Michi Photostory

A few weeks after we booked our tickets, we received an email regarding “Temporary Aircraft Partner”

“To enhance our service reliability and continue delivering the high standards you expect from us, Philippine Airlines has entered a temporary wet lease partnership with Wamos Air, one of Europe’s leading charter carriers known for its expertise in charter and wet lease operations.    

Wamos Air is also certified by the International Air Transport Association’s Operational Safety Audit, ensuring top-tier safety and service. ” 

So flights from Manila to Sydney and Melbourne and vice versa will be operated using a Wamos Air Airbus A330. This was the first time I heard about this airline so I just hoped and prayed that we would have a safe flight. 

Prior to our trip there was Typhoon Kristine so we experienced blackout so late kami nakapag-online check-in. For the first time, hiwa-hiwalay kami ng seats, pero okay lang naman kasi lahat kami aisle seats. I don’t understand bakit hindi kami makapili ng seats na tabi-tabi pero 2 seats naman pala ang vacant sa tabi ko pero nagstick na lang kami sa pwesto namin. 

Just like our Manila to Sydney flight, we passed different Security checks, before the check-in counter, after the Immigration Counter, and at the boarding gate. 

Our airplane is Wamos Air but when you entered the craft, Philippine Airlines pa rin naman yung logo sa loob. The airline staff are a combination of Wamos Air and Philippine Airlines. 

Our seat has a monitor but we can also use “mypalmedia” so wala ng mypalplayer app, ito na yung gamit ng Philippine Airline. 

For long-haul flights, we have a blanket, headphones, overnight kit, hot towel, and two meals. Beef Salpicao for dinner and Corned Beef Sandwich for breakfast.

When my husband did the online check-in, we just accepted our assigned seats because we were fortunate na XL seats kami napunta and seated together. 

Our flight was early so we left the hotel before 6AM and arrived at Melbourne Airport just in time for the opening of the counter. I was glad the check-in counter opened 4 hours before our flight so hindi kami nagmamadali. 

The flight was a little bit delayed but boarding was so organized so mabilis din naman kami nakaalis.

This is the XL seat, more space nga. 

Sharing our flight meals. Beef with Mashed Potato and Tandoori Chicken + Brownies. 

I’m thankful for the smooth flight. 

One way to get into airport lounges is to apply for a credit card with this benefit. This is why we were able to stay at MIASCOR but we deactivated our credit cards because they did not waive our annual fee. Since we are not frequent travelers naman, we don’t need that credit card. 

A few months ago, I received emails and text messages from my bank about “credit card application” and hindi ko pinapansin kasi may credit card na naman ako. But last month, out of the blue, niresearch ko yung credit card benefits and I found out na may FREE AIRPORT LOUNGE and no annual fee pala. 

So after one week of contemplating, I finally gave in and filled out the form online and crossed my fingers na umabot yung credit card sa biyahe namin kasi usually, 15 business days. I was so happy when I received my credit card in less than a week. And because of that, nakapagstay kami sa PAGSS Premium Lounge before our Manila to Melbourne flight.

And the good thing about this credit card is I can bring one companion pa. We paid for an additional person since we are a group of three. The rate is PHP1,500, not bad na rin kasi ganun din naman magagastos namin kapag kakain sa airport. But I told my husband na mag-apply na rin siya ng credit card na may lounge benefit.

Upon arrival, I just showed my boarding pass and credit card. I was advised that the lounge was full so we went to the extension lounge. This is my old blog post about PAGSS Airport Lounge at NAIA 1 where my husband stayed using his Mabuhay Miles benefit. 

When we entered the room, the place is already crowded and akala ko nga wala na kami pwesto pero may other side pa pala and luckily, maluwag pa. The choices on the buffet spread are limited compared to Mabuhay Lounge but it was fine with us since we only needed to eat snacks.

We also requested instant cup noodles and ice cream. We only stayed for 2 hours and already went to our boarding gate. Another security check pa kasi sa boarding gate.

But last month, NAIA announced the new parking rates, from PHP300 to PHP1,200 for overnight rates. Waah! That is so expensive so nastress ako bigla because we will be flying to Melbourne, Australia. We live outside Metro Manila so mahirap magcommute. 

I was contemplating kung saan ba kami makakamura because NAIA parking is no longer an option. My choices are: 

1. Rent a van 

2. Take Ube Express P2P Bus 

3. Park N Fly 

But my husband chose the Park N fly so nagbabalik loob na kami sa Park N Fly. My husband immediately made a reservation online. 50% downpayment to reserve a slot. 

During our trip, we left early because we knew that there was an additional 30-minute to 1-hour waiting time at the Park N Fly. Based on our experience, from the time we arrived, we waited for 40 minutes for the airport shuttle service. 

Park N Fly has new building na pala, doon kami pinapunta ng guard. The office is much bigger and may Convenience Store & Pasalubong Center. 

They also offer “Complete vehicle maintenance and repairs, including detailing/cleaning packages available”. My husband availed the car wash kaya shining and shimmering ang sasakyan namin pag-uwi. 

Upon arrival, after claiming our luggage my husband called Park N Fly Shuttle Service to pick us up at Bay 6 - NAIA Terminal 1. I think we waited for 30 minutes before the airport shuttle service arrived.

Mia Road Corner Domestic Road Airport, 

Pasay City Philippines 1301 

8854-9302 to 04 and 8852 1946 to 48 

0918-991-0000

Time passes very quickly and after several days, it was time to say goodbye to Sydney, Australia. Our last day was our flight to Manila, Philippines so we woke early to prepare for our afternoon flight. 

Since it was our last day, I cooked our leftover ham and hotdog and we need to eat and drink all the complimentary breakfast like the bread, fruits, milk and juice, para walang sayang. 

We check out at Hyde Park Inn around 8:30AM and we arrived at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport three hours before our flight. Unfortunately, all check in counters were still closed, as in we didn’t know where to fall in line, nagkahalo-halo na yung pila ng mga airlines to Manila. Our flight was 12NN and past 10AM na kami nakapagcheck-in and because of that, sobrang nagmamadali kami. 

Immigration is via Smartgates so you just need to scan your passport + facial recognition and that’s it. My son and I were able to pass through Smartgates but my husband needs to go to Manual Passport Control Counter because for some reason, hindi nareread passport niya doon sa Smartgates. After that, we went straight to our boarding gate just to make sure kung malapit ba or malayo and if we still have time to eat. 

My husband went to “The House”, this is the complimentary lounge of Philippine Airlines at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. He just ate here and we will meet na lang ulit sa boarding gate. 

My son and I just ordered the boxed meal at KFC, the meal includes Original Tenders, Popcorn Chicken, Fries, Mashed Potato and Drink + additional drink. Food is around 22AUD. PHP800+ na yang isang meal. 

After eating, we went to Think Sydney and Pharmacy to buy some souvenirs before going to the boarding gate. Nagmamadali pa kami pero delayed naman pala flight namin. Tapos, boarding took a long time pa because we need to ride bus. 

After 8 hours, we were back to Manila. End of vacation and back to reality. 

We were left with two choices which are Taiwan and Australia, but we took a risk with Australia even though we don’t have visas yet. My husband even called Mabuhay Miles while he was in Jakarta so we spent thousands on that international call because we had no idea about a toll-free number. But at the end of the day, we were still happy because even though we added the phone bill, mura pa rin yung airfare namin, kapresyo lang ito ng Davao trip ko.

After purchasing our plane ticket, I bought our travel insurance and started searching about “How to Apply for Australian Tourist Visa” in the Philippines. 

Two months before our flight, we booked our hotel and I chose Hyde Park Inn because of the good reviews, location and it has its own kitchen. 

When I applied for our visa, this is my submitted itinerary 

Day 1: Manila to Sydney Flight 

Day 2: Explore Chinatown 

Day 3: Sydney Tour 

Day 4: Bondi Tour 

Day 5: Blue Mountain 

Day 6: Taronga Zoo + Luna Park 

Day 7: Sydney to Manila 

But during our trip, there are a few changes. We did not go to Chinatown anymore because we discovered that there were few tourist spots that we could visit near our hotel. We no longer visited Luna Park because we were so tired already. 

On the day of our trip, our internet connection was fixed after one week of no connection so I was cramming. This was the only time that I purchased our tour tickets via Klook. I printed our vouchers and off we went to NAIA. We checked in, ate dinner, and waited for our flight. The flight is on time.

As of this writing, I couldn’t find the exact links of the activities I purchased and Klook is giving me these options. 

After 8 hours of traveling, we arrived at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport; we went to immigration, got our luggage, and went to customs. Then we went straight to the Airport Train Station and purchased our Opal Card here. 

We went to Hyde Park Inn to drop our luggage, ate lunch, and went back to the hotel for check-in. We took a rest and started to explore the tourist spots near the hotel or Museum Station like Hyde Park, Anzac Memorial, Australian Museum, St. Mary’s Cathedral, and from afar, we can see the Sydney Tower. 

I purchased a Big Bus Tour Sydney Hop On Hop Off ticket via Klook. This tour has 2 routes, Sydney Route and Bondi Route so I bought the 48-hour ticket to cover the two routes. 

For Day 3, we traveled to Circular Quay via train, and from the train station we just walked to the Big Bus. The duration of the Sydney Tour is 1 hour and forty-five minutes so we enjoyed the view while listening to the pre-recorded commentary. 

Australia is the third continent that I have visited.