What Are Airlines Doing For Traveler Peace Of Mind?
As the Philippines is reaching the point of easing quarantine. And as Airlines are prepping to relaunch domestic routes. We look at what the main Airlines are doing for traveler Peace Of Mind.
Some International Flights will resume on May 11. There will be entry restrictions in place. Inbound Passengers who are allowed entry to the Philippines are:
- Returning Filipino citizens (OFWs, Filipino tourists, students, overseas Filipinos)
- Foreign Travelers are not allowed to enter the Philippines, except for:-
Foreign spouses and children who are traveling with the Filipino national
Foreign Government and International Organization officials and their dependents
(IATF-EID Resolution No. 14)
International Arrivals to the Philippines
All Inbound passengers will be tested on arrival. Arriving passengers will then be required to move to a Department of Tourism approved hotel in Manila. There they will quarantine for a period of 14 days before being allowed to travel on to their final destination. Passengers are currently allowed to choose which of the approved hotels they wish to stay in.
DOT Approved Hotels for Quarantining Arrivals
What Measures Are Airlines Taking to Protect their Passengers?
What is Cebu Pacific Doing for Traveler Peace of Mind? 
Flights: All Cebu Pacific and Cebgo domestic and international flights remain cancelled from May 16 to 31, 2020.
Cancellations/Rebooking: Passengers with bookings for affected flights can opt from
- Travel Fund with validity of one (1) year
- Full refund
- Rebook their flights. Read more here: https://bit.ly/CEB_MECQ
Safety & Hygiene Measures: Cebu Pacific state that they have increased safety measures and disinfection procedures in place.
- Frequent sanitation of passenger surfaces in airports. This includes sanitation of the self check-in kiosks, bag drop counters, boarding areas and shuttle buses. Sanitation and cleaning will be by a Bureau of Quarantine-certified Team.
- Contact-less Flights: PPE will be worn by Cabin Crew and Pilots. There will be hand sanitizers for passengers before and during the flight
- Daily Disinfecting & Cleaning of Aircraft; includes “Misting” of the inside of the cabins. The Misting is done using Airbus-approved disinfect. The cleaning crew will focus on passenger seats and overhead luggage bins, tray tables, arm rests, Toilets (every 30 minutes) and Galleys (Kitchen areas)
- All Airbus Aircraft are fitted with hospital-grade air-filters. These air-filters are 99.9% efficient in blocking out viruses, including the Corona Virus.
- The Cabin Crew & Pilots will undergo rapid antibody tests before their assigned flights
What is Philippine Airlines (PAL) Doing for Traveler Peace of Mind?
Flights: All Philippine Airlines Domestic and International flights to and from our hubs in MANILA, CEBU and CLARK will remain cancelled up to May 31, 2020
Cancellations/Rebooking: PAL offers a range of options for people whose flight has been cancelled.
- Convert to a Travel Voucher
- Rebook or Reroute your ticket.
- Refund your ticket without penalties
Safety & Hygiene Measures:
Booking:
- Thermal Scans at Ticket Offices
- Managed Social Distancing
- Transparent Barriers at counters
- PPE for PAL Staff
- No Mask No Entry policy for all visitors
Check-in:
- Online Check-in encouraged
- Increase to check-in times; minimum of 4 hours prior to International Flight Departure & 3 hours minimum prior to Domestic Flight Departure Time
- Thermal Scans at Airport Entrances
- Social Distancing at Check-in Counter Area and throughout the airport; roaming airport staff will oversee that this is followed.
- Sanitizers available
- PAL staff wearing Masks & Gloves
Mabuhay Lounge:
- Sanitizing Floor mat at entrance to lounge
- Social Distancing measures for lounge seat areas
- Sanitizers available
- PAL staff wearing Masks & Gloves
- Meals in sealed packaging & beverage served on demand
Pre-Departure & Boarding:
- Social Distancing at Boarding Gates & onboard bus shuttles
- Sanitizers Available
- PAL staff wearing Masks & Gloves
- Roaming Airport staff to monitor and implement Social Distancing
- Sanitizing floor mat before entering the aircraft
Inflight:
- Rigorous Cabin Cleaning & Disinfection
- Crew in full PPE
- Simplified meal or snack service
- Social Distancing Cabin seating options
- HEPA Filters & fresh cabin air to protect against viruses.
Destination Arrival:
- Passengers to wear Face mask
- Sanitizing Floor Mat upon deplaning
- Health Locator Forms (or other required documents of the country) given to all passengers to complete
- Sanitizers available
- Baggage pushcart handles disinfected regularly
- Roaming airport staff to monitor and implement social distancing
What is AirAsia Doing for Traveler Peace of Mind?
Flights: AirAsia has cancelled all Domestic and International Z2 flights until 31 May 2020.
Cancellations/Rebooking: Guests with existing flight bookings, made on or before 12 May 2020, with a departure date between 23 March and 31 July 2020 can request Unlimited flight change or Credit Account. Use the AirAsia AI chatbot AVA on support.airasia.com or airasia.com:
Safety & Hygiene Measures:
- Passengers to be wear masks at Check-in, Boarding, During Flight, Disembarking and at Baggage Claim
- Hot Meals only available when pre-booked, a minimum of 24 hours before flight. Packaged snacks and canned or bottled drinks will still be available to purchase.
- Passengers to arrive a minimum of 3 hours prior to flight departure time.
Pre-flight:
- Temperature Screening at various checkpoints, including Boarding Gate
- Social Distancing, observed with floor markers at check-in counters and kiosks
- Hand Sanitizer throughout airport and at all processing points
- Contactless Technology, guests encouraged to use online check-in to reduce surface and physical contact
- Crew Checks, crew to be constantly updated on latest safety information and guideline and go through Temperature Screening
Cabin
- 2 hours disinfection process, using cleaning agents approved by the Public Health Authority and Aircraft Manufacturer
- Cabin will be sprayed before each flight with an aerosol disinfectant
- HEPA Air Filters, which are hospital standard and filter out particles and airborne contaminants suchs as viruses and bacteria
In-Flight:
- Cabin Baggage, only one small carry-on bag or laptop bag allowed per passenger
- Mask Policy, all passengers required to wear masks before boarding, during flight, when disembarking and at Baggage Claim
- Crew Hygiene Standards, all crew to practice proper hygiene standards including hand sanitization, and wearing masks and gloves
- Food Safety, Onboard meals are made in strict accordance with food safety standards.
- Emergency Assistance, crew are trained to assist with medical situation inflight including identification and isolation of anyone onboard who may feel unwell
