Flight to the Philipines.

[NoshowJones]

I want to take a trip to the Philipines soon, I do not know how long for, maybe four days, or more than a week.

I want to fly in to Manila, should I book a single flight, then a single flight back to Thailand? Will an open return

be very expensive? Can I use my Bangkok Bank Visa debit card in the Philipines, or best to use my UK debit card?

Maybe I could just get a return flight for four days then change my return date if necessary, for a price obviously.

Any advice will be welcomed.

[craigt3365]

You'll need an onward flight or you'll be denied boarding or have to buy one at the country.  I got caught with that, bought a full fare, fully refundable ticket at the country.  Went to some office in Manila to apply for the refund, which I got about 6 weeks later.

[NoshowJones]

An onward flight to where? I only want to do a trip to the Philipines for a few days, then return to Thailand, what is

more simpler than that, or should be? I just want to know the cheapest way to do it.

[craigt3365]

You need either a return ticket or a ticket onward to another destination.  A one way ticket only will require you to buy an onward/return ticket at the counter before being allowed to board the flight.

[NoshowJones]

Thanks, I understand now. My question now would be, if I bought a return ticket for four days and wanted to stay another four days, could I go and change it, for a price of course?

[craigt3365]

12 hours ago, possum1931 said:

Thanks, I understand now. My question now would be, if I bought a return ticket for four days and wanted to stay another four days, could I go and change it, for a price of course?

Absolutely!  The cost of the change depends on the airline and the class of ticket you bought.

[siam2007]

15 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Absolutely!  The cost of the change depends on the airline and the class of ticket you bought.

 

The OP asked for the CHEAPEST way to do this and if he buys a cheap ticket, then it will be virtually impossible to change the date of the return flight. No matter if he is flying a legacy carrier or a budget airline. Only expensive booking classes allow date change at least for a fee. If he is flying Cebu Pacific, for example, a new ticket will almost certainly be cheaper than trying to change the date of the original ticket.

If a (expensive) flexible ticket is absolutely needed, even me with more than 800+ flights on the clock would still nowadays go to see a travel agent and get the rules/charges of a date change confirmed on paper

 

 

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Edited March 2, 2017 by siam2007

[craigt3365]

It depends on the airline.  I've bought some really cheap tickets and for not much money, was allowed to change them.  Yes, it was about the same as what I paid, but a change was possible.  And in the end, cheaper than buying a new one.  Just depends on the airline, the route, how busy it is, etc.  But yes, changing dates at the last minute can be costly.  If a flights full, you are going to pay a very high price.

 

http://www.airasia.com/ask/template.do?id=266

 

[dddave]

THAI has recently had some decent promotional prices on return flights to MNL but no matter who you fly, you will pay a big premium to change flights unless you pay for a full priced ticket.  Philippine Airlines has supposedly improved from their abysmal standards and high prices of recent years but a friend  used them domestically in the Phils. last month and out of four flights, the shortest delay was 4 hours, longest 12, never an ontime departure.

Cebu-Pacific runs a lot of promotions: BKK-MNL...look for their ads in Bangkok Post and online as well.  They do charge extra for both carry-on and checked baggage. Free carry-on restricted to one bag/7kg but they did not weigh my backpack at check-in.  If you use the CP website, you will find the fare can vary greatly depending on the day and time you choose to fly.  I recently flew CP  return,  BKK-MNL and all flights were on time.

 

I was able to use my Bangkok Bank Visa debit card in some Manila ATM's, not in others.  Atm's are not nearly as plentiful in MNL as in Bangkok.  Most are in guarded bank lobbies.

 

Best to exchange at least a days worth of currency at the airport before you depart. I suggest Super Rich in the basement level down in the Rail Link area.  A bit of a challenge to find...on the left side, as you descend the ramp, where tickets for the express train used to be sold.  Rates at other exchange kiosks were not as good as Super Rich.  Be sure to ask for some small denomination notes and also be sure to spend all your coins in the Phils.  They can add up and are difficult to exchange unless you use a street kiosk...some will and some wont. 

Edited March 3, 2017 by dddave

[asanee]

OR-but Iam not sure if this flite is still there, its not daily, the KU=Kuwait airls. flite KUwait-BKK-MNL also offers fairly low and easy to change returns, ONLY available via contracted local Thai agents-like in those old days of yore for all airtickets. YES, you DO need a ticket OUT of MNL-in the allotted period for free stay and will be refused boarding without one. Does not perse need to be on the airline used to fly to MNL.

[siam2007]

3 hours ago, asanee said:

OR-but Iam not sure if this flite is still there, its not daily, the KU=Kuwait airls. flite KUwait-BKK-MNL also offers fairly low and easy to change returns, ONLY available via contracted local Thai agents-like in those old days of yore for all airtickets. YES, you DO need a ticket OUT of MNL-in the allotted period for free stay and will be refused boarding without one. Does not perse need to be on the airline used to fly to MNL.

 

These BKK - MNL Kuwait Air flights don't exist any longer