Have you taken Philippine Airlines recently and looked at your Mabuhay Miles earned? Tutubi did took PAL on his recent trip to Cebu but only updated his Mabuhay Miles account to reflect the trip's earned miles and this is what he discovered.

In June 2008, more than 2 years ago, Tutubi took the Manila - Cebu - Manila via PAL earned him 349 miles earned for each way. His recent Manila - Cebu - Manila only earned him 87 miles i.e. one fourth of the 349 miles for the same trip two years ago.

There are missing flights here, one's the Manila - KL (malaysia) flight he took in 2004, "sayang" but he forgot to claim and redeem his miles back then, plus his first airplane ride in 2002

PAL must really be in hard times, Tutubi used to think PAL means Plane Always Late, replaced by Pilots Already Left then the most recent notice of strike of flight attendants that can ground PAL's operations to a halt, sending another very bad signal to the international tourism and business community.

Anyway, Tutubi's just monitoring his Mabuhay Miles earned but does not have the intention to redeem them due to the simple fact that buying promo tickets is way much cheaper than paying taxes in redeeming free flights. He wanted to get the Mabuhay Miles card just so he can use the Mabuhay lounge at NAIA Terminal 2 (The Centennial Terminal used exclusively by PAL. There's also free wifi Internet at NAIA Terminal 2 that he doesn't need due to his preference for Sun Broadband and/or Globe Tattoo)

Tutubi has some expiring miles, but not enought to merit the attention of people buying airline miles in exchange for cash.

Related Posts:

Philippine Airlines Photo Contest
Overnight Parking at NAIA Terminal 2
Hotels near NAIA Terminal 2
NAIA Terminal Fees

Labels: Airlines, Mabuhay Miles, Philippine Airlines, Rewards

As an avid traveler and frustrated photographer who can take pictures slightly better than ordinary people, Tutubi wanted just a little bit of recognition by having three wishes: that his pictures be seen in print publications like travel and airline in-flight magazines, be featured on newspapers and win at least a photography contest even with a "tsamba" shot as claim to "fame."

The first two of his three wishes already came true - two of his pictures already made it to Cebu Smile, the in-flight magazine of Cebu Pacific (Of course you didn't notice it unless you know Tutubi's real name) and this blog was already featured quite some time ago on Manila Bulletin's Blog-o-rama.

The third one, winning a photo contest, is another thing for most photo contests here have unfair rules that strip photographers of their rights to their artistic creations.

Take the case of the latest PAL Photo Contest with rules that stipulate these unfair terms and condition:

Free use of photo entries? Or are they building a large stockpile of stock images for free use?

"13. All participants understand and agree that Philippine Airlines shall have the right to use any photo or image submitted as entry in the contest for marketing and promotional purposes in all media, advertising, promotion and publicity campaign or exhibition without additional compensation"

Copyright now belongs to Philippine Airlines even for non-winning entries? That means even the photographer can't use his own works for other purposes

"16. By entering the contest and submitting his/her entry/ies, each participant agrees and acknowledges that PAL is permitted to receive the photograph or image entry/ies, and that he/she transfers and turns over to Philippine Airlines the full ownership of the copyright to the photos or images."

Lately, Tutubi's been dabbling on intellectual property rights, that's why he's advocating fair use of all submitted entries in photography contests. The second rule is really, really unfair as you relinquish your rights to your photo upon submission. For it to be fair, the copyright shall still be with the photographer, with the unrestricted use of all photos solely for marketing purposes of the photo contest itself.

How to join the PAL Photo Contest and be stripped of your rights? Read the fine print instructions (the catch) and be a willing victim of a rights-grabbing contest should you choose to join. Some (or many) people will say "it's their contest, you're not being forced to join" and that's just the kind of attitude why this country is in the state that it is now: "I'm not affected by it so why should I bother?"

If you really don't care about your rights as a photographer, imagine if your entry didn't make it in the finals but ended up featured on a billboard on EDSA or SLEX without just compensation nor proper acknowledgment, how would you feel?

It's not an imagined scenario for it actually happened to a poor guy who joined a photography contest of a well-known real estate company who could only gnash his teeth in disbelief. He can't bill the company who used his non-winning photo on a billboard for the rules of the photography contest were similar to those of Philippine Airlines-- you totally relinquish your rights to your photo upon submission and can use it without acknowledgment nor compensation even if it's a non-winning entry.

If you're still bent on joining the contest, go ahead, it's your right and they didn't force you. Just don't blame Tutubi should you find yourself in the poor guy's situation.

You've been forewarned!

Labels: Philippine Airlines, Rants

Air traffic's really high between southern cities of Cebu and Davao and even more with the latest promo fare of PAL for the Cebu to Davao flight

As announced on Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles newsletter:

CEBU to DAVAO
PHP1,088
One Way Economy Class Fare

PHP 4,888
One Way Business Class Fare

Selling and Ticketing: 28 August 2009 - 04 September 2009
Travel Period (Outbound): 01 September 2009 - 15 October 2009

Experience the comfort and safety of your flight, and ride
with PAL's young fleet of Airbus 330/343

BOOK & BUY at www.philippineairlines.com

* Non-refundable
* Rebooking is allowed at PHP 600 per sector
* Buy up is allowed
* Round-Trip airfare is also available
* Economy Class: no Miles and sector count towards Elite tier status qualification
* Business Class: will earn Miles and sector count towards Elite tier status qualification
* Economy Class tickets cannot be used in conjunction with an UpgradeTravel Certificate (UTC) or Service Class Upgrade AwardRedemption
* Exclusive of Aviation Security Fee (ASF)
* Travel Conditions apply

CALL PAL Reservations at: (632) 855-8888,
or (6332) 340-0191- Cebu, (82) 2264604 - Davao
VISIT PAL Ticket Office in your area, Click here for contact details.

Tip: you can now avail of this promo by using BancNet ATM card to book online

Labels: Philippine Airlines

For people without a credit card, like Tutubi (and proud of it), who want to book flights and sometimes avail of low fare promos, you may now use your BancNet ATM card to book flights of Philippine Airlines.

How to book online? Just follow this simple procedure:

1. Log on to the official website of Philippine Airlines
2. Select your desired flight
3. Enter passenger details
4. Choose BancNet as mode of payment
5. Select your bank on the dropdown list
6. Enter your card number and ATM PIN
7. Print the confirmation email and e-ticket

No registration required but you may have to show the ATM card used in booking or at least a photocopy of the ATM card if it's not your own ATM card for security purposes.

Limitation: Online booking with ATM card limited to domestic flights only probably due to use of dollar currency in international flights (no forex conversion).

Note, according to Tutubi's sources, Cebu Pacific first signed up with BancNet to for the online payment facility but Philippine Airlines beat them to it by going live ahead of their fiercest rival.

As of posting time, Cardholders of the following BancNet member banks can use the online facility:

• Allied Bank
• Asia United Bank
• China Bank
• Chinatrust Bank
• Citystate Savings Bank
• Metrobank
• PBCom
• Philtrust
• PNB (Philippine National Bank)
• Postal Bank
• RCBC
• RCBC Savings
• Robinsons Savings Bank
• Security Bank
• Standard Chartered Bank
• Sterling Bank of Asia

If your bank is not listed above, inquire at your own bank for the facility or open a new account at the bank of your choice. This is great for those having difficulty of getting a credit card.

No news yet if you can book flights for other carriers like Seair, ZestAir or other regional budget airlines e.g. Tiger Airways, and AirAsia.

Labels: Airlines, Philippine Airlines

Sssssshhhhh, while many people booked with Cebu Pacific last week, PAL just announced on their Mabuhay Miles mailing, of which Tutubi is a member, their latest low fares promo for 2009 for roundtrip airfares.

The trick on how to book cheap flights is to really be one of the first to know about the latest promotional offers of airlines so you can book early and ahead of the pack.

------

The only WAY-TO-GO is via PHILIPPINE AIRLINES

Promo Fares!! Promo Fares!!

Planning to have a break? Now is the perfect time to treat yourself, family or friends to a perfect vacation to your favorite Philippine Airlines' destination with our LOW LOW FARES.

We bring back our WAY-TO-GO Promo Fares. Avail these exciting LOW LOW FARES

US$98 Manila to Taipei

US$108 Manila to Hong Kong and Macau

US$128 Manila to Bangkok, Saigon and Singapore

US$158 Manila to Jakarta

US$198 Manila to Shanghai

US$218 Manila to Osaka

US$298 Manila to Beijing

US$468 Manila to Honolulu, Sydney and Melbourne

US$528 Manila to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas

Just add as low as US$30 to travel from Cebu (Via Manila) or US$50 to travel from Davao (Via Manila)

Roundtrip Economy Class All-In Fares
Selling Period: 27 July - 03 August 2009
Outbound Travel Period: 16 August - 30 September 2009( Regional and Honolulu)
Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau, Bangkok, Saigon, Singapore, Jakarta, Shanghai
Osaka, Beijing, Sydney, Melbourne,Honolulu
Outbound Travel Period: 01 September - 25 December 2009 (International)
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas



* Exclusive of Government Taxes
* Confirmed reservations are required for all sectors
* Tickets must be issued within 72 hours after reservations are made, but not later than 03 August 2009
* Limited Seats
* Non-rebookable/ Non-refundable/ Non-endorsable/Non-reroutable
* Ticket will earn segment count towards Elite tier qualification
* Ticket cannot be used in conjunction with an Upgrade Travel Certificate (UTC) or Service Class Upgrade Award
* No Mileage accrual
* Other Travel Conditions apply


For bookings and inquiries:
click: www.philippineairlines.com
call: PAL Reservations: Manila- (632)8558888 or (632)8557888 -Elite, Premier Elite members and Million Milers, Cebu- (032)3400191 or (032)3403107- Elite Premier Elite members and Million Milers, Davao- (082)2220366 or (082) 2215513, or your Travel Agent
visit: PAL Ticket Office: CLICK HERE for contact details of PAL Ticket Offices nearest you or your Travel Agent

Labels: Philippine Airlines

The Philippines' and Asia's longest operating airlines is also the national flag carrier. Made it's maiden flight on March 15, 1941 to Baguio from Makati's old Nielson Airport. Always the popular airline and offers one of the cheapest if not the cheapest flights to the Philippines direct.

For PAL's loyal passengers particularly Filipinos with excess luggage in the form of balikbayan boxes loaded with pasalubong.

UPDATE:
According to PAL's official website: "Philippine Airlines will cap the weight of the two pieces of free checked baggage for each passenger on flights to and from the United States (including Guam) and Canada at 50 pounds (23 kilograms) per piece for tickets issued or re-issued starting July 1, 2008."

---

Per kilo rate between Manila and the following domestic destinations :

* Bacolod - PHP30.90
* Butuan - PHP39.90
* Cagayan de Oro - PHP39.90
* Caticlan - PHP50.00
* Cebu - PHP30.90
* Cotabato - PHP39.90
* Davao - PHP39.90
* Dipolog - PHP39.90
* Dumaguete - PHP29.00
* General Santos - PHP39.90
* Iloilo - PHP30.90
* Kalibo - PHP30.90
* Legaspi - PHP27.90
* Naga - PHP23.90
* Puerto Princesa - PHP30.90
* Roxas - PHP27.90
* Tacloban - PHP30.90
* Tagbilaran - PHP30.90
* Tuguegarao - PHP23.90
* Zamboanga - PHP39.90

Per kilo rate between Cebu and the following domestic destinations :

* Bacolod - PHP18.80
* Davao - PHP33.60
* General Santos - PHP34.60
* Iloilo - PHP27.30

Above rates are exclusive of 12% VAT.
Excess baggage rates may change without prior notice.

Philippine Airlines Excess Baggage Fees for International Destinations:

From the Philippines to Las Vegas, Los Angeles or San Francisco

* USD200 if you travel between:
26 December - 31 January
16 March - 31 May
01 - 31 August
* USD150 if you travel between:
01 February - 15 March
01 June - 31 July
01 September - 25 December

From Las Vegas, Los Angeles or San Francisco to the Philippines - USD150 (All year rate)
From the Philippines to Honolulu

* USD165 if you travel between:
26 December - 31 January
16 March - 31 May
01 - 31 August
* USD125 if you travel between:
01 February - 15 March
01 June - 31 July
01 September - 25 December

From Honolulu to the Philippines - USD125 (All year rate)
From the Philippines to Vancouver, Canada

* USD200 if you travel between:
26 December - 31 January
16 March - 31 May
01 - 31 August
* USD150 if you travel between:
01 February - 15 March
01 June - 31 July
01 September - 25 December

From Vancouver, Canada to the Philippines - CAD200 (All year rate)
Between Guam and the Philippines - USD100 (All year rate)
From Guam to Vancouver - USD150 (All year rate) starting 01 August 2006
From Vancouver to Guam - CAD200 (All year rate) starting 01 August 2006
Between U.S.A. and Canada - USD75 / CAD105 (All year rate)

Standard size is 62 inches in total dimension and standard weight is 32 kilograms. An applicable charge for "bulky baggage" will be collected. Please call our reservations or sales office for more information and assistance.

Sources:

Official excess baggage/luggage rates are posted on PAL's official website
here and here for updated rates.

Related Posts:
Review: PAL Express
Cebu Pacific Excess Baggage Charges
Cebu Pacific Unaccompanied Minor
Cebu Pacific Flights to Boracay

Labels: Airlines, Philippine Airlines