Airport Review: Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3

I have mentioned in my previous post the reasons why we have to go to Manila for some business reasons, not purely for leisure (*frown). After our arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 we went directly to baggage claim hall to pick up our stuffs.

Facts about Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 

NAIA Terminal 3 outside view

Terminal 3 is the largest airport in Manila. It stands proud on a 65-hectare property adjacent to the NAIA runway facilities. It is a two-tiered design with its ground floor handling arrivals and the second level facilitating departures. Each level has 600 meters of curbside space, rendering drop offs and pickups efficient.

Terminal 3 can handle 13 million passengers annually. The center of the building contains the head house where passenger processing is centralized. A total of 24 boarding gates accommodate 4,000 peak hour one-way passengers.
Retail shops and food courts line the departure and arrival levels while parking for over 1200 cars is provided in front of the terminal. Source: http://125.60.203.88/miaa/index.php

NAIA 3 Baggage Claim Hall

The spacious hallway

Arrival hall

Boarding gates

There are food stalls along the boarding gates so you can still satiate your tummy when freakin' hunger strikes. However, if you are on a tight travel budget, I would strongly advise you to buy foods outside the airport. Foodstuffs inside the airport are quite expensive and will certainly empty your pocket out. Moreover, foods that can be bought inside the plane are ridiculously much more expensive! I think it's 3x expensive than the suggested retail price.

Boarding  gates

Boarding gates label are noticeably readable so you would know what gate you should go.

Going back to Davao, we were destined at the last gate and it's pretty far. We managed to walk the seemingly endless hallway with our hand carry bags. Being as exhausted as we are in our last trip (Baclaran Church) and hungry like wild animals, we rested our feet as soon as we seated. The departure area is indeed huge and spacious yet, as far as I've known, time will come when this area will shrink and become overcrowded because of numerous passengers (domestic and international) going in and out the country.

NAIA Terminal 3 check-in counters

You can find ample counters for Cebu Pacific carrier. Airphil Express has many counters too (but not as many as Cebu Pacific). We had an early checked-in for Airphil Express that time. We arrived in the airport 2 hours earlier for the advisable checked-in time. Pretty early huh? Yeah, because we were scared getting late. Traffic matters in Manila are quite serious, right? You can read my comparison between the 2 carriers in my previous post.

Done checking-in! On my way to departure's waiting area :) 

It's a wise idea to wear slippers. If I hadn't, I'm pretty sure high heels would be a pain in the ass... I mean feet, haha!

Waiting for parting time? Don't worry, it won't take that long!

NAIA 3's comfort rooms. The color is typically delightful in the eyes. 

Outside view of NAIA 3. 

Overlooking view of Makati's enormous buildings.

What to ride going to/from NAIA 3?

The airport complex is situated close to the main Commercial Business Districts of Manila. Metered cabs, hotel drivers, and chauffeur services are familiar with the various terminals and routes leading up to them.

Passengers using private cars can use the appropriate routes outlined below:

From North Metro Manila
Take EDSA towards Pasay City. Past the Magallanes interchange, take the left lane of EDSA into the Tramo flyover. Head straight after clearing the flyover, and turn left at the end of the road. Continue down the road; take the first exit out of the Rotunda monument and on to the terminal entrance.

From South Metro Manila
Take the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) or Skyway towards Manila, and take the Villamor exit ramp. Continue down the road past Terminal 3 and the Resorts World complex and onto the Rotunda monument. Continue around the rotunda and on to the terminal entrance.

From West Manila
Motorists may turn onto MIA Road at the junction of Coastal Road and Roxas Boulevard. Turn left at the intersection with Park-N-Fly and proceed to take the first exit of the rotunda at the end of the road. Continue down the road; take the first exit out of the Rotunda monument and on to the terminal entrance.

Via Public Transportation

Passengers taking the Metro-Rail Transit line may disembark at the EDSA-Taft station. An airport shuttle terminal is located beside the MRT station.

Those travelling by city bus routes may take a bus plying the EDSA-MIA route. These buses will pass Terminals 1 and 2, while a jeepney route can take you to Terminal 3. Additionally, you can take the airport shuttle service to move on to the different airport terminals. Source: MIA Website