[Click above for the video review.]
Airline: Philippine Airlines
Flight Number: PR427
Route: NRT-MNL
Class: Business Class
Aircraft: Airbus A330-300
Registration: RP-C8786
Delivered: Jauary 2014
Flight Duration: 4 hours 5 minutes
Distance: 1893 Miles
Overall Impression:
Mabuhay and welcome to another trip report! Today, we’re taking a closer look at Philippine Airlines Business Class aboard the Airbus A330-300.
PAL operates two different configurations on its A330 fleet, and this particular aircraft features 18 business class seats arranged in a 1-2-1 staggered layout. These are the same Thompson Aero Vantage XL seats you’ll also find on PAL’s Airbus A350-900 (not to be confused with the newer A350-1000, which features a different, more modern product). For a regional widebody, this is a strong setup—every passenger gets direct aisle access, which is always a big plus.
In terms of comfort, the seats performed very well for this roughly 4-hour flight to Manila. They convert into fully flat beds and offer a good amount of personal space, along with practical storage for your essentials. While they may not feel cutting-edge compared to newer business class suites with doors, they still provide a comfortable and reliable experience—especially on a medium-haul route like this.
One of the standout aspects of the flight was the catering out of Narita. The quality was impressive, with a thoughtful selection of Filipino, Western, and Japanese meal options that catered to a wide range of tastes. The dishes were well-prepared and flavorful, making the meal service a highlight of the journey.
Service throughout the flight was warm and pleasant, which is something Philippine Airlines is known for. The crew we interacted with were friendly, approachable, and attentive, helping create a relaxed and welcoming onboard atmosphere from start to finish.
What I liked:
The Food – The catering out of Narita was easily one of the highlights of 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.
I opted for the Western meal, which was very satisfying. It began with a salmon and tuna tataki salad that was light, fresh, and well-balanced, accompanied by warm bread. For the main, I chose the pork with black pepper sauce, which was flavorful and nicely executed without being overly heavy.
My companion went with the Washoku Japanese set, and it looked just as appealing. Served on a single tray, it featured a selection of seasonal zensai appetizers along with chilled soba noodles. The main was a seafood donburi with salmon, prawn, and scallops in teriyaki sauce, served with steamed rice and miso soup. He noted that the flavors were delicate, fresh, and very well put together.
To round out the meal, dessert options included a mixed berry mousse (served with the Japanese set) or strawberry cheesecake, and we were also offered a cup of Häagen-Dazs ice cream—always a welcome treat to finish things off.
The Aspire Lounge – Before departure, we spent time at the Aspire Lounge Narita, and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. In many ways, it compares favorably to PAL’s own Mabuhay Lounge in Manila. While it’s a contract lounge, the space felt bright, clean, and more spacious than expected, with plenty of seating available during our visit.
The buffet offered a good mix of hot and cold options, and the full bar provided a nice selection of beverages. Service was also attentive, with staff proactively clearing plates and glasses, which helped keep the space tidy and comfortable.
The seats – Although this wasn’t our first time flying these seats (Qantas uses a similar product on their A330s), we were still happy to experience them again. I was seated in 5A on the port side in the last row of business class, while my companion had 4A—one of the “true” window seats where the seat is positioned directly next to the window rather than the aisle.
The IFE setup complements the seat nicely. The screen is large, crisp, and easy to view from multiple angles, and the system itself is straightforward to navigate. While the content selection isn’t the most extensive compared to top-tier carriers, it offers more than enough to stay entertained on a shorter flight.
These Thompson Aero Vantage XL seats continue to be a solid and dependable business class product. The seat itself looks sleek and is nicely finished in PAL’s signature colors, and more importantly, it performs well where it counts. It converts into a fully flat bed with good overall space, making it comfortable for both lounging and sleeping—even for a side sleeper like me. The staggered layout also provides a good sense of privacy, even without a door.
That said, like many seats in this category, the footwell can feel a bit tight in bed mode, and the padding leans slightly firm. Still, for a medium-haul flight like this, those are minor trade-offs.
Tip: if you’re after maximum privacy, go for the even-numbered window seats, as those are positioned closer to the window.
The Warm PAL Service – One area where Philippine Airlines consistently shines is its warm and genuine hospitality. On this flight, the crew were charming, attentive, and eager to help. Pre-departure beverages were offered proactively, and the meal service flowed smoothly with regular drink refills. The crew remained visible throughout the flight, checking in periodically without being intrusive, which added to the overall comfort of the journey.
What I didn’t Like:
Spotty Wi-Fi Internet – Wi-Fi was technically available on this flight and complimentary (100MB) for business class passengers, but in practice it was nearly unusable. I struggled to load basic websites or browse social media, making it more frustrating than helpful. At the very least, a more stable connection would make a noticeable difference for passengers trying to stay connected.
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 appropriate for a short regional flight. The cabin temperature was kept pleasantly cool, which made it easier to relax and rest.
The business class lavatory, while compact, was consistently clean and well maintained, and stocked with basic toiletries throughout the flight—nothing fancy, but perfectly adequate for the journey.
Bottom Line:
This regional flight with Philippine Airlines delivers a surprisingly strong business class experience where it matters most. The comfortable lie-flat seat, excellent catering out of Narita, and genuinely warm service all stand out as highlights. While the Wi-Fi is essentially unusable and the amenities are fairly basic, these are minor drawbacks on a relatively short flight. Overall, it’s a very enjoyable and well-rounded product—especially for a four-hour journey—and a solid choice within the region.
TravelingFoody.com 