Manila Travel Forum

VT'ers,

Once again Mabuhay!
Alright, I have been trying to get some pricing from Cebu Pacific for their BKK-MNL route. I will be wanting a return flight in November 2008 to see my GF.

But for some stupid reason, their website does not allow me entry of a date that is so far in advance.

My questions are thus:

1. Do I take the risk and not book for this until I'm in BKK, closer to travel time. Flying there first for business.

2. Does anyone know what the approximate cost of this return ticket, during the period of late November. Also, is this considered shoulder or peak season.

Thanks for your insight.

I would think that there would be some sale for that period so it would be worthwhile waiting a little.

A rough estimate of the cost would be around 7 to 8k. I think you'll still be able to get a flight if you wait until 1 week before your expected departure. mid november is still the lean period anyway.

Have u tried airasia.com?

Thanks for the replies, but I will take Jane's suggestion and leave it until I'm in BKK. AirAsia is no good for me as it flies into Clark.

Hey Cebu Pacific just introduced their zero fares promo. You may book between May 15 and 18 for travel from June 9 to December 31. I guess this covers your concern.

Asianbelle, thanks for the tip. I booked with Cebu Pacific.

However, I would like everyone to know of what I think is a scam on this type of promo fare.

Sure the ticket price is cheap - cannot complain about an $80AUD return fare. However, the added taxes & surcharges were $130AUD. WTF?!!
Ended up paying about $210AUD on the return fare.

And I believe I'm still to pay the Exit Fee at the airport returning from Manila. I think this has also gone up now from about 700PHP to 1,620PHP

Total cost of ticket - $253AUD

"And I believe I'm still to pay the Exit Fee at the airport returning from Manila. I think this has also gone up now from about 700PHP to 1,620PHP"

If you are a Philippine passport holder, then you need to pay the travel tax of P1620 plus the airport terminal fee of P750. But if you are a foreign passport holder, you don't need to pay the travel tax, only the terminal fee.

However, I would like everyone to know of what I think is a scam on this type of promo fare.

Sure the ticket price is cheap - cannot complain about an $80AUD return fare. However, the added taxes & surcharges were $130AUD. WTF?!!
Ended up paying about $210AUD on the return fare.

And I believe I'm still to pay the Exit Fee at the airport returning from Manila. I think this has also gone up now from about 700PHP to 1,620PHP

Total cost of ticket - $253AUD

Sounds like scam. However, all budget airlines fare are costed like that, they normally give you the low fare then on the suceeding pages while booking online, it will show you the additional charges, i.e. taxes and fuel charges, some have express boarding or priority boarding charges. There are some of them that cost them the entire thing mentioning that it's inclusive of taxes, etc.

May sounds as scam but it's actually marketing. I remember AirAsia and TigerAirways giving away tickets at $1 on random booking and I got one!

QUOTE: Sorry I forgot to delete or put a quote on your post above.

Sounds like scam. However, all budget airlines fare are costed like that, they normally give you the low fare then on the suceeding pages while booking online, it will show you the additional charges, i.e. taxes and fuel charges, some have express boarding or priority boarding charges. There are some of them that cost them the entire thing mentioning that it's inclusive of taxes, etc.

May sounds as scam but it's actually marketing. I remember AirAsia and TigerAirways giving away tickets at $1 on random booking and I got one!

Nope, not a scam. If you check on the prices of the other airlines, you'll find that despite the taxes and surcharges, you'll still end up getting a fare price.

Hi Everyone,
I wasn't trying to disparage the cheapness of these promo fares. B'cos they are still cheap. But rather the tactics these budget airlines use. We should all be unhappy about misleading advertisements.

Anyway thanks also to AsianBelle for pointing out that I did not need to pay 1,620php surcharge. Only the 750php departure tax.

Cheers