it still happens

Forget about buong barangay on hand to send-off or meet a family member, it happens in other parts of the country, and it happens in my old hometown. I was at the Calbayog airport earlier today to meet my mother who flew in from her vacation in the land of the Chinese (now I'm drooling or maybe it's more like green with envy). Anyway, I used to do it when I was young (and that's at least three decades ago); and together with some well-wishers (how do you call those who are on hand to meet an arriving passenger?), I did it again - at the "chicken wire" fence on the right side of the airport terminal, I waited and watched the aircraft land and stop in front of the arrival gate. Whew! it still happens eh? Nice weekend everyone!

the celebrity hound with Jaime Bautista

Who the hell is Jaime Bautista? Well, he is none other than the President of Philippine Airlines (PAL). Mr. Bautista was in the news recently, thanks to PAL's row with some of its pilots. I remember meeting Mr. Bautista when I emceed the PAL Express program at the Calbayog Airport on April 15, 2008. The program was graced by no less than President President Gloria Arroyo. I dug and my files and here it is, the pix of the celebrity hound (read: me) with Mr. Bautista and PGMA.

I'm in Smile magazine

Hi there! I finally landed in a magazine. It's the June 2010 issue of Smile, Cebu Pacific's inflight magazine (nope, that's not me on the cover).

I made it in the last pages of the said publication. I would have wanted to submit an article about Calbayog, but for the meantime, I have to settle for the local flavor section of June - July 2010 issue.

A disclaimer though, the thing about some videoke and nightspots in Calbayog were not part of the answers I provided the editors.

If you can't grab yourself a copy of the mag, try check this link. A warning though, it takes a lifetime to link to that link. (redundant ano?)

Cebu Pacific sucks, yes . . . but

I am not saying that PAL Express is the best. Let's not even start discussing about that airline's (PAL Express) erratic schedule. But I heard it's in time now, well almost. I have not yet taken a Cebu Pacific flight from Calbayog. In the meantime let me give you this which I got from their website. Something that is most welcome for air travelers. I hope it will work the way it is supposed to (Remember my rant about my bad experience with their ATM payment system?).

Cebu Pacific launches new travel options
Now offers name change, travel fund to passengers

Starting December 1, 2009, leading domestic airline Cebu Pacific (CEB) will offer new products for the additional convenience of its guests.

The name change option allows passengers to transfer their tickets to another passenger for a fee.

Meanwhile, the travel fund allows passengers to use the value of changed flights within 90 days from the date the fund is created, or to transfer the booking to another passenger. The fund eliminates the waiting time for refunds. Passengers can immediately use the stored amount for their next booking.

CEB will also begin using a new booking and cancellation policy starting December 1, 2009.
Under the new rules, passengers can change their ticket more than one day before departure date. This includes modifying flight, route, date of travel and name, or canceling flights.

Involuntary flight disruptions (such as cancellations or delays by CEB) of three hours or more allows passengers to refund or store booking in the Travel Fund for future travel without penalties within 30 days.

In cases of situations beyond the airline’s control (like weather), tickets are not refundable but passengers may rebook flights without penalties as long as travel is completed within 30 days. Passengers may also store booking in the Travel Fund, but with a penalty since these disruptions are beyond CEB’s control.
“The new policy and Travel Fund benefit passengers by allowing them the use of travel credits anytime within its validity period,” CEB vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said.

“Our low fares and improved on-time performance (OTP) led to a steady increase in passengers and their concern for convenience is an important consideration for CEB. The new business policy provides greater flexibility to passengers while retaining the advantage of very low fares,” CEB vice president for marketing and distribution Candice she added.

CEB, the country’s leader in innovative products, was also the first to introduce the all-inclusive pricing scheme, ‘Go Lite’ fares, e-ticketing, continues to differentiate itself from other low cost carriers by offering a reliable product with exemplary customer service. The airline, Asia’s third largest low-cost carrier and the Philippines’ no.1 in terms of passenger volume and serviced routes, flies to 32 domestic and 14 international destinations using the youngest fleet in the country.

Cebu Pacific sucks

At around 12:00 noon today I got a text message from a friend who works at the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. She took Cebu Pacific Calbayog - Manila flight earlier today. The text said, "Haay Cebu Pacific did not fly my bag from CALBAYOG. I really had a feeling that they would miss it when I checked in this morning. Great Service"

I believe that situation is not an exclusive domain of Calbayog, Cebu Pacific or any airline and any airport for that matter. Years ago an article ridiculed the lousy service that airlines do in handling baggage. And then I remember something which I was supposed to give you many days ago. And this is it:

Cebu Pacific's daily Manila-Calbayog-Manila flights commenced yesterday. This is a nice development. On my own little way, I would like to welcome this service of Cebu Pacific with this rant!

Just when I thought I was no longer doing my earlier intention to do a blog post about how Cebu Pacific sucks. That's until I booked a ticket for my aunt and opted to pay via megalink or ATM - something novel for me after paying my earlier internet bookings via credit card. So, in case you intend to book your Cebu Pacific tickets online and pay via ATM, think again.

I did my booking a week ago yesterday. It was for two tickets for a flight from Tacloban to Cebu on August 12, 2009 (Wednesday). I was pleased to find low-fare tickets available considering the time between booking and the flight itself. I was also pleased to find out about payments via ATM. After entering the necessary booking details, I got the instructions which stated, "You have until tonight (August 9), 23:59H PH Time to pay for your booking through various payment centers. Please see complete list of payment centers by visiting our website at http://www.cebupacificair.com/." After the payment has been made, the passenger will receive a text message from Cebu Pacific confirming the reservation, something which the passenger has to present at the airport together with the e-ticket (or so the instruction said). I did the booking at around 10:00 am, and went to the local UCPB ATM to pay in less than 30 minutes. And in an hour's time, I received the e-ticket via email with the reservation noted: on hold.

So, end of story and welcome to a smooth flight? Nope, it took me four phone calls and a 3-day waiting period before I got the booking confirmation. And yes, we never received a text confirmation from Cebu Pacific.

Let's do some math here. The ticket price was 1,888.32 pesos. Since I opted for ATM payment, 15 pesos was added making the total amount due at 1,903.32 pesos. Still a small amount to pay for the mode of payment. Or so I thought.

24 hours after payment was made, still no text confirmation and no e-ticket with the confirmed reservation. I had to call the airline. I thought it was only one phone call, I ended up doing three more phone calls after being promised that something will be done about it. Yes, they promised to do something about it 4 times (yup, when I called them 4 times) in three days. Finally, on Tuesday afternoon at around 4:30 pm, about 13 hours away from the scheduled flight, only then did we receive the email with the e-ticket and the confirmed reservation; and yes, still no confirmation via text message.

Let's do the math again. My phone calls totalled approximately 25 minutes, give or take a few seconds. And that will cost me approximately 200 pesos in my phone bill next month ('coz suncellular charges 8 pesos/ minute for landline calls). I ended up shelling approximately 2,100 pesos plus for a supposedly low-fare ticket. And yes, what's the amount one had to add for the worry or anxiety about being denied boarding or entrance at the airport? And the waiting one had to do before receiving a final booking confirmation?

Have I told you about their refund procedure? Don't ever contemplate on having to apply for one, saying that the experience is unpleasant is an understatement.

Will I still take Cebu Pacific? Of course I will. It's not that I don't have a choice. It's my way of thanking Mr. Gokongwei for giving every ordinary Juan (like me) the chance to fly, you know with their "Every Juan Must Fly" credo. Sadly for some of their ground crew and flight attendants, with their non-smiling faces (or blank stares) and the manner they give instruction or reminders to some passengers checking in, it seems like the Cebu Pacific credo has been changed to "Every Ordinary Juan Must Stop Flying".

Ah, if only PAL does not live up to what it's name stands for: Plane Always Late. The same thing with Zest Air and its erratic flight schedule. Thanks goodness they did away with their old name. I took a good number of their flights, I mean Asian Spirit, I can't help but worry about landing as spirit each time my flight took off.

PAL Express flights earn miles, ATM cards can buy PAL tickets

Here's something I got from the PAL website:

Effective last July 1st, all PAL Express flights automatically earn miles that can be converted to free flights both on Philippine Airlines (PAL) and PAL Express.

In addition to regular PAL flights, now even PAL Express flights earn mileage points that can be redeemed by members of Mabuhay Miles (PAL's frequent flyer program) to free domestic and international tickets.

To become a Mabuhay Miles member, passengers may enroll at http://www.mabuhaymiles.com/. Enrolment forms are also available at PAL ticket offices, airport check-in counters, Mabuhay lounges, Mabuhay Miles Service Center and accredited travel agents.

Meanwhile, BancNet ATM cards will soon be accepted as mode of payment for PAL tickets purchased online.

The BancNet ATM payment facility, to be available next month, allows PAL passengers without credit cards to book and buy any domestic or international tickets through the PAL website, subject to the maximum amount per transaction allowed by each member bank.

“The BancNet ATM card has a debit card function. Aside from its being PIN-protected, the Payment Page has a Dynamic PIN Pad which ensures hack-free transaction,” said Roberto Diaz de Rivera, PAL senior assistant vice president for Corporate E-Business.

Online purchases using the BancNet ATM card is initially limited to domestic itineraries, added De Rivera, because BancNet's currency conversion facility has yet to be installed for web transactions. PAL is currently upgrading its internet booking and payment facilities in anticipation for increased online transactions when the ATM payment scheme takes effect.

For more information, passengers may call the PAL Reservations hotline at 855-8888 or log on to http://www.philippineairlines.com/ or http://www.mabuhaymiles.com/.

* * *

That's the good news. Now, if only the airline starts doing away with what it's name stands for - PAL as in Plane Always Late, that would be great. When I was in college, a good number of classmates added this - Plane Always Cancelled (something which still occurs with the Manila - Calbayog service) in effect giving the airline a different name: PALPAC

Cebu Pacific to fly daily to Calbayog

Cebu Pacific will be offering daily Manila-Calbayog-Manila flights beginning August 16, 2009.

Cebu Pacific sucks!

Cebu Pacific sucks! (abangan...)

at the Calbayog airport this morning

We were at the Calbayog airport earlier today (as in 7:00 am) for the short program following the maiden Manila-Calbayog flight of Cebu Pacific. Let me share some pictures which we managed to take.

The pre-departure area crowded with both PAL Express and Cebu pacific passengers.

The check-in counters . . .

. . . of PAL Express

. . . Zest Air

. . . and Cebu Pacific

Now this is a sight to behold, two commercial aircrafts at the Calbayog airport apron

flying in fantasy world (or flying business class)

Hi there! I am out of Calbayog. I am posting this while I'm in Manila. Just wanna share that "experience" I had when "by accident" I had to fly to Manila via PAL business class. I call that experience "flight in fantasy world". I had to rush to Imperial Manila for an urgent business, and thanks to the Tacloban fiesta, the only flight open was that of PAL and that's in business class. My sponsor had no choice but to go for it. So, what about that flight? Considering the way I flew or traveled the past so many months, it was sheer fantasy.

What separates business class from the rest? an ordinary curtain.

hmm, the welcome drink - a choice of mango juice or lemon water (both cold) served in real glass. And yes, they served ice.

I made sure I took a picture of the meal served before I finished it. A far cry from the usual plastic of chichiria and juice. But no apologies for the plastic cutlery.

. . . but the legroom is to die for

. . . and the hot towel was something most welcome

My finished meal which was kinda nice. But for the additional you have to pay for the ticket, no will do . . .

Back to the world of reality. Time to pick up my stuff at the carousel.

So, will I fly business class again? a big NO! For so short a span of time (spent on flying) and the amenities for a few thousand bucks extra, NO. As Mr. Gokongwei had it, the money can be spent in a fancy restaurant somewhere. And I agree with him.

But one thing though, it seems that PAL stews know how to smile warmly compared to the ones we get from budget airlines.