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Airline: Philippine Airlines
Flight Number: PR427
Route: NRT-MNL
Class: Business Class
Aircraft: Airbus A321
Registration: RP-C9926
Delivered: June 2016
Flight Duration: 3 hours 50 minutes
Distance: 1893 Miles
Overall Impression:
Mabuhay! Join me as we take to the skies in Philippine Airlines Business Class aboard their Airbus A321. This narrow-body aircraft features 12 business class seats arranged in a 2-2 configuration. Unlike the newer A321neo in PAL’s fleet, these seats are not lie-flat—or even angled-flat or cradle-style. Instead, they’re essentially wider recliner seats, similar to what you’d find on a typical domestic U.S. flight.
So, how do they perform? They’re certainly more comfortable than economy, thanks to the extra width, padding, and a reasonable amount of recline—but expectations should be kept in check. Seat pitch is about 37 inches, which feels adequate, though taller passengers may find it a bit tight.
That said, for a flight under four hours, the experience was honestly quite pleasant. The catering out of Narita was a highlight, with high-quality offerings and a choice between Filipino, Western, and Japanese meals. Service was generally warm and efficient, though a few minor inconsistencies kept it from being flawless. Overall, I came away impressed with the soft product, even if the hard product leaves some room for improvement.
What I liked:
The Food – The catering out of Narita was a genuine highlight on this flight with Philippine Airlines. To start, I enjoyed a glass of Chanoine Frères Brut champagne—an impressive offering for a regional flight—served alongside a package of Japanese rice crackers.
For the main meal, I opted for the Washoku Japanese set. Served on a single tray, it began with a selection of seasonal cold zensai appetizers, along with a kobachi bowl of chilled sakura tofu topped with umadashi jelly and tobiko and green tea. The flavors were delicate, fresh, and very well balanced. The highlight was the braised pork kakuni in teriyaki sauce main, served with steamed rice and miso soup—the pork was tender, rich, and full of flavor.
My companion chose the Western option, which was equally enjoyable. It started with a smoked duck and saffron couscous salad that was light yet flavorful, accompanied by warm bread. For the main, he had the flounder escabeche with steamed rice, which he found moist and well-seasoned.
To finish, dessert was a choice between strawberry cheesecake or Häagen-Dazs ice cream—both solid options for a sweet ending to the meal.
The Aspire Lounge – Before departure, we spent some time in the Aspire Lounge Narita, and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. In fact, I’d say it compares favorably to PAL’s own Mabuhay Lounge in Manila. While it’s a typical contract lounge, the space was bright, clean, and more spacious than expected, with plenty of seating available during our visit.
The buffet offered a decent mix of hot and cold options, and there was a full bar for drinks. Service was also attentive, with staff proactively clearing used plates and glasses, which helped keep the space tidy and comfortable.
What I didn’t Like:
The seat – Given that this was a regional flight within Asia, I was still hoping for something a bit more premium from Philippine Airlines. A proper lie-flat seat would have been ideal, but even an angled-flat or cradle-style recliner would have made a noticeable difference. As it stands, the seat feels closer to a standard recliner than a true business class product. Thankfully, there were personal air nozzles and AC/USB Power Outlets.
No built-in IFE and No Wi-Fi Internet – PAL’s A321 unfortunately doesn’t feature built-in IFE screens, even in business class. There is a streaming option available if you connect your personal device to the onboard network, and the crew also offered iPads shortly after takeoff for passengers to use—which is a nice touch. That said, the aircraft does not offer Wi-Fi internet access, so you’re limited to offline content or the onboard streaming service.
The Warm PAL Service – One thing Philippine Airlines consistently gets right is its warm, Filipino hospitality. On this flight, the crew we interacted with were charming, attentive, and eager to help. Pre-departure beverages were offered proactively, and the meal service was handled smoothly with regular drink refills. The crew remained visible and available throughout the flight, checking in to see if we needed anything. Before landing, the crew provided us with additional bottled waters and some chocolates, and thanked us for flying with Philippine AIrlines, which added a nice personal touch to the overall experience.
It was OK:
The Amenities – Business class passengers on Philippine Airlines were provided with bottled water, slippers, a full-size pillow, and a blanket—simple, but sufficient for a short regional flight. The cabin was also kept at a cool and comfortable temperature, which made it easier to relax and even get some rest. The forward business class lavatory, while compact, was clean and well maintained, and stocked with basic toiletries throughout the flight.
Bottom Line:
This medium-haul business class flight with Philippine Airlines is a bit of a mixed bag. The hard product—particularly the recliner-style seats and lack of built-in IFE or Wi-Fi—feels dated and falls short of what many competitors offer in the region. That said, the excellent catering out of Japan and the airline’s signature warm, attentive service go a long way in elevating the experience. For a flight under four hours, it’s a comfortable and enjoyable journey overall—just don’t expect a cutting-edge business class seat.
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