Lufthansa747 From Philippines, joined May 1999, 3180 posts, RR: 46 Posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 12884 times:
A brief report of one of the last DC-9 flights by Cebu Pacific Air, the type was retired from 5J service in July.
I was actually planning to redeem PAL Mabuhay Miles for a pair of free tickets, but they don’t even allow same day redemptions. Steep fees are charged a few days in advance, and it was totally not worth it. So, after breakfast at the Renaissance Makati Club Lounge, I decided to check the other options – namely Cebu Pacific. Happy to discover their new website with proper online booking – a few minutes later we were booked on 5J 569 to CEB a few hours later and e-tickets arrived in my email. I thought P300 extra was worth it for a DC-9 – the A319 an hour earlier would have been cheaper. Roughly $100 with tax for the two last minute tickets.
23 June 2006
Manila Domestic Airport (MNL/RPLL) – Mactan Cebu International (CEB/RPVM)
Cebu Pacific Air 5J/CEB 569
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32
RP-C1545
1610-1730 – On Time
Economy Class, Seat 4A
We arrived at the Manila Domestic Airport about two hours before departure – it has to be the worst airport terminal I’ve ever been to. Even NAIA 1 feels like a palace in comparison. Air Philippines has recently moved out, yet the check-in area was a complete mess – half of the 5J counters closed, and the rest being flight-specific with lines about 100 people deep. No signs where to line up, and the queues started way back at the entrance.
After 30 minutes in line, the friendly agent took our Northwest WorldPerks cards and gave seats in the exit row. Alas, these were taken back a minute later as she realized my wife was pregnant. With boarding passes for 4A/B in hand, we headed to pay the airport fee. P200 for a building that would be better off being used as a garbage sorting facility or something similar – a little steep I thought.
The departure area is simply a hall with plenty of seats and four gates – no jetbridges are used and you simply walk to the planes or take a bus if they are parked remotely. Absolutely everything on Cebu Pacific was delayed by hours, apart from our 5J 569 to Cebu and another DC-9 flights that were on time. As boarding time approached, outsourced Topserve ground staff put a “CEBU” sign above one of the doors – there are no gate displays whatsoever. Boarding started shortly thereafter, and RP-C1545 was waiting outside. Ex-KLM, TWA and Midwest Express, this bird definitely has an interesting history.
Plenty of locals were forced to gate check their larger bags, but our roller bag raised no eyebrows thankfully. Entering the cabin, I was surprised how nice it looked – extended overhead bins and nice and tidy looking seats with 5J seatcovers. Definitely quite a contrast to Lion Air MD-80s for example. We took our seats 4A/B, and I found the legroom to be excellent, probably 32-33”. I also noticed a window in the cockpit door – never seen one before! Next to us was an Asian Spirit Dash-7 and further away a pair of Cebu Pacific A319s. I also noticed a couple of retired DC-9s.
Asian Spirit
Pushback was a few minutes late, and a long taxi to the active runway by the LHT Phils hangar followed. Takeoff felt rather powerful, and a steep left turn followed. Unlike some of the low cost carriers in the region, Cebu Pacific still has some complimentary service – lemon ice tea and biscuits on this flight. There was also a game where one could win some Cebu Pacific items. Overall, the F/As were nice and friendly, and the captain gave plenty of information about our flight.
After Takeoff
Cabin Views and Service
The weather was nice, and the views rather stunning – these looked like the chocolate hills but the location doesn’t match…
Soon, we were on descent to Cebu Mactan, and flew over the city before turning onto final approach.
Cebu City
Turning onto final approach to Mactan Airport
A smooth on-time landing completed what was quite possibly my last flight on the Douglas classic. Bags arrived quickly, and a couple of minutes later we were on our way to the Marriott Cebu City. Apart from the Domestic Terminal in Manila, the flight was excellent – unfortunately the A319/320 flights on 5J two months later were a disaster.
Pagophilus From Australia, joined Oct 2006, 114 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 12728 times:
Good to hear you enjoyed your trip on Cebu Pacific. I flew 5J in April MNL-CEB-MNL on their 319, unfortunately I missed out on the DC-9, but it was Easter and I was chasing the cheapest fare while booking last minute.
Quoting Lufthansa747 (Thread starter): We arrived at the Manila Domestic Airport about two hours before departure – it has to be the worst airport terminal I’ve ever been to.
I second that observation. Looks like nothing has changed since April. My departure from MNL was delayed by about an hour, and departure from CEB by over 2 hours (in fact the "later" flight departed earlier). This wasn't helped by having one runway at MNL closed or restricted on Easter Thursday, nor by the procedures of some pilots/ATC. (An Asian Spirit Dash-7 was waiting for takeoff clearance about mid-way down Runway 13. When it was his turn, he proceded to back-up all the way to the beginning of the runway for his takeoff. Having been to Greenland and flown on the Dash-7's there, I know how much runway the Dash-7 needs - or doesn't need - to take off.)
KL808 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 1576 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 12279 times:
Great report as usual.
Quoting Lufthansa747 (Thread starter): The weather was nice, and the views rather stunning – these looked like the chocolate hills but the location doesn’t match…
Yeah it closely resembles the chocolate hills out in Bohol.
But its probably the northern mountain range of Cebu.
Sq_ek_freak From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2000, 1594 posts, RR: 21 Reply 4, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 12178 times:
Great report. It seems that Cebu Pacific retired their DC-9s rather fast, seeing as though their first A319/A320s have only recently arrived?
Odd that you saw so many delays with Cebu Pacific, last time I was in Manila all I heard was praise for the airline, especially their on-time record. It was seen as a fresh departure from the days of PAL, and they even advertised themselves as having a great punctuality record - ranking somewhere in the high 90 percentage?
Lufthansa747 From Philippines, joined May 1999, 3180 posts, RR: 46 Reply 5, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 12024 times:
Quoting Pagophilus (Reply 1): When exactly is Terminal 3 opening????
No idea, but I heard PR would get there... Absolutely ridiculous considering they have had T2 for ages and it's sufficient. Most foreigners fly on foreign airlines I guess and get a nice welcome when they arrive at a dump such as T1.
Quoting BA319-131 (Reply 2): - Hope to see this report when you have time.
I can write a report but unfortunately no pics from these flights...
Quoting Sq_ek_freak (Reply 4): Odd that you saw so many delays with Cebu Pacific, last time I was in Manila all I heard was praise for the airline, especially their on-time record.
That's what I thought. But the Airbus fleet seems to have changed this completely. Possible scenarios IMHO:
-Retired DC9s too early - simply not enough A319/320s to cover the ever-growing network
-Serious issues with A319/320 reliability
-Simply cancelling empty flights and rebooking pax - even the 319 is a huge capacity jump from the DC9s
We had BOTH flights cancelled in August (MNL-CEB-MNL) and were rebooked to later flights. The rest were all hours delayed.
Sponsor Message: 
From Philippines, joined May 1999, 3180 posts, 
From Australia, joined Oct 2006, 114 posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8278 posts, 
From United States of America, joined May 1999, 1576 posts, 
From Thailand, joined Apr 2005, 894 posts, 
Sponsor Message: 
Printer friendly format
