Philippine Airlines offers cheaper and faster COVID-19 testing in Manila

MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is offering passengers cheaper and faster COVID-19 testing, helping cut a crucial pain point experienced by flyers traveling during the pandemic.

PAL said customers departing from the Philippines will be allowed to use its own RT-PCR testing center in Manila.

From Dec. 1, PAL ticket holders will get a P500 discount from the regular testing rate of P4,500. Test results will also be released within 12 to 24 hours.

PAL’s COVID-19 RT-PCR testing site is located at the Philippine Airlines Learning Center in Ermita, Manila. Detoxicare Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory is its Department of Health-accredited partner.

The testing facility is open Monday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with no noon break. Ticket holders can choose between a walk-in or drive-thru test.

This is among the steps the flag carrier is taking to make travel more convenient for its passengers.

To date, PAL has restored less than 20 percent of its network. This was mainly due to government restrictions but also because many passengers have delayed their travel plans given the added burden of testing.

According to PAL, the testing center accepts cash, credit or debit card, GCash, PayPal, WeChat pay and AliPay.

PAL passengers must present their ID, PAL ticket, and QR code indicating completed registration on the PAL Passenger Profile and Health Declaration form. PAL passengers may access the form at https://bit.ly/PALIntPPHD.

/MUF