16 Brutal Hours: Testing Philippine Airlines’ New A350-1000 Flagship

• Airline: Philippine Airlines
• Class: Premium Economy & Business & Economy
• Route: Manila (MNL) to New York (JFK)
• Aircraft: Airbus A350-1000

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has a new queen of the skies: the Airbus A350-1000. To give it a proper trial, I put all three cabins to the test, moving from Business Class to Premium Economy on short domestic hops, before tackling a grueling 16-hour economy flight from Manila to New York (JFK).

Is the new business suite a game-changer? And more importantly, is the controversial 10-abreast economy configuration as “brutal” as everyone feared? Here is the breakdown.

The new business cabin features 42 suites in a 1-2-1 reversed herringbone configuration.

• The Highlight: The addition of a privacy door. While it’s a massive upgrade from their older A350-900s, the door itself is relatively low. You’ll still see people walking by, and they can certainly see you.
• The Service: On a 60-minute promotional flight to Cebu, the crew was under immense pressure to serve a full cabin. Despite the chaos, the Filipino hospitality shone through—they are truly “hospitality champions”

On the return leg to Manila, I tried the Premium Economy (Comfort Class). With 24 seats in a 2-4-2 layout, it remains one of the best products in its class. It’s spacious, has a great recline, and features a huge screen. If you’re flying long-haul and can’t swing Business Class, this is the seat to get.

The aviation world was skeptical when PAL announced a 3-4-3 (10-abreast) configuration in Economy, which is tighter than the standard 9-abreast on most A350s.

The Reality:

Contrary to the “nightmare” predictions, the experience was surprisingly pleasant.

• The Seat: While the aisles are narrower, the legroom is decent, and the seat padding is excellent. The massive 4K screen is a huge plus for a 16-hour journey.
• Amenities: Every passenger receives a blanket, pillow, headphones, and even an amenity kit with a toothbrush, eye shades, and socks
• Connectivity: PAL deserves huge credit for offering complimentary Wi-Fi to all passengers..
• The “Middle Seat Luck”: I managed to score an empty middle seat, which certainly helped, but even without it, the cabin felt modern and comfortable..

The Lowlights

• Manila Infrastructure: Terminal 1 remains an absolute nightmare. Between the traffic getting to the airport and the outdated facilities, the ground experience is the weakest link for PAL.
• Safety Video: The new safety video is more of a marketing exercise than a safety briefing. It barely highlights actual safety procedures clearly, which could be confusing for first-time flyers.
• Cabin Maintenance: 10 hours into the JFK flight, the lavatories were in a “terrible state”. The crew needs to be more proactive in maintaining them on these ultra-long-haul routes.

The A350-1000 is a fantastic flagship and easily PAL’s best product. The crew remains their greatest asset – kind, professional, and genuinely hospitable.

Recommendation: 100% yes, but check your aircraft. While the A350-1000 is world-class, much of PAL’s regional fleet (like the A330s) is still very old. If you can book the new flagship, you’re in for a great ride.

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This is it guys, wherever you’re off to, have a safe trip!