Find cheap Philippines AirAsia flights

Philippines AirAsia is a low-cost carrier that’s part of the large AirAsia group, offering safe, reliable budget-friendly flights around the Philippines and throughout Southeast Asia. The crew is cheerful, the food is tasty, but the seats are packed in tight. Here’s what you’ll find with the Philippines AirAsia experience.

The Philippines AirAsia model

Philippines AirAsia can be booked through the main AirAsia website or app, with a strong focus on using the AirAsia MOVE app available for all major mobile platforms. If you’re flying on a route where other group airlines fly, you’ll find the airline code shown on your itinerary (like Z2 for Philippines AirAsia) during the booking process.

Note they operate as a point-to-point low-cost carrier rather than a connecting hub airline. This means if you book two separate flights to create a connection, you’re on your own if something goes wrong.

You’ll need to collect any checked bags at your connecting point. If your first flight is delayed or canceled, it’s up to you (not the airline) to get to your onward destination at your own cost.

For some connecting flights, however, Philippines AirAsia offers Fly-Thru, providing a single booking number and, in some cases, checked-through baggage. Just a heads-up for travelers arriving in Manila on an international flight to connect to a domestic one: you’ll still need to collect your bags, clear immigration and customs, transfer terminals, then re-check them at the Fly-Thru counter. A little quirk to plan for.

Fare types and upgrades

Philippines AirAsia keeps things simple with an all-economy fleet of Airbus A320 and A321neo aircraft. Your basic ticket gets you a seat, and that’s about it. You can add on things like checked bags, meals, and seat selection. My advice? Buy these extras online ahead of time. Waiting until you get to the airport will almost always cost you more.

To make things easier, the airline offers a couple of bundles. When buying your ticket, you can choose between two packages:

• Value Pack: Checked bag up to 20 kg (44 lbs), choice of a standard seat, a meal and insurance by Tune Protect

• Premium Flex: All Value Pack benefits (20 kg checked baggage and a meal) plus access to any seat including Hot Seats, Xpress Baggage, Xpress Boarding, and greater flight change flexibility

I recommend the Value Pack for most travelers, but Premium Flex is worth it if you want that extra legroom.

Philippines AirAsia is a true low-cost airline and can be very strict about baggage rules at the airport, both in terms of weight and size. US and Canadian flyers in particular should note that the size of allowed carry-ons aboard Philippines AirAsia — and many international airlines — is a lot smaller than what is normal in North America.

If your bag is pushing the limits, consider the Xtra Carry-On upgrade, which lets you bring up to 14 kg (about 31 lbs) on board. Or, spring for the Fast Pass, which also gets you priority check-in and Zone 1 priority boarding (where available), increasing your chances of snagging that overhead bin space.

Seats on Philippines AirAsia

The seats on Philippines AirAsia are pitched at just 28 inches. That’s pretty tight, but it compares with other low-cost airlines like Cebu Pacific locally or Spirit in the US.

If you don’t pay to choose a seat, the airline will assign one automatically when you check in. The airline offers both reserved regular seats and extra-legroom seats called Hot Seats, which come in the forward cabin (rows 1–5) and the emergency exit rows (rows 12 and 14 on A320 aircraft).

The front row seats are bulkhead seats, which I’d certainly recommend if you happen to be claustrophobic or just don’t like feeling hemmed in. The downside is that they’re a bit narrower than the regular seats since your tray table is in the armrest, and your hand luggage must go up into the overhead bin for takeoff and landing.

The emergency exit seats feature several inches of extra legroom compared with other seats and have regular tray tables. The downside is that you may not be able to recline and your hand baggage still needs to be in the overhead bin for takeoff and landing.

Then there are the Hot Seats in rows 2 through 5. They’re located in the forward cabin for priority boarding and quicker disembarkation, but they generally have the standard seat pitch (around 28–29 inches). The real perk, in my experience, is that they’re less likely to be full. That means a higher chance of an empty middle seat next to you.

Here’s a little hack I use when traveling with my partner: we sometimes book a third seat between us. It’s often surprisingly affordable and guarantees we can spread out, use the extra tray table, and keep our floor space clear for more legroom. It feels like a little luxury for a low-cost price.

Check-in and airport experience

The airport process is pretty standard for a budget airline. They really want you to check in online via the AirAsia MOVE app or website (typically available 14 days to 1 hour before departure). At the airport, you can use a kiosk at selected airports.

If you need to see a person at the check-in desk, there might be a small fee at selected airports, though it’s waived for certain passengers (like senior citizens aged 60 and above, Premium Flex ticket holders, Fast Pass holders, young passengers traveling alone, guests with reduced mobility, or when kiosks are unavailable).

Boarding is done by zones (typically Zones 1–3), and it can get a little crowded. If you sprung for Fast Pass, you’ll also be in the first boarding group. This is where that Fast Pass really pays off, getting you on board first to claim your overhead space. Boarding, which can be a bit chaotic, is sometimes via airstairs so contact the airline in advance if you’ll need assistance.

In-flight food and drinks on Philippines AirAsia

The airline sells food and drinks onboard from the Santan menu, with a wide range including both AirAsia favorites and local specialties. I find it a great and inexpensive experience for casual dining in general, let alone airline dining.

My go-to is Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak, with delicious chicken rendang and tasty toppings over coconut rice. On Philippines AirAsia specifically, the JT’s Manukan Bacolod Chicken Inasal is also an excellent choice. For breakfast, consider the Beef Tapa with Scrambled Egg and rice, a local favorite. Pre-order your meal online to save time and ensure your choice is loaded onboard.

Philippines AirAsia inflight entertainment and Wi-Fi

Some flights on Philippines AirAsia offer inflight Wi-Fi networks with some light entertainment to stream to your device, along with the option to order meals and drinks from your phone.

You may be able to get online to chat and use social media for an additional fee, but it’s not a guarantee and speeds can vary depending on what kind of satellite system is on your particular plane. Unfortunately, you can’t tell in advance.

Generally, flights are so short that I don’t feel the need to be online, and will just pre-download a movie or TV show to my phone or tablet.

Not all seats have power ports available (USB only, when they do), so I always make sure my phone is charged up at the airport and I carry a rechargeable power bank with me.

AirAsia Rewards and Freedom Flyer loyalty program

Previously known as AirAsia BIG, AirAsia Rewards and the group’s Freedom Flyer frequent flyer club include Philippines AirAsia. Unless you’re visiting a lot — more than fourteen flights in a year — the frequent flyer side of the program is unlikely to be of much use to you. However, once you’ve earned more than 100 points, you should be able to use them to pay for a portion of your next flight.