Philippines Guide – Arriving in the Philippines
If you’re wondering how to get to the Philippines, most visitors enter the Philippines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA, the premiere gateway to the islands and is among the busiest airports Philippines has. Located seven kilometers south of Manila proper along the border of Pasay and Paranaque City, it is close to major centers within the metropolis. It is the 72nd busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger traffic and serves as the Philippines’ guide to the rest of the world. Although collectively called NAIA, the airport is actually composed of four (4) separate terminals including the Old Domestic Terminal. All four terminal buildings share the same two(2) runways. There is a regular shuttle bus service between terminals operated by NAIA (every 15 minutes, 20 Pesos or $0.40) and the journey can take between 5 to 20 minutes depending on traffic conditions. Passengers transferring between domestic and international flights must take note at which terminal they will arrive and depart. Allot around 2-3 hours of transit time between your flights
All international flights (except PAL and Cebu Pacific) arrive through Terminal 1. The terminal was built in 1981 and within 10 years has reached capacity. It has 18 air bridges and interestingly enough, the building does not have a Gate 8 and a Gate 13. Compared to international terminals in other Asian countries, Terminal 1 consistently ranks at the bottom, with limited and outdated facilities, poor passenger comfort, and the facility long ago exceeded its design capacity.
All passengers need to fill up an Arrival Card and a Baggage and Currency Declaration Form, which are usually given onboard prior to landing. There are several immigration counters but long lines are a common sight especially during peak seasons such as Christmas and New Year, Chinese New Year, Holy Week and summer vacation (March-June). Currently, the only required vaccination is for yellow fever for anyone coming from an infected area. Visitors should check with their travel agent or a travel MD for any change in this requirement.
Upon passing through Immigrations, proceed to the Baggage Claim Area where luggage carts are available for free. However, fees are charged if you request for the assistance of helpful porters, who will also serve as a guide Philippines visitors can rely on. The baggage carousel is generally jam-packed as Balikbayans, or overseas Filipino workers, are under special laws governing limits brought into the country and will generally have huge cardboard boxes. It is a mad house and can test one's patience to the limit. Oftentimes, all your luggage seems to come off quickly and at the same time, but generally allow for a long, crowded wait.
After collecting your luggage, the last hurdle before exiting the airport is the Customs Declaration. There are large signs indicating which lines are for ”Nothing to Declare” and “Something to Declare”. Your luggage may be subjected to a random search at this point. Be patient and cooperative. Visitors are allowed to bring in the following duty free: reasonable quantities of clothing, jewelry and toiletries, 400 sticks of cigarettes or two tins of tobacco and two bottles of wine or spirits not exceeding one liter each. Visitors carrying more than US$10,000 must declare the amount at the Central Bank of the Philippines counter in the Customs area. You may not take out more foreign currency than you brought in.
For security reasons, non-passengers are not allowed inside all airport buildings unless they have special permit from the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA). Those who will pick you up must wait outside and across from the main entrance to the airport. As in any large airport, finding your pick-up person or contact is difficult. Upon exiting the terminal, airport taxis and hotel cars are located directly across the street and can help you if you need a guide. Philippines visitors that are expecting a private car will have to cross the street to the Arrival Extension Area and go down a long ramp and turn either to the left or right - depending on the first letter of your last name. Upon reaching the lower level, there are signs indicating the letters (i.e. A-G) under which you stand until your ride sees you (a simple yet very effective way for both passengers and greeters). They can then drive the car to your position to load your luggage. Currently, a car must loop around the airport to get back to where you are, so be patient. If possible, make prior arrangements with your hotel for an airport pick-up.
Coupon (pre-paid) taxis are available at the airport. Rates are fixed and dependent on the destination and generally are more expensive, but safer, compared to what you would pay in a metered taxi. Coupon taxi counters usually are found immediately after exiting the Customs Area. Expect to pay somewhere between 300-600 Pesos for destinations within Metro Manila. Yellow Airport taxis are about half that price (200-300 Peso) and issue receipts for passengers.
Regular taxis can sometimes be found at the Arrival Terminal, though usually you need to catch one unloading at the Departure Area or outside the airport complex. This may be easier said than done however, particularly when carrying your luggage and is generally not advised. Regular taxis cost 100-200 Pesos for the same journey to Metro Manila. Insist on using the meter and refuse if they do not agree. You can alway get another one. Apart from taxis, there are no regular public transport services to the airports except for buses and jeepneys plying routes that pass nearby. It will take a few minutes walk however before you get to a place where you can board and all this effort may not be worth the hassle so most travellers opt to take a taxi.
The newer Terminal 2, also known as <b>Centennial Terminal, serves as the primary hub for international and domestic flights of Philippine Airlines. Located on the Old MIA Road about a kilometer away from Terminal 1, it was completed in 1998 and started operations in 1999. Currently it is exclusively used by Philippine Airlines and the busiest among the three international terminals. The Centennial Terminal is divided into two, the North Wing which handles international flights, and the South Wing, which handles domestic flights. This allows PAL passengers a seamless transfer between domestic and international flights and eliminates the need for transferring terminals. Except for the long ramp going to the Extension Area, arrival procedures are similar that of in Terminal 1. Airport taxis are also available upon exit.
The latest and biggest terminal is the newly opened Terminal 3 or NAIA-3. Formally opened in July 2008 it has a total floor area of 182,500 m² with a total length of 1.2 kilometres. A four-level shopping mall connects the terminal and parking buildings. The parking building has a capacity of 2,000 cars while the outdoor parking area has a capacity of 1,200 cars. The terminal is capable of servicing 33,000 passengers daily at peak or 6,000 passengers per hour. The terminal has 34 air bridges, 20 contact gates with the ability of servicing 28 planes at any given time. The departure area has five entrances all equipped with X-ray machines with the final security check having 18 X-ray machines while its baggage claim has 7 large baggage carousels.NAIA-3 currently serves as a hub for PAL Express and both domestic and international flights of Cebu Pacific. This allows Cebu Pacific passengers a seamless transfer between domestic and international flights and eliminates the need for transferring terminals.</strong> However, since it is a budget airlines, passengers may be required to pickup their luggage upon arrival and check-in again. Arrival procedures are similar to that of in Terminal 1. Airport taxis are also available upon exit.
For those who want to know how to get to the Philippines on a budget, a budget alternative to the main airports Philippines has is through Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (also known as Clark International Airport), about 85 kilometers north of Manila. It is the main airport serving the immediate vicinity of the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) and the general area of Angeles City in the Philippines as well as northern and central regions of Luzon. Service buses are available from Clark Airport to downtown Metro Manila on a regular basis. Fares range from 300 (from SM Megamall in Mandaluyong) to 350 pesos (from Philtranco Pasay Terminal). Travel time usually take an hour via the North Luzon Expressway. <strong>DMIA is being developed to be the Premier Gateway Airport of the Philippines replacing NAIA by the year 2010.
Another airport in the Philippines is the Mactan International Airport, located in Mactan Island, Cebu, is the second largest airport and the primary gateway to the Visayas Region. Direct flight from Japan, Korea and some parts of Southeast Asia are available. Taxis are the primary means of traveling to and from this airport to downtown Cebu City.
Davao International Airport is the third largest airport in the Philippines and the primary gateway to Mindanao and the only one serving actual international flights on a regular basis. The passenger terminal is a Malay architecture-inspired building. Besides the main terminal building, there are also new support facilities like the Administration Building, Airfield Maintenance Building, a 688-slot car parking area and 4 slots for shuttle buses. The Air Traffic Control tower is considered as the most advanced in the Philippines. There are also 2 Mabuhay lounges of Philippine Airlines inside the airport premises.
We hope that you have learned more about how to get to the Philippines, and what to do. Philippines is a great place to be when you know your way around. Explore.ph is Philippines’ guide to everything exciting for both locals and tourists – join our community today!
