Here are important reminders from two of the country’s biggest airlines and then some.
It’s that time of the year again—one of the few instances where the heaving behemoth that is Metro Manila sees an exodus of travelers looking for some time away from its chaos. Much like during the Christmas and All Saints Day breaks, the country’s Holy Week or Semana Santa also comes with its own mad rush, be it on our main expressways or at our airports, especially at our primary gateway, the infamous Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Per the Philippine News Agency, NAIA authorities expect to handle even more travelers during the Holy Week this year compared to last year. “From April 13 to 20, NAIA is expected to welcome more than 1.18 million passengers—a 14.23 percent increase from last year’s 1.04 million. Flight movements are also projected to rise, from 6,537 in 2024 to 6,724 this year,” the New NAIA Infra Corp (NNIC) said in a statement. The busiest day will be on Good Friday, April 18, with 851 flights on schedule.
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Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval told the state news agency that around 30 more personnel will be deployed at the NAIA this Holy Week. Despite this, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, in the same press conference, said inconveniences may not be avoided due to the higher volume of passengers. He urged travelers to exercise more patience, especially with airport workers.
The POST gathers here important reminders from two of the country’s biggest airlines and then some. Read on for a safer and more seamless flight for you and your loved ones. Travel mercies!
PAL passenger reminders
In anticipation of the Holy Week rush, the nation’s flag carrier issued a few reminders to help you embark on a smooth journey:
- Skip the lines by checking-in via the PAL website or mobile app 24 hours to one hour before your flight.
- PAL encourages you to stay within the free baggage allowance of your booking class and declare your items during check-in.
- For this Holy Week, PAL urges you to check-in early—three to four hours before departure for domestic flights at NAIA Terminal 2; and as early as four to five hours before departure for international flights at NAIA Terminal 1.
- Check the latest update on the status of your flight by logging on to the PAL website and clicking on the Flight Status tab.
- Keep in mind your terminal and boarding gate. Listen to public announcements for updates, in case there might be changes.
Click on this link for more details.
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Cebu Pacific peak travel reminders
Last week, Cebu Pacific also released its travel reminders for the Holy Week. The airline outlined six points that passengers need to keep in mind for a safe and seamless travel:
- Check flight’s airport terminal assignment. Before proceeding to the airport, passengers are strongly advised to check the details in their itineraries and boarding passes. Here’s your nifty guide for CebPac flights:
– 5J flights: These flights to and from Manila arrive at and depart from NAIA Terminal 3.
– T6 flights: These flights to and from Manila arrive at and depart from NAIA Terminal 2.
– DG flights from Manila to Siargao and Masbate: Transferred to Clark International Airport as of March 30. Other DG flights to and from Manila remain at NAIA Terminal 2. - Be on time. Cebu Pacific advises passengers to be at the airport at least three hours before departure for domestic flights, and four hours for international flights. Passengers traveling to Dubai are allowed to check in as early as seven hours before departure.
- Check in online. Long lines may be avoided at the airport by checking in via the official CEB mobile app or via the Manage Booking section of the CEB website. Both options are available from 48 hours up to one hour before the scheduled time of departure for domestic flights, and up to two hours before scheduled departure for international fliers.
- Accomplish eTravel Forms. Passengers traveling internationally are encouraged to register or update their eTravel forms within 72 hours or three days before departure from and arrival to the Philippines. Save the QR code generated at the end of the form. For roundtrip international flights, passengers are required to complete the eTravel form TWICE — once for the departure flight and again for the arrival flight. After generating the eTravel QR code, complete the Customs Declaration Form before arrival. eTravel forms can be accomplished by accessing www.etravel.gov.ph.
- Baggage Policy. Passengers may board the flight with one carry-on bag that fits in the overhead bin and one personal item like a purse, small backpack, or laptop bag that fits under the seat in front of them. Both hand-carry baggage are free of charge and must have a combined weight of 7kg or less.
- Self-tag luggage for select domestic destinations. Passengers flying out of select domestic destinations (Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Clark, Coron, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Manila, Puerto Princesa, Siargao, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, and Zamboanga) are reminded to self-tag their check-in luggage at the designated kiosks at the airport, prior to proceeding to counters for bag drops.
Click on this link for more details.
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Other important reminders
For international trips:
- Passport should be valid at least six months from your date of travel.
- The name on your ticket must be exactly the same as the name reflected in your passport.
- Ensure that you have the required visas, permits, vaccination card (if appropriate) and other documents required for your destination
For domestic trips:
- Bring your valid government, school, or company-issued ID
- Ensure that the name on your ticket is exactly the same as the name reflected in the ID presented upon check-in and boarding
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A note on power banks
Following incidents of smoke inside the cabin in other countries wherein power banks were blamed in some cases, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) issued a directive prohibiting the use of power banks inside the aircraft, regardless of power capacity. Power banks with 100 Wh and below are allowed inside the aircraft, but beyond that either a permit is needed or it may not be allowed at all.
Cebu Pacific and Air Asia have the same policy while Philippine Airlines said it will soon announce its own guidelines, per a report on ABS-CBN News.
As of writing, AirAsia Philippines and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) have yet to issue their own Holy Week travel guidelines. Bookmark this page for updates or visit our previous Easter exodus story for more practical reminders.
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