PAL, PAL Express launch promo

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Airlines and affiliate carrier PAL Express have rolled out a new promotion that grants passengers a major benefit not offered by other airlines — the advantage of using their promo tickets soon after buying them.

This bucks the industry trend of stipulating travel dates way beyond the promo selling periods — sometimes for as long as six months later. As a result, passengers have to endure a lengthy wait despite paying for their tickets in full, depriving them from enjoying the fruits of the promo straight away.

In contrast, PAL and PAL Express’ new seat sale, dubbed “Book now, fly now,” lets passengers travel as soon as two weeks after buying their promo tickets.

The promo covers all nine PAL domestic routes as well as eight of PAL Express’ most popular domestic jet routes.

For PAL flights out of Manila, the promo base fares for one-way, economy-class travel are as follows: P688 to Kalibo; P788 to Cebu or Iloilo; P888 to Bacolod or Laoag; P988 to Tagbilaran; P1,788 to Davao and General Santos; and P1,188 from General Santos to Iloilo.

Those who opt to fly business class on any of these routes enjoy a flat rate of P2,500 for one-way travel.

For PAL Express flights from Manila, there are only two promo base-free categories: P698 to the Cisayan cities of Dumaguete, Kalibo, Roxas and Tacloban, plus the Bicol hub of Legazpi; and P1,098 to the Mindanao points of Butuan, Cotabat and Dipolog. Both fares are  for one-way, economy-class travel.

All promo fares are available for sale for a limited period — April 8 and 9, 2013 only. But the tickets issued can already be used as early as April 28 up to May 15, 2013.

These fares do not include fuel, surcharge, service charge and terminal fees. They are also non-refundable. The promo tickets cannot be rebooked.

Despite the budget fares, passengers on PAL and PAL Express can expect full service onboard that makes them feel “at home,” as both the airlines’ new tagline put it.

These include complimentary snacks, drinks, periodicals and other amenities.

They also enjoy generous free baggage allowances: 15 kilograms for economy class and 30 kilo for business class on PAL; and 10 kilo on PAL Express. On top of this, both carriers allow seven kilo for and-carried luggage.

PAL accepts cash payments at select Petron gasoline stations, specifically at Bel Air, Makati Ave.; Bluewave EDSA-Macapagal Ave., Pasay City; Sucat, Parañaqye City; Filinvest in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Wack Wack and Connecticut, Greenhills, San Juan City, Sierra Madre St., Mandaluyong City and at Diego Silang, along C-5 Road, Taguig City.

Customers can also pay for their promo tickets at over 766 convenience stores of the 7-Eleven retail chain nationwide and select Petron stations. This mode of payment is applicable only to passengers who book online. Those who book via the reservations numbers should proceed to ticket offices.