Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Flying with Philippine Airlines is easier when you confirm your documents, baggage allowance, check-in deadline, terminal, and connection plan before leaving home. The exact requirements depend on your route, nationality, fare, and operating carrier, so use this guide as a checklist and verify the latest details for your booking.
Quick Answer
Before a Philippine Airlines flight, confirm your passport, visa, ID, baggage allowance, terminal, and check-in deadline. PAL advises international passengers to carry a passport valid for at least six months from departure. Required travelers should complete free eTravel registration within 72 hours. Arrive about three hours early internationally or two hours early domestically.
Key Takeaways
- PAL advises international passengers to have a passport valid for at least six months from the departure date and to secure all required visas and transit documents.
- Arriving Filipino and foreign passengers and departing Filipino passengers generally need eTravel registration within 72 hours of arrival or departure.
- PAL permits one carry-on bag up to 7 kg and 56 × 36 × 23 cm, plus one qualifying personal item.
- Online check-in begins 24 hours before departure but closes before the airport’s final check-in and bag-drop deadlines.
- Check your terminal, operating carrier, flight status, and baggage-transfer arrangements again on travel day.
At a Glance
| Time Required | Allow 15–30 minutes for document and baggage checks at home, then arrive about 3 hours before an international flight or 2 hours before a domestic flight. |
| Difficulty | Easy, but international documents and connecting flights require extra checking. |
| Tools Needed | Passport or physical photo ID, itinerary, phone or computer, eTravel QR code when required, and a baggage scale or measuring tape. |
| Cost | eTravel registration is free. Visa fees, Philippine travel tax, seat selection, and excess baggage charges vary by traveler and booking. |
PAL Travel Requirements
Before you fly, compare the name, date, route, and terminal on your Philippine Airlines booking with your travel documents. PAL’s official Travel Basics page also advises passengers to keep all required documents ready from check-in through arrival.
International Travel Documents
For an international trip, PAL advises passengers to carry a passport valid for at least six months from the departure date. You must also meet the entry and transit rules of every country on your itinerary, including any visa, onward-ticket, permit, vaccination, or health-document requirements.
Check the official immigration or embassy website for your destination and any country where you will change planes. Airline acceptance does not guarantee that immigration authorities will admit you.
Who Must Complete eTravel?
The official Philippine eTravel FAQ currently lists the following travelers as required to register or update a record:
- Arriving Filipino passengers and crew members
- Arriving foreign passengers and crew members
- Departing Filipino passengers
Certain foreign diplomats, dignitaries, 9(e) visa holders, and holders of diplomatic or official service passports are listed as exempt. Register within 72 hours of your arrival in or departure from the Philippines. Save a screenshot or downloaded copy of the QR code before closing the website.
Warning: eTravel registration is free. Use only etravel.gov.ph or the official eGovPH option. Avoid websites that request a registration fee.
Domestic Flight ID
For domestic travel, bring a valid physical ID containing your name and photo. PAL may request it at check-in and again at the boarding gate. The name should match your ticket, and the ID should be current, readable, and undamaged.
Do not rely only on a screenshot, photocopy, or digital credential unless PAL has confirmed that it will be accepted for your specific airport and journey.
Philippine Travel Tax
Some passengers leaving the Philippines are subject to Philippine travel tax, although it may already be included in the ticket. Coverage, reduced rates, and exemptions depend on the traveler’s status. Check your receipt and review the official TIEZA travel-tax guidance before going to the airport.
PAL Baggage and ID Rules
Each Philippine Airlines passenger may bring one carry-on bag weighing no more than 7 kg or 15 lb. Its maximum dimensions are 56 × 36 × 23 cm, or approximately 22 × 14 × 9 inches. The bag must fit in the overhead compartment or beneath the seat.
PAL also permits one qualifying personal item in addition to the main carry-on. Examples may include a small handbag, purse, laptop with its case, overcoat, reading material, or duty-free bag. All cabin items remain subject to available space and safety rules.
Checked Baggage
Checked-baggage allowances vary by route, fare, cabin, ticket, and operating carrier. Review the allowance displayed on your e-ticket or booking before packing. For a codeshare or partner-operated flight, the other airline’s baggage rules may apply to part of the journey.
Note: A carry-on that exceeds PAL’s weight or size limit may need to be checked and may incur a fee. Do not assume that an item accepted on one aircraft will fit on another.
Restricted Items
Check PAL’s current restricted-items guidance before packing batteries, power banks, liquids, tools, sports equipment, medical supplies, or other regulated articles. Rules can differ between carry-on and checked baggage.
Check Your PAL Flight Status
Check your flight before leaving home using PAL’s official Flight Status tool. You can search by flight number or route and departure date. For a codeshare flight, also check the operating carrier shown on your itinerary.
Keep the phone number and email address in your booking current. PAL can use those details to send flight-change notifications. If you booked through a travel agency or third-party website, confirm that PAL has your direct contact details rather than only the agency’s information.
You may also contact the PAL hotline with your flight number, travel date, and booking reference ready. Check again before starting your trip to the airport because schedules, gates, and terminals can change after an earlier review.
Pro Tip: Save your booking reference, flight number, passport or ID details, eTravel QR code, and PAL contact information in one offline folder on your phone. This keeps essential information available if airport internet service is slow.
PAL Check-In and Airport Tips
PAL online check-in generally opens 24 hours before departure. According to PAL’s current Online Check-In FAQ, it closes 1 hour before a domestic flight and 1 hour 15 minutes before an international flight.
Some routes and passengers may not be eligible for online check-in. Special-document checks, unaccompanied-minor services, medical requirements, or other handling needs may require airport-counter check-in.
- Check in online as soon as your eligibility window opens.
- Save or print the boarding pass, but remain prepared to show documents at the airport.
- Arrive about 3 hours before an international flight or 2 hours before a domestic flight.
- Check your current terminal and counter location before entering the airport.
- Complete bag drop, document checks, immigration, and security without waiting for the final deadline.
- Proceed to the boarding gate and follow the time printed on your boarding pass and airport displays.
Warning: The 45-minute domestic deadline is not a recommended airport arrival time. It is a last permissible deadline that may apply to eligible online-checked passengers at the airport or check-in area. PAL recommends arriving about two hours before a domestic flight.
Online check-in saves time, but it does not remove document checks, baggage drop, security screening, immigration, or the requirement to reach the boarding gate on time.
Arrival and Transfer Guide
After an international arrival, follow airport signs for immigration, baggage claim, and customs. Keep your passport, arrival documents, baggage tags, and onward boarding pass available. Domestic arrivals can usually proceed directly to baggage claim unless airport staff provide different instructions.
Missing or Damaged Baggage
If a checked bag is missing or damaged, report it immediately at PAL’s Baggage Assistance Counter in the arrival area before leaving the airport. Keep your boarding pass, baggage-claim tag, report number, and photographs of any damage. PAL provides additional instructions through its Baggage Assistance and Tracking page.
Connecting on One Ticket
Tell the check-in agent at your origin that you have a connecting flight. Ask whether your boarding passes can be issued together and whether your checked baggage will travel to the final destination or must be collected during the connection.
For an international-to-domestic connection in Manila, the process may include:
- Complete immigration formalities.
- Collect checked baggage when instructed.
- Clear customs.
- Take the baggage to the transfer or baggage-drop desk.
- Move to the correct departure terminal or wing.
- Complete security screening and proceed to the onward gate.
Use PAL’s official NAIA Transfer Guide and ask a transfer-desk agent for help when changing terminals or when you do not yet have an onward boarding pass.
Connecting on Separate Tickets
Separate tickets usually create more risk because you may need to collect your luggage, enter the public arrivals area, change terminals, check in again, and pass through security or immigration. The second airline may treat you as a no-show if the first flight is delayed.
Allow a longer connection and confirm each airline’s check-in deadline. Travel insurance or a flexible onward fare may be useful when the tickets are not protected as one itinerary.
Note: Terminal assignments and transfer procedures can change. Follow the terminal shown in your current booking, airport displays, official advisories, and staff instructions if they differ from an older map or guide.
Special Assistance and Airport Check-In
Passengers who need wheelchair support, mobility assistance, medical handling, oxygen, a stretcher, or another special service should contact PAL as early as possible. PAL asks travelers to submit many assistance requests when booking or at least 48 hours before departure through its Special Needs and Request page.
Bring any required medical forms, prescriptions, permits, or device information. Even with advance approval, allow extra airport time for document review and equipment handling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs to fill out eTravel Philippines?
Arriving Filipino and foreign passengers and departing Filipino passengers generally need to register or update their eTravel record. The official FAQ lists exemptions for certain diplomats, dignitaries, 9(e) visa holders, and holders of diplomatic or official service passports.
When should I complete eTravel, and does it cost anything?
Complete eTravel within 72 hours before your arrival in or departure from the Philippines. Registration is free. Use only the official eTravel website or the official eGovPH option, and save the resulting QR code.
What is the Philippine Airlines 45-minute rule?
For an eligible passenger who has checked in online for a domestic flight, PAL’s terms state that the passenger must be at the airport or check-in area no later than 45 minutes before departure. This is a last deadline, not the recommended arrival time. PAL advises domestic passengers to arrive about two hours early.
Do all travelers departing the Philippines need eTravel?
No. The current official FAQ specifically lists departing Filipino passengers, along with arriving Filipino and foreign passengers. A foreign visitor who is only departing is not included in that general list, although rules should still be checked before travel.
What documents are needed for Philippine Airlines travel?
International travelers generally need a valid passport, any required visas or transit permits, their ticket or itinerary, and eTravel registration when applicable. Domestic passengers should carry a valid physical photo ID that matches the booking name.
When does PAL online check-in open and close?
Online check-in generally opens 24 hours before departure. PAL currently states that it closes 1 hour before a domestic flight and 1 hour 15 minutes before an international flight. Some passengers and routes are not eligible.
Will PAL check my baggage through to my final destination?
It depends on the ticket, route, operating airlines, customs rules, and baggage agreements. Ask the origin check-in agent where your bag is tagged and whether you must collect and redeposit it during the connection. International-to-domestic transfers commonly require baggage collection and customs clearance.
Conclusion
A smooth Philippine Airlines trip starts with a final review of your passport or ID, visa and eTravel requirements, baggage allowance, check-in window, terminal, and flight status. Arrive well before the last deadline, keep your documents easy to reach, and ask the check-in agent how your baggage will be handled if you have a connection. Recheck official guidance shortly before departure because entry rules and airport procedures can change.
Sources
- Philippine Airlines Travel Basics — travel documents, physical ID, baggage, arrival times, flight notifications, and connections
- Philippine Airlines Carry-on Baggage — cabin-bag weight and size limits
- Philippine Airlines Online Check-In FAQ — opening and closing windows
- Official Philippine eTravel FAQ — eligibility, registration timing, cost, exemptions, and QR codes
- Philippine Airlines Flight Status — current departure and arrival information
- Philippine Airlines NAIA Transfer Guide — terminal-transfer, immigration, customs, baggage, and security steps
