The big move...Cebu to New York City

[Cha n Nel 1]

This is it...I booked a one way flight from CEB to MNL for Aug 20, 5:05 AM - 6:15 AM with Cebu Pacific. Then MNL-NRT-LAX-JFK with Delta on Aug 21, 7:40 AM. Have a small stroller bag and my blue document holder as carry on. While two 20x20x20 balikbayan boxes nearly 50lbs each with an outer cover to make them look like bags as check ins.

Aug 20

4:00 AM - Checked In with Cebu Pacific

4:40 AM - Was supposed to board but flight was delayed and new departure time was 5:30

5:30 AM - Departed for MNL

7:35 AM - After circling Manila, flight was sent back to Cebu due to poor weather and floods

8:35 AM - Landed in CEB

8:36 AM - While in the plane CEbu Pacific crew announced that they will wait out and see if the weather would improve in MNL and passengers have the option to deplane and reschedule at a later date within 30 days with no additional cost or wait until 9:35AM for better weather and clearance to fly again to MNL. I opted to wait, since I already coordinated with my former officemates in the callcenter for Expedia that Delta has no advice for flexibility policy to change with no additional cost.

9:35 AM cleared to depart for Manila again

10:00 AM took off

11:00 AM circled manila again and was told we might go back to cebu again because all the parking slots are full. This part was scary since I saw we nearly had a mid air collision plus, turbulence plus little visibility

11:30 AM landed but the turbulencr was really bad, had to wait an additional 15 minutes for a plane to vacate.

11:50 finally deplaned after sitting inside that same plane for nearly 6 hours

12:45 cuzin picked me up, good thing they live near the airport and found some alternate routes to avoid flooded streets...

whew...day 1 is already full of drama...I'm hoping my flight to the US tomorrow will push through...so far the rains have let up a bit...

[haggarda.versoza 3]

Epic move!! Stay safe. And even if you will land here in Manila, it's flooded everywhere right now. Few taxis can go to the airport only pedicab and the fare to airport using pedicab is PHP 1,500. Ridiculous right.

Edited August 20, 2013 by haggarda.versoza

[Netsikai 20]

God bless on your trip tomorrow.

[MJandJON 1]

wow that was scary.

[lonelywithouthim1 36]

good luck and have a safe trip to your new home.

[The Conqueror 47]

Have a safe flight tomorrow.... I hope you will give 2hrs. allowance to your trip to the airport... to avoid inconvenience.

[John&Lena 17]

Oh wow, so much back luck! I hope this means that you'll be double lucky tomorrow to make up for it!

[Memphis 26]

Have a safe flight! Amping and pag-ampo jud nga okay ra tanan ugma! =)

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Safe flight and welcome to US soon!

[Cha n Nel 1]

Thank you guys...touchdown Narita and now awaiting my connection to LAX...

Day 2

4:30 AM Went to NAIA terminal 1 from my cuzin's place in Multinational Village...minimal flooding but my cuz used their SUV just in case of high waters

4:45 AM Arrived at NAIA terminal 1, was stopped by 1st security and wanted to check my checked bagbox. Apparently they were wondering why there were a lot of ziploc bags with figures in them. Told them it's my personal collection of G.I. Joes. Opened thr box and showed them and they waved me off...

5:00 AM got checked in...bags were within the maximum weight. Whew but the lady told me to pay the travel tax then come back to her with the receipt.

5:05: AM Travel tax of 1620.0 paid at the TIEZA counter

5:06 AM Went back to the check in counter to show the receipt

5:10 AM Paid terminal fee 550.00 (before you do this, there is a counter for allied bank to change your pesos to US Dollars, your last chance if you do the early morning flight as the small allied bank counter beyond immigrations was closed at that time...you wont be able to go back out to the travel tax area just to get dollars.

5:15 AM immigrations, you need to show your passport and boarding pass

6:45 AM Boarded my flight

7:40 AM took off from MNL...flight was a bit bumpy...

12:00 touchdown Narita

12:05 PM went through security screening with the Japanese...

12:15 PM at the gate for the flight to LAX...

Edited August 21, 2013 by Cha n Nel

[The Conqueror 47]

Glad to hear you safely depart from Manila. Keep us posted.

[Cha n Nel 1]

9:30 AM PST Arrived at LAX, long line with immigrations, was directed to the visitors line

10:20 AM PST My turn with an immigrations officer, he asked for purpose of being in the US, he took my visa packet but oddly he didnt take the vaccination sheet from St. Luke's and asked me to sit down

10:50 AM PST Called back again where he took my right pointer finger for fingerprints

11:00 AM PST Officer gave back my passport with a stamp near the visa. Told me my greencard will arrive 3-6 months then directed me to go to baggage claim then go to customs.

11:10 AM PST Cleared customs, officers asked if i have chorizo, chicharon and etc. Bag went into another XRay

11:20 AN PSt dropped my bags off to connection check in counter

11:25 Chillax mode at the gate for my final connection

[cjmc 10]

Looking forward to hearing you arrived in NY ok....what an exciting time for you......!!!!

Only a few more hours and you will be there.... :-)

Safe travels,

cjmc

[Cha n Nel 1]

Thank you. I was too tired to do updates...but here it goes.

1:40 PM PST Took off from LAX for JFK...expect stretches of turbulence...

9:40 PM EST Arrived in JFK Delta terminal 4...if you have huge bags prepare to cough up $5.00 for you to use a cart from the "vendo". The machine accepts $10 and credit cards. Also its hard to find a free wifi spot to communicate and coordinate pick up so you may need to use coins for the payphone. I learned the hard way that it only acceps 5, 10 and 25 cents and what I have are 50 cents ton1.00 coin. Good thing my wife and our daughter found me...

whew...was sooo dead tired from this but well worth the experience...

Looking forward to hearing you arrived in NY ok....what an exciting time for you......!!!!

Only a few more hours and you will be there.... :-)

Safe travels,

cjmc

[Cha n Nel 1]

A tip if you dont wanna cough $5.00 for the cart..you may have to go out of the terminal to the parking lot to "hunt" abandoned carts but it is kinda far...