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Airline: Philippine Airlines
Flight Number: PR437
Route: NGO-MNL
Class: Business Class
Aircraft: Airbus A321neo
Registration: RP-C9935
Delivered: November 2018
Flight Duration: 3 hours 40 minutes
Distance: 1712 Miles
Overall Impression:
Mabuhay! Join me as we take to the skies in Philippine Airlines’ Business Class on their Airbus A321neo. This narrow-body aircraft offers a comfortable 2-2 configuration featuring lie-flat B/E Aerospace Diamond seats—a product you might recognize from transcontinental business class on US carriers.
So, are they comfortable? Absolutely. For a flight under four hours, these seats are more than adequate, offering a relaxing and spacious journey. The catering out of Nagoya was, as expected, a true highlight, with a wide array of excellent choices including Filipino, Western, and Japanese meals. While the service was mostly warm and efficient, a few minor snags kept it from being perfect. But overall, I was genuinely impressed with both the hard and soft products on this flight.
What I liked:
The seat – While these B/E Diamond seats don’t all offer direct aisle access, I found them to be incredibly comfortable. They’re perfect for sitting, lounging, and, when it’s time to rest, lying completely flat. The adjustable armrest is a thoughtful touch that provides a little extra space when fully reclined. Passengers are also provided with noise-canceling headphones, a full-size pillow, and a blanket. It’s worth noting that the cabin was kept at a cool, comfortable temperature, which made it ideal for sleeping.
The Food – The catering out of Nagoya was a culinary delight. To start, I enjoyed a glass of Chanoine Freres Brut champagne, a high-quality selection that retails for around $45 a bottle, served with a package of Japanese rice crackers.
For the main meal, I chose the Washoku Japanese set. Served elegantly on a single tray, the meal began with seasonal cold appetizers and a small bowl of cold zaru soba. The flavors were incredibly light and fresh. The main course, Gyumaki Teriyaki (vegetable-stuffed beef rolls) with steamed rice and miso soup, was the star of the show. The beef was tender and flavorful, and the dish was perfectly seasoned.
My companion opted for the Western meal, which also received high praise. The starter was a tasty roast beef salad served with warm bread. For his main, he had the grilled chicken in Bearnaise sauce, which he said was juicy and flavorful.
The meal concluded with a decadent choice of cheese mousse cake in raspberry sauce or Haagen-Dazs ice cream, providing a perfect sweet ending.
What I didn’t Like:
The Warm PAL Service (Mostly) – One of the things I consistently love about Philippine Airlines is their warm, hospitable service. On this flight, most of the crew were charming and attentive. A special shoutout to the purser, Patrick, who was incredibly friendly and took the time to personally thank us for flying with them.
Although if I’m being honest, something felt a bit off. While the purser and another flight attendant were wonderful, one of the three crew members serving the business class cabin seemed to be having a bad day. He didn’t smile and had a noticeably condescending tone. While he did perform all his duties—offering pre-departure drinks, serving our meals, and even offering additional dessert—the lack of warmth and borderline rude demeanor was a stark contrast to the usual PAL standard. Smiles, it seems, were an extra charge.
It was OK:
The Plaza Premium Lounge Nagoya – Before our flight, we had a pleasant experience at the Plaza Premium Lounge in Nagoya. I would argue this lounge is actually better than the Mabuhay Lounge in Manila and that’s saying a lot. Though this is your run of the mill contract lounge, the space is bright and clean, with ample seating despite being compact. They offer an excellent buffet of both hot and cold food, as well as a staffed bar for alcoholic beverages. The service was also top-notch; a lounge attendant proactively checked in with me to ask for feedback. It was a great way to start our journey.
The IFE System – The A321neo’s IFE system offers a decent selection of media, including new and classic movies, TV programs, music, and other PAL-specific features. Business Class passengers are provided with noise-canceling headphones for a more immersive experience. My main complaint, however, is the highly reflective screen, which makes it nearly impossible to watch anything when the cabin lights are on. Unfortunately, the onboard Wi-Fi was also not working during our flight.
The Amenities – Business Class passengers were provided with slippers, a toothbrush, a full-size pillow, and a blanket. It’s worth noting that the cabin was kept at a cool, comfortable temperature, which made it ideal for sleeping. The business class lavatory, though small, was kept clean and stocked with toiletries.
Bottom Line:
Philippine Airlines’ A321neo Business Class offers a strong, but imperfect, premium product.
The lie-flat seats are excellent for comfort on a regional flight, and the catering out of Nagoya is a true highlight, providing a delicious and high-quality meal. Thoughtful amenities like a full-size pillow and slippers further enhance the experience.
However, the journey was marked by a few notable inconsistencies. The in-flight entertainment system suffers from a highly reflective screen, making it difficult to use, and the onboard Wi-Fi was not functioning. Most significantly, while most of the crew delivered PAL’s renowned warm service, the experience was soured by one flight attendant who was noticeably was having an off-day.
Overall, while the excellent hard product and food make this a highly recommended option for comfort and value, potential passengers should be prepared for potential service and technical hiccups that may fall short of a flawless premium experience.
TravelingFoody.com 