Review of Philippine Airlines flight Basco → Clark in Economy

Hello! Welcome everyone!

Its another great day to fly!

This is the third part of the 4 series flight fro my previous holiday back to the Philippines and this is the return flight from Basco to Clark.

This series of reports covers;

PR 510 SIN- MNL Economy (1st Flight)
PR 2696 CRK - BSO Economy (Flight before this!)
PR 2697 BSO - CRK Economy (you're here!)
PR 507 MNL - SIN Business Class (soon!)

It was a 4 days great stay in Basco, Batanes. Indeed it is a Gem for those who appreciates Nature and loves Adventure. And its time to head back Manila via Clark.

Since our Bnb is just about 10 minutes walk to the airport, our host advise us not go at the airport too early, at least 1 hour before departure is enough. Basco Airport is small, the main terminal has only 2 rooms, one for security check and check in counters and the other bigger room is for the boarding gates. when you enter the terminal security check welcomes you and after that when you just turn around maybe 5 few steps you are already at the check in counter. 10 or more passengers inside the room is crowded already, if the is an influx of passengers out of batanes, they are asked to queue outside the terminal to managed the crowd inside the terminal. Check-in went smoothly and fast, in few minutes we managed to get our boarding passes. You can see there are a lot Philippine Airlines Ads inside the airport, even their signages has PR on it.



Before we went inside the boarding gates, my mom decided to buy some more souvenirs and water aswell, and i had a chance to take more photo around the airport. some souvenir shops, food stalls and airline offices just outside the main terminal. A mini garden lake separates the main terminal and stalls. Waiting area and empty arrival hall.



We went inside the boarding gates already and you have to go through the same door for security check that leads to check in counter before the door to boarding gates. Before you enter the gates you have to pay another terminal fee, 100 Php (S$2.60) and in our case i already pay for it when i redeemed my travel reward. Waiting area is small, maybe enough to accommodate 2 full small planes, and on that day it seems ok and spacious, looks like it wont be a full flight. Basco Airport's designed is still traditional Ivatan architecture, the exterior is inspired with Ivatan's stonehouses, wooden furnitures and nipa roofings. Inside the gate there are photos of older Batanes and some paintings from their local artists. There a toilets inside the gates, small yet clean. If you already inside the gate and decided to buy some food, as there were no stalls inside the gate, you may still get out to do so.



There are at least 6 airlines operates in and out of Basco.


View outside the pre departure area. Ops are busy, and our bags are ready to load.


Our Plane that will take us back to Clark just landed, she is the first to land that day in Basco. There is a VIP onboard so security is a little tighten. then our bags are being loaded to the plane.


It was a quick turnaround, after a few minutes the plane ready to accept passengers for boarding. The usual priority boarding was made, First are the Mabuhay Miles high tier passengengers then elderly followed by the rest of the economy passengers, again we are one of the passenger to board the plane.


Inside the plane. This plane is one of the newest Dash-8 that Philippine airlines, you see that plane is clean white, shinny and the smell inside the cabin seems like it is fresh out of the factory.


The plane is half full, less that 50 pax returning to Clark. In no time, boarding is done and the plane ready to fly to Clark. It was a great gesture and very warmth that ground personnel file a single line, put their hand to their chest, bow their heads and wave goodbye (like Japanese airports that i saw from other video).


Skyjet plane just arrive before we left Basco.


Scenery while taking off…


As we leveled up in the sky, i pay a visit to the lavatory, its clean, tissues, seat cover and handwash are stocked.


More Cabin view. Im gonna be sad and upset if im on a window seat without a window. You can easily count the passengers on this flight.


Cabin crew start distributing skytreats, this time orange juice and water as beverages.


Backseat contents, the usual Safety Card, Blow bag, Mabuhay and La Isla Magazines. Again magazines are not up to date.


You will know when you already at your destination when you saw buildings. We also passed by Clark Airport and the veiw of Mt Arayat.


It was a quick flight, i think we managed to fly less than 1 hour from Basco to Clark. we parked in a remote bay, as we alight from the plane, There is already a bus waiting for us to transfer to the main terminal. Our plane that fly us out of Basco and getting ready to flew back for another flight to Basco. The bus that we use for transfer is familiar, with the warning written on windows and the voice over when closing the door, is similar to the Buses here in Singapore.


Few meter away from the bay area, we this hallway leading to the luggage claim area. bags showed up quickly and left the terminal in less that 10 minutes.


I Like Clark Airport, its very efficient and not crowded. it easy to navigate with the signages. This is a good alternative airport if you want to travel out manila. There are regular bus services that let passengers come in and out of Clark to Manila, as well as other part of Northern Luzon.




Comments, suggestions and critiques are most welcome.