Exciting news for travelers flying with Philippine Airlines (PAL) – the PAL Mabuhay Lounge has just opened its doors! This exclusive lounge offers a haven for PAL passengers to relax and unwind before their flights. This new lounge was unveiled last Dec 2023 following Philippine Airline’s transfer of international operations (departure and arrival) from NAIA terminal 2 to NAIA Terminal 1. This lounge offers Philippine Airline’s passengers a space for relaxation prior to their flight departure.
If you will ask what happened to the old Mabuhay Lounge in Terminal II – International Wing, this is now enjoyed by Business Class Domestic Passengers. On the other hand, Mabuhay Lounge Terminal II – Domesic Wing is now open for Premium Economy passengers of PAL.
Business Class Lounge
The Mabuhay Lounge is designed to provide a comfortable and luxurious experience for PAL travelers. With its elegant interiors and modern amenities, it offers a perfect space to escape the hustle and bustle of the airport. Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, the lounge provides a serene environment where you can recharge and prepare for your journey ahead.
Mabuhay Lounge is a distinct and sough-after privilege of passengers holding Business Class tickets. The new lounge is quite huge, I think its almost 3x or 4x bigger than the old International Mabuhay Lounge. The vibe and interiors of the new lounge is impressive! It should be! because this lounge, according to PAL, was designed by Atelier Almario. For sure, PAL International passengers would love to try the new lounge at Terminal 1. By the way, this is not a paid lounge — below are the passengers eligible to access Philippine Airlines lounge – Business Class passengers, Mabhay Miles Million Miler (can bring two guests), Mabuhay Miles Premier Elite (plus two guests) and Mabuhay Miles Elite travelers.
Upon entering the Mabuhay Lounge, you’ll be greeted by friendly staff who are dedicated to ensuring your comfort. The lounge features comfortable seating areas, where you can relax and enjoy complimentary refreshments. Indulge in a selection of delicious snacks and beverages, or satisfy your cravings with a variety of delectable dishes from the buffet.
Lounge is huge! Probably around 200+ passengers can be accommodated here. There is a dining area, bar, shower room and comfortable sleeping area as well. There is also one area specific for Mabuhay Miles Million Milers (I’m just not sure though if they really check if passengers sitting on that area are indeed million milers).
Unlimited Food
Let’s talk about the food offered in the new Terminal 1 PAL Mabuhay Lounge. First of, of course, is the signature PAL Arroz Caldo. This is a must-eat. For those who haven’t tried this, this is PAL’s version of “lugaw” plus plus. Yummy, I don’t’ know why “basta masarap”. This signature arroz caldo is also offered in-flight on long-haul flights United States, Canada. You also get to have this arroz caldo on Mabuhay Lounge Domestic Terminal 2 lounge for both Business Class and Premium Economy passengers.
Apart from the famous arroz caldo, there are other food selection available for passengers. Light snack like sandwiches, Chinese dimsum and desserts (try the Filipino leche flan, super yummy!). There is also salad, rice, noodles etc. Get perked up by coffee, tea or juice.. this is unlimited too! You can also order wine, beer, etc. from the bar. You will definitely be “full” after trying the food served in the lounge. Worth it right?
From the lounge, there is a great view of outside NAIA Terminal 1. The side wall of lounge is glass which give you the nice view of parked aircrafts. View is definitely IG worthy! Kids also love to “tambay” here because they see a lot of “action” and they get to count airplanes from this side.
Relax, Refresh and Recharge
After dining, it’s time to relax. You can transfer to the “more relaxing” area. Seats are more comfy so you can really sleep here and wait for your boarding call. The lights are also dimmed in this area. Most of the passengers seated here are actually sleeping. By the way, side tables in all areas have charging ports so you can grab your laptop or IPAD or phones and change here while waiting for your flights.
For those who need to catch up on work or stay connected, the Mabuhay Lounge offers free Wi-Fi and charging stations. Stay productive in a quiet and conducive environment, or simply take a moment to browse the internet or catch up on your favorite shows.
There is shower room also in the new lounge. I think this is perfect for business travelers to freshen up before or after a long flight! I remember a number of my consultants used to ask me if there are shower rooms available in the business class lounge since there are traveling straight from work to the airport. Go and get to freshen up really at the lounge!
Okay, so after the “unli” food and the relaxing and comfortable stay at the Mabuhay Miles lounge – now it’s time to go to the boarding gate. There is a big monitor within the lounge that has the status of flights. If it’s time for your flight, lounge attendants will make just one call for boarding – you better be attentive so you won’t miss the flight!
There is dedicated boarding queue for business class passengers. Not much business class passengers so the line should be relatively short as compared to economy passengers. You can board at your own convenience. In our case, flight is utilizing Boeing 773 aircraft so there are only 42 passengers expected to board the flight. Boarding is a breeze plus you get to seat at the front business class cabin of the aircraft.
Experience the comfort and luxury of the Mabuhay Lounge, where PAL travelers can relax, recharge, and prepare for their flights in style.