I got to the airport REALLY early I got put on the earlier flight (I ordered an UberX cab for 4AM because I had to be at the airport at 8AM for my 11AM flight. But there was no traffic!). I got a chance to use the relatively new Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. I didn’t get much of a look when I arrived because my main goal was to get through immigration and customs really quickly so that I could get home and see my family. My brother and I spent about 4 hours being stuck in Manila traffic so the rushing through was time well rushed! They told me that traffic was bad but I didn’t really think it was THAT bad. I’ve been away from Manila too long. I’ve lost the ability to plan journeys and understand Manila traffic and predict travel times!
Terminal 3 has been reported repeatedly as over budget, over priced and not worth the pesos that were spent on it. I’ve been looking forward to seeing it and I must admit, it left me a bit underwhelmed. It needs a bit more zhuzhing. The terminal was mostly dark and I constantly wanted to ask people to switch the lights on (I didn’t, of course). For an international/interisland airport it looks just a tiny bit tatty (super shiny floors and wide-screen Samsung tellies notwithstanding). I shouldn’t really complain because at least it’s being used and Terminal 3 is a lot less shabbier than Terminal 1. My favourite terminal though is the Centennial Terminal or Terminal 2. It was the terminal we were in when we flew out of when we flew to Edinburgh in 2007.
I do love the windows though…I just really wished they switched on more lights…and probably courted more food places so that there would be more choice of food places to get food from before the flight.
Yellywelly 