Have you been bitten by the travel bug recently? You’re not alone. Fillipinos are eager to travel out of the country once again in the post-pandemic era, with seven out of 10 Filipinos planning trips abroad at least once in the next 12 months. This is according to the latest SEA Travel Insights 2023 study by GrabAds, the advertising arm of ride-hailing app Grab.
But before you set foot on foreign lands, a major hurdle is getting to the airport. While many other countries conveniently have trains or high-speed railways that take passengers directly to major city spots directly from their airport, sadly, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is currently not yet connected to any mass public transport system.
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While we’re still waiting for the completion of the Metro Manila Subway, which will have a branch line going to NAIA Terminal 3, here’s the lowdown on all the current transportation options getting to and from the Manila airport.
Where exactly is NAIA?
Also known as Manila International Airport (MIA), NAIA is the primary international airport serving the National Capital Region (NCR) and its surrounding provinces.
Servicing both international and domestic flights, NAIA is the major jump-off point for foreign travelers to other popular tourist destinations in the country. It consists of four passenger terminals:
- NAIA Terminal 1: Serves almost all the international flights
- NAIA Terminal 2: Houses domestic flights
- NAIA Terminal 3: Serves international flightsthat are not handled in NAIA Terminal 1 as well as some domestic flights
- NAIA Terminal 4: Services flights from local and regional carriers
Although NAIA is located within the city, between the border of Pasay and Parañaque in Metro Manila, about 7km south of the city and southwest of Makati Central Business District, getting to and from different terminals of the airport can be a hassle for travelers, because of the traffic situation and constant roadworks in surrounding areas.
Ride-hailing services
When traveling to the airport with family members or bringing lots of luggage, it’s convenient to book rides via ride-hailing service apps. There are several ride-hailing apps like Grab and JoyRide that offer private cars and larger six-seaters for larger groups.
You’ll need an Internet connection to download the apps and make bookings. While the airport provides free Wi-Fi, based on experience, it’s not that reliable, so make sure you have enough data before your trip. Foreign tourists arriving in Manila can purchase local SIMs or rent a pocket Wi-Fi unit at the airport to get the apps and make bookings.
GrabCar
Passengers can book a GrabCar to and from the airport through the mobile app. Fares are disclosed upfront and will stay fixed no matter how long the trip takes. However, because of the high demand during peak hours, finding a driver can sometimes take a while. What’s helpful is you can pinpoint the exact drop-off point without having to instruct drivers verbally and make use of cashless payments.
GrabCar pickup locations
- Terminal 1: Arrival curbside
- Terminal 2: Arrival curbside near Bay 6
- Terminal 3: Arrival curbside across Bay 4
GrabTaxi
GrabTaxis are types of taxis you can book on demand. They offer slightly cheaper rides than private GrabCars: Passengers need to pay the metered fare and additional booking fees, which varies per city. When booking via the app, make sure to pin the exact location for Arrival Bays, as sometimes the app detects Departure Bays on a different level of the road instead. The fare can fluctuate depending on the meter used on the trip.
GrabTaxi pickup locations
- Terminal 1: Arrival curbside
- Terminal 2: Arrival curbside Bay 20
- Terminal 3: Departure curbside across Gate 7
- Terminal 4: Departure Curbside
Motorcycle taxi
In case you didn’t know, it’s also possible to book motorcycle taxis like Angkas, JoyRide, and MoveIt to get to and from the airport. This is one of the most direct yet economical options for solo travelers who don’t have much luggage.
Take note that motorcycles are not allowed to enter through main arrival gates, so you will have to pin certain pickup and drop-off points below instead, which involves some extra walking to the main gates.
Motorcycle taxi pickup and drop-off locations
- Terminal 1: Departure
- Terminal 2: Departure Bays 25 to 28
- Terminal 3: Departure curbside (secondary road)
- Terminal 4: Curbside area (outer lane)
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Taxis
There are several taxi services available from NAIA, but each have their own fare systems, and some are known for being much more expensive than others.
In the past, taking taxis could be very confusing, but new signage at the airport now differentiate the types of taxis available. The white Regular Metered Taxis are the most affordable, followed by the Yellow Metered Taxis (which are accredited by the airport), while the Coupon Taxis offer fixed rates depending on the distance of the trip. Aside from the fare, passengers are expected to shoulder the toll fees (in cash) if passing through expressways like Skyway or NAIAX.
All passengers using taxis are given a dispatch slip containing important information and contact details in case of concerns and complaints.
Regular metered taxi
The fares on regular metered taxis vary depending on your destination. Flag-down rates start at P45, with an additional P13.50 for every succeeding kilometer traveled and P2 per minute of travel time. As one of the more affordable options, waiting times for white taxis can take long especially during peak hours.
While not always the case, there have been instances where some drivers ask for an additional fee or tip from passengers, or purposely take roundabout routes to increase the fare. To avoid this, ask your driver upfront to follow a specific map route using GPS or clarify the route beforehand.
Regular metered taxi locations
- Terminal 1: Arrival curbside
- Terminal 2: Arrival curbside near Bay 23
- Terminal 3: Arrival curbside across Bay 13
- Terminal 4: Departure curbside
Yellow metered taxi
The yellow metered taxis have fares that vary depending on your destination within Metro Manila. While they cost more than regular taxis, the vehicles are more reliable and more comfortable than regular white taxis.
Their flagdown rate of P75 covers the first 500 meters traveled, plus P4 for every succeeding 300 meters and P4 for every two minutes of waiting time. However, given the traffic in Metro Manila, this could rack up your fare very quickly.
Yellow metered taxi locations
- Terminal 1: Arrival curbside and Arrival extension
- Terminal 2: Arrival curbside near Bay 14
- Terminal 3: Arrival curbside across Bay 8
- Terminal 4: Arrival curbside
Yellow metered taxis offer 20% discounts for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and students.
Coupon taxi
Coupon taxis charge a fixed government-approved rate depending on the zone of the passenger’s drop-off point. This type of taxi service is more expensive, but there’s usually less waiting time to get one.
Here’s the prescribed fixed rates for different zones in Metro Manila provided by Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Manila International Airport Authority.
- Caloocan: P740 to P990
- Las Piñas: P330 to P610
- Makati: P330 to P440
- Malabon: P740 to P850
- Mandaluyong: P530 to P610
- Manila City: P440 to P670
- Marikina: P670 to P850
- Muntinlupa: P440 to P740
- Navotas: P740 to P850
- Parañaque: P150 to P440
- Pasay: P150 to P440
- Pasig: P530 to P740
- Pateros: P440
- Quezon City: P610 to P940
- San Juan: P610
- Taguig: P330 to P530
- Valenzuela: P790 to P940
While the fare seems expensive at first glance, the flat rate based on distance can work to the advantage of larger groups since passengers can request a larger taxi, which can carry around eight passengers, without any additional charges.
You can zoom in on the infographic below to check how much it would cost to get from the airport to your specific drop-off point.
Those traveling outside Metro Manila can also take coupon taxis. Provincial rates vary, so be sure to check the counters at the airport to assess if it’s the right option for you.
Coupon taxi locations
- Terminal 1: Arrival curbside and Arrival extension
- Terminal 2: Arrival curbside near Bay 11
- Terminal 3: Arrival curbside across Bay 6
- Terminal 4: Arrival curbside
Like the accredited yellow metered taxis, coupon taxis offer 20% discounts for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and students.
Car rental
For those staying longer in Manila or headed to other destinations in the province, hiring or renting a car from the airport is also an option. Booths from car rental companies are stationed near Grab’s booth between Bay 4 and 5. Most of them run 24/7 and have fixed rates based on your drop-off point or specific destination.
You can choose between having a driver or opting to drive a car yourself, with trusted car rental companies at NAIA offering everything from compact cars, sedans, vans, and SUVs. However, first-timers in the country should know that traffic in Manila can get very chaotic and driving here can be very challenging if you’re not familiar with the streets, so it’s not really recommended.
Car rental locations
- Terminal 1: Main Arrival curbside before the hotel lounges
- Terminal 2: Transport Lounge, Arrival area in front of Bay 12
- Terminal 3: In front of Burger King at the Main Arrival Hall
Private airport transfers
Staying in a hotel in Manila? Another way to get to and from the airport is to arrange a private transfer through your hotel. Check if your chosen accommodation offers airport transfer services. Some hotels offer pickup and drop off services for a more comfortable and safe journey for. Some hotels offer this as a complimentary service, while others may charge an additional fee.
You can also book private transfers to and from the airport to popular destinations in the city like Makati, Quezon City, Mall of Asia, and even Tagaytay via booking app Klook.
By bus
Passengers can find different types of buses serving NAIA, namely the premium airport shuttle buses, point-to-point (P2P) buses, and inter-terminal buses.
UBE Express
UBE Express is the premium airport bus service that offers daily trips from NAIA Terminal 3 to Robinsons Santa Rosa, Araneta City Cubao, Robinsons Manila, Ayala Malls South Park, Victory Liner Pasay, and One Ayala Makati, and back to NAIA Terminas 1, 2, 3, and 4.
This bus line also serves the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange–NAIA Loop, taking the PITX-T1-T2-T3-T2-T1-PITX route.
As of September 2023, the regular fare to and from Makati costs about P150 each, while it’s P200 for those going to Cubao and P300 for Santa Rosa.
For full schedules, rates and payment options, you can visit www.ubeexpress.com. Be sure to check the official Facebook page for service advisories, as trips from certain routes can be cancelled.
UBE Express locations
Terminal 2: Arrival curbside Bay 5
Terminal 3: Arrival curbside Bay 12
Terminal 4: Arrival curbside (outer lane)
Genesis P2P bus
Genesis Transport’s premium point-to-point bus service offers daily trips from NAIA Terminal 3 to Clark International Airport and back to NAIA Terminals 1, 2, and 3. Check out its latest schedule and rates on the official Facebook page.
Genesis P2P bus locations
- Terminal 1: Departure curbside
- Terminal 2: Arrival curbside Bay 2 and 3, MIAA Admin Building Gate 2
- Terminal 3: Arrival curbside across Bay 14
Airport Loop bus
The Airport Loop bus service transports passengers to Pasay MRT through Baclaran, as well as those heading to NAIA Terminal 3. Fare costs P40 per passenger.
Airport Loop bus locations
- Terminal 3: Arrival curbside across bay 10
- Terminal 4: Departure curbside
MIAA Shuttle bus (inter-terminal transfer)
The MIAA shuttle bus is a free service exclusively for passengers with connecting flights to other NAIA terminals. Passengers just need to present their plane ticket to hop on the 24/7 inter-terminal service that departs every hour.
MIAA shuttle bus locations
- Terminal 1: Arrival curbside
- Terminal 2: Arrival curbside Bay 19
- Terminal 3 pickup: Terminal Transfer - Arrival Level
- Terminal 3 drop-off: Departure curbside Gate 1
- Terminal 4: Curbside (outer ane)
Jeepney
If you really want to save costs on transport, from any NAIA terminal, you can catch a jeep headed to Baclaran. Traditional and modern jeepneys ply the MIA-Baltao route through T2, T2, T4, Airport Road, and Quirino Avenue. Traditional jeeps have a minimum charge of P12, while modern jeeps usually charge P14 for the minimum fare.
While taking a jeep to get to the main MRT-3 is by far is the cheapest option, it’s not really recommended for passengers and commuters with heavy luggage or those in a rush because of the crowded conditions, inconvenience, and waiting time.
Jeepneys are not allowed inside the airport grounds, so passengers will have also have to walk all the way down to the national road to catch a ride from NAIA. Outside NAIA Terminal 3, the jeepneys serve the Nichols-Baclaran-EDSA-Tramo route. From there, you can catch jeeps to MRT Taft or to PITX.
Jeepney locations
- Terminal 1: Bus stop at ICT Service Road, near T1 Pass Control Office
- Terminal 2: Bus stop near MIAA Admin Building Gate 2
- Terminal 3: Andrews Avenue
- Terminal 4: Domestic Road
There you have it. Hopefully, this guide on the different transport options getting to and from the Manila airport will help you out on your next trip. The question now is where to next?
