Philippine Travel Tax... 1600 Php Just in case you didn't know

[YourHumboldtBud 2]

I was so furious when I found out about this fee, we were only informed of it's existence when we were checking in AT the airport. Donna was one of the last few people to do their CFO at Saint Mary's before they closed down their facility on September 14 2012. Nobody mentioned this fee and she was travelling for the first time out of the country. I only brought enough pesos to cover 2x Terminal fees to the airport. I ended up having to shell out $40 USD to pay for the fee. Not to mention I think NAIA is THE ONLY AIRPORT IN THE WORLD WITHOUT A DRINKING FOUNTAIN. The people at the counter at the airport kept insisting we were informed at CFO, which we were NOT. We had to deal with SO MANY HASSLES just to get on the plane to get out. It's so CRAZY how blatantly corrupt PI is... I am so glad to be out of PI and back to good ole USA

[newbster 4]

Yah, the Manila airport and PI airports in general are pretty ridiculous with all the fees, taxes, huge lines, lack of free shuttling between terminals, and of course no drinking fountain. I asked one of the guards in Manila about the drinking fountain and he said they used to have one but it was removed. So I bought water (after passing through security) and when I got to my gate I was subjected to yet another security check (after just passing through a security check) where they confiscated the 4 bottles of water that I'd just purchased at a ridiculous price. Jeezy peezy - awful airport.

Re: the extra tax it's been mentioned on this forum in several threads recently - I'm sorry u didn't know about it - but at least u happened to have extra cash. Imagine if you didn't - I'm betting they don't accept credit cards like the rest of the world does haha. :bonk:

Edited October 2, 2012 by newbster

[bigdog 376]

Well you made it.

[GodgavemeU 1]

Yeah. My fiance have been around the world and he said that the Philippine airport is the worst. And they charge you terminal fee. He goes, fee for what? For using the crappiest airport toilet? But let me remind you, never ever drink TAP water in the Philippines. I took him to ER after he had a small sip. So, I guess it was a blessing that there's no drinking fountains there.

Edited October 2, 2012 by lcorcoro1986

[Hank_ 9,174]

Exit fee is mentioned quite often here on the forum. 1620 Php for ALL Filipino immigrating.

[cardilene 26]

You're not the only one complaining,...

I posted the same rant a few months back:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/360813-travel-tax-terminal-fee-pdos/

And to think, there is no clear accounting on where this tax is going,...

Another source of corruption in our sad country,...

[Tintin and Mike 127]

plus the P550 terminal fee correct?

Thanks!

[newbster 4]

Yes that's right. I had heard the term fee was wrapped into airfares at MNL now - but I had to pay it. Maybe it's only included in domestic fares not international. I was flying international.

[ChrisB0707 4]

Just another way to make the corrupt people there more rich. This is why the country never gets better. I love the Philippines but come on charging your people a fee just for moving to another country. Its like saying ok if you want to leave the Philippines then we dont care about you so pay this fee. This is the only airport in the world that charges a fee to leave the country.

[jimmynug 13]

Ah come on, they do have a free shuttle between terminals, used it the last time I was there. As for fees, we have plenty here to, just most are covered up in the price of the tickets, etc. Shoot, it even costs money to drive into the airport near me. How many people ever went to the old domestic terminal that has now been replaced (wonder were that money is coming from). I wonder what the average filipino pays in total yearly taxes compared with the total yearly taxes paid in the U.S. Oh well, comparing apples to oranges here aren't we. Now if someone would just quit forcing us to go to such a disgusting place.

[GaryKO 49]

If the airport tax in the Philippines piss you off, then you better not check your US ticket. All the taxes are added to your ticket price, so maybe you did not notice.

The U.S. government imposes an "excise" tax of 7.5 percent of the fare on all domestic tickets. By Department of Transportation (DOT) rules, airlines must include that tax in their advertised fares.

Airlines can omit other government fees and taxes from their published fares, but the government requires that airlines collect them at the time you buy your ticket. Taxes and fees include $3.30 per flight segment, with a maximum of four segments charged on any round-trip ticket, plus a $2.50 fee per departure to fund security—a fee that might be going up soon.

Individual airports are allowed to impose "passenger facility charges" (PFCs) up to $4.50 per departure, with a maximum of four fees per round-trip ticket.

U.S. government taxes and fees on international tickets are much higher.

The government charges a departure fee of $14.50 and an arrival fee of $14.50 on international flight tickets—again, collected when you buy the ticket.

The U.S. also charges returning passengers $7 for immigration, $5 for customs services, and $5 to fund animal and plant inspections. These, too, are collected when you buy a ticket.

[X Factor 1,112]

If the airport tax in the Philippines piss you off, then you better not check your US ticket. All the taxes are added to your ticket price, so maybe you did not notice.

The U.S. government imposes an "excise" tax of 7.5 percent of the fare on all domestic tickets. By Department of Transportation (DOT) rules, airlines must include that tax in their advertised fares.

Airlines can omit other government fees and taxes from their published fares, but the government requires that airlines collect them at the time you buy your ticket. Taxes and fees include $3.30 per flight segment, with a maximum of four segments charged on any round-trip ticket, plus a $2.50 fee per departure to fund security—a fee that might be going up soon.

Individual airports are allowed to impose "passenger facility charges" (PFCs) up to $4.50 per departure, with a maximum of four fees per round-trip ticket.

U.S. government taxes and fees on international tickets are much higher.

The government charges a departure fee of $14.50 and an arrival fee of $14.50 on international flight tickets—again, collected when you buy the ticket.

The U.S. also charges returning passengers $7 for immigration, $5 for customs services, and $5 to fund animal and plant inspections. These, too, are collected when you buy a ticket.

[YourHumboldtBud 2]

I don't mind paying the taxes,as long as I know about them. My primary complaint is why isn't already included? Why make a situation more complicated than it needs to be... It's already hassle enough getting to the airport, then having to navigate just to get inside with all those people waiting outside the entrance, then having to go to all those counters to pay misc fees hopping from one counter on one side of the building,to return to the otherside, it's all POINTLESS and waste of time holding up everyone else behind you in the process.

Then not to mention all the security checks and the way the people who work at the airport try to juice you. After what I thought was the final security check(since the security check prior to me NODDED YES to me(Which I have now come to interpret as"I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU JUST SAID SO I"LL JUST NOD TO GET YOU OUT OF MY HAIR AND YOU CAN ASK SOMEONE ELSE" they were the final security check) only to encounter the seating area while waiting for boarding call was the "actual final check" then they check our bags find some body cream from Bath and Body Works and a USED Bottle 100ml 3.4oz bottle Swiss Army Cologne/Perfume which the checker takes a VERY KEEN interest in, tries to confiscate the bottle by telling me TSA won't allow such an item onboard they need to call like 6 people to confirm that 100ml may be over the limit.... Then once it's proven to be within limitations, that it is now a "fire hazard" yet i'm viewing people on the other side dousing their hands with Isopropyl Alcohol(which apparently is NOT considered a fire Hazard) They proceed to bring out this huge sign listing materials that are considered dangerous with NO MENTION of cologne/perfume. She keeps insisting that they must confiscate it, then I proceed to counter with why did TSA allow me to bring it over to begin with if they are as strict as they imply?...Of course they can't counter that, then I proceed to dig deeper by informing them that Denatured Alcohol is the flammable component in Eau de Toilette so if they are that insistent on wanting to take the bottle, then they'd better confiscate all the Cologne/Perfumes that other customers just purchased from DUTY FREE INSIDE of NAIA and do their jobs and explain to these people why items they just purchased a few moments ago must be confiscated as well...No Reply....NUFF SAID

Turning a blind eye to corrupt practices just perpetuates the cycle... I'm sure the Philippines must be brimming with pride knowing they have the honors of having the #2 Ranked WORST Airline in PAL(just barely behind China Air) and the #1 Ranked WORST Airport in the WORLD(All these terminal fees paid daily by XX amount of people who fly out, which have NEVER been used to improve the building... makes you wonder where all that money goes)

[Hank_ 9,174]

Ya know I saw a vast improvement in the terminal from 2011 when I was there compared to this last time 2012, so I think they are using at least some of the terminal fee for improvements

[newbster 4]

If the airport tax in the Philippines piss you off, then you better not check your US ticket. All the taxes are added to your ticket price, so maybe you did not notice.

The U.S. government imposes an "excise" tax of 7.5 percent of the fare on all domestic tickets. By Department of Transportation (DOT) rules, airlines must include that tax in their advertised fares.

Airlines can omit other government fees and taxes from their published fares, but the government requires that airlines collect them at the time you buy your ticket. Taxes and fees include $3.30 per flight segment, with a maximum of four segments charged on any round-trip ticket, plus a $2.50 fee per departure to fund security—a fee that might be going up soon.

Individual airports are allowed to impose "passenger facility charges" (PFCs) up to $4.50 per departure, with a maximum of four fees per round-trip ticket.

U.S. government taxes and fees on international tickets are much higher.

The government charges a departure fee of $14.50 and an arrival fee of $14.50 on international flight tickets—again, collected when you buy the ticket.

The U.S. also charges returning passengers $7 for immigration, $5 for customs services, and $5 to fund animal and plant inspections. These, too, are collected when you buy a ticket.

I really have little problem with all of these fees. Here are the reasons:

1) You don't have to queue up to pay them

2) You won't be surprised by these at the airport when you don't have cash

3) They can be paid by credit card in advance

4) U.S. airports have shuttling between terminals for free at all airports - you don't have to pay money to get around the airport nor queue up in lines to do so

5) Major U.S. airports are all very nice and comfortable

6) U.S. airports have free drinking water and clean restrooms

7) U.S. airports have a very clear and understandable security process. You process through security then you can feel free to buy drinking water to take on your flight. There is no hidden "extra" security check to take the drinking water you just paid $8 to buy.

8) It's pretty clear that all of the fees you list are going to a good purpose and provide a good and safe experience for travelers

9) I was in NYC on 9/11 and I watched the towers burn. Paying for people to secure the airport and borders isn't a problem for me. I don't mind paying for safety of my fellow citizens - but at least it should be efficient and around the world it's pretty efficient.

This applies to pretty much every airport I've been in around the world other than Manila airport which I think most probably agrees is the worst large airport in the world. There is really no more inefficient, more uncomfortable, or delay-plagued system in the world than PI has set up at Manila airport. It's silly and should be corrected, it's an embarrassment compared to the rest of the world.

I'm really not sure what PI is charging for all fees but for a domestic flight from Cebu to Manila these charges were added to my ticket 2271p ticket:

Security Fee 30p

VAT 190p

Service fee 504p

I don't have details of what was added to my international ticket though.

Having said all of that this is all way off-topic and it doesn't matter what we say here - nothing will change anyway.

Edited October 3, 2012 by newbster