Philippine Airlines Business Class: Airbus A350-900 New York (JFK) to Manila (4K)

This is my in-flight experience of Philippine Airlines Business Class flying from New York (JFK) to Manila via PR 127 on November 2023 under the PAL's "The Love Bus" livery or the RP-C3508 aircraft registry.
The video contains airport Transit transfer from Terminal 4 to Terminal 1 of JFK Airport. This won't contain the lounge experience as I didn't included this on the video.

[@PhilippineAirlinesTV]

Hi Engr. Wil. Thank you for flying with Philippine Airlines! We appreciate your support and hope you had a great travel experience. ✈❤

[@jcjamora6813]

hi do you still fly to london heathrow? just asking:)

[@juliusmangaser16]

can't wait for the new destinations....some will stay...some will be out ...

[@jcjamora6813]

Same i hope they will return to Europe

[@josephR714]

Great to see a video review of a business class experience! My first business class flight, in the early 2000s with Philippine Airlines (PAL), was a revelation. A direct flight was fantastic, but as I flew more business class, I compared airlines in Southeast Asia. This led me to conclude that PAL's business class currently falls short of some competitors. PAL has passengers pre-bed their seats with mattress toppers. While convenient for crew turnaround, other airlines like JAL, Cathay Pacific, and ANA wait until after the meal service. This pre-bedding feels less luxurious. Food and beverage could be improved. High-fructose corn syrup orange juice in a plastic container? For the price of a business class ticket, a more premium selection and nicer tableware would elevate the experience. As a Filipino, I hold PAL to a higher standard. It's the national flag carrier, and I want it to reflect Filipino hospitality at its finest….. but then I wonder, do most Filipino's aspire that or does PAL reflect Filipino sentiments?

[@rrbautista8930]

Great Trip Report- thank you very much for your video share ✨️

[@CaptEngrWil]

Thank you also for liking the trip report. More videos will be uploaded soon. 😊

[@johnsmith-dh5iz]

Nice video. Many thanks Wil

[@pingflores5327]

This Airbus A350-900 by PAL is what we needed flying from SFO to Manila. I love the seat configuration in Business class . I love to travel and privacy is a must for me. That window seat would be perfect.

[@user-iw3zu9ix2b]

Not gonna happen. A359 has less capacity than the 777-300ER which is usually full on the MNL-SFO route. If seat configuration is your priority, other airlines offer the same, if not better. You just need to connect somewhere though.

[@zarash1212]

You can fly United new route from Sfo-Mnl

[@REGroup7]

Loved it! Can’t wait for my journey

[@13NJJACK]

Very elaborate video,thanks

[@AviationFin]

Awesome 👌

[@gunvaldsandhaland7757]

I Havent Experience Philippine Airlines Jet.Great Trip Report

[@CaptEngrWil]

Yeah now with the video, this may let you atleast experience PAL already. 😁 More videos to upload soon.

[@jlmarc01]

Pick me up. I am in LA. Flew back in Feb 2020 just before pandemic via Business class. It was an old 777, saw no difference other than the room and sleeping arrangements from economy😊

[@CaptEngrWil]

Yeah the business class configuration is very different on Boeing 777 vs. A350 of PAL. But if I were to choose, this A350 from PAL is better given their more flat bed setting and latest version of their IFE.

[@Riezanesz]

⁠@@CaptEngrWilUghh! I can’t believe they haven’t change the aircraft yet for San Francisco and Los Angeles flights. We still have the old Boeing 777 😭😣 I would fly United for their seating but only if their foods are great though

[@vangiegroves9796]

I never been in business class, when visit my mother when she still alive, cost too much, $1,800, for business class, back in 90s that a lot of Philippines money. I see my mother for a month once a year, i get PAL, for 9 years, back in 1992-2001, back then, 17 hours flight fr LA to Mia, stopby in Hawaii for 30min.for gasoline. $4,000. back n port U.S./Phil this time, that will be P220,000.00.

[@Worldtraveler-88]

Great video. Just wondering, what type of camera did you use to record your video? It was very high quality. The way you recorded your video is very stable, did you use any sticky mount or just by hand? And what software app did you use to edit your youtube video and is it free to use? I am currently learning on how to record and edit my travel videos. Any advice is very much appreciated.

[@coolfeet77]

Nice video. That midnight snack is huge. Largest portion I've ever seen on biz class. My only complaint is serving the orange juice in a bottle: pouring it in a stem glass would be classier!

[@CaptEngrWil]

Thank you for liking it. Hope you are subscribed for more trip reports soon. Yeah, especially the noodles. Yeah I was quite surprised with that one since on my way to JFK via PR 126, they served in glasses. But yeah, I guess its also a part of saving some weight for the aircraft in order to save fuel consumption? 🤔

[@rongee3781]

Filipinos are considered one of the best pilots world wide, Lots of them were trained in states by United Airlines.

[@Princess-lp2qz]

Good vedio kuya 🇵🇭🇵🇭

[@CaptEngrWil]

Thank you very much for liking the video ☺️

[@TORCHTVsa]

❤❤

[@vincecarreon3243]

wow..this was a great, special flight.. Thank you so much, CaptEngr. Wil for sharing 😀 New York airport is huge..and the lights and night sky, wow 🌌 thank you for showing the clouds too the food looks amazing..and i hope that you all had a peaceful sleep over/near the north pole 🌌 the cabin lights are like auroras 😀 when you landed, and the flight purser said, "Mabuhay, Philippine Airlines welcomes you to Manila," another plane just took off 😀 i love the Love Bus..i hope everyone, including myself, gets to fly PAL Business Class even once..wishing everyone true peace and love too ♥️ 'til next time, take care everyone 🕊️

[@CaptEngrWil]

Thank you for watching and supporting my channel especially this video. Yeah JFK is a huge airport and yeah, it is much better than MNL hehe. Yep, I liked PAL's business class configuration in their A350. Hoping I may also try other configuration in other aircraft. Yeah more videos will be posted as well soon so stay tuned and subscribed 😊

[@honestreviewer3615]

I wish that PAL will also mount direct flight Manila to Chicago and vv. There is a big Filipino community here. If connection is efficient and sufficient, then some international travelers can connect to their final destinations. I really want to see PAL at ORD.

[@CaptEngrWil]

Yeah, I do hope they can consider returning to Chicago via O-Hare Airport. They used to fly to Chicago back then and utilized their Boeing 747. Hoping with the purchase of a lot of Airbus A350-1000, they may consider returning to Chicago.

[@hachiwd]

great choice with airbus over boeing how's the internet experience, is it equipped with starlink?

[@manosparavida3551]

Manila needs a new up-to-date airport. Rumour has it that land has been set aside for this purpose, which when it occurs will make it one of the most advanced airports in the world. Bravo to The Philippines 👍

[@CaptEngrWil]

Yes, true. MNL has been very congested already that soon almost intersecting 2 runway will not be enough to accomodate the growing volume of travellers. It is not actually a rumor but its land has already been reclaimed in Bulacan. But yeah, hopefully soon the airport structure will start to be built in sight. 😁

[@eddieBoxer]

Manila airport is rated the worst in the world, no matter update they do its still the worst airport, srevice is terrible, people can barely speak English, people sleeping on chairs, garbage everywhere, air conditioners not working, flight delays, 3rd wrold country, 3rd world service, ceiling leaks when it rains, airport personnel stealing your money, and placing bullets in you carry on to extort money, never trust a Filipino.

[@urimartinez2135]

It's interesting seeing the menu in the upper seat pocket as opposed to being passed out by hand.

[@CaptEngrWil]

Yeah, the business class configuration for the A350 makes the menu booklet easy to grab on by yourself.

[@1234vicranger]

I like this first class only down side is no privacy doors Thank You (Salamat)

[@CaptEngrWil]

Yeah, its not the best business class, but still its quite a bit fancy and I felt more comfortable when I landed on that long haul flight 😊

[@user-zo9my2vs2q]

❤❤❤

[@joaquina.195]

28:51 That current place is probably Pangasinan, probably in Lingayen. Anyway, thanks for sharing your 16-hour flight from JFK! I'm excited to ride with PAL again next month :)

[@adelmendoza8888]

May I ask where are you going?

[@joaquina.195]

​@@adelmendoza8888 I'm heading to South Korea for a 6-day visit. I will be flying via PAL.

[@CaptEngrWil]

Ohhh, awesome. Thank you for the information of that portion of Luzon. I wasn't able to check the map then since I was focused on taking a video. Thank you also for liking my trip report. Hoping for your safe and pleasant trip with PAL next month. Stay tuned also for my next trip report soon.

[@joaquina.195]

​@grWil It was my pleasure! I'm really very good at geography; that's why I have easily identified the place of that portion in Luzon :)

[@jovenciodalao3054]

Hopefully the flight stewards of PAL have change ,comparing them with the other stewards of other Asian Airlines ( ANA,JAPAN, KOREA and EVA) they have a lot to learn,although I am sure not everyone of them have the same attitude as the ones I have encountered years back.Thats one reason why we don’t take PAL when we go back to the island for our yearly visits ( last 12 years now); we just Used PAL during the pandemic since they were the only ones that was operating then from Manila to CA. Maybe one of this days we might try PAL .

[@johnberner4936]

I flew this same flight (127) in April last year. I chose seat 3K. When I boarded, I was shocked that the configuration was 2-3-2 and not 1-2-1. I was very disappointed! the same configuration was on the return flight 126. I just booked again for May and again the seat chart I booked shows 1-2-1. Anyone else get this surprise?

[@CaptEngrWil]

Hey there, I think you rode the Boeing 777-300ER of PAL then. Their business class configuration on that 777 is 2-3-2 configuration. They usually fly the Boeing 777 on some flights to JFK when the Airbus A350-900 isn't available or is scheduled to another route or maintenance

[@EC4U2C_Studioz]

I also think Philippine Airlines should revive their non-stop European flights. I think this should happen once SMC upgrades NAIA to allow a higher annual passenger capacity and NMIA opens to traffic. The following European airports should have non-stop Manila flights using either or both airports: * Lisbon * Madrid * Barcelona * Dublin * London-Gatwick * London-Heathrow * Manchester * Glasgow * Edinburgh * Paris-Charles De Gaulle * Amsterdam-Schiphol * Brussels * Geneva * Zurich * Rome-Fiumicino * Milan-Malpensa * Athens * Frankfurt * Munich * Berlin * Hamburg * Copenhagen * Oslo * Stockholm-Arlanda * Helsinki Other European airports should also have non-stop Manila flights as well.

[@CaptEngrWil]

Yeah, I think with the purchase of more Airbus A350-1000, part of the intention is to expand flights back to Europe particularly to London, which was their discontinued flight due to the pandemic. But yeah, they cannot expand much flights if the airport is overcrowded, so hopefully once NMIA is operational, it may divert some of their flights their so they can expand and catch up with their international competitors.

[@colleensantos718]

Oh wow, the Head Purser is My Cousin’s wife, Jackie Villaflor!

[@joseamiel]

My flat bed during my MNL-JFK flight was 4 rows in the Economy Class. :(((((( HAHAHA.

[@zenyg8282]

May I know Business class JFK to Manila - Jan 1, 2025 return flight Jan 28, thank you

[@tsipatos6532]

Did they serve you suka/sili as condiment for your main dish? Hopefully the plane did not smell that much.

[@CaptEngrWil]

Yeah they served some. Nope it didn’t smelled that much since they were only little

[@EC4U2C_Studioz]

Philippine Airlines should have a non-stop flight between the Washington Dulles International Airport and Manila-NMIA and/or Manila-NAIA once SMC gets their upgrades to the Manila airports ready.

[@CaptEngrWil]

Personally, I would like this to happen as well since I have relatives in the VA. This is possible since flying to IAD from JFK non stop will take around 1 hour and 25 minutes. This is possible with the A350 since Singapore Airlines have a very long non stop from Changi to JFK. But yeah, hoping also they may have another east coast presence.

[@EpicThe112]

You are correct however that causes a competition with United Airlines in the case of United Airlines they would want to increase the San Francisco flight frequency by extending UA191/190 to IAD. The two pilots that did San Francisco to Washington will need to fly the Pacific Ocean Crossing then handing it over to did the San Francisco Pilots once they are in range of San Francisco and Manila

[@EC4U2C_Studioz]

@@EpicThe112 The Airbus A350’s range can handle Dulles-Manila non-stop. The 777-300ER is unlikely to handle Dulles-Manila non-stop.

[@EpicThe112]

@EC4U2C_Studioz thank you for telling me about that but EWR to Manila is in range of a B777-300er you do see that on Philippine Airlines from JFK airport whenever there is no A350xwb available

[@EC4U2C_Studioz]

⁠Not just additional US airports having non-stop Manila flights, I also want to see non-stop European flights to and from Manila using either or both of the Manila airports.

[@jack-wanderers]

Ahh just like Taiwan departure Airport I was so confused cause i thought para akong nasa mall daming high end yun pala sa dulo andun na yung boarding gate 😂 tas i asked my auntie asan dito yung boarding gate wala naman akong nakikita 😂😂

[@roundbo]

What time do they open the check in counters. We have lengthy layover in JFK on separate itinerary so will be stuck in the checking area for 8hrs. Glad to see there is a food court pre TSA!

[@Princess-lp2qz]

Like I hour before, I was there 3hrs before it was so disorganized, just went in January.

[@Princess-lp2qz]

But mostly all airlines are the same ✈️✈️

[@CaptEngrWil]

Good day. They open atleast 3 hours before scheduled departure time. Yeah, you have a long layover, and yeah there are food court just above the JFK Terminal 1 where you can eat foods during your layover

[@m8tyone]

I am surprised that PAL business class has no lounge access.

[@CaptEngrWil]

Hey there, there are still lounge access. Just wasn't able to document it on this video though.

[@jpsybanez1416]

there’s no lounge for business class of PAL in JFK?

[@CaptEngrWil]

There are lounges when you fly Business Class with PAL. I just wasn't able to video it then. 😊

[@eddieBoxer]

Not for PAL, Philippine airlines doesn't have the money to have a business class lounge only richer airlines have.

[@Mik-rs3xv]

Business class is allowed to go to an airport lounge

[@Worksheet101]

Looks like you've passed over the Northernmost City in the world (Longyearbyen) based on the flight path.

[@CaptEngrWil]

Yeah, their route is via North Pole. It was a unique route since typically most fly back via the Pacific Ocean. But PAL did a trans Atlantic flight going back to PH. 😊

[@vangiegroves9796]

PAL, use to stop over in Hawaii, for 30min. for gasoline. Flight time is 18 hours, from LAX to MIA. during my visit in Phil. from 1992-99 once a year, on PAL.

[@delmonte4824]

I hope they won't continue to do the 3-4-3 layout in economy on their new A350-1000.

[@EpicThe112]

Impressive but it loses out on some of the cool features of the competitors external camera view on KE🇰🇷 CX🇭🇰 MU🇨🇳

[@CaptEngrWil]

Yeah, that was what i also wanted for PAL to include on their IFE. Hopefully they may consider to upgrade this on their upcoming A350-1000s

[@EpicThe112]

@@CaptEngrWil I agree with you and for PR they need to activate those on their B77W A359s A35Ks. On CX and QR those are activated on those planes. For KE A380 B747-8B5 B777-3B5/ER have them activated. Want one of those during the time of PR127 depature from JFK these are KE086 to KE621 for MNL and CX845/843 to CX907 for MNL

[@maryloue2241]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@JohnMcCracken-eu2dz]

What kind of power Outlet was that

[@eddieBoxer]

300

[@ellamaedasma98]

Question lng po After landing in manila pwede pa din ba natin i access ang Pal mabuhay lounge aa manila? Thanks

[@CaptEngrWil]

Hello, after landing, you cannot access the Mabuhay Lounge unless you are going to depart again on a connecting flight and it is also a PAL Business Class

[@ellamaedasma98]

@@CaptEngrWil thanks po

[@markdwighttadina7655]

I wish their Boeing 777 Business class are also like this

[@CaptEngrWil]

Yeah, tbh, their Boeing 777s Business Class based on some vlogs I watched, were quite old comparing to their A330s and A350s. Hopefully PAL may consider reconfiguring their Boeing 777 to that of their newer business class configurations like A330s and A350s

[@markdwighttadina7655]

@@CaptEngrWil But for now PR is like they're under receivership like from 1999 to 2008 since they're off from Chapter 11 restructuring. I wish before or after the new Bulacan Airport opens Lucio Tan should step down as PAL's majority owner and sell his stake to investors who are willing to make PAL's service better.

[@CaptEngrWil]

Well, PAL is still recovering from the effects of the pandemic lockdown that hampered air travel. And yeah, PAL didn't expect the sudden surge of air travel post pandemic that they had to order or lease mo aircrafts. Yeah, hoping for a stronger PAL in the future.

[@markdwighttadina7655]

@@CaptEngrWil The best solution overall is not only a better hub but also better management. Lucio Tan should step down as PAL majority owner and sell his stake to investors who are willing to make PAL's service better.

[@paoloagatep4564]

PAL should add Non stop flight from Manila to Houston, Texas, and back….

[@CaptEngrWil]

Yeah, been also wanting to visit Texas. Hoping they may consider this since there are also a lot of Filipinos in Texas.

[@vangiegroves9796]

I agreed, to have PAL in TX. theres too many Filipinos live all over in Texas, specially in the big City, like Houston and Dallas, I live in Houston, I am nearby international & domestic Airport. Whe I live Albuquerque, NM I use to fly with PAL, every year from 1992-1999 my last flight on PAL, to visit my late mother. Since my mother pass away in 2007, I don’t go back to Phil. Often anymore. Same year my mother passed in 2007 I moved here in Houston,TX for good. I wish there’s PAL here in Houston,TX cause once in awhile I visit my late mother grave in Phil. Since I moved here in Texas I’ve been visited in Phil. 2009, 2015, and last 2019, no plan to visit right now, since Philippines get worse so bad, too scary to go in Phil.

[@vangiegroves9796]

@@CaptEngrWil thank you for sharing your flight, on your vacation to Philippines, so nice to hear from you, your experience about PAL. I’ll watch your channel for your next updates, enjoy your vacation, stay safe. New subscriber. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️

[@eddieBoxer]

They do not have the money, Philippine airlines is a low cost cheap airline company so they do not get priorities routes nor landing rights like bigger airlines, Philippines is a poor mans airlines.

[@glennchristophercasuga8663]

love bus is a bus in the Philippines which founded on June 27, 1974. airline is not the iconic one.

[@dennis12dec]

My biggest disappointment with PAL is they don't have flights to Europe particularly in the Schengen Area which I travel most still have to fly to Hong Kong for a connecting flight often via Scandinavian Airlines or Finnair going to Helsinki, Stockholm or Copenhagen. Hopefully European Airlines used to fly to the Philippines in the past like Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, Swiss International, ITA Airways (formerly Alitalia), KLM could make a comeback.

[@Jeleor]

The pork inasal looked sad and the serving of rice with the longganisa was too small. The chow mien looked really tasty though.

[@CaptEngrWil]

Yeah, the foods are exquisite and they served a lot of sides despite of the small food serving. For me I am still very satisfied. Yeah chow mien is very delicious 😋

[@eddieBoxer]

What do you expect from a poor 3rd world airline company, try Qatar, Saudi airlines great food, Philippine airlines food is basuda, garbage I wouldn't eat it I'll bring my own food aboard.

[@hmmg355]

Great trip but that engine sounds horrible at takeoff!!!!!!!