Low key, I wanted to depart on-time! I had experienced a delay on the way back from Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines in December 2023, I did not want the same from Manila! Cebu Pacific Air was my emergency flight purchase because those PAL flights back to Shanghai sold out with the quickness! For real! Low Cost Airline, 'She Better Don't!' Cebu Pacific Air, 'She Did!
After arriving into NAIA's Terminal 2 with Philippine Airlines, I was looking forward to departing from a different airport terminal in Manila. Cebu Pacific Air had been a panic purchase because I had originally intended to fly both sectors with Philippine Airlines from Shanghai to Manila. To cut a long story short, I had to book the only available flight and that was the 20:10 from Manila to Shanghai with Cebu Pacific Air, it worked out perfectly because I would be able to experience both full service and low cost style flight operations and it was all about the blog! I had been savvy, I used my brains because I didn't want any hidden charges. I paid for my one piece of check-in luggage because I wanted check-in to be smooth, I can't take chaos when it comes to flying internationally! Terminal 3 was about to take me to the streets, it was an experience and unfortunately not for the better. Leaving my 'Airport Achievers Hotel' signified the beginning of my journey home. This new airport better get finished before I return!
Check-in was long, the Cebu Pacific Air check-in area was packed to the rafters! Cebu Pacific Air's flights sure looked 'Booked & Blessed' with the never-ending lines that snaked around those counters. I was glad that I had left enough time before my scheduled time of departure, the whole check-in environment across Terminal 3 was berserk, something told me that T3 needed a new energy to deal with all those passengers! Proceeding through immigration perplexed me because they had four separate categories of passengers, 'Philippine Passports', Overseas Filipino Worker', 'Foreign Passports' and 'ASEAN'. I had never seen so much choice before! My line was hurried through the 'ASEAN' line because the other lines seemed to be jammed packed with fellow departing passengers. I found my gate but only then that was the start of the performance that was given by two separate Low Cost carriers! The Macau flight pushed back on-time but 'Air Asia's' Thai turnaround played with my time! It was giving 'Fast Food' foolery!
Don't twist my words because the staff from Cebu Pacific Air were massively under pressure, it was not their fault and I am not criticising them because that's not cool! Those Cebu Pacific Air flights were being shifted from one gate to another, meaning ground delays or late arrivals were messing up those preassigned gates in a big way! It seemed like that wing was dealing exclusively with those quick-turnaround flights with no margin allowed for error nor delay, a change could happen at any moment! My gate was changed a couple of times but only to the next one, I thankfully didn't need to run but with the lack of departure screens it was a chore to keep up with those ongoing changes. It was evident to see the 'PA System' was letting the Cebu Pacific Air staff down immensely, it was really difficult to hear their muffled announcements. That was an airport handling issue, some serious upgrades looked like they needed to be made! Our scheduled boarding time had passed by, it was also evident that our aircraft hadn't arrived.
Personally, I wanted to depart on time because I still had a three hour drive from Pudong Airport to Ningbo. It was a liberty to let the transfer company down for a second time because that second Shanghai bound flight would end up being delayed. The majority of the passengers who were on the Shanghai flight were Mainland Chinese citizens who didn't speak English, they were already naturally anxious and super eager to board their flight. It was a tough one because non of the Cebu Pacific Air flights spoke Mandarin Chinese, that was a choice that clearly made their jobs more intense with those Mandarin questions sounding more foreign than Tagalog or English. I ended up speaking to some Chinese passengers, telling them that the flight wasn't boarding and that they needed to make an orderly line. Maybe I was one of the only foreigners in the area who could speak Mandarin Chinese? Real talk Cebu Pacific Air, you know that I deserved an Emergency Exit seat for such linguistic abilities! Get me back to Shanghai! Let's fly!
The 'Thai turnaround' took what felt like forever to push back, that would allow my Shanghai bound flight to board. Getting boarding clearance felt amazing, it had been a short delay but the environment of that gate area wasn't comfortable. The gate area was hot, crowded and not the best situation for a delay. I was just disappointed at that point, I sensed that something wasn't right about the delay. Soon after the 'Air Asia' flight had pushed back, I was half expecting my Cebu Pacific Air flight to be turning around the corner. Understandably, a slot had been missed and that would also have a knock-on effect to the already late handling of that said Shanghai aircraft. With a little bit of faith, I finally saw those Cebu Pacific Air colours turnaround the corner with the sky served twilight. Boarding really needed to be hurried along because the bulk of the passengers had already lost their patience. The gate staff were doing their best, seeing the cabin crew arrive was a blessing! You already know, I loved their Canary colours! Oh, Pit Crew!
It was such a relief to finally board my Shanghai flight with Cebu Pacific Air, even thought the flight was around 90 minutes delayed it wasn't anything to cry about. I had spent two whole weeks in the Philippines, it had been the most wonderful trip and I wasn't going to let the smallest issue ruin it. Taking off from Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport actually made me feel upset, I was massively in my feelings and really didn't want to face the realities of life. I knew in my heart that returning to the Philippines within the year would be the only remedy to this feeling of post-holiday depression. I know this sounds dramatic but I really knew in my heart that I had had the best time during that Chinese New Year holiday! For once I wasn't mad about having a window seat, I was able to marvel at the million lights over Manila as my flight soared into the clouds with Mainland China as our destination! Now, I had not had anything to eat, I wanted to spend those last few thousand Philippine Pesos in the skies! Oh, I was hungry!
I had already been perusing through that in-flight menu before the cabin crew made their way through the cabin with their catering carts. I knew what I wanted! The delay hadn't been the best within that T3 chaos, I had also almost had a mini breakdown before take-off, so I was in desperate need of a sly alcoholic drink to soothe my nerves. I ordered two cans of San Miguel, the instant pot 'Arroz Caldo' and a sizable banana bread loaf. I was at that point of the holiday, I gave the crew a 1,000 Philippine Peso note and didn't care about the change! I wanted to give them a little tip because I already knew in that moment I wouldn't be able to interact the crew like I had done on the way out to Manila. It had been a long day, I decided it was best to sit and eat my snacks and soothe my anxiety with those cold-ish cans of beer. It was actually a relief when those cabin lights were dimmed, it wasn't a long flight, I just wanted to relax. It was nice to know people had their headphones with them! That was honestly a turn up for the books! It was!
It was great finally feel that Cebu Pacific Air plane land into Shanghai Pudong International Airport. I was officially back in Mainland China and all I wanted was to be immigration cleared and on my way to Ningbo. I was thankful that my flight made it back to China, a little late it was but that couldn't be helped. I was also thankful for that swift stamp in my passport because China Immigration didn't play with my time! It was very promising to see that one year after returning to China their immigration operation at Pudong had been streamlined yet again! The question begged? Would I ever want to fly to the Philippines with Cebu Pacific Air in the near future or not? Yes, I absolutely would choose to fly with this Pinoy Low Cost Carrier because their formula works and they served much more personality than what PAL did! Cebu Pacific Air, just you wait until I get those December holiday dates! I'll be booking up again but next time it will be on purpose! Let's get planning for those Christmas 2024 festivities! I was exhausted!
Manila, Manila, Manila!
Desperately Seeking Adventure
