First trip to Philippines, questions about NAIA airport

[brian8024 2]

I am going to be flying through NAIA soon on my way to IloIlo to visit my girlfriend, first time in Philippines and first time flying through NAIA airport. I have been reading (perhaps too much...) and the prospect of going through NAIA is worrying me and I had a couple questions for anybody that can answer it.

I am flying PAL in/out of Terminal 2 from LAX

1) I am bringing presents for the family. Two watches, couple purses, perfume, etc. It would be obvious the stuff is not for me. What are the rules of customs declarations? Do I just declare "none" as it is all personal items even though they are not my personal items? I really don't want to get in trouble nor do I want to get hit by a huge customs fee.

2) I have been requested to bring chocolate. I still do not understand the difference of buying the same chocolate there vs buying it here, lol, but I'm just going with it. The question is how much do I bring? Will it be a problem if I stuff part/half of a suitcase with chocolate?

3) I have a locking carry on suitcase, I assume that best practice at NAIA is to put just about everything of value into it to go through the x-ray machines instead of emptying pockets into the trays?

4) Any tips on carrying more then 7kg carry-on onboard PAL? Are they super ####### about weighing everything? There are some things I don't want to have in the checked luggage in fear of theft, but the 7kg carry-on limit is so easy to hit. Also on through-flights through NAIA if I check in for the full flight at LAX, do they re-weigh my luggage in Manila?

[Teachers 12]

I have visited 5 times in the last year, but never on PAL. I have brought various gifts, including chocolate, without issue. I will let others with experience comment on customs and connecting on PAL.

There is one very real concern. Check which terminal your flights arrive and leave in Manila, and how to get between terminals. Traffic around the terminals is horrible. It can easily take an hour to get between terminals. Add in time to get through security to get into the terminal, and then to go through security. Most (all?) PAL domestic flights are in Terminal 3, while International for PAL is on the other side of the airport.

Theoretically, the airside shuttle should avoid the gate side congestion. I have not used it, so can not comment on how it works in practice.

http://www.philippineairlines.com/flights/services/transfer-service/

I know that when one originates a domestic flight, items are weighed carefully, with substantial charges for bags over allowed weights. For domestic flights one can pay a MUCH lower rate by paying the weight fee in advance. Again, I have no experience with PAL international to domestic.

Good luck with your trip.

Tom

[Klepley 4]

To add onto the above which is pretty much spot on.

1) Never been checked by customs for anything. Have been through NAIA seven times now I think and they just wave me on. My fiance told me I needed to stop packing so much stuff. At this point, I take a small backpack and keep the rest of my clothes with her. I only pack a few items to wear, and just have them cleaned when needed. Much less stress.

2) You won't understand the chocolate thing either, until you try chocolate in the country. It seems to me that it tastes much different then what we have in the US. My fiance also wants me to send her chocolate if I have to send something. Just buy a couple small boxes of Godiva. No matter how much you take, there will normally be a ton of people who would like it. You just need to please her.

3) I have not really been checked at Naia that well,and anything I want to make sure is safe, I put in my backpack, close it, and make sure I watch it as it goes through. Like I said, that is my only "luggage" and it never leaves my sight.

4) The most important thing about PAL. Get there early if you can! They do not hold tickets and will sell your ticket if you do not check it. I highly recommend you have your fiance meet you at the airport and then travel with you if that works. Better yet, stay a couple days in Manila with just you and your fiance so you can get some quiet time together before meeting the family. I highly recommend this.

DO NOT USE THE AIR SHUTTLES IF YOU ARE IN HURRY. Use the taxis. The shuttles are way cheaper, but the taxis get you to the domestic terminal much faster in my opinion.

Good luck, have fun, but most importantly, remember, it is the Filipino way once you are there. I love the people and the place!

Edited November 30, 2015 by Klepley

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

I am going to be flying through NAIA soon on my way to IloIlo to visit my girlfriend, first time in Philippines and first time flying through NAIA airport. I have been reading (perhaps too much...) and the prospect of going through NAIA is worrying me and I had a couple questions for anybody that can answer it.

I am flying PAL in/out of Terminal 2 from LAX

1) I am bringing presents for the family. Two watches, couple purses, perfume, etc. It would be obvious the stuff is not for me. What are the rules of customs declarations? Do I just declare "none" as it is all personal items even though they are not my personal items? I really don't want to get in trouble nor do I want to get hit by a huge customs fee.

2) I have been requested to bring chocolate. I still do not understand the difference of buying the same chocolate there vs buying it here, lol, but I'm just going with it. The question is how much do I bring? Will it be a problem if I stuff part/half of a suitcase with chocolate?

3) I have a locking carry on suitcase, I assume that best practice at NAIA is to put just about everything of value into it to go through the x-ray machines instead of emptying pockets into the trays?

4) Any tips on carrying more then 7kg carry-on onboard PAL? Are they super ####### about weighing everything? There are some things I don't want to have in the checked luggage in fear of theft, but the 7kg carry-on limit is so easy to hit. Also on through-flights through NAIA if I check in for the full flight at LAX, do they re-weigh my luggage in Manila?

I am giving you information that I have used among my many trips to the Philippines, my most recent trip I used PAL from LAX to Manila back in June and back.

You are going to arrive in Terminal 2, and then you will disembark go through Immigration, pick up your bags and then go through Customs. Next you will literally take a left out of the baggage claim/customs area walk down to the elevator, go up to the 2nd floor and down alittle bit more until you get to the DOMESTIC Terminal for PAL. They will check your passport and make sure you are supposed to have a flight (PLEASE bring a print out showing you have a flight at such and such time because it makes it so much easier) at that time. You will go through the x-ray machine and proceed to the domestic counter showing your city and time. You will check in there get your boarding pass, check your baggage, and then proceed to yes another x-ray machine. Once you pass there you sit to board your plane and then arrive at your destination where your fiance will be waiting.

Since you are arriving and leaving out of one terminal it makes it extremely easy for you. Since all you have to do is walk from the International side to the Domestic side of the terminal.

1. If you are bringing any electronics with you to give to them, then please bring them as a carry on baggage. You can bring stuff into the country and it is fine.

2. Bringing chocolate is a BIG filipino tradition because yes the chocolate in country is not as good. I once sat next to a girl flying from Bahrain to Manila and she had checked literally 15kgs (yes Kilograms) of chocolate as a checked baggage to bring to family. I used her as an example to help you understand that fact.

3. Yes, everything will go through the x-ray machines and they do have those trays. So you will have to dump some stuff into the trays such as your passport and your paper showing that you have connecting flight. Because they check that before you even can walk in to the airport.

4. CARRY YOUR IMPORTANT STUFF AS A CARRY ON. Do not put it as a checked baggage if at all possible because it can and does go missing. They are not big on actually weighing the carry on unless you are actually flying to Boracay. Yes, they will re-weigh your checked baggage in Manila and I know this for a fact because it happened to my wife and me when we flew there in June using PAL.

[brian8024 2]

I am giving you information that I have used among my many trips to the Philippines, my most recent trip I used PAL from LAX to Manila back in June and back.

You are going to arrive in Terminal 2, and then you will disembark go through Immigration, pick up your bags and then go through Customs. Next you will literally take a left out of the baggage claim/customs area walk down to the elevator, go up to the 2nd floor and down alittle bit more until you get to the DOMESTIC Terminal for PAL. They will check your passport and make sure you are supposed to have a flight (PLEASE bring a print out showing you have a flight at such and such time because it makes it so much easier) at that time. You will go through the x-ray machine and proceed to the domestic counter showing your city and time. You will check in there get your boarding pass, check your baggage, and then proceed to yes another x-ray machine. Once you pass there you sit to board your plane and then arrive at your destination where your fiance will be waiting.

Since you are arriving and leaving out of one terminal it makes it extremely easy for you. Since all you have to do is walk from the International side to the Domestic side of the terminal.

1. If you are bringing any electronics with you to give to them, then please bring them as a carry on baggage. You can bring stuff into the country and it is fine.

2. Bringing chocolate is a BIG filipino tradition because yes the chocolate in country is not as good. I once sat next to a girl flying from Bahrain to Manila and she had checked literally 15kgs (yes Kilograms) of chocolate as a checked baggage to bring to family. I used her as an example to help you understand that fact.

3. Yes, everything will go through the x-ray machines and they do have those trays. So you will have to dump some stuff into the trays such as your passport and your paper showing that you have connecting flight. Because they check that before you even can walk in to the airport.

4. CARRY YOUR IMPORTANT STUFF AS A CARRY ON. Do not put it as a checked baggage if at all possible because it can and does go missing. They are not big on actually weighing the carry on unless you are actually flying to Boracay. Yes, they will re-weigh your checked baggage in Manila and I know this for a fact because it happened to my wife and me when we flew there in June using PAL.

Thank you for the tips and answers so far. Yea, I am lucky that my international/domestic flights are both in Terminal 2 so I at least don't need to transfer between terminals. My girl will be waiting for me at the other end, just have a 4 hour layover in NAIA so not too bad.

1) Thats very good to hear. There are so many horror stories about NAIA that I get worried.

2) I am padding my suitcases up to close to the weight limit with chocolate. I'm not sure the total amount yet, but its heavy. Big family that all seems to be in love with Hersheys. I am bringing the suitcases to leave with her so I figured I might as well fill them with something.

3/4) The problem I have is my carry-on weighs 3kg empty which only leaves 4kg allowed for contents and what I have that I consider valuable weighs much more then 4kg. I was considering carrying a laptop bag and stashing all the heavy stuff in it and then just putting the laptop bag into the carry-on after PAL in LAX weighs and tags it.

I have read some too about checking in for both flights in LAX and checking the luggage through to IloIlo. I still have to collect it for customs, but then can check it right back to the airline in the same area?

What do they require you to remove from your carry-on for the x-rays? Only the laptop like the USA? Or nothing at all?

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

Thank you for the tips and answers so far. Yea, I am lucky that my international/domestic flights are both in Terminal 2 so I at least don't need to transfer between terminals. My girl will be waiting for me at the other end, just have a 4 hour layover in NAIA so not too bad.

1) Thats very good to hear. There are so many horror stories about NAIA that I get worried.

2) I am padding my suitcases up to close to the weight limit with chocolate. I'm not sure the total amount yet, but its heavy. Big family that all seems to be in love with Hersheys. I am bringing the suitcases to leave with her so I figured I might as well fill them with something.

3/4) The problem I have is my carry-on weighs 3kg empty which only leaves 4kg allowed for contents and what I have that I consider valuable weighs much more then 4kg. I was considering carrying a laptop bag and stashing all the heavy stuff in it and then just putting the laptop bag into the carry-on after PAL in LAX weighs and tags it.

I have read some too about checking in for both flights in LAX and checking the luggage through to IloIlo. I still have to collect it for customs, but then can check it right back to the airline in the same area?

What do they require you to remove from your carry-on for the x-rays? Only the laptop like the USA? Or nothing at all?

3/4) When I used to work in Afghanistan, I used to fly back and forth to Manila every 4 months. My first time I had a bad experience going through Dubai with my checked baggage, so then on I just a duffle bag as my carry on, and I never once had an issue with it once I got to Manila transiting down to Davao. As long as it isn't super big or bulky you will be fine.

Yes, you will have to collect your baggage right after you go through Immigration, and then you will check it back in once you get to the Domestic Terminal and check in. There is no place to check it in the same area, trust me I wish there was. My wife literally packed 3 FULL suitcases and 3 carry on bags, that I had to take from International to Domestic Terminal. I had to pay extra money at LAX and then more money at Manila due to overweight bags. Just make sure each bag you check in does not weigh more than 50LBs or you will get charged extra. Yes, take out your laptop just like the USA, and please do not bring any bullets with you.

Edited November 30, 2015 by cyberfx1024

[Kathy and Jesse 16]

I just flew back from the Philippines last week. I departed from terminal 3 though. But last yr from terminal 2 w no problem. I had 2 check ins w me that literally just full of gifts for family and friends this last time. Then I put the electronics in my carry on. Arrived and left there safely. And if you are departing from Manila to US make sure you have plenty of time. I stayed in Ermita Manila Saturday night and departed the next day which supposed to be 4.4 miles away from my hotel to the airport and still took us almost 2 hrs to get in the airport. Also make sure you have little bit of peso to pay the tax which I believed I did not pay for it but paid 1,210 for my daughter tax fee at the airport. Yes filipino love chocolates from other country, and a big jar of nutella that only last less than a week. Lol

[Greenbaum 12,259]

You have gotten some great information from seasoned vets. I can't add much other than when I brought chocolates I just bought the mini size "Halloween size" candy where you get 200 pcs in a bag. That was for extended family as there will be many and it's a good way to score points with the relatives. For her you can buy something a little more special. I bought a box of See's Candies you know the assorted bite size in the brown paper cups. And of course a couple of bars of Ghirardelli chocolates. My wife loves white chocolate.

[Brassballs 47]

In the past I loaded up on the 'after' Halloween, Valentine's, Christmas, etc etc half price or less bags of assorted chocolates. Last time I had 8 bags of the stuff and asked for a piece 3 days later only to be told that there was no more. Afraid it would melt so it was eaten or given away. The more pieces you bring in the more friends you will eventually have. Especially the kids!

Customs, per se, doesn't exist. I don't think I even filled out a dec the last time in. Just smiled at the girls in the kiosk and kept walking.

First time out, my carry on was 17.5#. Weigh in girl said I had to check it. I was too shy then to offer a P200 consideration tip, but not now, haha.

Have fun.

[Teachers 12]

Two other comments on Philippine security matters than differ from the U.S.:

a. water policy is all over the place. One can run a full water bottle through domestic security scanning without incident. But for international travel, at least on Delta, you can not fill a water bottle AFTER security and bring it on the plane. There is separate security at the gate.

b. the enforcement for nail files, nail clippers, and children's blunt-ended scissors is all much stricter than in the U.S. I've had all 3 confiscated from carry-on in the last year. This is similar to but tighter than the U.S. right after 9/11.

Tom

[brian8024 2]

Thank you all for the tips. Keeping my fingers crossed for an uneventful and easy trip. The return I am far less worried as I will be carrying far less stuff too. I am duct taping my checked luggage and I am making sure to not bring anything that is even close to questionable.

Has anybody bought more then 2 bottles of alcohol at once before? The airlines allow up to 4 or 5, but customs only allows 2.

Since my work is requiring me to bring my laptop I am bringing a laptop case, I'll be shoving all the heavy things from my carry-on into it during the weighing/checkin of baggage then I'll just put the whole laptop case into my carry on. Its a locking hardside luggage so I am much more confident in it not getting messed with or things getting planted.

Incidentally I was asked if I could bring some nuetella too, at which point I suggested we just go to the grocery store there since they sell it. I have sufficient chocolate in my suitcase to give an elephant a heart attack so I think I'll be fine. I don't understand but I'm more then happy to play along.

[Brassballs 47]

Don't know where you got the alcohol information. I checked a case (12 bottles) of Emperidor Premium as one of our 6 allowed pieces of baggage when returning this past September flying on JAL. No issues whatsoever at either end.

It did take a while to find the case at Chicago since they offloaded 'fragile' pieces first and had them on a separate cart at the head of the belt. It never made onto the carousel. I waited for 10 revolutions before starting to ask when I finally saw it, haha.

[TheResistance 6]

My first (and so far only time) I did United from NC, to IL, to Tokyo, to Singapore. Then Cebu to Philippines. The whole declaration thing confuses me, so I declared nothing. None on their business what I had on me. other than my stuff, some tech, some cash, I had a few gifts for my (then) girlfriend and that was it. I came came back home with some added items, including one of her old laptops (with a bad hard drive I spent months wibbling to get Linux installed [i am a tech]) and candy and stuff. It was funny when one time I am in Cebu (leaving Singapore to Iloilo) and they wanted me to empty all my tech out to be scanned. I said, "Hey, I got two laptops in here [backpack], three cell phones [one my old flip phone, my faulty touch just used for music and free WIFI, and her actual Android phone], several USB drives, and a few other tech stuff. Really want me to empty this out?" The security guy looked at me and he said, "no." So i just threw my bag on the belt to be X-rayed.

I know none of that may help though.

[brian8024 2]

Awesome, thank you. Leaving in a couple days, fingers crossed that all goes well.

Do you know if they make you remove your belt/shoes at the x-ray machines?

[Hank_ 9,174]

Awesome, thank you. Leaving in a couple days, fingers crossed that all goes well.

Do you know if they make you remove your belt/shoes at the x-ray machines?

Varied with the airport. Some required removal of shoes, some didn't on our last trip (past summer)