I Ranked the 12 Best Airlines Flying to the Philippines in 2026

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I’ve taken over 20 flights to the Philippines over the past eight years, testing everything from $400 economy deals to lie-flat business class suites. After comparing routes, prices, and cabin products across every major carrier serving the US-Manila corridor, I’ve narrowed it down to the 12 best airlines for flying to the Philippines in 2026.

Flying from the US to Manila is a long haul no matter how you slice it. The right airline choice can make it genuinely enjoyable or leave you counting down the hours. I’ll walk you through what each airline offers, who it’s best for, and how to get the most value whether you’re paying cash or using points.

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1. 🇵🇭 Philippine Airlines

• 🏠 Base: Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL)
• ✈️ Best For: Nonstop flights from the US when you want to start your trip with Filipino hospitality from the moment you board
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Business Class
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Two free checked bags on transpacific routes
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Mabuhay Miles
• 💡 Pro Tip: Book the new A350-1000 routes for the airline’s best business class experience with private suites and sliding doors

Philippine Airlines is the only carrier offering nonstop flights to the Philippines from multiple US cities. That alone makes it worth serious consideration. You can fly direct from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York JFK, Seattle, and even Toronto or Vancouver in Canada. When you’re facing a 14+ hour flight, skipping a layover is a big deal.

Their brand new A350-1000 started flying the JFK route on January 6, 2026, and it’s the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. Business class finally has private suites with sliding doors and lie flat beds. If you’re booking premium, specifically look for A350-1000 routes. The older 777s and A330s are perfectly fine but not in the same league.

What I love most about PAL is how the Filipino hospitality kicks in immediately. The crew seems happy to have you onboard, and the food leans into local flavors with dishes like chicken adobo alongside international options. It feels like you’ve already arrived in the Philippines before you land.

The domestic network is another hidden strength. PAL flies to over 30 destinations within the Philippines. This. means connecting from Manila to Palawan, Cebu, or Siargao (my favorite island in the Philippines) is seamless on the same ticket.

• Read my guide next: 13 BEAUTIFUL Islands in the Philippines That Feel Like Paradise

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2. 🇸🇬 Singapore Airlines

• 🏠 Base: Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
• ✈️ Best For: Travelers who want a premium experience without paying first class prices, especially connecting from the US West Coast
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, First (on select aircraft), Suites (A380 only)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 30kg checked in Economy, 35kg in Premium Economy, 40kg in Business
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: KrisFlyer (Star Alliance)
• 💡 Pro Tip: Book a layover of at least four hours in Changi. There’s a rooftop pool, butterfly garden, and the Jewel waterfall.

Singapore Airlines doesn’t fly direct from the US to Manila, so you’re connecting through Singapore. That sounds like a downside until you realize Changi Airport has a cinema, rooftop swimming pool, and an indoor forest. I’ve deliberately booked longer layovers here just to wander around.

The service reputation is deserved. Crew are well trained, meals are fresh and delicious, and the cabin doesn’t fall apart on long flights. I’ve flown them several times to Southeast Asia and always landed feeling like I was looked after.

If you collect United miles, Singapore Airlines is one of the best redemption options through Star Alliance. Award availability is better than most premium carriers, and you can book through United’s website without transfer fees. Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex points also transfer directly to KrisFlyer if you want to book through their own program.

They’re rolling out new business class suites with closing doors starting mid 2026, a S$1.1 billion upgrade across their A350 fleet. London and Sydney get it first, with Manila likely following once more aircraft are retrofitted. If you’re booking premium cabin for late 2026, this is worth waiting for.

• Planning a layover? Read this: 12 Most Beautiful Places in Singapore to Visit This Year

3. 🇭🇰 Cathay Pacific

• 🏠 Base: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
• ✈️ Best For: American Airlines loyalists who want to burn AAdvantage miles on a premium Asian carrier
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Business (Aria Suite on retrofitted 777s)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 30kg Economy, 35kg Premium Economy, 40kg Business
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Asia Miles (Oneworld)
• 💡 Pro Tip: Asia Miles transfers from Amex, Capital One, Citi, and Bilt. But AA miles work too since Cathay is Oneworld – check both before booking

Cathay Pacific is a great option if you’re sitting on American Airlines miles and want a better experience than AA can offer. AAdvantage redemptions on Cathay are notoriously hard to find, but they exist, especially if you’re flexible on dates or willing to book close-in. I’ve seen business class availability pop up two weeks out when they release unsold inventory.

The new Aria Suite started flying to San Francisco in January 2026 and it’s legitimately one of the best business class products out there right now. You’ll find closing doors, 24-inch screens, and lie-flat beds that really feel like beds. They’re retrofitting the whole 777-300ER fleet through 2027, so check seat maps before booking. Look for 45 business seats instead of 40 to confirm you’re getting the new cabin.

The Hong Kong connection is quick. It’s two hours to Manila, the lounges are among the best in Asia, and you’re not backtracking geographically (like you would routing through the Middle East). The downside is there’s no first class on these planes anymore. They stripped it during the retrofit, and the replacement won’t arrive until late 2026 on new 777-9s.

• Check out my full review: Cathay Pacific First Class Guide (All You Need to Know in 2026)
• Read next: 12 Fun Things to Do in Hong Kong at Night

4. 🇶🇦 Qatar Airways

• 🏠 Base: Hamad International Airport, Doha (DOH)
• ✈️ Best For: Points collectors who want the best business class redemption in the sky
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Business with Qsuite on select aircraft
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 30kg Economy, 40kg Business
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Privilege Club, part of Oneworld with AA and British Airways
• 💡 Pro Tip: Book flight QR934/935 to Manila for consistent Qsuite aircraft. Other Manila flights often get older cabins

Qatar flies to Manila from 12 US cities including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Miami, all connecting through Doha. The routing adds a few hours compared to flying PAL direct, but Hamad International is one of the best airports in the world for a layover. Qatar’s Qsuite business class is what other airlines benchmark against.

Each suite has closing doors and a proper lie-flat bed, and if you’re traveling with someone the center seats convert into a double bed. I’ve flown it twice and both times landed thinking I’d been scammed by every other business class I’d paid for. New A350-1000 deliveries arriving in 2026 will debut Qsuite 2.0 with even taller doors and wider beds, though the current product still beats most competitors.

The catch is only 40% of Qatar’s widebody fleet has Qsuite installed, and Manila isn’t on their guaranteed routes. Always check your seat map before booking and look for the staggered layout where seats alternate between forward and rear-facing. Straight rows mean you’re getting the old 2-2-2 configuration.

For points, you can transfer Chase to British Airways during a bonus period, then move those Avios to Qatar Privilege Club for free. I’ve seen redemptions drop to 54,000 points one-way with a 30% bonus running. Without a bonus, 70,000 Avios still gets you one of the world’s best business classes. Amex, Citi, and Bilt transfer directly at 1:1, and AA miles work too since Qatar is Oneworld.

• You may also like: 12 Most Beautiful Places in Qatar to Visit (Gulf’s Best Secret)

5. 🇦🇪 Emirates

• 🏠 Base: Dubai International Airport (DXB)
• ✈️ Best For: First class hunters, because Emirates is the only airline offering it to the Philippines
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, First Class on one daily flight
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 30kg Economy, 35kg Premium Economy, 40kg Business, 50kg First
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Emirates Skywards
• 💡 Pro Tip: Those eight first class suites on the Manila flight sell out daily. Book months ahead or try a same-day upgrade at the airport using Skywards miles

If flying first class to the Philippines is on your bucket list, Emirates is your only option. No other airline offers it. One of the three daily Manila flights carries a Boeing 777-300ER with just eight private suites, and they sell out every single day. I checked availability across several months and couldn’t find an open seat.

The tradeoff is time. Routing through Dubai from the US East Coast isn’t bad, but from LA or San Francisco you’re backtracking significantly compared to flying through Tokyo or Hong Kong. I’d only recommend Emirates from the West Coast if first class is the priority or if you’re stacking a Dubai stopover into your trip.

Emirates’ business class on the Manila route still uses the older 2-3-2 layout, which means middle seats get stuck without aisle access. Emirates has been retrofitting their 777 fleet with a newer 1-2-1 configuration, but Manila hasn’t received it yet. The airline has called the Philippines a key market for the upgrade, so this could change later in 2026. For now, economy and premium economy are honestly fine choices here since the business class hard product isn’t worth the premium over competitors like Qatar or Singapore.

• Read next: Picture-Perfect Places in Dubai

6. 🇺🇸 United Airlines

• 🏠 Base: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• ✈️ Best For: Americans who want to fly a US carrier nonstop, or anyone sitting on United miles
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Plus, Polaris Business Class
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: Depends on fare class, but MileagePlus elite status adds free bags
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: MileagePlus (Star Alliance)
• 💡 Pro Tip: United miles transfer from Chase Ultimate Rewards at 1:1. If you have the Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, you can book Polaris without paying cash

United broke Philippine Airlines’ monopoly on nonstop US mainland flights in 2023, and they’ve been aggressive ever since. They doubled down in October 2025 with a second daily SFO-Manila flight, giving travelers both morning and evening departure options. No other American carrier flies to the Philippines at all.

The 777-300ER they use on this route has 60 Polaris business class seats, which is a lot of inventory compared to PAL. Polaris isn’t as flashy as Qsuite or Singapore’s new suites, but it’s a great lie-flat product with direct aisle access and the Polaris lounges at SFO are fantastic. The real advantage is award availability. United releases decent saver space on this route, especially if you’re booking a few months out.

If you’re heading to Cebu, United launched a Tokyo Narita connection in 2024 that lets you fly SFO-Tokyo-Cebu without backtracking through Manila. It’s a longer routing than PAL direct from LA, but it works if you’re already on the West Coast and want to avoid Manila’s airport chaos entirely.

The main question is whether to fly United or PAL on the same SFO route. PAL usually runs cheaper on economy fares and has Filipino food onboard. United has better business class availability, earns MileagePlus miles, and connects seamlessly if you’re coming from elsewhere in the US. I’d pick United for premium cabin, PAL for economy unless there’s a significant fare difference.

• Looking to fly in style? Read this first: United Airlines First Class Review (in 2026)

7. 🇹🇼 EVA Air

• 🏠 Base: Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)
• ✈️ Best For: Travelers who want Singapore Airlines quality at a fraction of the price
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Royal Laurel Business Class
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 23kg Economy, 28kg Premium Economy, 32kg Business
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Infinity MileageLands (Star Alliance)
• 💡 Pro Tip: TTransfer Amex to ANA Mileage Club and book EVA business for around 95,000 miles round trip. Much better redemption value than United

EVA Air earned their tenth consecutive Skytrax 5-star rating in June 2025, placing them alongside Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific. The difference is price. I regularly see EVA fares come in 20-30% below those two, which makes them one of the best value propositions for flying to the Philippines in a premium cabin.

They connect Manila to seven US cities through Taipei including LA, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Houston, New York, and Dallas. That Dallas route is new as of October 2025 and features their fourth-generation premium economy cabin. If you’re buying premium economy specifically, I’d pick EVA over almost anyone else for the value.

The Taipei connection works beautifully from the West Coast where you’re already flying toward Asia. From New York or Chicago, you’re adding hours compared to routing through Hong Kong or the Middle East, so the math changes. EVA also doesn’t offer first class, so if that’s your goal, look elsewhere.

For award bookings, the play is transferring Amex points to ANA Mileage Club and booking EVA through Star Alliance. Round trip business class from the US runs around 95,000 ANA miles with solid availability. You can use United miles too, but ANA’s pricing and award charts are more favorable for this specific redemption.

• Read next: Most Beautiful Places in Taiwan to Visit (Complete Guide)
• You may also like: 8 Travel Credit Cards That Will Save You Thousands

8. 🇰🇷 Korean Air

• 🏠 Base: Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)
• ✈️ Best For: Delta flyers who want to use SkyMiles on a quality Asian carrier
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Prestige Class (Business), First Class on select routes
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 23kg Economy, 32kg Business
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: SKYPASS (SkyTeam)
• 💡 Pro Tip: Transfer Chase or Amex to Korean Air’s partners or book through Delta. Award availability to Asia is better than most US carriers offer

Most airlines on this list belong to Star Alliance or Oneworld, which means nothing if you’re sitting on a pile of Delta SkyMiles. Korean Air is SkyTeam, so your Delta miles actually work here. That alone makes them worth considering if you’ve been earning through Delta credit cards or domestic flights.

They fly to Manila from 12 US cities through Seoul, and the connection is pleasant. Incheon is one of the best airports in the world with excellent food, free showers, and even a Korean cultural center if you have time to kill. The Manila leg is only four hours, so the stopover doesn’t drag out your travel day the way a Dubai or Doha connection might.

I wouldn’t pick Korean Air for their business class hard product alone since it’s solid but not spectacular compared to Qatar or Singapore. But if you’re already in the Delta ecosystem and want to fly something nicer than Delta’s own long-haul product, Korean Air is the obvious play. They’re also merging with Asiana right now, which means more flights and better schedules across Asia throughout 2026.

• Check this out next: The 10 Best Airlines to Fly to South Korea This Year

9. 🇯🇵 ANA (All Nippon Airways)

• 🏠 Base: Tokyo Haneda and Narita Airports (HND/NRT)
• ✈️ Best For: Amex collectors who want to experience Japanese hospitality and maybe add a Tokyo stopover
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy, Business (The Room), First (The Suite)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 23kg Economy, 32kg Business, 32kg First
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: ANA Mileage Club (Star Alliance)
• 💡 Pro Tip: Amex transfers to ANA at 1:1 with some of the best award rates to Asia. Round trip business class from the US runs 75,000-90,000 miles depending on season

ANA is the airline I recommend when someone says they want the flight itself to feel like part of the trip. Japanese service culture shows up in every detail, from the hot towels to the way meals are presented to flight attendants who anticipate what you need before you ask. They’ve held Skytrax 5-star status for 12 consecutive years and there’s a reason frequent flyers obsess over them.

ANA’s business class, The Room, is spectacular. Each suite is nearly a meter wide with closing doors and converts into one of the largest beds in the sky. It’s only on their 777-300ERs flying routes like Tokyo to New York, London, and LA, so check your aircraft type before booking. In 2026, they’re rolling out The Room FX on their 787-9 fleet for routes to Frankfurt, Houston, and other cities.

From the US, you’ll connect through Tokyo to reach Manila. That adds time, but if you’ve never been to Japan, building in a stopover is easy and ANA doesn’t charge extra for it on award tickets. The Tokyo connection is efficient since both Haneda and Narita are well-organized airports where an hour layover works well.

The points play here is Amex. Transfer Membership Rewards to ANA Mileage Club and book business class for 75,000-90,000 miles round trip depending on season. That’s significantly cheaper than redeeming through United for the same Star Alliance flight.

10. 🇹🇷 Turkish Airlines

• 🏠 Base: Istanbul Airport (IST)
• ✈️ Best For: Travelers from smaller US cities, or anyone who wants a free Istanbul stopover built into their trip
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Business Class
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 23kg Economy, 32kg Business
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Miles & Smiles (Star Alliance)
• 💡 Pro Tip: Book a layover of 20+ hours and Turkish gives you a free hotel. Economy gets one night at a 4-star, business class gets two nights at a 5-star like the Conrad

I always tell people that Turkish is the sneaky-good option for getting to the Philippines. They fly to more countries than any other airline, which means they serve US cities that Asian carriers ignore completely. Flying out of Atlanta, Miami, or Boston? Turkish probably has your best one-stop routing to Manila. Yes, Istanbul is technically out of the way, but hear me out.

Their stopover program turns a long layover into a free mini-vacation. Schedule 20+ hours in Istanbul and you get a complimentary hotel with breakfast. Turkish Airlines business class passengers get two nights at properties like the Conrad. I’ve used this twice now, and spending two days wandering the Grand Bazaar and eating kebabs between flights beats sitting in an airport lounge pretending to be productive. Apply on their website at least 72 hours out.

The business class seat isn’t going to compete with Qsuite or The Room, but Turkish wins on food. Their DO&CO catering is legitimately some of the best airline food I’ve had, served on actual china by crew who really care. The Istanbul lounge has sleeping rooms, showers, and a cinema. If you’re already facing 20+ hours of travel, you might as well eat well and sleep in a real bed halfway through.

• Plan your stopover: My Ultimate Istanbul Layover Guide: Must-See Tours & Insider Tips

11. 🇵🇭 Cebu Pacific

• 🏠 Base: Manila (MNL) and Cebu (CEB)
• ✈️ Best For: Budget travelers who want the cheapest domestic connections within the Philippines, or reaching secondary cities other carriers skip
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy only
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 7kg carry-on included, checked bags extra (20kg from ~$15-30)
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: GetGo Rewards
• 💡 Pro Tip: Book separate tickets on a full-service carrier to Manila, then use Cebu Pacific for island-hopping. Just don’t book same-day connections through NAIA since delays are common

I need to be honest with you about Cebu Pacific. They don’t fly to the US mainland, so this isn’t actually an airline that will get you to the Philippines. But once you’re there, they’re often the cheapest way to reach the places you actually want to go. Palawan, Boracay, Siargao, Bohol, Cebu, Davao. Cebu Pacific serves 35 domestic destinations that PAL and other carriers either skip or charge double for.

The catch is that flying Cebu Pacific requires recalibrating your expectations. Their A330neos pack 459 seats in an all-economy configuration with 3-3-3 seating, which means each seat is about 16.5 inches wide. That’s significantly tighter than the 18-inch standard. On their long-haul routes to Dubai or Sydney, I’d think carefully about choosing them, unless you’re on a tight budget.

For US travelers, the play is simple. Fly PAL, United, or another carrier to Manila, then book Cebu Pacific separately for your domestic legs. Don’t try to connect same-day unless you’ve built in at least five hours since delays happen and NAIA terminal transfers are chaotic. I usually overnight in Manila and catch Cebu Pacific the next morning. Their promo fares can drop to absurdly low prices if you’re flexible with dates and book during their frequent sales.

• Visiting Cebu? Read this: Cebu Travel Guide (Whale Sharks, Canyoneering, and Beaches)

12. 🇲🇾 AirAsia

• 🏠 Base: Kuala Lumpur (KUL), with Philippines operations from Manila (MNL) and Cebu (CEB)
• ✈️ Best For: Budget travelers combining the Philippines with other Southeast Asian countries, or anyone who’s flexible enough to hunt for promo fares
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Flatbed (on AirAsia X long-haul only)
• 🧳 Baggage Policy: 7kg carry-on included, checked bags extra
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: AirAsia Rewards (Big Points) 💡
• Pro Tip: Their Fly-Thru service lets you book connecting flights through Kuala Lumpur on a single ticket with checked bags transferred automatically, which solves the biggest headache of budget carrier connections

AirAsia doesn’t fly from the US to the Philippines. But if you’re planning a broader Southeast Asia trip and want to stretch your budget across multiple countries, they become very useful. Fly a full-service carrier to Bangkok, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur, then let AirAsia’s massive network get you to Manila or Cebu for sometimes laughably low prices.

The math works like this. AirAsia Philippines runs sales where domestic base fares drop to P65, which is barely more than a dollar. Even adding bags and fees, you’re often looking at $30-50 to hop between Philippine islands. Their international routes from Manila to Taipei, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur regularly go on sale too. If you’re island-hopping through Southeast Asia on a gap year or extended trip, AirAsia becomes the connective tissue that makes it affordable.

In late 2025, they expanded their Cebu hub with twice-daily flights to Kuala Lumpur and new Macao service. The KL connection matters because AirAsia’s Fly-Thru service lets you book onward flights to places like Istanbul, Tokyo, or Sydney on a single ticket. Your bags transfer automatically, which is the thing that usually makes budget carrier connections a nightmare. They won’t pamper you and the seats are tight, but for the price difference, many travelers find it worth the trade-off.