Getting to the Philippines from the UK requires one change of plane (hopefully someday Philippine Airlines will bring back the non-stop!). Many carriers fly from London, Manchester, and Birmingham to Manila and Cebu via hubs elsewhere in Europe or Asia. International flights typically land late in the afternoon or evening. With few exceptions, flying onward within the Philippines will require staying the first night in Manila or Cebu.
While the choice of carrier is yours and should factor in connection times and price, we like Thai Airways and Malaysia Airlines for their earlier arrivals in Manila and Singapore Airlines for their evening departure from London. Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, Oman, Turkish, Cathay Pacific, and Virgin Atlantic and British Airways with the help of partner airlines, all fly to Manila with only one stop. To Cebu, we recommend Singapore, Asiana, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific, each of which require one change of plane along the way.
Return flights between London and Manila or Cebu can often be found for £800 or less, although prices do rise significantly during the peak holiday seasons. At times we see fares drop to £600 although that’s often during rainier times of year. For flights to the islands that do not require an overnight stay in Manila, return fares can be closer to £1200.
