I just purchased my tickets from Los Angeles to Manila on PAL. We are traveling in Sept. They advertised a price of USD 785 round trip per person. That was the cheapest by far after my internet search. So I make the reservation, choose my seats, enter our passport and personal info, enter my credit card #, and only then they state there is a USD 450 surcharge each for fuel and taxes! So insted of USD 1570 it was about USD 2470 for two tickets! That is a ripoff and they should disclose the total price in the beginning. I should have taken the other airlines. They only charge about USD 1050 with a layover in Taiwon or Seoul or Hong Kong...
All airlines in the Philippines are using this tactic, together with other low cost airlines in the region. It's more fun in the Philippines
Devildog, one advantage of flying on PAL from LA is that the plane (if ontime) arrives at 0530am and you may be able to catch the morning flight to Dumaguete, worse case the afternoon flight, whereas most of the other carriers land late in the evening and you have an all-nighter until the morning flight.
I almost always fly eva air they are usually cheaper but in march I am on asiana . It just worked out that way. I try never to fly Philippine air even though they are the only direct flight. I don't mind have a 1 or 2 hour layover somewhere to walk around after sitting for so long.
a new law just took effect this week in the good old u.s.a. air lines can no longer use this add-on tactic. the total ticket price must be disclosed prior to purchase JL
Guitarjohnjohn is right on the new law. Take it up with the FAA in the US and they can get threatened for being non compliant and risk losing their ability to do business in the US. But its best to double check such things before you book as its a very common tactic in non western countries.
I have never had a layover more than 3 with Eva this time (in march ) I am flying Asiana and I have 1 and 10 minutes in seoul just enough time to change planes and stretch my legs. Can't hardly wait to get there been planning this retirement for 10 years.