NAIA 'Terminal 4' Now (20140827 Tiger Air)

This was the Manila Domestic Terminal, that became the Manila Old Domestic Terminal and is now fondly called 'NAIA Terminal 4' - am not sure yet if that is official. Quite some time already since I have last used this terminal as I often fly with PAL. Only the newer budget airlines and/or the domestic charter airlines still use this.
concierge at NAIA Terminal 4 also known as the Manila Old Domestic Terminal
It now has an "identity" from the inside. Yes, me 'concierge' pang nalalaman... oh ha?!

I was excited coming to this airport for check-in. Why? Ah well, maybe for the nostalgia as this was the only domestic airport in Manila that I have known and used all my childhood life, up until college, and even when I started to be 'gainfully employed' as they say - ayan lumalabas na ang mga edad hehe.

Part of that excitement was a chance to experience less crowds or long lines to the check-in counters since there are only a few flights that use this terminal nowadays!

But I was wrong...
passengers lining up to the check-in counters at NAIA Terminal 4
What a line! Even longer than those I experience at all the other terminals. OMG! I took this picture by the door immediately after the 'x-ray check', because that is where the line started. Ginoo Ko!

Photo below is a continuation of the photo above. The line goes all the way to the end and makes a turn to the check-counters. Over at that front area, there are 3 lines, one each to a counter, respectively checking-in for 3 different flights. Kaya naman pala... only one agent processing check-in for passengers of a flight. Madaling araw pa ito!
passengers lining up to the check-in counters at NAIA Terminal 4


This one, nasa kanto na ako...
passengers lining up to the check-in counters at NAIA Terminal 4


Finally, ako na sunod sa mag-asawa na yan...
check-in coutner at NAIA Terminal 4


Eto ka na... kaya naman pala sobrang bagal! Manual, as in sulat kamay ang check-in!
manually written tiger air boarding pass for a manila to tacloban flight
2014 na, meron pa palang "manual check-in"? Ano ba naman ito? Tiger Air is owned by Singapore Airlines. This 'penetration' to the Philippine market is via a joint-venture with Cebu Pacific. Two big airlines, tapos mano-mano ang check-in?! Wow!

Kaya siguro dito lang sila sa T4. Imagine if this 'manual' thing is being done at T3, more than an hour ka sa pila, then you run all the way to Gate 29 or even Gate 34. By the time you arrive at your gate, your flight has already landed in Tacloban hahaha!

O heto, at the pre-departure area, waiting for boarding. Not too many people...
pre-departure loiunge waiting area at NAIA Terminal 4
Therefore, mabagal lang talaga yung check-in. Sinusulat kamay e! I wonder if that check-in agent has a "pambura" at the other tip of his pen hehehe


Alright, boarding time!
boarding gate at NAIA Terminal 4
Ah that bus on the right? No it's not for our flight. Air Asia yan.


Cadillackad lang kami hehe. It's only 5AM anyway. Nice breeze!
passengers walking on the tarmac to board a plane at NAIA Terminal 4
I did wonder as I walked here, does this place still get flooded? I remember years ago, during heavy rains, this area would be like a river that flight boardings would usually be delayed. Those red-colored 'grills' (whatever those are called anyway) seem to be a flood drain, so I guess no more baha here! Just guessing!

Oh well, so there was my revisit to the old domestic terminal now commonly referred to by many as NAIA Terminal 4! If I can avoid (Tiger Air Domestic), I will avoid. Besides am not a fan of veeery early morning flights. And besides too, am not so sure this joint venture (experiment?) between Cebu Pacific and Tiger Air is not going to last that long. I know, something will give in the near future hehe



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