Our Review of Manila Airport

Our Review of Manila Airport

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Pros and Cons of Manila Airport

PROs

Location:  NAIA is located about 7 kilometers south of Manila’s city center, making it conveniently accessible for anyone traveling to and from the city.

 Shopping and Dining Options: The airport offers a variety of shops and eateries, including duty-free stores, local culinary alternatives, and foreign cuisine, to meet the different demands of passengers. 

Transportation Connectivity: MNL Airport is well-connected to the city by a variety of modes of transportation, including taxis, ride-sharing services, and airport buses, making arrivals and departures convenient.

Hub: MNL Airport is a hub for Cebu Pacific, Cebgo, Philippine Airlines, PAL Express and AirSWIFT and a focus city for Philippines AirAsia.

Lost & found:  MNL Airport has a dedicated Lost & Found department that assists passengers in recovering lost items. The airport’s staff is generally attentive and helpful, making the process of reporting and retrieving lost belongings as smooth as possible.

 

CONS

Crowding and Congestion: NAIA may get busy, particularly during peak travel seasons. This ca result in increased wait times and an unpleasant experience for passengers.

Immigration Delays: Passengers sometimes face long lines at immigration, particularly during peak travel seasons.

Inconsistent Baggage Handling: During high travel periods, there may be delays and difficulties with baggage handling.

Inter-terminal Transfers: Complimentary 24-hour airside shuttles run every 15 minutes between the NAIA terminals. During busy seasons, these transfers become congested, which can cause inconvenience.

Limited Charging Stations: While there are some charging stations accessible, their quantity is generally limited, making it difficult for travelers to charge devices during extended wait times.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

There are four terminals: Manila Airport has four terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and Terminal 4. Check your flight details to see which terminal you’ll be departing from to minimize last-minute stress.

Transportation Options: MNL Airport is well-connected to Manila and the surrounding areas via a variety of transit choices. You can take a cab, a ride-sharing service, an airport bus, or the NAIA Expressway.

Check-in Areas: 

Terminal 1: Check-in area of terminal 1 is located in the departure level along with boarding level.

Terminal 2: Check-in area of terminal 2 is located in the second level along with departure and boarding area. You can find departure gates 2 to 15.

Terminal 3: Check-in area of terminal 3 is located in the third floor along with boarding level & departures. In this level the check-in counters lead to boarding gates 118 to 120 and 131 to 134.

Terminal 4: Terminal 4 has a single level in which check-in counters are located on the west side.

Dining and Shopping: NAIA has a variety of food and shopping opportunities throughout all terminals. You may discover both local Filipino and foreign eating options, as well as duty-free shopping for souvenirs, cosmetics, and other items.

Family-Friendly Amenities: The airport provides family-friendly services, including designated lactation rooms, children’s play areas, and baby-changing facilities, making it easier for families traveling with young children.

Lounges: NAIA has numerous lounges for guests seeking comfort before their flights. Lounges include facilities such as complementary refreshments and beverages, Wi-Fi, and comfy seats. Access can be obtained by airline memberships, lounge passes, or by paying access.

Lost & Found Services: If you misplace any items, NAIA has a dedicated Lost & Found department that assists travelers in recovering lost belongings, providing peace of mind during your journey.

Additional Tips:

Arrive Early: For a stress-free travel experience, go to the airport at least 3 hours before international flights and 2 hours before domestic flights, especially during high travel seasons.

Check Flight Status: Always check your flight status before leaving for the airport. Flight schedules might vary, and it’s best to be aware of any potential delays or gate adjustments.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Manila Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Manila Airport (last month)