Learn from my Philippine Airport Arrival Mistake
Wrong Assumption about the Free Manila Terminal Shuttle Bus
Last January 2024, I arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila, Philippines after midnight. As I mentioned in my previous post, I usually spend the night at the Wings Capsule Hotel inside NAIA Terminal 3. This time, I arrived at Terminal 1 instead and assumed I can ride the free shuttle bus from one terminal to another. Well, I was wrong! In this post, I will share what happened to me so you can learn from my mistake.
Manila Terminals are Far and Unconnected by Rail
Many airports are connected by rail and you can easily go from one terminal to another using their free internal airport trains. Not in the Philippines. According to the Manila International Airport Authority, NAIA has four airports. All of them are far from each other and not connected by rail. Terminal 1, where I landed, is 4.9 kilometers (3.04 miles) away from, Terminal 3 where Wings Capsule Hotel is. I planned to spend the night there then ride UBE Express the next day.
I mistakenly assumed that I can ride the free airport shuttle bus from Terminal 1 to 3. The bus operators asked if I had a forwarding flight. I said no. As a result, they did not allow me to ride the next bus which will leave at 1:00 AM that morning. Their bus (as shown in the first picture) clearly states:
“Only arriving passengers with connecting flight to other terminals are allowed to board the MIAA free shuttle bus.”
I was rattled. I do not want to take a taxi alone in the middle of the night. Moreover, my phone’s local SIM card was not yet working and I cannot use a Grab app (Philippine’s Uber). What can I do?
Allowed to Ride before 3AM
I walked around Terminal 1 and talked with the security guards. I told them my situation and asked for their advice. They, too, were against me taking a taxi on my own in the middle of the night. They told me to ask the shuttle bus operators again. I did. This time, I showed my capsule hotel reservation at Terminal 3. Again, they said no. Later, I had another idea. I told them I write travel stories here at Pilipinas Info and showed them my articles. Finally, they allowed me to ride the next bus terminal round. I was able to check-in at Wings Capsule Hotel, shower, sleep and get ready for my daytime trip to Manila next day. Well, now I know the benefit of writing about Philippine travel 🤓. Next, I will share my experience using 4 different eSIMs in the Philippines.