Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila handles 45.4 million passengers annually across four terminals separated by distances requiring ground transport between them. Terminal 1 serves international flights excluding Philippine Airlines. Terminal 2 operates all Philippine Airlines domestic and international flights. Terminal 3 handles Cebu Pacific, other international carriers, and selected low-cost airlines. Terminal 4 processes AirAsia and domestic charters. No airside connections exist between terminals. Transfer passengers must exit immigration, collect luggage, travel by shuttle bus or taxi between terminals, then re-check bags and clear security again. The airport authority operates free shuttles between terminals departing every 20 to 30 minutes, with service slowing after 22:00. A taxi between terminals costs 150 to 300 Philippine pesos depending on terminal combination and traffic. Many connecting passengers miss flights because they underestimate this 45 to 90 minute terminal transfer requirement.
Immigration queues at Terminal 3 during evening arrival waves between 18:00 and 23:00 regularly extend 60 to 90 minutes. The Bureau of Immigration operates separate counters for Filipino nationals, ASEAN passport holders, and other foreign nationals. Foreign nationals with return tickets and hotel confirmations typically clear in 45 to 75 minutes during peak hours, 15 to 25 minutes during morning arrivals before 10:00. Officers request proof of onward travel and accommodation addresses. Passengers without printed return flight confirmations face secondary inspection adding 20 to 40 minutes. The airport prints boarding passes at airline counters in the public area before immigration for passengers who need proof of departure. Immigration officers routinely ask arrival purpose, duration of stay, and specific hotel name. Vague answers trigger additional questioning. Carry hotel name and address in easily accessible format.
Baggage claim at Terminal 3 delivers first bags 25 to 35 minutes after wide-body aircraft park, with final bags appearing 50 to 70 minutes post-arrival. Belt assignment displays change without announcement. Passengers tracking bags on wrong belt lose 15 to 30 additional minutes. Porters wearing official yellow vests operate inside baggage claim and expect 50 to 100 pesos per cart regardless of bag quantity. They position themselves at belt exits. Declining service requires clear verbal refusal. The airport prohibits carts beyond customs exit. Baggage trolleys available in arrival hall cost 100 pesos deposit refunded at return stations that often malfunction, resulting in deposit loss.
Customs operates green nothing-to-declare and red declaration channels. Officers selectively inspect green channel bags, particularly examining luggage for commercial quantities of goods, undeclared currency above 50,000 pesos or 10,000 USD equivalents, and restricted agricultural products. Dried fish, meat products, and certain fruits face confiscation. Passengers carrying laptops, tablets, cameras, and phones in quantities suggesting commercial import face questioning about equipment purpose. One of each device type passes without issue. Multiple identical phones or laptops trigger scrutiny. Customs declaration forms distributed on aircraft require declaration of items exceeding duty-free allowances of 2 liters alcohol, 400 cigarettes, and goods valued under 10,000 pesos. Officers confiscate undeclared tobacco above limits with immediate fines starting at 5,000 pesos. Prescription medications in original packaging with doctor's letter avoid problems. Loose pills in unlabeled containers create delays.
The arrival hall exit at Terminal 3 opens to transport touts, taxi drivers offering rides, and hotel representatives holding name signs. Official yellow airport taxis queue at designated stands 30 meters left from exit doors. Coupon taxis operate from booths inside the terminal before exit. Passengers purchase fixed-price coupons showing destination and pay drivers only the coupon. Coupon prices to Makati business district cost 450 to 550 pesos depending on booth. Metered yellow taxis for the same route cost 300 to 500 pesos depending on traffic but carry risk of broken meters or drivers refusing meter use. Peak traffic between 07:00 to 10:00 and 16:30 to 21:00 extends Makati travel time from airport to 90 to 150 minutes. Off-peak overnight and early morning trips complete in 35 to 50 minutes. The airport elevated expressway Skyway operates 24 hours with 120 to 200 peso toll paid by driver and added to fare.
Grab ride-hailing app functions at all terminals with designated pickup zones. Terminal 3 Grab pickup operates from Bay 14 on the arrivals level, marked with blue signage. Passengers book rides through the app, receive fare estimates between 350 to 800 pesos to Makati depending on surge pricing, then walk to the bay matching their app instructions. Drivers contact passengers by phone to confirm vehicle color and plate number. Surge multipliers between 1.5x and 2.3x apply during evening arrival waves and morning departures. The app shows current multiplier before booking confirmation. Grab typically costs 15 to 25 percent more than metered taxis during non-surge periods but eliminates meter disputes. Drivers expect no additional tip beyond app fare. Cash or card payment processes through app.
SIM cards sell at booths immediately after customs exit before reaching the main arrival hall. Globe and Smart operate competing booths offering tourist packages with 7-day validity, 8 to 25 gigabytes data, and unlimited domestic calls for 299 to 599 pesos. Registration requires passport presentation and photograph. The vendor activates SIM cards before handing them to customers. Network coverage inside Metro Manila performs adequately on both carriers. Globe shows stronger signal in Makati, Bonifacio Global City, and Quezon City. Smart demonstrates better performance in Manila proper and Pasay. Provincial coverage varies significantly by island. Purchase requires unlocked phone. Vendors test SIM function before completing sale. Airport SIM prices match city convenience store pricing so no advantage exists to delaying purchase.
Currency exchange booths in arrival halls offer rates 3 to 7 percent below interbank rates. The Philippine peso trades approximately 56 to 58 pesos per USD as of 2024 published rates. Airport booths offer 52 to 54 pesos per USD. ATMs in arrival halls dispense pesos at rates 1 to 2 percent below interbank with foreign transaction fees determined by card issuer. BDO and BPI ATMs charge 250 peso withdrawal fees for foreign cards. Maximum single withdrawal ranges from 10,000 to 20,000 pesos depending on ATM. Cards issued by institutions with reciprocal agreements face no fees. Verify cardholder agreement before travel. ATMs outside airport in Makati and Bonifacio Global City offer identical rates and fees so no urgent need exists for large airport withdrawals. Exchange 2,000 to 5,000 pesos for immediate transport and first meal needs.
Hotels in Makati, Pasay near Mall of Asia, and Ermita near Manila Bay position closest to airport with 25 to 45 minute travel times during off-peak hours. Makati hotels cater to business travelers with rack rates from 3,500 to 18,000 pesos nightly. Pasay hotels near entertainment complexes charge 2,200 to 8,500 pesos. Ermita budget accommodations start at 800 pesos for basic rooms without breakfast. Late night arrivals after 23:00 benefit from Pasay or Ermita proximity since traffic clears and travel time drops to 15 to 25 minutes. Morning departures before 06:00 from Makati face light traffic allowing 35 to 50 minute airport runs. Afternoon departures between 14:00 and 18:00 require 90 to 140 minute buffer due to traffic density on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, the primary ring road connecting districts.