I learned the hard way that booking a flight at the last minute, particularly with PAL, is quite a hassle. If you can do it online, which should be at least 2 days before the flight, that's a relief. But I am disappointed that the rates are in dollars. They should have placed an option there to quote and pay it in pesos since it is quite obvious that a large chunk of their passengers are Filipinos. So you have to keep in mind that the price you would pay through your credit card is higher than your computation based on prevailing exchange rate. In our case, I estimated it to be around P45=$1 but turns out the actual charge in the credit card (for $717.60 roundtrip for 2 to Bangkok) is P33,938.43 making the exchange rate to be P47.29=$1.
I noticed that the PAL booking page has changed. They no longer have an online profile where you can login and view your trip itinerary. This was useful when we went to Davao, because this is where I noticed that they changed the departure time of our return flight. PAL did not even bother to notify me. I think they tried to call me once, when i had a missed call on my cellphone but they did not call again. I did not even receive an email.
Another thing to note when booking online, it does not include the travel tax yet which is P1620 for international flights, as well as the terminal fee worth P750 per pax.
If you have 1 day or less left to book for a flight, you have only 2 options left: go to a PAL office or book it over the phone. I attempted to do both for Rene's officemate but was unsuccessful. Over the phone, it is so hard to get through the trunkline which, if I remember correctly, is 855-8888. I think i redialed the number for about 15-30 mins before i got through and after you're already in, you have to wait another 30mins or so before you get to talk to a PAL agent. While waiting i even left the phone to talk to someone who called me at another phone and dress up as I was about to leave for another errand. Ganon katagal bago ako may nakausap. It's a good thing I didn't miss it when the agent finally talked to me kundi sayang yung inantay ko! =)
I was able to reserve a flight schedule but did not book it yet as I had to ask the person I was booking for if the rate is ok. From the day before, the rate rose by about P8000! After getting the go signal, I decided to go straight to the PAL office in Cubao, so that i could pay here directly and get the ticket since it's on my way back to Meycauayan. Big mistake! It took us about 2 hours waiting time only to find out I couldn't book my husband's colleague as I did not have his passport with me! The agent I talked to over the phone with whom I reserved the slot did not even mention this when I asked her if I could just pay at the PAL office. Grrr! Anyway, the option they proposed is for him to fax his passport. But his officemate already left the office in QC and he still had to go home in Alabang. So we thought he'll just have to make it early to the airport and take his chance if there are still available seats, or maybe book the evening flight.
I asked the lady in the PAL office why they require the passport when you book in person while booking online only requires the names of the passengers. She just says it's the policy. Anyway, someone said it's probably to avoid people like criminals from leaving on short notice. Hmm, it still doesn't make sense to me kasi sa online mas maluwag. And you cannot leave without a passport.
Again, if you're going to book at the last minute (1 day or less before the flight), if you can book it over the phone, do it there. I think they send the ticket details either through fax or email. If you don't have a phone, fax or internet access, go to a PAL office and bring the passport of the passenger/s. They have a senior citizen counter, so if you're with a senior citizen, sign him up so you get priority. This counter is much faster since there are less people on queue. In the normal counter, I think the average time it took was about 4 people in an hr. I don't know why it takes so long when there are several counters (at least 4 i think for the international) and the cashier is separate. PAL needs to improve their service. They are too far behind in terms of efficiency.
I noticed that the PAL booking page has changed. They no longer have an online profile where you can login and view your trip itinerary. This was useful when we went to Davao, because this is where I noticed that they changed the departure time of our return flight. PAL did not even bother to notify me. I think they tried to call me once, when i had a missed call on my cellphone but they did not call again. I did not even receive an email.
Another thing to note when booking online, it does not include the travel tax yet which is P1620 for international flights, as well as the terminal fee worth P750 per pax.
If you have 1 day or less left to book for a flight, you have only 2 options left: go to a PAL office or book it over the phone. I attempted to do both for Rene's officemate but was unsuccessful. Over the phone, it is so hard to get through the trunkline which, if I remember correctly, is 855-8888. I think i redialed the number for about 15-30 mins before i got through and after you're already in, you have to wait another 30mins or so before you get to talk to a PAL agent. While waiting i even left the phone to talk to someone who called me at another phone and dress up as I was about to leave for another errand. Ganon katagal bago ako may nakausap. It's a good thing I didn't miss it when the agent finally talked to me kundi sayang yung inantay ko! =)
I was able to reserve a flight schedule but did not book it yet as I had to ask the person I was booking for if the rate is ok. From the day before, the rate rose by about P8000! After getting the go signal, I decided to go straight to the PAL office in Cubao, so that i could pay here directly and get the ticket since it's on my way back to Meycauayan. Big mistake! It took us about 2 hours waiting time only to find out I couldn't book my husband's colleague as I did not have his passport with me! The agent I talked to over the phone with whom I reserved the slot did not even mention this when I asked her if I could just pay at the PAL office. Grrr! Anyway, the option they proposed is for him to fax his passport. But his officemate already left the office in QC and he still had to go home in Alabang. So we thought he'll just have to make it early to the airport and take his chance if there are still available seats, or maybe book the evening flight.
I asked the lady in the PAL office why they require the passport when you book in person while booking online only requires the names of the passengers. She just says it's the policy. Anyway, someone said it's probably to avoid people like criminals from leaving on short notice. Hmm, it still doesn't make sense to me kasi sa online mas maluwag. And you cannot leave without a passport.
Again, if you're going to book at the last minute (1 day or less before the flight), if you can book it over the phone, do it there. I think they send the ticket details either through fax or email. If you don't have a phone, fax or internet access, go to a PAL office and bring the passport of the passenger/s. They have a senior citizen counter, so if you're with a senior citizen, sign him up so you get priority. This counter is much faster since there are less people on queue. In the normal counter, I think the average time it took was about 4 people in an hr. I don't know why it takes so long when there are several counters (at least 4 i think for the international) and the cashier is separate. PAL needs to improve their service. They are too far behind in terms of efficiency.
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