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Deal alert: Fly from the US to the Philippines from $754 round trip

June 07, 2022
5 min read
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The Philippines reopened its borders to tourists and eliminated the quarantine mandate for vaccinated travelers. Why not scratch that itch and book yourself a trip to this popular Southeast Asia destination?

This latest deal is for flights to the Philippines' capital city Manila and Cebu from U.S. departure cities Los Angeles, Miami, Newark and New York City. We came across some strong discounts even in this current age of sky-high airfares, and even a few downright blockbuster savings.

The best availability for travel is between September and March 2023. This fare sale involves Economy tickets, so you'll often have to pay for checked luggage. It's helpful to know airlines' baggage policies before booking.

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Big thanks to Scott’s Cheap Flights for first spotting this deal. Its Premium membership is available for $49 per year. The Elite tier option is available for $199 per year, and it offers access to deals on premium economy, business- and first-class tickets. The more flexible you can be with your travel plans, the better price you'll find.

Deal basics

Airlines: Delta, Philippine Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Air, United.
Routes: Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York City to Cebu City and Manila.
How to book: Search Google Flights and book directly through the airline.
Travel dates: Best availability from September through March 2023.

Hidden beach in Matinloc Island, El Nido, Palawan, Philippines. (Photo by Simon Dannhauer/Getty Images)

Sample flights

Let's start with a sweet fare from Los Angeles (LAX) to Manila (MNL) in February – only $781 for a round-trip ticket on Singapore Air. Aside from the major reduction in price for this itinerary, we also liked that the layovers weren't very long. A few of the best prices we found in this deal come with lengthy layovers. This one doesn't.

(Screenshot from Google Flights)

We also found some nice deals from L.A. to Manila in November, like this Philippine Airlines ticket for $948. While it's almost $200 more than the fare we showed you above, this one is nonstop on a Boeing 777. So if flying direct is worth a few extra bucks -- and this is still a big markdown from typical prices -- then this one may appeal to you.

(Screenshot from Google Flights)

There is quite a lot of availability on sale tickets from Los Angeles to Cebu City (CEB) in the fall. Here's a nice round-trip ticket on Philippine Airlines for just $948 in September. We found similar prices in October and November, but a lot of those itineraries had two and even three stops.

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(Screenshot from Google Flights)

Newark (EWR) to Cebu is available on United for $1,122 round trip. The downside if you're flying from Newark to the Cebu province is you're almost assured of having to make two stops each way if you want to take advantage of the sale prices. One silver lining? United's ticket comes with a free carry-on and your first checked bag is free.

(Screenshot from Google Flights)

A similar choice awaits you if you prefer flying out of Kennedy Airport (JFK) in New York City. You can find some great deals on Singapore Air to Manila -- including a few in February for less than $800 round trip -- but expect to have two layovers.

(Screenshot from Google Flights)
(Screenshot from Google Flights)

One last one -- we found a nice price on a Miami (MIA) to Manila flight on Turkish Airlines in early November. Your first checked bag with this fare is free, adding to the savings.

(Screenshot from Google Flights)

Maximize your purchase

Pay with: The Platinum Card® from American Express for 5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), the Citi Prestige® Card for 5 points per dollar on airfare, the Citi Premier® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve for 3 points per dollar on air travel, the American Express® Gold Card for 3 points per dollar on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel, or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for 2 points per dollar on travel.

The information for the Citi Prestige Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Featured image by Getty Images/iStockphoto
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
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  • Intro Offer
    Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

    Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles
    50,000 Bonus Miles
  • Annual Fee

    $250
  • Recommended Credit
    Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

    670-850
    Excellent/Good

Why We Chose It

Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.

Pros

  • Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
  • Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
  • First checked bag free

Cons

  • Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
  • SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
  • Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees