebu to Bohol flights Cebu to Boracay flights Cebu to Siargao flights Cebu to Davao flight Cebu to El Nido flights Cebu to Coron (Busuanga) flights Cebu to Puerto Princesa flight Cebu to Legazpi flight Most island destinations in Philippines |
Manila to Batanes flights Manila to Naga flights Manila to Virac flights Manila to Iloilo flights Manila to Bacolod flights Manila to Tacloban flights Manila to Dumaguete flights Manila to Guimaras flights Manila to Dipolog flights Manila to Zamboanga flights Manila to Surigao flights Manila to Butuan flights Manila to General Santos flights Manila to Cotabato flights Cebu to Camiguin flights Cebu to Butuan flights Cebu to Cagayan de Oro flights Cebu to General Santos flights Cebu to Tacloban flights Cebu to Zamboanga flights |
Plane Ticket to Philippines: Cheapest Flights to Philippines
Depending on your origin and time of booking, one-way international flights from the US to the Philippines can range from $400 and up. According to Expedia.com, prices available in the past 7 days and starts at $408 for one-way flights and $582 for the round-trip, for the period specified.
For domestic flights, airfares are relatively enticing. With an array of domestic airline carriers offering flights to Philippines, you can easily compare prices and pick the cheapest flight that suits your budget. The average ticket price for domestic flights to Philippines can range from Php 2,000 to Php 8,000.
Airlines such as Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines also give a generous amount of promo fares – with prices as low as Piso fare, Php 99, Php 299 to upto Php 2,500 or so. Although, finding the cheapest flights to Philippines is also a combination of timing and luck.
Tip: Booking period for promo fares are usually scheduled on Philippine national holidays beginning 12 midnight. The travel period happens in the next 2 to 6 months upon the time of booking.
The New Normal for Air Travel: New Flight Requirements
Traveling in the new normal is no longer just a book-and-fly journey. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the aviation industry has incorporated heightened safety measures to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone.
With this, expect changes and heightened health protocols all throughout your travel – before, during and after the flight.
Here are some of the important things you must know when you travel by air:
Pre-departure: Preparations To Make Days Before You Flight
- Do advance booking at least 20 days prior to the departure date. The time element is very important to allow ample time in processing the mandatory travel requirements such as documents and 14-day quarantine (subject to government regulations).
- Travel and health documents is must! Make sure to comply with all pertinent requirements.
Aside from a valid I.D. and your flight ticket, there are mandatory travel documents that you need to present at the airport and upon entry in the receiving destination. This includes:
1) Travel authority from place of origin. Find out How to Get a Travel Authority on this blog.
2) Acceptance letter from the receiving destination
3) Negative RT-PCR (swab) test result (this requirement may vary depending on the locale
Mandatory travel documents in the new normal
NOTE: Travel documents vary per destination so make sure to check with the right sources. The airline also provides an updated list of requirements to keep the passenger updated. You may use Philippine Airlines’ guide list here.
You may also read How to Get a Travel Authority in the Philippines – it discusses the step by step process of getting a Travel Authority as well as a parcel topic about swab testing for travel.
- Check-in online. Most airlines have adjusted their online check-in to as early as 7 days prior to your flight to not later than 1 hour before your flight.
- Take a screenshot of your boarding pass together with the QR code – you will need to present this upon entry at the airport. Most airlines today adopt a paperless transaction to minimize contact points.
Pre-departure: At the Airport
- Boarding pass and a valid ID will be checked upon entry. There will also be a mandatory body temperature check at the entrance.
- Use of face mask and full-face shield is mandatory at all times, at the airport and allthroughout your flight.
- Travel documents will be checked at the airport check-in counter so make sure that you place them in your carry-on bag which you can easily pull-out anytime. In some cases, airport personnel also take a photo of all your travel documents.
- Proceed with the check-in baggage procedure as usual.
- Observe physical distancing at all times. Foot markers and seat markers are in place and everyone is encouraged to strictly follow them.
- Avoid touching your face and surfaces. Sanitize your hands as often as possible. Hand sanitizers and alcohols are also widely available in many areas at the airport. It will also be best if you carry your own alcohol or sanitizer.
- Listen attentively to the new boarding procedure – fall in line only when your seat row number is called.
- Ready your boarding pass (electronic or printed) and one valid ID upon boarding. Hold both documents in a manner facing the boarding agent for easy screening.
Passengers at the boarding gate, waiting for their flight. Passengers wearing facemask and face shield. They also seated with alternate seats for physical distancing.
In-flight: Inside the Aircraft
- Present again your boarding pass and a valid ID to the cabin crew upon entry at the aircraft.
- Your hands will be sanitized upon boarding the aircraft.
- Proceed immediately to your assigned seat. Place your carry-on baggage to the nearest available overhead bin or under your seat.
- Depending on the number of confirmed passengers on a flight, some seats will be left empty for physical distancing, while some flights will have full-row seating.
- You will be given a Health Declaration Form which you will need to fill-up to be given at the airport of destination. It is best to bring your own pen.
- In-flight Safety Demo will still be done as usual, except that, cabin crews are in their personal protective equipment (PPE)
- On-board service is limited to bottled water only.
- Deplaning is conducted per row on an alternate basis to facilitate order and minimize crowding the aisle. Listen attentively when your row is called.
- Passengers are asked to bring their own garbage upon disembarkation, to be deposited before exiting the aircraft.
In-flight safety demo of Cebu Pacific cabin crew wearing a PPE
After the Flight: At the Airport of Destination and On Your Locale
- Ready the duly accomplished Health Declaration Form, it shall be collected by one of the airport ground personnel.
- Proceed to the baggage claim counter as usual.
- There is a designated COVID Task Force counter manned by uniformed personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) at the arrival area of the receiving airport. You will be asked to log in your personal information, travel details and the address where you will be staying.
- Upon arrival at your locale, make sure to drop-by the municipal / city hall to log in that you have arrived. This step is very important to ensure proper coordination is made and that the right offices are notified.
- The staff from the health office will then visit your specified address to check the location, verify your documents, hand over the Notice of Mandatory Quarantine that you need to sign and advise you of the health protocols in line with your stay.
Stay Updated on the New Normal for Air Travel: Travel Responsibly
The new normal air travel safety protocols demand for the traveling public to remain updated, follow safety protocols and travel responsibly. It requires each one of us us to take an active role in protecting ourselves and everyone around us.
Rest assured that the Philippine government, along with the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and the Department of Tourism, are making concerted efforts to ensure everyone’s well-being and safety by employing layers of safety protocols every step of the way.
It will be a continuous endeavor for the travel sector to regularly improve operations to assure the traveling public that it is safe to travel. With the right approach and effective strategy, we can become a pandemic-resilient industry. But first, it will require us to change, with full cooperation and compliance of the traveling public – realize that that the tiny individual actions we make creates a greater impact to the travel industry in general.
Are You Ready For Your First After the Lockdown?
After months of lockdown, for sure, many of us are excited to go out again. Traveling will always be a breath of fresh air especially after being confined for such a long time.
As tourism slowly re-opens in the Philippines, there are imperative changes that we collaborately do in order to have a safe travel.When you decide to travel today, know that you voluntarily submit yourself to abide by all the safety protocols imposed by the airline of your choice as well as the receiving destination or locale.
As we longed to go out and go places, may we endeavor to travel responsibly so that we can all better enjoy that long-overdue vacation that we deserve.
Aircraft window with a good view of blue sky
Need an Expert Advise on Your Flight to the Philippines?
Feel free to get in touch with us. Our experienced travel experts can help sort the best option for you!
You may also want to read about the New Normal for Travel and Tourism in the Philippines or perhaps, Hotel Safety Protocols. Always stay updated.
We wish you an enjoyable trip to the Philippines and have a safe flight! 🙂
Dear sir, i travel regular to Philippines i love the Philippines so much the weather the wonderful shopping mols , Great people , i always enjoy my Vacation there , i miss so much , I look forward to getting to Travel to Philippines Soon , reg Vincent Montgomery.