Philippine Airlines brings new business class, A321neo to Brisbane
By Chris C., July 3 2018
Passengers jetting between Brisbane and Manila with Philippine Airlines will now find fully-flat beds in business class, with the route now served by the airline's new Airbus A321neo aircraft.
The single-aisle cabin sports a 2-2 layout at the pointy end, housing just 12 business class passengers across three cosy rows.
During the daytime flight from Brisbane, there's plenty of space to work and relax, with power ports available to keep your devices recharged...
... and inflight entertainment at every seat:
But, on the eight-hour overnight trek from the Philippine capital, transforming the seat into bed mode will be the likely priority, with a large pillow provided, as well as a blanket (not pictured):
The A321neo replaces the Airbus A340 on the airline's Brisbane flights, with Philippine Airlines running four non-stop flights between Brisbane and Manila every week.
On Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, flight PR222 departs Brisbane at 11am to reach Manila at 4:50pm, with inflight Internet now available too, which many business travellers will appreciate.
AusBT review: Philippine Airlines' myPAL WiFi service
Out of Manila, flight PR221 pushes back at 11:30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, touching down in Brisbane at 9:20am the following morning.
Brisbane is Philippine Airlines' first global destination for the next-gen jet, with Brisbane-Manila also the longest commercial route served by any Airbus A321neo aircraft worldwide.
More photos: Philippine Airlines reveals new Airbus A321Neo, A350 business class
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Mar 2013
Total posts 26
Looking forward to trying out this new product in early September.
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 371
One will have to climb over. Row 2 would be my choice, as it's removed from the lighting either at front, or the toilet, and not subject to as much noise from the economy cabin, or again, light streaking in.
30 Jul 2015
Total posts 104
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Mar 2013
Total posts 26
Hi Eli,
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2424
JJM: I was able to access the aircraft at Brisbane Airport this morning during its rather tight turnaround window, so beyond grabbing a few quick photos and stepping off before passengers boarded their flight to Manila, I can’t offer recommendations on seating without flying the product first. However, window seat passengers do indeed need to step over their seatmate when the aisle-side seat is in bed mode.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Mar 2013
Total posts 26
Thanks Chris, much appreciated.
21 Apr 2017
Total posts 51
Congratulations to PAL for pioneering the A321neo on a medium-long haul route such as this. If only QF would get more adventurous and open up new Aus to SE Asia city pairs now that the technology is available.
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 371
Bernoulli, would QF passengers be resistant to single aisle planes (albeit with lie flat beds on a limited number of seats in J) on SE Asian city pairs with Oz, or would they regard it as a great improvement on what have been B738s flying PER - SIN, MEL and SYD to DPS and so on?
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1225
Long range single-aisle is not new with 757s having participated in this space for 30 years though admittedly the 757 never really had a presence in Australia.
21 Apr 2017
Total posts 51
Personally and not being Sydney based I would regard it as a significant improvement if QF could simply offer a decent Asian route network period irrespective of configuration. But I appreciate the small O&D market, end of the network arguments that are inevitably raised in QF's defence. In the meantime I'll continue to connect via HKG or Singapore.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Mar 2013
Total posts 26
Thanks Traveller 14 - much appreciated.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jul 2015
Total posts 219
Nice. I have been on the A321T run by AA between JFK and LAX. Very comfortable. Would be nice if QF could introduce this here
American Airlines - AAdvantage
15 Feb 2013
Total posts 44
No mention in the article that Sydney will also get the 321 on certain days of the week shortly too.
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 371
It seems to be five days a week, starting in a few weeks' time with weekend flights the exception, and also in Dec/Jan when the larger A333s will again be used. Yet Melbourne continues to get the larger aircraft and is becoming daily by very late in October when the northern winter timetable commences. That'll mean more capacity to Melbourne than to Sydney.
American Airlines - AAdvantage
15 Feb 2013
Total posts 44
I'd guess Melbourne may be a little out of the range of the 321.
11 May 2016
Total posts 12
I won't recommend any connection in MNL by PAL before a great renovation for MNL T2, as that terminal is entirely outdated, and the PAL lounge is totally a nightmare.
You can never imagine the main lounge of a giant airline with only 1 shower room embedded and with no hot water!
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 371
While from what little can be gleaned from the media there may have been some backtracking, supposedly on 31 Ausgust 2018 Philippine Airlines' international flights are moving to T1, while domestic stays at T2 and Cebu Pacific domestic also moves to latter.
American Airlines - AAdvantage
15 Feb 2013
Total posts 44
These seats look identical to United's 787-9s.
09 Mar 2017
Total posts 7
This config now is regular ex SYD. October last year I flew PR ex SYD in J class and count myself fortunate as the aircraft was revamped A330 with a much superior product to this offering. Wider seats 1,2,1 config. I'm guessing PR was loosing money on the route and has downgraded capacity and product offering.
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 371
The A321neo runs nights ex MNL except for Fri and Sat, and ex SYD daytime Sat ans Sun when it's still a refurbished A333. From 1 Dec to 31 Jan, it should be the larger A333 or new A359 every day. If I recall, the A359 may be replacing the A321neo even on offpeak days soon.
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