Going the extra (Mabuhay) Miles
MANILA, Philippines - A recent study commissioned by MasterCard Worldwide found that in the past 12 months, Filipinos are traveling more than ever before. There was an increase in domestic leisure travel, from 46 to 61 percent, among 45-64 years old. “They also travel domestically for business most frequently (27 percent).”
The study also found that “national carriers are the preferred choice of airlines, especially among females, over budget carriers and international carriers.”
The generation gap reveals itself when it comes to online booking and travel guides as these are most done by respondents between 18 and 44 years old, and that a quarter of those, 25 to 29 years, “also make use of social media to look for deals.”
Respondents also revealed that they intend to travel more in the next 12 months.
To where? Not surprisingly, to Singapore and Hong Kong for international, and to Cebu for domestic.
Maybe it’s time to go farther — or nearer.
Enter Philippine Airlines (PAL) and its frequent flier program Mabuhay Miles. Now in its 10th year, Mabuhay Miles partnered with MasterCard to give travelers the chance to win free miles for their dream destinations — to everywhere PAL flies: 31 international and 29 domestic destinations, and also routes of AirPhil Express.
“We always like to give our cardholders priceless experiences and travel is one of those things that’s on everybody’s list,” says Poch Villa-Real, MasterCard Philippines country head.
When you buy your Philippine Airlines or AirPhil Express ticket using your MasterCard between Nov. 15 and Dec. 4, at any PAL or AirphilExpress ticketing office, accredited travel agency or the airlines’ websites, you are qualified to join the promotion.
Every P500 or US$12 will earn you one electronic raffle entry. For instance your international ticket costs P10,000, you get 20 raffle entries.
But this is not automatic. You have to register on Mabuhay Miles’ official Facebook page. “Like” the page and click on the “Dream Destinations” panel to register. Have your Mabuhay Miles card number ready, and the app will direct you to submit your application. Input your ticket number, the amount of your ticket (in either peso or dollar), and select your issuing bank. Participating banks are Allied/PNB, BDO, BPI, Citibank, East West, HSBC, Metrobank, RCBC, Secutiy Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, PS Bank and May Bank.
Now this is the fun part: You get to choose your dream destination from PAL and Airphil Express’ routes, whether it’s to San Francisco, Tokyo, Vancouver, Seoul, Caticlan or Busuanga.
Once you choose your destination on the form you submit, you cannot change it anymore. You can, of course, choose another destination when you purchase another ticket and register it again on the Facebook page.
“It’s because the destination essentially represents the number of Mabuhay Miles you are winning to fly there for free under the mileage program,” explains Ria Domingo, PAL AVP for product loyalty and marketing.
If you put Las Vegas as your dream destination and you win in the promo Mabuhay Miles will give you the equivalent miles, which is 70,000 for the Standard Fiesta Class; if you put Hong Kong, you win 15,000 miles; if you chose Cebu, you get 8,000 miles.
In choosing your dream destination, you do have to consider also that, just like when you’re redeeming an award flight from Mabuhay Miles, the traveler shoulders the taxes and in this case the heftiest is the “insurance surcharge,” according to Mabuhay Miles’ redemption chart.
So, yes, you do have to choose your dream destinations judiciously. Good news is the miles don’t expire for three years, so you have a lot of time to decide when to travel.
From Nov. 15 to Dec. 4, 10 MasterCard cardholders will be drawn daily for a total of 200 winners throughout the promotion.
If you’re planning to travel, this is a great time to book — and dream of your next destination.
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Log on to www.philippineairlines.com and www.airphilexpress.com and “like” the Mabuhay Miles Facebook page to register your purchased tickets. Promo runs only until Dec. 4.
