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Philippine Airlines (PR) Guide

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Flights from Manila and Cebu across the Philippines, Asia, North America and Australia, fleet and cabins, baggage, check-in and how to find cheaper PAL fares. Ask a question
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In short

Philippine Airlines is the flag carrier of the Philippines, based at Ninoy Aquino International in Manila with a second hub in Cebu. It flies to 73 destinations in the Philippines, Asia, North America, Oceania and the Middle East, serving both island trips and long-haul routes. PAL has no alliance and runs Mabuhay Miles. Cabins are Business, Premium Economy and Economy.

Philippine Airlines is the national airline of the Philippines and the oldest airline in Asia still operating under its original name.

Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Philippine Airlines. Routes, schedules and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.

What to expect

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is the flag carrier of the Philippines, based at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Metro Manila with a second hub at Mactan-Cebu (CEB). Together with its regional sister PAL Express it serves about 73 destinations in Asia, North America and Oceania, and suits travellers who want a full-service airline with links from the Philippine provinces onto long-haul flights.

Asia's oldest operating airline

PAL was founded on 26 February 1941, when a group led by Andrés Soriano and Ramón J. Fernández took over the franchise of the Philippine Aerial Taxi Company. The first flight, on 15 March 1941, was a Beechcraft Model 18 from Manila to Baguio. War halted flying, and after services resumed in 1946 PAL became the first Asian airline to cross the Pacific, flying Manila to Oakland. It calls itself the oldest operating commercial airline in Asia.

Ownership over the decades

PAL was privatised in 1966, taken back into state hands in 1977 through the Government Service Insurance System and sold to a group led by the Cojuangco family in 1992. Businessman Lucio Tan became majority owner in the mid-1990s. Today PAL is owned by PAL Holdings, Inc., listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange and part of Tan's LT Group. Lucio C. Tan Sr. is chairman and chief executive, and Richard Nuttall is president. The head office is the Lucio K. Tan Jr. Center on Andrews Avenue in Pasay.

The 1998 shutdown

The 1997 Asian financial crisis forced deep route cuts and layoffs. PAL stopped flying in September 1998 and restarted in October 1998.

Where does PAL fly?

In 2025 PAL and PAL Express ran 41 international and 32 domestic routes. International flights from Manila and Cebu cover Asia, North America and Oceania. PAL Express flies most domestic routes, so a traveller from a provincial city can connect in Manila or Cebu onto an international flight on one ticket.

Joining oneworld in 2027

PAL is not in a global alliance yet. It has accepted an invitation to join oneworld in 2027. It already codeshares with Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, American Airlines and Qatar Airways, among others, and has interline deals with airlines such as Southwest Airlines and Solomon Airlines.

The business today

PAL reported net income of about 8.1 billion pesos in 2024 and employed 6,520 people.

Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change

Checked against trusted sources:
PAL official website

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  1. PAL official website
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Good to know

  • Founded1941
  • Other gatewaysCEB
  • Online check-inYes

Everything you should know

Airline codes

PR · PAL

IATA · ICAO · callsign “PHILIPPINE”

Every PAL flight number begins with PR. Flight-tracking sites and air traffic control use the ICAO code PAL, and the radio callsign is PHILIPPINE.

Key facts

Main hub

Manila (MNL)

Ninoy Aquino International

Also flies abroad fromCebu (CEB)

Network

73 destinations

Philippines · Asia · North America · Oceania · Middle East

PAL links Manila and Cebu with Philippine islands, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and North America, home to large Filipino communities.

Destinations

Cabin classes

Economy

and Premium Economy, Business

Business, Premium Economy and Economy, depending on the aircraft; flat beds in Business on the A350 and 777.

Compare cabins

Good to know

Most domestic PAL flights are operated by its subsidiary PAL Express. Official website: philippineairlines.com.

Frequent flyer

Mabuhay Miles

No global alliance

PAL is not yet in an alliance (it has accepted an invitation to join oneworld in 2027); its programme is Mabuhay Miles.

How it works

Start a new search

bookingMentor lists PR fares beside the other carriers on the same route, which shows quickly whether PAL is the cheaper way to reach Cebu.

Wishing you a smooth trip with PAL.

Select dates

At a glance

Philippine Airlines (IATA: PR, ICAO: PAL) is the flag carrier of the Philippines, founded in 1941 and based at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, with a second hub in Cebu. It flies about 53 mainline Airbus and Boeing aircraft, plus PAL Express turboprops, to about 73 destinations in the Philippines, Asia, North America, Oceania and the Middle East.

Key facts about Philippine Airlines
HeadquartersLucio K. Tan Jr. Center, Pasay, Metro Manila
Fleet typesAirbus A350-900, A330-300, A321neo, A321, A320, Boeing 777-300ER
Frequent flyerMabuhay Miles
Official websitephilippineairlines.com

Flight routes

Destinations and routes

Direct routes
Destinations listed in PAL’s published network, grouped by region. Seasonal and new PAL routes come and go, so check the schedule for your dates. Search flights

Philippines

Manila (MNL) departures7 destinations

Check all

Fleet and aircraft

The mainline fleet has 53 aircraft, with 18 more on order. Airbus A321s and A321neos fly regional routes, while Airbus A330-300s, A350-900s and Boeing 777-300ERs fly the longer routes.

  • Airbus A350-900 Wide-body The longest nonstop flights, such as Manila to New York
  • Boeing 777-300ER Wide-body Busy North American routes such as Los Angeles
  • Airbus A330-300 Wide-body Asia, Australia and the Middle East
  • Airbus A321neo Narrow-body Domestic and regional Asian routes
  • Airbus A321 Narrow-body Domestic and regional Asian routes
  • Airbus A320 Narrow-body Domestic and regional Asian routes

Cabin classes

Long-haul aircraft have three cabins: Business, Premium Economy and Economy. Other aircraft have two. On domestic narrow-body flights, the premium product is called Comfort Class. Skytrax gave PAL a four-star rating in February 2018.

Economy All flights

Full service

Meals on international flightsChecked bag on most fares

Premium Economy Long-haul & selected flights

More room; ‘Comfort Class’ on domestic routes

Extra legroomPriority services

Business Most aircraft

Flat beds on A350 and 777

Lounge accessPriority servicesExtra baggage

Mabuhay Miles

PAL’s loyalty programme. Join Mabuhay Miles online before you fly so the trip counts.

Mabuhay Miles, launched in 2002, is PAL's frequent flyer programme, with Classic, Elite, Premiere Elite and Million Miler tiers. PAL runs Mabuhay Lounges at eight airports. The flagship lounge opened in NAIA Terminal 1 on 5 December 2023.

Baggage allowance

PAL does not give every passenger the same allowance: the route, the cabin and the fare you buy each change it. Your PR e-ticket shows what you have.

Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Depends on fare
Extra bags
Cheaper before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only

Allowances depend on route, cabin and fare; US and Canada routes usually follow a piece concept. Check your e-ticket.

Pro tip: Manila's airport has several terminals, so confirm which one your PAL flight uses before travelling. Check the baggage allowance for your fare on philippineairlines.com, as it varies by route and fare type.
Travel day

Online Check-in

PAL check-in comes down to four steps, from checking in online to dropping your bags at Ninoy Aquino International.

  • Online check-in available
  1. Step 1

    Check in online

    Where your flight allows it, check in on philippineairlines.com or app with your surname and booking reference or e-ticket number.

    Booking ref + surname
  2. Step 2

    Prepare your documents

    Pack your passport plus any visa, residence permit or entry papers your destination asks for. Domestic PR passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.

    Passport · visa · ID
  3. Step 3

    Arrive early

    PAL closes its check-in counters before departure, and passengers who miss the cut-off can be refused boarding. Leave room for bag drop and security at MNL.

    Well before departure
  4. Step 4

    Drop your bags

    At the airport, take your bags to the PAL bag-drop point. Collect a printed PR boarding pass there if you have not saved one to your phone.

    PAL counter
Ready to check in? Check in and manage your booking on the official PAL website.
Check in with PAL
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Cheap tickets

PAL fares out of Manila move with the season and the fare brand. These habits help keep the price down.

  1. 01

    Be flexible with your PAL dates

    Compare a full week of PAL departures; midweek days are often priced below Fridays and Sundays.

    Midweek flights
  2. 02

    Avoid peak seasons

    Christmas and Holy Week are peak times, when many Filipinos abroad fly home.

    Christmas & Holy Week
  3. 03

    Check what each PAL fare includes

    A PAL fare that includes a checked bag, seat choice or cheaper changes can cost less overall than adding those extras later.

    Baggage & changes

  4. Ready to compare fares?

    Search PAL alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.

    Search PAL flights

Reviews and questions

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Everything travellers ask before flying Philippine Airlines.
We check these PAL answers with the airline’s own sources and aviation references every season.

Getting there

Not yet. Until it joins, PAL relies on bilateral codeshare partnerships, so on a ticket that mixes airlines check which partner actually operates each flight.