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I used to prefer Philippine Airlines over other carriers because I associated PAL with convenience and comfort. But my experience today, October 20, was quite disappointing.
On my morning economy flight to Cebu (PR 1851, seat 63D, 6:30 AM), I was assigned an aisle seat, as requested. But the legroom was so cramped that my knees, already suffering from osteoarthritis, were pressing against the seat in front of me. I found myself praying that the passenger ahead would not recline his seat. My only relief was to stretch one leg into the aisle, where passing passengers and flight attendants kept bumping into it.
I requested a seat with more legroom for my return flight, even if it meant paying extra. Unfortunately, the flight was full. So I had to settle for my originally reserved aisle seat (PR 2862, 8:05 PM, seat 48H). It was no different from 63D—practically no legroom for someone almost six feet tall like me.
I had always presumed that seats near emergency exits offered a little more space. But as I was leaving the aircraft, I was shocked to see what appeared to be an additional row of seats positioned right beside the emergency exit doors, in an area I had presumed should be kept clear for evacuation. The seats were all occupied. I took this photograph because I wondered: Are these seats really compliant with aviation safety regulations requiring unobstructed access to emergency exits? I hope PAL and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines can clarify this.
I understand that airlines must operate profitably. But must profitability come at the expense of passengers’ comfort, especially elderly passengers, people with disabilities, or those with physical conditions that make cramped seating painful? Even a little extra legroom has now become something passengers must pay a premium for.
As I was leaving, a flight attendant cheerfully repeated PAL’s familiar slogan: “Thank you for flying Philippine Airlines, the Heart of the Filipino.”
I could not help wondering: Has the “Heart of the Filipino” become a little less compassionate toward the Filipino passenger?
How disheartening.
