Summer Holiday to Boracay
HKGMNL uneventful.
From Ninoy Acquino International Airport, taken to Manila Airport Hotel where I had made reservation. Note to fellow travelers: there appears to be two Airport Hotels; one is a big four star joint, the other, well, not so much. Linoleum floors. Main occupants: dust mites. Plenty of in-room massage service options available from Caress Spa (no, really), and loud music thumping through the night from next door place of debauchery.
NAIA domestic in the morning. Security check then luggage screening then check-in then boarding pass check then security check then passport check. Also extra screening of carry-on luggage. And one more x-ray screening for the road. Approximately thirty-five security personnel involved. Announcements that flight to Cataclan is on time. Until five minutes before boarding: flight delayed by ninety minutes due to late arrival of aircraft. Ninety minutes later we board a steaming hot plane on which air-condition had just been switched on. I found this surprising since plane had just arrived, but decided against making inquiry. Twenty minutes into forty-five minute flight the captain announces that due to slight technical malfunction we have to return to Manila; passengers' safety is their only concern. Back in MNL we pick up three passengers who look slightly embarrassed, and resume flight on a new plane.
Arrival, further transport and actual holiday uneventful.
Had carefully booked a twelve-thirty flight back to MNL knowing the difficulty of transferring from Boracay to Cataclan Airport as well as my family's dislike of early mornings. Received email during the week from PAL Express saying we were rebooked to morning flight nine-thirty. Computer generated message, do not reply and no phone number listed.
Wake up five-thirty to make way to airport. Kids not so happy. Arrive at first security check where a printed e-ticket is required before entry into terminal. Showing e-ticket on blackberry is not acceptable. Family not so happy. Me not so happy. Locate airline office where am informed that we are booked on next flight twelve-thirty. Brief and given the circumstances reasonably civil exchange of opinions follows. Airline office strikes compromise, and issues e-tickets for previously unannounced flight at ten-forty. Departure hall is full. Cafe has space. Cafe doubles as smoking room. Plenty of Korean tourists. Board plane at eleven forty-five. Plane departs twelve-thirty.
Arrival NAIA uneventful.
End.
