Today I went to the airport to catch my flight. Went to terminal 2, whoops, wrong terminal. Gaurd tells me that I need to be at term 3. A guy from the airline says "no problem" follow me. I sign a sheet, he grabs my bags and takes me through a side security at terminal 2. Get through security no problem. Wait a couple minutes then they pull a bus around and drive me to the other side of the airport to terminal 3. Guy takes me to first class check in counter in front of long line. Finish paying luggage fees, guy cuts me in line through terminal fee (says I don't have to pay terminal fee). Cuts me in front of line of security checkpoint. Walks me to the gate. I gave him a hand shake with some gratuity hidden inside (300 pesos, I came out way ahead on that one) and off he went. You would think they were rushing me to the plane but I was almost 3 hours early for the flight. I think from now on I will just show up at the wrong terminal.
And honestly, since I came back yesterday to Manila it seems that the city or at least the private companies have made a point to deal with tourists in a better manner. No bullshit attitude from the immigration officer when flying in (which I normally get because of the sheer number of in and out stamps to the Philippines and extensions in my passport) and customs just asked what was in my boxs and bags and took my word for it (if they had checked they surely would have had me pay duty on the 5 brand new golf drivers, 2 new wireless routers, and several other brand new commercial merchandises in my bags). Taxi drivers actually went on the meter without me telling them to. A bar even went so far as to take a beer back that wasn't cold and bring me one extra chilled. This is not the Manila I left 1 1/2 months ago. Perhaps this is one in a million chance that all the stars were lined up for me and I was in the right place at the right time.
At NAIA the terminal fee is no longer being collected at the terminal, it is added to the cost of your flight ticket. New procedure that started late last year. Only those who bought their tickets many months ago and the terminal fee was not deducted have to pay terminal fee at the airport now. Larry
This is Philippine Airlines/Airphil Express... they have been providing free transfers between Terminal 2 and 3 for passengers booked in flights on Airphil Express or Philippine Airlines that were affected by the changes due to Project Winter.
