Humiliating, Degrading, and Shameful Experience Flying Asia’s First Airline, Philippine Airlines

>> Saturday, April 18, 2009

We started off our 15 day Vietnam-Cambodia adventure trip, from Cebu to Manila, Philippines, on board the Philippine Airlines Plane. We bought our PAL Econolight plane ticket months in advance. Little did we know that buying a PAL Econolight Fare will cost us inconvenience and shame.

While we are checking in at the check in counter of Philippine Airlines, my dad requested to be seated preferably at the exit row of the plane, but was told that PAL Econolight Passengers can not choose the seat arrangement and will only be seated at the back part of the plane.

The plane left the Mactan International Airport, Cebu at 9am. While on board the plane, the flight attendants started offering snacks and with your choice of coffee, tea or water to other passengers. As the flight stewardess approached us, my dad immediately asked for a cup of coffee but was told that we are not entitled to have a cup of coffee because we paid for an Econolight fare only. The most they can offer is a cup of water. We were surprised how they can distinguish a PAL Econolight passenger from the rest. Soon we discovered that they’re sticking a “Yellow Tag” sticker on your head rest announcing to everyone that you are flying Econolight. It’s like broadcasting to everyone that the passenger seated with the “Yellow Tag” sticker are either Nagtitipid , Kuripot O Walang pera (Thrift, Cheap or Very Poor). It was such a disgusting, humiliating, degrading experience just for saving a few pesos for a plane fare. If we only knew, we might as well get a Mabuhay Class. Later on, we also heard another complain from the travel of my grandmother that Econolight Passengers are not entitled for a wheel chair even if they find it hard walking.
So the next time we ever fly again, we’ll make sure that we’ll take any other airlines as long as it’s not Philippine Airlines.

Don't Miss A Single Journey! Subscribe via email NOW to be updated And to Get Your Free Ebook!

Post a Comment

Have your say here..

18 comments:

Bryan April 20, 2009 at 3:56 PM: But it is in their terms and conditions when you buy the ticket online. I think all that you said except the wheelchair is clearly stated in the booking process. :)
Jan Hilado April 20, 2009 at 9:51 PM: @Bryan

Hi bry! Thanks for commenting! It's not the coffee or the pack of biscuits we're talking about. We can have that better at Gloria Jeans Coffee. It's the sticking of the bright "YELLOW TAG" on your head rest that annoys us. Even Mr. Lucio Tan in an interview admits he never flies Mabuhay or Business Class even in his own airline. Can they dare to put an Econolight sticker on his head rest? Why not assign a seat arrangement that they can secretly know your status. Why not offer to sell the coffee instead?

And about the contract, it's only stated that Econolight passengers can have "water upon request" but it's not stated that you can't have coffee even if you pay for it.

That's not the last humiliating event we have encountered with them. On our return trip, me and my father were seated so far away because when we bought our tickets, only one econolight fare is available. My father requested that we both seated at the rear Econolight section so we can be together but was not allowed to do so.
Bryan Karl April 21, 2009 at 7:02 AM: Aw hinuon. Murag weirdo sad ng yellow na tag sa ulo. Makasuway ra nya ko ana next month kay econolight pud ko. Anha makasabot nakos imo gibati. Pangutan-on diay nako ang stewardess kinahanglan ba ang yellow tag. Nya supportaan na dayon tika sa imo reklamo kay murag weirdo jud ng yellow tag. tsk
Anonymous April 21, 2009 at 8:42 PM: Bai, honestly I don't understand why you are so upset about PAL. I fly CEB-MNL-CEB all the time in econolight and never feel embarassed by the sticker on my seat nor the "service" that they provide for us flying econolight. You should have read your tickets TOC 1st and your boarding pass (no meals). I would only say it was your own fault for being "ignorant" about PAL's econolight policy. For a hour flight, I don't mind the "embarassment" at all :)
Tony Hilado April 22, 2009 at 7:40 AM: @Anonymous

Bai, UPSET was not my description with the situation. And more so that "being IGNORANT" would best describe us. If you read the TOC, it's should be clearly stated that no meals will be served even if you pay for it. Only "water upon request" was written. With regards to the sitting arrangement, I don't mind being seated at the tail end section (because the truth is, all passenger will arrive at the same time anyway) but on their denial to my request that I be seated also at that section so we can be together. Again, what we want to point out here is that there is a much better way to deal with this. Why not specify seats for econolight passengers than just sticking a yellow tag? (A boy seated at my back even took my sticker for his own thinking it is something special). If you won't feel embarrassed traveling together with your employee and you were seated separately, you being at the back, that's your call. But then I hop you won't remain Anonymous so I can personally thank you for being interested with our concerns. Anyway, thanks bai. :)
Jasper April 22, 2009 at 5:01 PM: no offense, but this is clearly stated in the fare rules when booking the ticket, but like you, i didn't like the idea of this either. i mean if they can lower the price up this much, they could just pad another 100 peso so that food (which is basically biscuits and peanuts plus coffee/tea/water) is served to everyone
Jan Hilado April 22, 2009 at 8:57 PM: @jasperjugan

Hi jasper! Thanks for commenting my friend. Philippine Airlines should have learned something from Cebu Pacific's strategy where you can buy a promo fare at Php300+ but still gets the same equal service with someone who bought the ticket at Php3000+.
Anonymous April 24, 2009 at 8:25 PM: I think it is in the terms and conditions, when you fly super-economy, yes, you dont get fed. That is the truth to most airlines- seriously even in the US you get freaking weighed and you have to pay extra for your carry-on. You should have researched more before getting Econolight. The only way for the FAs to distinguish Econolight passengers from the rest is of course through stickers, you don't expect that everyone on that damn plane memorize who's what or not right? That's kind of cheeky complaining about the "humiliating" service when it is not. Dont be soo sensitive - you pay economy, you get economy service. Having said that, Philippine Airlines are getting better with their service compared to when I flew with them 10 years ago. Cebu Pacific is frequently delayed (almost all of my flights with them are at least 30 minutes - 1 hr delayed)plus I am still waiting for the refund of my ticket to Hong Kong I purchased online with them July 2008. Cebu Pacific is one airline I would never recommend to anyone (being a travel writer myself). So get over it. Read your ticket's restrictions before purchasing them (and tour inclusions if you are going on a tour package). Be a smart traveler.

-riain-
Anonymous April 24, 2009 at 8:31 PM: "t’s like broadcasting to everyone that the passenger seated with the “Yellow Tag” sticker are either Nagtitipid , Kuripot O Walang pera (Thrift, Cheap or Very Poor). It was such a disgusting, humiliating, degrading experience just for saving a few pesos for a plane fare. "

I take offense with this statement. What's wrong with being budget conscious? Dude, wake up and smell the sh*t, the world is in a big financial crisis - millions of people are without jobs and you care about status? This is just so wrong.
Anonymous April 26, 2009 at 8:31 AM: bakit kailangan mo bang isekreto yung pagbili mo ng econolight pag nasa plane ka? eh sa yun ung binili mo eh. so next time ikaw na mayabang mag mabuhay class ka tapos ipaannounce mo sa FA na mabuhay class ka para soshal ka. tapos hanapin mo yung may may econolight sticker at sabihin mo sa kanila na mabuhay class ka para mahiya sila kung kapareho mo sila ng ugali. tsk. babaw mo pre!
Anonymous April 26, 2009 at 4:23 PM: Econolight tickets doesnt have the priviledge of requesting seat assignment because it is a PROMO ticket. If you want to have your choice of seat then go for the regular Fiesta Class ticket.

There is a reason why you cannot choose your seat. All Econolight passengers should be on the same location, so your attendants would know who to serve food or not. Remember, Econolight passengers agreed not to have meals, thus you were offered the super cheap ticket price.
heightdeprived April 26, 2009 at 5:26 PM: you shouldn't have availed of the econolight fare, and if you took econolight, you're not supposed to thresh out a gripe like that...
Anonymous April 26, 2009 at 11:54 PM: ignorance of the rules...
THAT makes you look humiliating, doesn't it?

if you pay less, expect LESS perks!
yan ang problema sa mga pinoy.
feeling sosyal pero out of place naman.
Best Places In The World April 27, 2009 at 7:41 AM: To All Anonymous:

Thanks for all your comments on our site friends! Please continue reading our other blog posts and keep your comments coming! Best Wishes! =)
Anonymous November 6, 2009 at 7:43 PM: how else,pray tell, could the cabin crew distinguish the econolight passengers from the regular ones?
next time read the ticket and boarding pass you receive. ignorance is never an excuse.
Anonymous November 22, 2009 at 11:17 PM: Just checked PAL's Website a while ago before I read this blog.

--------------

NOTICE :
For tickets sold effective 18 November 2009 and for travel effective 01 December 2009, meals will be available for Econolight passengers and seat assignments will no longer be restricted at the rear of the aircraft.

EconoLight fares are available in all PAL domestic flights and selected international destinations.

--------

You may find this notice from the Airline's Home Page.
Jan Hilado December 1, 2009 at 6:18 AM: Wow thanks for that info! It's nice knowing that Philippine Airlines finally DID it! :)
Anonymous August 21, 2010 at 10:57 AM: After I rode British Airways 3x, I can say that they are the worst airline in the world. Any US airlines nickel & dime you (i.e. Spirit Airways charging both carry-on & check-in baggage & the rest of the U.S. airlines charging $25 for each check-in luggage). You fly Ryanair & they charge you for everything even going to the toilet. Now, most airlines in the world are charging for seat placements (which is normal & I think PAL is thinking of following suit).

...In other words, PAL is still better in my experience. But it's hard for them to really show it since their regional competitors like Singapore, Cathay are top notch. Looking at the overall picture, SAL & Cathay are supported by their governments while PAL is 100% private.

It's good though that they took out the stickers. As in any business environment, one will try to do something as a test. I just hope that PAL can overcome the upcoming labor dispute since no other airline in the world really wants to fly to the Philippines direct (from Europe or US - keyword: direct).

Linkbar

About The Logo

Categories

About Us