Philippine AirlinesPR

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is the flag carrier of the Philippines and holds the distinction of being Asia's oldest airline still operating under its original name, founded on February 26, 1941. Headquartered in Pasay City within Metro Manila, PAL operates a modern fleet of Airbus A321neo, A330, A350, and Boeing 777 aircraft, serving over 30 international and 30 domestic destinations.

The airline emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December 2021 after restructuring approximately $2 billion in debt, emerging as a leaner operation with renewed focus on premium service and key routes serving the large Filipino diaspora communities in North America, the Middle East, and Asia. PAL is known for its warm Filipino hospitality, reflecting the spirit of "Mabuhay" (welcome/long life) that permeates its service culture.

Philippine Airlines is not a member of any global airline alliance, having withdrawn its Star Alliance candidacy. However, the airline maintains codeshare agreements with partners including All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Etihad Airways. The airline's Mabuhay Miles frequent flyer program offers earning and redemption across its network and partner airlines.

Carry-On Allowance

Class	Pieces	Weight (each)	Dimensions
Economy	1 piece + personal item	7 kg (15 lbs)	56 x 36 x 23 cm (22" x 14" x 9")
Premium Economy	1 piece + personal item	7 kg	56 x 36 x 23 cm
Business	1 piece + personal item	7 kg	56 x 36 x 23 cm

Personal Item: One additional small bag (laptop bag, handbag, small backpack) up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16" x 12" x 6") included free.

Important: The 7 kg weight limit is strictly enforced at Philippine airports. Bags are weighed at check-in counters and boarding gates. Overweight cabin bags must be checked and may incur fees.

Checked Baggage - Weight Concept (Most Routes)

Route Type	Economy	Premium Economy	Business
Domestic	25 kg (55 lbs)	—	30 kg (66 lbs)
Regional Asia	25 kg	30 kg	30 kg
Middle East	25 kg	30 kg	40 kg
Australia	25 kg	30 kg	40 kg

Checked Baggage - Piece Concept (USA & Canada)

Class	Pieces	Weight per Piece
Economy	2 bags	23 kg (50 lbs) each
Premium Economy	2 bags	23 kg each
Business	2 bags	32 kg (70 lbs) each

Size Limit: 158 cm / 62 in total linear dimensions (length + width + height) Maximum per bag: 32 kg (70 lbs) regardless of allowance

Fare Class Variations

PAL offers multiple Economy fare types with different baggage allowances:

Fare Type	Checked Baggage	Notes
Economy Lite	10 kg	Lowest fares, limited flexibility
Economy Classic	25 kg	Standard allowance
Economy Flex	25 kg	Change flexibility included
Premium Economy	30 kg	Enhanced service
Business	30-40 kg	Route-dependent

Excess Baggage Fees

Pre-Paid Baggage (Online):

Route	+5 kg	+10 kg	+20 kg
Domestic	PHP 500 (~$9)	PHP 900 (~$16)	PHP 1,600 (~$29)
Regional Asia	PHP 1,500 (~$27)	PHP 2,800 (~$50)	PHP 5,000 (~$89)
USA/Canada	USD 100/piece	USD 100/piece	USD 200/piece

At Airport: Rates are higher—always pre-purchase online for savings.

Elite Status Benefits

Mabuhay Miles Status	Bonus Allowance
Elite	+10 kg or +1 piece
Million Miler	+15 kg or +1 piece

Special Items

Item	Fee	Notes
Golf clubs	Standard	Counts toward allowance
Skis/snowboard	Standard	Counts toward allowance
Surfboard	Standard	Oversized boards may incur additional fees
Diving equipment	Standard	Tanks must be empty
Bicycle	Standard	Must be boxed, max 32 kg
Baby stroller	Free	Gate-check available
Car seat	Free	Doesn't count toward allowance
Wheelchair	Free	Priority handling
Musical instruments	Cabin or checked	Small instruments as carry-on if fits; large instruments require seat purchase or checked

Fees as of January 2025. Verify at philippineairlines.com/baggage.

Business Class

Boeing 777-300ER (Long-Haul):

Feature	Details
Configuration	2-2-2 (42 seats)
Pitch	60" (152 cm)
Width	20.3" (52 cm)
Bed	180-degree fully flat, 76" (193 cm)
Screen	18" personal touchscreen
Power	AC outlet + USB
Amenities	Amenity kit, noise-cancelling headphones

Airbus A350-900 (Flagship):

Feature	Details
Configuration	1-2-1 (30 seats)
Pitch	45" (114 cm)
Width	22" (56 cm)
Bed	Fully flat with direct aisle access
Screen	18" HD touchscreen
Power	AC outlet + 2 USB ports
Privacy	Individual suite-style seats

The A350 Business Class represents PAL's newest product with all-aisle-access seating and modern Thompson Vantage seats, a significant improvement over the older 2-2-2 configuration on the 777.

Airbus A330-300 (Regional/Medium-Haul):

Feature	Details
Configuration	2-2-2
Pitch	60" (152 cm)
Bed	Lie-flat
Screen	Personal touchscreen

Premium Economy (Select Routes)

Feature	Details
Configuration	2-4-2 (A350)
Pitch	38" (97 cm)
Width	18.5" (47 cm)
Recline	Enhanced with leg rest
Screen	Personal touchscreen
Power	AC outlet + USB
Meal	Enhanced meal service

Premium Economy is available on A350 flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York (JFK), and Toronto.

Economy Class

Long-Haul (777/A350):

Feature	Boeing 777-300ER	Airbus A350-900
Configuration	3-4-3	3-3-3
Pitch	32" (81 cm)	32" (81 cm)
Width	17" (43 cm)	18" (46 cm)
Screen	Personal touchscreen	12" HD touchscreen
Power	USB	AC + USB

Regional (A321neo/A330):

Feature	A321neo	A330
Configuration	3-3	2-4-2
Pitch	30-32" (76-81 cm)	32" (81 cm)
Width	18" (46 cm)	17.5" (44 cm)
Screen	Personal (select aircraft)	Personal touchscreen

myPAL Player Entertainment

• Content: 200+ movies, TV shows, music, and games
• Languages: English, Tagalog, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin
• Features: myPAL e-Library with magazines and newspapers
• Streaming: Available via myPAL Player app on personal devices (some aircraft)
• Note: Download the myPAL Player app before your flight for streaming-only aircraft

Dining

Business Class:

• Multi-course meals featuring Filipino and international cuisine
• Premium wines and champagnes
• "Flavors of the Philippines" signature dishes
• Dine-on-demand on long-haul flights
• Special meals available with 24-hour advance request

Premium Economy:

• Enhanced meal service
• Premium snacks and beverages
• Beer and wine included

Economy Class:

• Complimentary meals on all international flights
• Filipino favorites: adobo, sinigang, kare-kare available on select routes
• Snacks and beverages on domestic flights
• Special meals (vegetarian, halal, kosher) with 24-hour advance request

Signature Dishes:

• Chicken Adobo with garlic rice
• Kare-Kare (oxtail stew with peanut sauce)
• Lechon Kawali (crispy pork belly)
• Halo-Halo dessert on select flights

WiFi (myPAL Connect)

Plan	Price	Notes
Chat	$8	Messaging apps only
Browse	$18	Web browsing and email
Stream	$28	Full streaming access

Available on A350 and select A330 aircraft. Coverage varies by route.

Booking

• Book directly on philippineairlines.com for best change flexibility
• Join Mabuhay Miles before booking to earn miles from your first flight
• A350 flights offer the best Business Class experience—check aircraft type when booking
• Watch for seasonal sales during Philippine festivals (Sinulog, Pahiyas)
• Compare Economy Classic + baggage vs Economy Lite for true cost

At the Airport

• Manila Terminal 2 is PAL-exclusive—less chaotic than Terminal 1 or 3
• Arrive 3 hours early for USA flights due to pre-clearance processing
• Mabuhay Lounge serves good Filipino food—try the adobo
• Clark (CRK) offers a more relaxed alternative to Manila for some routes
• Download myPAL app for mobile boarding pass

Upgrades

• Same-day upgrades available at check-in (space-available basis)
• Business Class upgrades sometimes offered at boarding gate
• Mabuhay Miles members can request upgrade awards online
• A350 Business Class is worth the upgrade from Economy on long-haul flights

Earning Miles

• BPI Mabuhay Miles credit cards offer accelerated earning in the Philippines
• Partner hotel stays and car rentals earn Mabuhay Miles
• Register for double miles promotions before flying
• Mile validity is 36 months—keep account active to prevent expiration

In-Flight

• Pre-order special meals at least 24 hours before departure
• A350 has the newest cabin—prioritize this aircraft for long-haul
• Download myPAL Player app before flight for streaming entertainment
• Request Filipino dishes like adobo or kare-kare when available
• Business Class dine-on-demand available on long-haul flights

Filipino Diaspora Routes

PAL specializes in serving Filipino communities abroad:

• North America: Nonstop to Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York (JFK), Honolulu, Vancouver, Toronto
• Middle East: Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam, Doha (large OFW communities)
• Asia: Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul (work and leisure)

These routes often have excellent availability and competitive pricing.

Common Issues

• 7 kg carry-on limit is strictly enforced—weigh your bag at home
• Manila airport congestion can cause delays—don't cut connections short
• Economy Lite has only 10 kg checked baggage—read fare rules carefully
• Some A321neo aircraft have streaming-only entertainment—download the app
• Typhoon season (June-November) can disrupt schedules—travel insurance recommended
• USA pre-clearance adds 30-45 minutes to check-in process

Policies as of January 2025. Verify current information at philippineairlines.com.