INTERNATIONAL CARRIERS TO THE PHILIPPINES

(As of March 1st 2007)

Skytrax Rating Systems (see below for rating):
This is the Star Rating system for the world airline industry. As customers might choose a hotel by its Star Ranking, you can now view airline standards according to their Star Rating status. The better the rating the more stars.

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES

Philippines Airlines was founded in 1941. This is the Shortest flying time from the U.S to the Philippines. Flights leave from San Francisco or Los Angeles daily. San Francisco flight is always a non stop with a flying time of less than 13 hours to Manila. Evening departures allows for an early morning arrival in Manila which allows you to connect to other flights on PAL to other Philippine domestic destinations. It also allows you to connect to the Cebu Express flight leaving from the International Terminal (your luggage is checked thru to Cebu) and you go through customs and immigration in Cebu City.

As of December 2006, it claims to serve twenty-one domestic airports and thirty-two foreign cities. Currently the Cebu Express is daily and you arrive in Cebu at 7 a.m. Also true for the return. Cebu Express flight in the evening connecting to Manila for the flight to San Francisco with minimum lay over time.

http://www.philippineair.com

CHINA AIRLINES

China Airlines was founded on December 16, 1959. This airline has its hub in Taipei, Taiwan. This is the low priced leader for the industry. At times their fares are $100 lower than the competition. Night time departures from San Francisco, from Los Angeles, and New York (JFK) allow for a mid day arrival in Manila and they have a thru fare to Cebu using PAL.

Flight requires a change of planes in Taiwan both ways. Luggage can be checked thru to Manila. You go thru customs and immigration in Manila. They have fares from every major US city. As of January 31, 2007, China now air has destinations in 67 cities in 25 countries.

It should be noted though since 1970, this airline has averaged 7.16 fatal events per million flights, while the worldwide average is less than 1.0.

http://www.china-airlines.com

Northwest Airlines

Northwest Airlines (NW) was founded in 1926. NW is the world's fifth largest airline in terms of RPK (revenue-passenger-kilometers) and it has the third largest fleet in the world. They offer morning flights to Manila in the U.S. and you arrive the next evening in Manila, too late to make a connecting flight to any Philippine domestic destinations. Returning flights leaves Manila in the morning and too early to connect from Cebu or interior Philippines.

NW Airlines is an airline headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota in the US. NW also operates flights from a hub in Asia at Narita International Airport near Tokyo and also operates transatlantic and Asian flights in cooperation with partner KLM from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.

The international flights in the US, originate in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit and Minneapolis. You change planes for Manila in Seoul, Korea or Narita, Japan after 2 hour lay over, same for the return flights.

http://www.nwa.com

Eva Airlines

Eva Air was founded Dr. Chang Yung-Fa in March 1989. Eva Air is based at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei, Taiwan. Eva Air has daily flights to Manila from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Newark. They offer interline on other U.S. carriers for other U.S. cities. They also go thru Taiwan, and change planes for Manila. Price is about the same, but best advantage to Eva Airlines is the Deluxe Economy Class. For only about $100 each way, you can upgrade to their "almost business class" Deluxe Economy with more room, bigger seats, wider, more leg room, better food, better service etc. Best deal going for this "almost business class" service.

http://www.evaair.com.tw

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific's hub and headquarters is in Hong Kong meaning all flights to Manila go thru Hong Kong. They do have a separate flight that goes to Cebu and is more than their Manila flight. This is a great option for those who want to avoid Manila. They have daily flights from SFO and LAX and also JFK. They use the same partner carriers US flights as China Airlines and Eva. Prices are on the high end compared to China Airlines and some of the others, but the convenience of their Cebu Flight makes up for it. Cathay Pacific is perceived by many to be one of the best Asian airlines. Like China Airlines, discounts are generally always available. Unlike China Airlines, some flights are sold out months in advance, and seats are hard to get during certain times.

http://www.cathaypacific.com

Korean Airlines

An established airline with its hub in Seoul, Korea, Korean Airlines is very competitive with China Airlines for fares to Manila. As with all carriers except PAL, you go thru another city, country (Seoul Korea) and change planes for the flight to Manila. Reports of delays in Seoul are common and some Filipino Passport holders said they had to pay a transit tax in Seoul (but not U.S. Passport holders). They have interline connections for interior U.S. cities and very competitive in that market also. Arrival time in Manila is about Noon time, so there is little time to connect to Cebu and other interior Philippine Cities. They have no thru fare to other cities in the Philippines.

http://www.koreanair.com

Asiana Airlines

This is another Korean airlines established on February 17, 1988. Asiana Airlines also goes thru Seoul, Korea and you have to change planes for the last leg to Manila. They also have some very low airfares. They are one of the newest airlines in Asia. As with all Trans-Pacific carriers now, they fly the 747-400 (newest and biggest Boeing 4 engine jet) to their hub and the European Industry Airbus 330 (4 engine 250 passenger jet) to Manila.

http://us.flyasiana.com/

Japan Airlines

Based in Japan, Japan Airlines is trying to get their share of the Manila market also with low fares. They have now added on select cities in the U.S. You go via Tokyo or Osaka and change planes for flights to Manila. Your arrival time in Manila is 9:20 p.m., to late for connections to Cebu or other cities. So you would require an overnight on the outbound. Same is true for the return, departure from Manila is 9:15 a.m. and that would be too early coming from Cebu or other cities and would require an overnight in Manila the night before departure.

http://www.japanair.com/

Continental Airlines

Continental Airlines began service in 1934 as Varney Speed Lines. The airline which is based in Houston, Texas is the only carrier that flies to Manila and has a stop-over in Honolulu and/or Guam. Arrival in Manila is at night and makes connecting to interior Philippine flights difficult and you have to overnight in Manila. Fares are not as competitive as other carriers. Recently, Continental Airlines announced that it will acquire 24 more Boeing Next-Generation 737 (737NG) aircraft.

http://www.continental.com/

Skytrax Rating Systems

5 Star Airlines

The "ultimate" Approval, awarded to airlines with the highest Quality performance. A 5 Star ranking recognizes the highest standard of Product across assessment categories, and consistently high standards of Staff Service delivery in Onboard and Airport environments. 5 Star ranking recognizes airlines at the forefront of product innovation, that generally set trends to be followed by other carriers.

4 Star Airlines

A seal of Approval, awarded to airlines supplying a good Quality performance.

A 4 Star ranking signifies airlines providing a good standard of Product across all travel categories - and a good standard of Staff Service delivery in Onboard and Airport environment.

3 Star Airlines

Star Grading awarded to airlines supplying a fair Quality performance that conforms to an industry "average" - when assessing all areas of competitive ranking.

3 Star ranking signifies a satisfactory standard of core Product across most travel categories - but may reflect less consistent standards of Staff Service / Product delivery either Onboard or in the Airport environments.

2 Star Airlines

Star Grading for a poor Quality performance - falling below the industry average in each competitive market sector.

2 Star ranking represents a poor standard of Product across different ranking categories - or poor / inconsistent standards of Staff Service delivery in Onboard or Airport environments.

1 Star Airline

This represents an Airline with a very poor Quality performance.

1 Star ranking represents very poor standards of Product across all travel categories, with poor, inconsistent standards of Staff Service delivery in Onboard and Airport environments.