Manila International Airport (MNL)

Departure from Manila (NAIA-1)

We hope that you have had a delightful stay in the Philippines and that you have only one idea: Come back again.

We helped you to get through the arrival procedures. We are glad to show you also the way out.

Departure actually begins before you get to the Manila International Airport. First you have to fight the traffic. Some days are better than others which are down right horrendous. Allow plenty of time. We recommend arriving at least 2 hours before boarding time. Add another hour and a half to get through the traffic-jam.

Whether you travel by bus taxi or shuttle, you arrive on the departure level.

At the entrance you encounter the first checkpoint, after having queued-up as hell. You will have to show your valid ticket or boarding pass and your passport.

Great progress! E-tickets are fully recognized and you will not have to go anymore to the airlines tickets offices downstairs.

Here you have to say "Good Bye" to those you love.

No, you are not yet really inside. There is a second checkpoint that x-rays your luggage. Yourself, you pass through the metal detector. Oh, keep smiling; it's for your security.

The large departure mall with the check-in counters is yours. And also make sure that you have at least PHP 750.00 per person left. You will have to pay this amount for the Philippines sacro-saint Terminal Fee.

This section is for Pinoys and Pinays only and some categories of expats.
You will have to pay the PTA Travel Tax.
Unfortunately some airlines include the travel tax in their ticket prices and others do not.

We therefore strongly recommend to go first to the check-in counter for your flight and inquire about the travel tax. Otherwise you risk to pay it twice.

If you have to pay the travel tax, then return to the entrance check-point. The travel tax counter is just on the left hand of the entrance (seen from inside). Be early, you may have to queue up for a while.

For more information about travel tax and other fees read our "taxes and fees" page.

You have made it inside. Now you have to find your check-in counter. There are screens in the centre of the hall displaying the flights and the associated check-in counters. Once you have found your airline, check in. You can show them your passport and ticket in exchange they will take your baggage, except your on board baggage and give you your boarding pass.

We suggest that you proceed immediately through the terminal fee and immigration counters, because inside the terminal zone you will find shops, restaurants and other facilities.

Next you proceed to the Manila Airport Terminal Fee counter. Here you have to pay 750 Peso for the privilege of using the terminal's facilities. They will staple another ticket to your boarding pass, confirming you have paid the Terminal Fee.

For Filipinos/Filipinas only: If you have not yet paid your Travel Tax, you need to do it now. Otherwise the Immigration Officer will not allow you to leave the country.

You will now need to fill in your Departure Card, which you may as well do in the long line as you wait your turn. Don't forget to keep smiling! When you finally reach the Immigration Officer you may hand over your departure card and get your departure stamp in your passport.

You already know them! Throughout the Philippines you have to pay the famous "Terminal Fee" when you depart either from an air or a sea terminal. The highest one is PHP 750.00 in Manila NAIA; in provincial airports you pay only PHP 20.00

Final security check. This one is though. Depending on the officer who supervises the controls, you may have to get rid of all but really all metallic items, empty all your pockets, get off your shoes. But keep smiling :-)

You have now made it through to the departure lounge. Here you can complete your last minute duty free shopping, buy something to eat and drink. The food is not that great and the prices are high. Smokers can go to the Tinder Box on the left side, where a small smokers zone is installed.

But!

We have several times been approached by really nice hostesses who invited us to join the lounge on the upper deck for only PHP 650.00 (Rate on 09/05/2010). It is worth the small expense.
There is a rather cosy lounge with drinks, snacks, newspapers, TV and Internet hotspot.

We never found out whether the drinks and snacks were free. We were never asked to pay for them.

Your last half mile on Philippine's ground. The alleys are long - very long. So get on your way at least 30 minutes before boarding time.

Your last station in the Philippines. Here you wait until the boarding counter is open and you take your seat for the next long hours.

Good bye dear visitor. Come again and remember if you found this guide useful, recommend it to your friends and relatives.

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There are no photos from security sensitive areas like: customs, immigration and checkpoints.

International Departure from Manila (NAIA-3)

We hope that you have had a delightful stay in the Philippines and that you have only one idea: Come back again.

We helped you to get through the arrival procedures. We are glad to show you also the way out.

Departure actually begins before you get to the Manila International Airport. First you have to fight the traffic. Some days are better than others which are down right horrendous. Allow plenty of time. We recommend arriving at least 2 hours before boarding time. Add another hour and a half to get through the traffic-jam.

Whether you travel by bus taxi or shuttle, you arrive on the departure level.

At the entrance you encounter the first checkpoint, after having queued-up as hell. You will have to show your valid ticket or boarding pass and your passport.

Great progress! E-tickets are fully recognized and you will not have to go anymore to the airlines tickets offices downstairs.

Here you have to say "Good Bye" to those you love.

No, you are not yet really inside. There is a second checkpoint that x-rays your luggage. Yourself, you pass through the metal detector. Oh, keep smiling; it's for your security.

The large departure hall with the check-in counters is yours. And also make sure that you have at least PHP 750.00 per person left. You will have to pay this amount for the Philippines sacro-saint Terminal Fee.

You have made it inside. Now you have to find your check-in counter. It's easy. The first row is Cebu Pacific Air and the second one is Airphil Express. Once you have found your airline, check in. You can show them your passport and ticket in exchange they will take your baggage, except your on board baggage and give you your boarding pass.

We suggest that you proceed immediately through the terminal fee and immigration counters, because inside the terminal zone you will find shops, restaurants and other facilities.

Next you proceed to the Manila Airport Terminal Fee counter on your left side. Here you have to pay 750 Peso for the privilege of using the terminal's facilities. They will staple another ticket to your boarding pass, confirming you have paid the Terminal Fee.

For Filipinos/Filipinas only: If you have not yet paid your Travel Tax, you need to do it now. Otherwise the Immigration Officer will not allow you to leave the country.

You will now need to fill in your Departure Card, which you may as well do in the long line as you wait your turn. Don't forget to keep smiling! When you finally reach the Immigration Officer you may hand over your departure card and get your departure stamp in your passport.

You already know them! Throughout the Philippines you have to pay the famous "Terminal Fee" when you depart either from an air or a sea terminal. The highest one is PHP 750.00 in Manila NAIA; in provincial airports you pay only PHP 20.00

Final security check. This one is though. Depending on the officer who supervises the controls, you may have to get rid of all but really all metallic items, empty all your pockets, get off your shoes. But keep smiling :-)

You have now made it through to the departure lounge. Here you can complete your last minute duty free shopping, buy something to eat and drink. The food is not that great and the prices are high. Smokers can go to the Smokers Lounge at the end of the terminal..

Your last quarter mile on Philippine's ground. The alley is long and very gray. So get on your way at least 30 minutes before boarding time.

Your last station in the Philippines. Here you wait until the boarding counter is open and you take your seat for the next long hours.

Good bye dear visitor. Come again and remember if you found this guide useful, recommend it to your friends and relatives.

Share on facebook

There are no photos from security sensitive areas like: customs, immigration and checkpoints.