A few hours after the Rock the Vote 2009 Cagayan de Oro leg and after sharing a hearty meal with the members of Team Oro Photo and Video (who generously extended their time and support to the Register and Vote Campaign…thank you, thank you!) as well as the event’s hosts, Maxine Monasterio (Miss Teen Philippines 2007 and a CDO native) and Titus “TJ” Monterde (he’s the son of Tito Monterde, the station manager of Wild FM CDO) — (Max and TJ also host the ABS CBN Northern Mindanao Sunday show, Mag TV Na, Ato Ni!), I caught a CDO – Cebu PAL Express flight.
PAL Express is owned by Philippine Airlines and is geared towards shorter flights.
It was my first time to catch a PAL Express flight. After years of traveling from CDO to Cebu via boats (I’ve tried Trans Asia Shipping Lines, Superferry and – gulp – Sulpicio), I decided that a PAL Express flight was already in order. I simply had no time and energy to endure roughly 11 hours of travel time at sea.
I caught the 9:50 AM Cagayan de Oro – Cebu City PAL Express flight PR 286. I was already at the airport an hour and a half early but I didn’t mind since I brought along my trusty Hewlett Packard 2133 netbook (if you want to check out my jazzed up HP baby, click this) Unfortunately, CDO airport still does not offer free wireless internet so to while away the time, I decided to sift through photos I recently took. The PAL Express staff members were very courteous and even the security guard helped me with my one big Nike gym bag (which hardly contained anything except for a few clothing pieces and my DSLR camera) Thumbs up for helpful staff!
Something embarrassing happened that morning, by the way. My name was called via the PA system because apparently I dropped my boarding pass…and get this…I didn’t even notice! Ayayay…I was probably so zoned out after the many days of preparing for the RV Campaign that I just sipped my coffee, checked my computer files, watched TV…and didn’t even realize that I no longer have my boarding pass and baggage number with me. Good thing someone found it and promptly returned it to the PAL Express counter. Thanks to the PAL Express staff, too!
We boarded the plane on time (9:30 AM) – which, I must admit, is a bit surprising knowing that PAL’s notoriously known for being “late” (hence, the joke “PAL-aging late.” Thank goodness the flight that day was on time.
Here are some photos I took before I boarded my plane:
Pre-departure area of the Cagayan de Oro airport
Here’s a photo of the PAL Express plane (along with a shot of the plane’s tail where a cool and golden “Cagayan de Oro” logo complete with pineapple can be found! Nice no?)
The entire flight was pretty short — very short! A total of thirty eight minutes! Can you imagine? Compared to traveling for 11 hours, you’ll be at your destination within 38 minutes!
And you can’t beat the airfare, too. I only paid P980.00 for a one-way ticket. Add P30.00 for the airport fee so that’s P1100.00 all in all — still not very heavy on your pocket especially if you need to be in Cebu right away.
One “highlight” during my Cagayan de Oro to Cebu plane ride, by the way, was when the captain took to the microphone and greeted us passengers. It turned out that Captain Patrick Roa had quite the baritone voice LOL So the passengers who were already in deep slumber couldn’t help but wake up when they heard the captain speak LOL The captain was fluent in English and sounded friendly so even if he told us that we were cruising at 16,000 feet or something like that…I, for one, felt safe and secure. Too bad I didn’t get to see the man behind the baritone voice! Hehehe 
Anyways, my trip was safe and fast. I highly recommend that you ride a plane the next time you’re planning a CDO to Cebu or Cebu to CDO trip. Less hassle, fees and rates are reasonable and budget-friendly and you can enjoy the sights and sounds of Cebu or CDO in no time!
By the way, you can book your PAL Express flights using your ATM card. Enjoy traveling!
Well, after years of waiting for another airline to launch Davao to Cagayan de Oro, Cagayan de Oro to Davao direct flights (the last airline that offered this was Mindanao Air – if memory serves me right – I was able to fly twice), the wait is finally over. Cebu Pacific Airlines has launched a direct thrice-weekly service from Davao to Cagayan de Oro starting May 14, 2009. And here’s pretty tempting news for those who want to try this new route — Cebu Pacific is introducing this Davao City to Cagayan de Oro City, Cagayan de Oro City to Davao City route with a one-way ‘Go Lite’ promo fare of P499 all-in.
The seat sale will run from today to April 30, 2009 and is valid for travel from June 1 to August 31, 2009. Promo fare is non-refundable.
The flight departs from Davao every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 6:00pm and arrives in Cagayan de Oro at 6:50pm. The return flight leaves Cagayan de Oro at 7:10pm and lands in Davao at 8:00pm.
I found something funny in Cebu Pacific Airline’s press release about this new route, however. According to the statement of Cebu Pac VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog, the flight will accordingly “cut to an hour” the “usual 10-hour road trip.”
Was Miss Iyog misinformed or has she even tried traveling the CDO-Davao route via land trip? Why, the last time I did, it only took us 6 hours! And that was even via public transportation. If via a private vehicle, it may only have taken us 4-5 hours. Tsk tsk.
Anyways, I guess she had to say what she had to say.
After the seat sale, the lowest year-round ‘Go Lite’ fare from Davao to Cagayan de Oro starts from P688 all-in.
I’ve been receiving buzz from various businessmen around Mindanao and in Manila that Davao City is supposedly set to have its “own airline” very soon. By own airline, I reckon they mean an entire fleet with “Davao” in its name somewhere and that it will serve as Davao City’s very own answer to Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines. I asked a few well-placed personalities in Davao if they’ve heard of this and most of them did confirm that there are “movements” on this plan.
If ever this will push through, this will definitely give Mindanao travel and tourism a big boost. I wonder, though, if the planes of this alleged fleet are as small as those of Mindanao Express’ (Beechcraft 1900C)? Or if the planes are basically those of Mindanao Express’ and then they’d just change the name? Is that possible? It would be great, though, if the so-called “Davao airline” airplanes would at least be as large as those owned by PAL or Air Philippines or Cebu Pacific.
Also, I wonder what the name of the fleet would be? Davao Air? Davao Spirit? Spirit of Davao?
Ikaw, what do you think will be a great name for this alleged Davao airplane fleet?
So I checked out Cebu Pacific Air’s website today just to check on my seat reservations (I’m heading to Manila for the Rihanna – Chris Brown concert and to do a lot of other stuff including Christmas shopping, of course!) and to see what’s up when I noticed that they’re offering Go International Fares for both Davao – Hongkong and Davao – Singapore routes. The “cheaper” Davao – Hongkong airfares will be offered starting December 5, 2008 while for the Davao – Singapore route, the budget airfares will be offered starting December 4, 2008. So does this mean that Cebu Pacific stopped offering the budget airfares for a while? (*Note – I did a mock booking and I found out that the Davao – Hongkong route right now isn’t a direct flight – it passes through Manila)
I actually availed of the Davao to Hongkong flight last May 2008 (just a few days after Cebu Pacific inaugurated their Davao Hub) and I must say, it was really convenient. Took off all the hassles of deplaning and re-boarding and *ugh* waiting (who actually likes to wait anyway when you’re all fired up to start on your vacation?) The time of our flight wasn’t exactly ideal, though. We left Davao City nearly 9 pm IN THE EVENING (hello!) and we arrived in Hongkong nearly midnight (but with all the immigration duties, baggage checks and picture taking, we basically arrived past 1 in the morning the next day) but it was still all right.
Anyways, I’m glad that the airline is bringing those routes back. How I wish Philippine Airlines will follow suit! Or perhaps Silk Air, the only other airline that offers Davao to Singapore flights, can also offer budget airfares soon (wishful thinking, I know!)
What about you?
Have you availed of Cebu Pacific Air’s budget international fares?
Follow Mindanaoan - Subscribe today
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?
Recent entries
- Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte endorses fellow Mindanaoan senatorial bet Atty. Adel Tamano
- Review: Paragon Suites in Cebu City, Visayas | Budget hotel in Cebu
- From the campaign trail – Mindanaoan will post exclusive photos, kuwentos etc
- Mindanaoan’s new Swatch Vancouver 2010 watch
- Compostela Valley Mindanao celebrates 12th Bulawan Festival
- Review: Highway 21 Hotel in Iloilo City, Visayas
- Mindanaoan goes to Iloilo City
- Mindanaoan senatorial candidate Atty. Adel Tamano meets Davao media people
- Fellow Mindanaoan and Dabawenya Juris releases solo album
- Surigao del Sur National High School bags top plum in SMART’s Doon Po Sa Amin challenge
Posts by Category
Archives
Follow Mindanaoan in Twitter!
