Manila airport ---> Quezon City in 2.5 hours end of December?

Hi everyone,

I arrive at Manila airport at 4:35pm, providing flight is on time.

I need to be in Quezon City, at McD's in Caltex by 8pm.

Questions are:

1. How long will it take to get from landing to the exit of the airport

2. Apparently it's going to be really busy on the road, so a taxi to Quezon City could take 3+ hours... I've been told to take the MRT. Can I prebook a cab to take me there, or does it not really work like that?

Any alternate suggestions appreciated.

Many thanks.

I should stop worrying about that I presume though you dont say the time limit is meeting someone? It will take as long as it does.


Just make sure you have a working phone and can communicate the other question is why arnt you being met?

I am going to McD's Caltex because that is the time my tour group leave for the tour I'm going on... Yes, I am now being met, but wondered if anyone here had any advice.

Ironic im afraid never make time dependant appointments in the Phils when the ability to keep them is outside your control sorry fella but its stressy enough in a new environment, that has its own rules without adding to them

Ironic? I've not been to Phil before. I booked that tour date as it's the only one during the time I'm there. I didn't know that it would take so long to get there.

I meant the advice was ironic Greenspin in that you were already in a time situation, I totaly understand that its your first time its been more than 5 years since I was in your shoes I spent the best part of a year researching on a couple of forums etc 6 months internet courting a very bright 35 year old teacher I allowed six months staying and it all still went wrong as someone once said its a long way to go for a date. Having said all that im happily married nearly three years and the Missus and our delightfull daughter are the apples of my eye, its hard work though . Many here are delighted to share our experience and offer advice Ive spent a total of 70 weeks in the Phils so no expert but you need to feel free to ask before you act

Ok mate, I get you. Now can you help with my second issue, DNA replication, haha? Serious, I'm a biochem undergrad and have Jan exams coming up.

You don't say but it seems that you may be arriving on flight CZ397 - a China Southern Embraer 190 from Guangzhou. If that's the case, you will be very lucky to land on time as all mainland Chinese airlines are notoriously bad for time-keeping due to Chinese air traffic control constraints; today's flight, for example, wasn't too bad, just half an hour late.

You'll deplane at Terminal 1 at a rather busy time. Landing just ahead of you are two Boeing 777s from Singapore and Dubai both of which will also be at Terminal 1. I would allow 90 minutes from the time your plane lands to you clearing Immigration and Customs. The baggage handling facility in Terminal 1 is slow, putting it politely, there being only two "belts" and the machinery old, cranky and probably steam-driven!

If travelling by taxi, you will need to allow at least 3 hours from clearing Customs to get to Quezon City because it will be the rush hour peak and this may be why you're being advised to take the MRT. But it could take you the best part of an hour to get to the MRT station closest to the airport - Heathrow this ain't!

If I'm right and you are flying China Southern from the UK, please do file a trip report as it will be useful for other travellers.

Yes mate, that's the one. Flight CZ0397, land terminal 1 at 16:35. Sounds like we are going to miss the tour. Can't believe it, going to make the start of my trip a bit of a comedown... Was the highlight too.

There are "other" highlights

I assume you're travelling from London .... 14 hours between flights? You're going to be well and truly cream-crackered by the time you arrive in Manila! And the long-haul bit is on a Dreamliner ... ho hum. I think you were being a tad optimistic in thinking you could join that tour so soon after arrival. I hope you got that flight for a cheap price - cheaper than Philippine Airlines' current promo; their flight would have got you here in about 12 hours. Or KLM in about 15 hours.

Markham's advice in post 8 above is very sound.

To put it more bluntly, you don't stand a snowball's chance in Hell of making it.

Maybe if you hitch a lift by drone?

Hello Greenspin,
Hope you'll enjoy your trip.
Stay calm as long as you can.

You've already received some good advice.
As has been mentioned that flight is rarely on time. Your arrival is peak traffic time.
If you seriously want to try that MRT run then go for it....it's pretty much your best bet....
but do some homework first. With 'large luggage' you'll likely experience serious delays at the entrance of the MRT due to security and MRT luggage policy.
Yep, seems crazy......but just be sure you know whats allowed and whats not.
Let Google be your friend.
If you get on board keep your eyes skinned as you're already a 'target'. But with luck, at least you'll see some chance to meet your schedule.
If you can exit the airport around 6pm in good condition then it's well worth a shot I reckon.

Stay lucky and keep smiling

If you really want to make that tour, there is a way you can do but it will be a bit more expensive:

First you'll need to nip into the Chinese Embassy and get a Visitors Visa - the transit visa you'll get on arrival in Guangzhou won't suffice. Then, when you arrive in Guangzhou, clear Immigration and Customs, get a taxi to the train station and take the train to Hong Kong - it's no more than a couple of hours (I believe). From there you can take any one of several Cathay Pacific, DragonAir, Philippine Airlines, PALExpress, Zest or Cebu Pacific flights to Manila and I can almost guarantee you'll arrive in Manila with hours to spare. Cheap it won't be but it might be preferable to cooling your heels for 14 hours overnight in the airport departure lounge.

I read in one of the Manila papers the other day that both LRT and MRT are on heightened security for the holiday period and that they were not accepting large items of baggage during the peak hours of 7 - 10am and 4 - 7pm and that there were strict searches of all bags.

Thanks for the advice. As far as baggage is concerned I'll only have my rucksack and that's not very big.

Regards to the transition period, on the way in it's about 5-6 hours in Guangzhou.

I will be meeting a Filipina at the airport, she seems to think it'll greatly speed up the process.

So far what I've heard from people:

- It might take 90 minutes to pass passport control/baggage

- Maybe 60 minutes to get to the MRT

- Maybe another 60 to get from Taft to North Avenue by the MRT

- Then it's a 10 min walk to the assembly point.

Sounds like those times are fairly liberal, and I'll have a local with me to avoid getting lost.

Added up that's a total of 3 hours and 40 minutes. Assembly time is at 8pm, so I guess we wil not leave straight away. If that's the case, then I would arrive at apx 8:15pm, instead of 8.

My only advice.

When you get to McD's, skip the burger.

That will save a couple of minutes.

Cheers mate, only ever eaten McDs twice and they were both bought for me by a friend who insisted that I had to at least try the stuff.