Less that two months ago, I was contemplating in my room thinking if I should book a flight to Bangkok and eventually go to Siem Reap (there are no direct flight to Siem Reap from the Philippines that moment). I consulted a number of my travel blogger friends about their experiences and they encouraged me to push through with the trip.
See, I am one of those who would rather book a trip when there are promo fares. Some uncertainties about my future made me decide to look for tickets going to Bangkok so I can cross the border and reach Siem Reap. Right after Christmas, I asked for a sign that if I spot a promo ticket fare for February. I then read on Brenna’s blog about SEAIR’s Clark-Bangkok routes are offering some real good deals for January-June travel dates. Woot!
I thought about it for days. Bangkok is just a few hours from the Philippines. Might as well push through with the dream trip while I’m still near it, right? I then asked a friend to book me a Clark-Bangkok Trip via SEAIR in cooperation with Tiger Airways.
Last Saturday, I revisited the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) after almost two years. It is my third time to fly via the Clark airport. I called up Partas Bus Line if they still offer direct transfers from the Cubao station to DMIA. Unfortunately, they stopped the operation. I then referred to the Philtranco website (http://www.philtranco.com.ph) Â and called them up for reservation. The bus fare increased to Php 400. Ouch.
We waited for the 7am trip at Philtranco’s SM Megamall Pick-up point (found at the back of building A). We left at around 7:15am and arrived at the airport at 8:40am. We were too early for our flight so we stayed first at Mini Stop for a quick snack.
We entered the DMIA at 10AM. Lined up to pay the Travel Tax first (Php 1,620) then lined up at the SEAIR Check-In counter. I think only 10% of the passengers are Filipinos and the rest are from other nationalities. I think it is a good sign too knowing that only a few knows that such trip exist. SEAIR and Tiger Airways partnered up for the international flights via DMIA.
Right after the check-in procedure, we lined up to pay for the Terminal Fee (Php600). I am personally disappointed with the Clark airport. There were news reports the past months about the renovation within the Clark airport, but I’ve seen not-so visible changes since my Clark-Kota Kinabalu trip. I am really hoping that they do something about it. It is a bit frustrating, really.
We passed by the Immigration and we waited at the lounge for our trip together with other travelers. I originally thought that we’d be flying via Tiger Airways. I was looking forward to it since I’ve never tried it before.
No Tiger Airways plane at sight! Instead, I saw SEAIR’s Airbus 319. I flew with SEAIR thrice (Manila-Caticlan), but it is my first time to fly with them going to an international route.
I am impressed with the comfortable seats. I can also say that this specific flight is one of my most comfortable plane ride ever.We arrived at the Suvarnabhumi Airport ahead of schedule much to my delight. Excited much? Hehe
It is my first trip to Bangkok and some friends of mine have been raving about the Suvarnabhumi Airport in the past. Ang ganda nag nina talaga! I think I got overwhelmed with the number of tourists coming in from different airlines. We waited for almost an hour at the Immigration. It is evident that most of the tourists are Europeans and Americans who would like to spend their holidays by exploring Thailand.
Sawadee Kah, Bangkok! This is it! 😀
naexcite naman ako bigla for my Bangkok Trip!
Ang tagal tagal ng renovation na yun sa Clark, till now di pa din tapos parang wala ngang gumagawa eh. haiz 🙁
Woot! via SEAIR din ba yung flight mo? Yun lang ang nakakalungkot. Sayang kasi maganda mga press release dati about it tapos wala naman kaming nakikitang improvement 🙁
Wow. The SEAir Airbus plane looks neat!
Hayz, I hope the delays on the renovation, expansion of DMIA are not because the airport is named after the current administration’s political nightmare. :O
Sinjin, it is! Comfortable pa ang seats. Oo nga eh mukhang nahaluan na naman ng pulitika. Oh well, what’s new? 😐
naks! so happy for you!!! hehehe natuloy na ang Bnagkok trip…sana naman makapag travel na tayo bago ka umalis =))
Thanks Jerome! Oo nga eh dapat makagala tayo together kahit local lang LOL hindi yung puro Makati meet-ups lang =))
one of the airports i really love is Suvarnabhumi Airport… sana, ganyan din kaganda at kaayos yung airport natin dito sa manila 🙁
I agree with you, Gladys. Sana maayos din airports nation knowing the fact na sobrang lake ng tax T_T
I haven’t fly with SEAir yet. Mukhang ok naman yung plane nila. Hopeful na sana magkaroon ng seat sale to Batanes.hehe
Same hopes here hehe 😀 sans maging galante sila sa Batanes trips LOL 😀
As far as airlines/air travel goes this looks pretty sexy. Plus I’d hop on a plane with you anytime 😉
Haha thanks Will!
Waa! I’m so excited for you!SEAIR plane looks clean!
Hi Brenna! Thanks to your blog announcement! I am excited for your Singapore adventure! 😀
you already! 🙂 havnt tried flying via Clark yet, by 1st BKK flight was supposed to be in Clark, kaso ayun, naiwan ako, lol kaya d na ko nag Clark ulit. haha pero I guess now mas madame na better option to get there fast frm Manila. Nice naman ng SEAIR.
sarap ng trip nyo ni Drew, kala ko dati ang Drew na sinasabe mu date ay yung “bf” mu na si Drew, si Drew pala naten. haha yngat dear and enjoy! hugs!
Hehe thanks Ate Gael! Madami nang options ngayon pero namamahalan din ako sa bus fare. Worth the shot din naman hehe tsaka sans ituloy na yung sinasabi nilang renovation. Tsktsk ang dami kasing Drew sa mundo eh LOL
ganda ng Suvarnabhumi Airport noh? fell in love with that airport! mas maganda sya sa gani coz kumikislap ang chrome/silver lining ng framework ng whole building. lol. ewan kung tama ba description ko. hehe.
sabi nila 550 na lng ang terminal fee. i wonder why 600 pa rin sa DMIA. anyway, ok ang SEAIR na flight 🙂
Hi Doi! Ang saya nag-SEAIR ka rin pala 😀 Ang ganda nga ng BKK airport. About the terminal fee, yun din ang pinagtakahan ko. I just heard na balik na naman daw sa 750 pesos yung sa NAIA Toinks