Manila Ninoy Aquino Airport

Manila Ninoy Aquino Airport

In this section you will find traveller airport reviews as well as our Manila Airport Guide with info on WiFi, lounges, facilities and services....and yes, even the names of some airport hotels in case you decide that sleeping in the airport is not for you!

"There was lack of seat, but I slept on the floor on my own camping mattress. - Urban Nomad

"The worst airport of the world has been proclaimed! Bravo! It has showcased the most talented thieves and burglars in the world ever... added to it are drivers of the authorized taxi operator outside the arrivals that asks for money even before he starts the engine. Are Filipinos generally beggars? I don't think so..." Roam_On

" Most other countries will at least try to do their best to make their main international airport look at least a bit presentable, realizing that it's the main gateway for foreign visitors into and out of the country but at this airport everything seems to have been done to make the experience as horrible as possible. " - wanderingcat123

by psx0529
Ok, flew out last Oct. 2011 right when this website's report about it being the worst airport came out. Needless to say, those improvements are still very few and far between.

The toilets are still not up to my standards (although already improved, but seem outdated compared to Incheon's for example), there is hardly any seating before the pre-departure area.

Also, they still check your passport and boarding pass at the door, you x-ray once at the door and then again after immigration; the check-in area has maybe 20 seats (I didn't count) all in all...simply not enough!!!

But my biggest gripe with this airport has to be the collection of a 20 terminal fee...yet you don't see where it's going!!!! Wth is up with that??!!!

I returned about two weeks ago (it's the height of the return for the Christmas holidays, thus jampacked)...and I just have to mention the arrivals area:
- There are only 5 carousels for the luggage, and there were 2 flights from the Middle East (including mine, from AUH) that arrived at the same time, full of Filipinos returning for the holidays. But these carousels simply cannot cope with the amount of people and luggage (including TVs, Stereo sets, DVD players...and the boxes).
- The arrivals area is just horrible. You cross a driveway, and you go down a rather steep ramp. You arrive at the bottom and it is just terrible. Cars are all over the place, with no order at all, the people who are supposed to pick you up are all cramped in this 'waiting area' across the street...and thus it is very hard to see the people picking you up. Thank God for cell phones.

Filipinos are very friendly (I am originally Filipino myself) and are a joy to be with. Sadly, the airport does not seem to reflect this...it's disheartening.

An excerpt from Max Flynn's review:

"...at the check in desk, you will have an experience that will live with you until the end of your days. As you approach the desk to check in, a security guard will approach you. You will be three metres from the check in desk at this time. He will say to you, I'll show you where to check in. You will think, how strange. Perhaps this is not the check in desk after all. However, he will lead you three metres to the check in desk, then hold his hand out. You will reach into your pocket for a 100 peso note, but accidentally pull out 1000. He will say ", No, two thousand!" Immediately another guard will appear beside him. "Two thousand for me too sir!"
I wish to pause at this moment to reflect on the enormity of what has just occurred.
One guard has just demanded 2000 pesos - 50 Australian- to show you three metres to a desk you were about to approach anyway.
Another guard has immediately demanded 2000 pesos- 50 Australian- for doing absolutely nothing. This is how Filipinos view foreigners. They know that the favourite pastime of Westerners is to throw hundred-dollar notes into the air."

http://www.sleepinginairports.net/asia/manila.htm