PH reopens for tourism, business travel to fully vaxxed from non-visa required countries starting Feb. 10

[top_secret 2,460]

51 minutes ago, Mojito said:

I just checked February-March prices and its around $4,000 round trip minimum in coach right now.  It was as low as $1200 round trip in 2019. Ouch. Waiting for the air competition to reduce these prices, its like $10,000 round trip in 1st class now. 

Check starting in April and prices are more normalish.  ~$1k or so RT.   The issue with airfares is the price of flights INTO the Philippines as there have been severe inbound passenger capacity caps in place by the Philippine government.  Many airlines were forced to fly half empty flights coming into the Philippines and priced the limited amount of seats they were allowed to sell accordingly.  IF..... the inbound capacity caps are lifted (????)  then prices should quickly normalize.

Edited January 28, 2022 by top_secret

[NoMansLand2020 298]

1 hour ago, top_secret said:

Check starting in April and prices are more normalish.  ~$1k or so RT.   The issue with airfares is the price of flights INTO the Philippines as there have been severe inbound passenger capacity caps in place by the Philippine government.  Many airlines were forced to fly half empty flights coming into the Philippines and priced the limited amount of seats they were allowed to sell accordingly.  IF..... the inbound capacity caps are lifted (????)  then prices should quickly normalize.

I paid around 750 RT in Nov 2019 and Feb 2020. 

[top_secret 2,460]

26 minutes ago, NoMansLand2020 said:

I paid around 750 RT in Nov 2019 and Feb 2020. 

By normal-ISH  $750 in 2019 or 2020 is pretty much equal to $1k today.  The US gobernment printed a few extra gazililion Dollars between then and now so one would also have to consider that the Dollars they buy plane tickets with aren't quite worth what they used to be.

 

[IWander 589]

7 hours ago, Commish10 said:

I saw that this morning. I do not think they will accept our crappy vaccination card. 

I just returned after spending 2 months in Cebu.  Our crappy vax card isn't a lot different than everyone else's crappy vax card.  

 

[anikkandtim 15]

1 hour ago, IWander said:

I just returned after spending 2 months in Cebu.  Our crappy vax card isn't a lot different than everyone else's crappy vax card.  

 

Hi just want to confirm, our vaccine card here is valid in PH?

[IWander 589]

16 minutes ago, anikkandtim said:

Hi just want to confirm, our vaccine card here is valid in PH?

No issues at all

[Mojito 17]

12 minutes ago, IWander said:

No issues at all

Hi. Where did you go to get your RT-PCR test before you came back to America from the Philippines? And what days of the week were they open, and how long did it take to get your results? 

[IWander 589]

6 minutes ago, Mojito said:

Hi. Where did you go to get your RT-PCR test before you came back to America from the Philippines? And what days of the week were they open, and how long did it take to get your results? 

Plenty of places.  We went to UC Med in Mandaue.  Most labs are open every day.  Some require pre-registration, some are walk in.  We did the rapid antigen test and results were in 4 hours.  We actually tested positive and had to isolate and reschedule our flights but we are home now.

 

PS.  Both NAIA and MCIA have on premise testing sites.

 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2022 by IWander

[hunny&me 274]

Here is link to entire IATF resolutions.  -  https://iatf.doh.gov.ph/?page_id=77  159 is the one for reopening Philippines.  Should it changes, you can monitor from main page.

[Mojito 17]

24 minutes ago, IWander said:

Plenty of places.  We went to UC Med in Mandaue.  Most labs are open every day.  Some require pre-registration, some are walk in.  We did the rapid antigen test and results were in 4 hours.  We actually tested positive and had to isolate and reschedule our flights but we are home now

Is anything like more tests needed to fly from Manila to Davao, or Cebu to Davao? I got to get to Mindanao from MNL most likely. 

[IWander 589]

1 minute ago, Mojito said:

Is anything like more tests needed to fly from Manila to Davao, or Cebu to Davao? I got to get to Mindanao from MNL most likely. 

Not that I am aware of but we flew directly into Cebu and that was our final destination so I didn't pay much attention to other areas.  Plus this is still a very fluid situation with the requirements changing every couple of weeks. So what is today may not be tomorrow.

I know that at some point only fully vaxed could go to NCR, not sure if that is still a thing or not.  

[Kby175 115]

59 minutes ago, Mojito said:

Hi. Where did you go to get your RT-PCR test before you came back to America from the Philippines? And what days of the week were they open, and how long did it take to get your results? 

I used Padlab the first week of January before returning to the US. All of the labs are open 7 days a week, you just get tested the day before returning to the US and you will have your results before you go back.  

[NoMansLand2020 298]

You don't need a RT-PCR to get back into the US. An Antigen test works too. Cheaper and faster results. 

[IWander 589]

2 minutes ago, NoMansLand2020 said:

You don't need a RT-PCR to get back into the US. An Antigen test works too. Cheaper and faster results. 

In the event of a positive test, a medical clearance from the local health department works too.  That is how we got out.

[Talako 786]

15 hours ago, Commish10 said:

I saw that this morning. I do not think they will accept our crappy vaccination card. 

 

From the Houston Consulate's main page:

 

Quote

A. FULLY VACCINATED International Arriving Passengers

1. They shall be required to present a negative Reverse Transcription – Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test taken within forty-eight (48) hours prior to departure from the country of origin.
2. Upon arrival, they shall no longer be required to observe mandatory facility-based quarantine but shall self-monitor for any sign or symptom for seven (7) days with the first day being the date of arrival and shall be required to report to the local government unit of destination upon the manifestation of symptoms, if any.
3. International arriving passengers must have any of the following proofs of vaccination against COVID-19:
   1. World Health Organization (WHO) International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis; OR
   2. VaxCertPH; OR
   3. National/state certificate of the foreign government, including original CDC vaccination cards for those vaccinated in the US.

https://houstonpcg.dfa.gov.ph/

 

The bold is their emphasis.