PAL offers unli domestic flights

MANILA, Philippines - Flag carrier Philippine Airlines, a unit of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC), has extended the unlimited travel concept to its domestic routes after the success of the “Fly-All-You-Can” pass for regional destinations in Asia.

The airline has launched the “Domestic Unli Flights” promo featuring a travel pass good for eight weeks that converts to an unlimited number of tickets to any of 19 destinations in the Philippines.

Included in the promo are flights between Manila and Laoag, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Bacolod, Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Kalibo, Roxas, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, General Santos and Zamboanga.

Philippine Airlines said pass holders can fly to the same city more than once. Unlimited transfers in Manila are allowed.

For only P7,100 for Fiesta Class (economy) and P27,100 for Mabuhay Class (business) service, passengers could avail of the promo between Aug. 1 and Aug. 8.

Travel under the “unli” pass is restricted from Aug. 8 to Dec. 10. The pass is valid for eight weeks from the first travel date and all travel must be completed by Dec. 10 whichever comes first. Travel on certain dates is restricted.

The airline clarified that the pass fare does not include government fees, taxes and surcharges, which vary according to the destination. Despite the bargain-basement rates, Philippine Airlines said the pass does not scrimp on passenger benefits.

Fiesta Class passengers enjoy free check-in baggage allowance, in-flight snacks or meals, exclusive amenities, more legroom and the opportunity to earn miles under the Mabuhay Miles frequent-flyer program.

Mabuhay Class passengers enjoy more premiums on the ground and inflight, including priority check-in and baggage handling, access to exclusive Mabuhay Lounges at major domestic airports, and gourmet meals, plush seats and all the amenities of the Mabuhay Class cabin.

The airline’s “Fly All You Can” promo that covered both international and domestic flights expired last July 13 but was extended until July 18.

Philippine Airlines is spending between $500 million and $1 billion to acquire about 100 aircrafts over the next few years.

The airline expects to save as much as $300 million a year from the use of new Boeing 777 aircraft from Boeing Co. for long-haul routes while redeploying other jets to handle shorter routes and expects to breakeven for fiscal year 2012.

The 370-seater B777s currently fly to Vancouver, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and Japan via Cebu and each B777 has two of the largest and most powerful commercial jet engines – the GE90-115BL. The aircraft boasts of exceptional fuel economy, efficiency, reliability and high levels of cabin comfort for its passengers, combined with unmatched levels of payload (28 tons of cargo) and range (7,825 nautical miles).