PAL adopts no frills fares

Philippines Airlines sells what it calls an “Econolight” fare at Bt3,730 on the Bangkok-Manila route undercutting the best deals on low-cost airlines.

The airline has introduced deep discounts on domestic and international routes excluding routes to USA, Canada, Guam, Japan, Korea, Xiamen and Australia.

Econolight fares are sold online and are not available to travel agencies, or through global distribution systems. The free baggage allowance is limited to 15 kg down from 20 kg.

Ex Bangkok, the airline offers promotional fares directly to customers and through travel agents with a baggage allowance of 30 kg. They are quite close to the best offers under the Econolight fare category and more suitable if a passenger needs a higher baggage allowance.

Econflight passengers are given a bottle of water on domestic flights, while on international flights they are served a non-alcoholic drink and a packet of peanuts. Seats at the back of the cabin.

Econolight fares are not available for travel in December, but passengers from Bangkok can still get a fare for Bt3,700 through travel agents, which undercuts it by Bt30.

Cebu Pacific, a low-cost carrier sells Bangkok to Manila roundtrip fares for Bt7,954, against Bt7,430, Econolight on PAL. In February, Cebu’s lowest fare will drop to Bt7,464, but this is still slightly higher than Econolight with the same baggage allowance of 15 kg.

However, Cebu Pacific does extend its 30 kg free baggage allowance promotion for all international flights to and from Clark until 30 June 2010 including the twice weekly service from Bangkok.