NAIA Terminal 3 Guide: Airlines, Pickups and Travel Tips

At Manila’s NAIA Terminal 3, the hardest part of a pickup can be finding Bay 12. The terminal serves 33 airlines, and a change in airline assignments in 2026 means old advice about where to go may now send you to the wrong building. If you’ve flown through Manila before, check your airline and terminal again before you leave.

This guide covers the practical details for using Terminal 3: airlines, transport pickup points, departure fees and immigration, arrival procedures, and terminal transfers. Its information was checked against airport operator New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) pages and other official sources in late October 2026.

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Terminal 3 at a glance

Terminal 3 is on Andrews Avenue in Pasay City, across the road from Newport World Resorts. Cebu Pacific operates all its domestic and international flights here, alongside 32 foreign airlines, from Emirates and Qatar Airways to Scoot, Jetstar and Starlux. The NNIC airline list is the place to check current assignments. Philippine Airlines and AirAsia use Terminals 1 and 2.

• Arrival time: NNIC recommends arriving 2 to 3 hours before domestic flights and 3 to 4 hours before international flights.
• Terminal fee: PHP 390 (about USD 6) for domestic departures and PHP 950 (about USD 15) for international departures, in effect since 14 September 2025. OFWs are exempt from the international fee.
• Travel tax: Most Filipinos departing internationally in economy pay PHP 1,620 (about USD 25), unless exempt.
• Terminal transfers: NNIC operates a free, 24-hour shuttle for passengers connecting between terminals.

For the dollar conversions in this guide, we use PHP 63.6 to USD 1, close to the peso’s record low on 23 October 2026.

Which airlines use Terminal 3

Terminal 3 handles domestic and international flights. This is the airline roster published by NNIC and checked on 26 October 2026:

The reshuffle is significant if you still rely on pre-2026 travel advice. Air China, China Eastern, Vietnam Airlines, Royal Brunei and Shenzhen Airlines moved from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 on 29 March 2026; Japan Airlines followed on 1 April. NNIC announced the changes in February, as Philstar reported. Meanwhile, AirAsia Philippines and AirAsia Malaysia moved all international flights out of Terminal 3 and into Terminal 1 from 29 March, according to InsiderPH.

An airline’s presence on the list doesn’t guarantee a daily or year-round Manila service. Check your ticket for your specific flight. If you’re still choosing a route, you can compare Manila fares on Trip.com and filter by airline.

Getting to and from Terminal 3

The arrival curb has separate numbered bays for many rides. Check the pickup point before heading outside; it can spare you an unwanted, overpriced taxi offer. Locations below come from NNIC’s transport page.

Coupon and yellow taxis offer Filipino senior citizens, people with disabilities and students a 20% discount. NNIC staff give passengers a dispatch slip with complaint hotline numbers. Keep it; the slip is for you, not the driver.

For PHP 40 (under USD 1), the Airport Loop bus takes you to the MRT station in Pasay. From there, the train runs up EDSA to Makati, Ortigas and Cubao. It’s a cheap option with a backpack; less practical if you’re hauling a pair of balikbayan boxes.

UBE Express is a more comfortable option with luggage. Its Terminal 3 buses serve Pasay, Manila, Cubao, Alabang and Santa Rosa in Laguna. The regular fare on Klook starts at PHP 300 (about USD 5), with seats allocated first come, first served. You can book a UBE Express seat from Terminal 3 on Klook.

For a late arrival or a family with tired children, a pre-booked car can avoid the taxi queue. Klook offers private transfers from NAIA to Makati, Taguig (BGC), Manila and other parts of Metro Manila, in a sedan, an Innova-type car or a van. Tolls are paid to the driver in cash, so carry a few hundred pesos.

See private NAIA transfer prices on Klook

Terminal 3 has open parking in front of arrivals and a multi-level car park near Bay 14. Overnight parking is on the rooftop of Level E. NNIC lists the car rate at PHP 1,200 per 24 hours (about USD 19), plus PHP 25 for each additional hour. For a two-week trip, parking can cost more than arranging a ride.

Departures: check-in, fees and immigration

Check-in is on Level 3, where the airline counters are arranged in lettered islands. Some airlines have self-service kiosks. Biometric check-in and boarding are available only on selected flights whose airlines have completed integration, according to NNIC; assume you’ll need the standard process unless your airline confirms otherwise.

Liquids: The standard limit is 100 ml per container, packed in one resealable bag of up to 1 litre. Bring an empty bottle to fill after security.

Passenger service charge: Departures cost PHP 950 for international flights and PHP 390 for domestic flights. It was the first increase in about 20 years, according to the Inquirer. OFWs remain exempt from the international charge. Check your fare breakdown to see whether it’s already included.

Travel tax for Philippine passport holders: As of October 2026, TIEZA’s rates are PHP 1,620 in economy and PHP 2,700 in first class. The standard reduced economy rate is PHP 810; qualified dependents of OFWs pay the privileged rate of PHP 300. OFWs with valid documents and some other groups are exempt. The House passed a bill to abolish the tax in March 2026, but the bill has not become law, so the tax is still payable. See our guide to Philippine travel tax and terminal fees for exemptions and refunds.

Immigration for Filipinos: Eligible departing passengers can try the automated eGates if they’re at least 18, hold an ePassport valid for at least six months, have an updated eTravel record and no hit in the Bureau of Immigration’s derogatory records. They must also have travelled abroad before, unless they’re OFWs with a valid OEC or CFO-registered emigrants. The Bureau of Immigration introduced eGates at Terminals 1 and 3; Philstar Life published the full eligibility rules in September 2026. If a gate rejects someone who appears eligible, a BI officer can direct them to a manual counter. First-time travellers should use the manual counters.

OFWs: The OFW Lounge on Level 3 is open 24 hours. Our balikbayan travel checklist covers documents to prepare before leaving home.

Arrivals: eTravel, customs and cash

Register for eTravel: Every passenger arriving in the Philippines, whether Filipino or foreign, must complete registration on the official eTravel website within 72 hours before travel. It’s free; avoid look-alike sites that charge. NNIC’s passenger guide says most departing passengers don’t need to register, with exceptions mainly for diplomats and some visa holders.

Immigration: When arrival eGates are operating, Filipinos with an ePassport and updated eTravel record can use them if they are between 1.2 m and 1.8 m tall. Other passengers use the staffed counters.

Customs: The NNIC passenger guide allows two reams of cigarettes or two tins of tobacco, plus two bottles of liquor or wine of up to 1 litre each, without tax. Bangko Sentral rules allow up to PHP 50,000 in Philippine currency (about USD 790) and up to USD 10,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency. Carrying more pesos requires prior written BSP authorization and a declaration. Amounts of foreign currency above the limit must be declared in full.

Balikbayan status: A Filipino who has been continuously outside the country for at least a year qualifies, as do OFWs and former Filipinos, along with their spouse and children travelling with them.

Money: Achievers Money Changer on Level 1 of arrivals is open around the clock. More exchange counters and Bank of Commerce and RCBC ATMs are upstairs on Level 3. You may only need enough cash for your first ride and meal. A multi-currency card such as the Wise card for spending and withdrawing pesos can help you avoid the exchange counter; check the ATM operator’s fee on screen before confirming.

Mobile data: Local SIM cards are available landside. If your phone supports eSIM, setting one up before departure means you can get online and use Grab as soon as you turn off airplane mode. Check Airalo’s Philippines eSIM plans before your trip.

Missing baggage: Take your ticket and baggage tag to the Interline Baggage Section in the baggage claim hall. A medical clinic is on the left after customs.

Changing terminals at NAIA

A terminal change means leaving one building and travelling to another. For example, if you arrive at Terminal 3 on Emirates and connect to a Philippine Airlines flight to Cebu at Terminal 2, you’ll need to exit, transfer and check in again.

NNIC’s inter-terminal shuttle is free, operates 24 hours a day and departs each terminal every hour. Show your onward ticket to board. At Terminal 3, the transfer pickup is on the arrival level. Philippine Airlines runs a separate shuttle for its connecting passengers; ask PAL staff for directions.

Cebu Pacific passengers can stay at Terminal 3 for both domestic and international connections. Tell ground staff about your onward flight after landing and they can direct you to the transfer desk.

If your flights are on separate tickets, leave several hours between them. The second airline isn’t responsible for getting you onto another flight if a delay makes you miss your connection.

Where to eat at Terminal 3

Eat by level, and plan around the clock

Terminal 3’s food options are better than its reputation suggests, but the floor matters. NNIC’s dining directory, last updated 2 October 2026, lays out a useful map:

If you’re meeting someone on arrival, TamBayan on Level 1 is the standout: it brings regional Filipino food together, with choices ranging from Batangas to Mindanao. Opening times differ by stall. Bale Pampangueno, Cosina Ilocos and Bo’s Coffee operate around the clock; Via Mare and Abub’s close at 9pm.

For late-night food, the Mezzanine directory lists KFC, Popeyes, Watami and Seattle’s Best as open 24 hours. Halal-certified choices include Palm Grill Mindanao at TamBayan, Nanyang on the Mezzanine and Mamak in the pre-departure Food Village.

Level 4’s newer Airside Food Hall adds another overnight option: Shake Shack and Ramen Nagi are listed as open 24 hours. The October 2026 directory still showed some outlets, including Gloria Maris, as “opening soon,” so check before making a special trip.

Need a last-minute pasalubong? Inay’s Pasalubong in the South Wing pre-departure area is open 24 hours. Airport prices add up; buy most of your gifts in town if you can.

Lounges, sleep and practical services

A long connection or an early departure is easier to manage when you know what’s inside the terminal:

• The Wings Transit Hotel and Spa is in the Level 4 concession area, operates 24 hours and has rooms for sleeping inside the terminal.
• OFW Lounge, in the Level 3 departure area, is open 24 hours for overseas Filipino workers with valid documents.
• First Meridian Lounge is a 24-hour business class lounge in Level 4 pre-departure.
• Left luggage: Luggage and More is on the arrival level.
• Wi-Fi: Free access is available in passenger areas.
• Medical clinic: In arrivals, just past customs on the left.

Walkable hotel options by the terminal

Terminal 3 is the only NAIA terminal with hotels within walking distance. Newport World Resorts is directly across from the terminal, with an elevated walkway connecting the hotel area to the building, according to NNIC. The five hotels are Manila Marriott, Hotel Okura Manila, Hilton Manila, Sheraton Manila and Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport World Resorts.

Holiday Inn Express is the lower-cost choice among the five. For an early flight, that walkway can take traffic uncertainty out of the trip to the airport—a meaningful advantage in Manila.

Compare hotel rates across from Terminal 3

Flying from a different terminal? See our layover stay at Resorts World Bayshore near NAIA. The map below shows live prices around Newport City and the airport:

FAQ

Which airlines use NAIA Terminal 3?
Cebu Pacific operates all its flights from Terminal 3, along with 32 foreign airlines, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, ANA, KLM, Qantas, United and Air Canada. Philippine Airlines and AirAsia don’t use Terminal 3.

Is Japan Airlines at Terminal 1 or Terminal 3?
Terminal 3, effective 1 April 2026.

How do I get from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 or 2?
For a connecting flight, take the free NNIC shuttle from the arrival level. It runs 24 hours and departs hourly. If you don’t have a connecting ticket, take a taxi or Grab.

How much is the NAIA terminal fee?
Since 14 September 2025, it has been PHP 950 for international departures and PHP 390 for domestic departures. OFWs are exempt from the international fee.

What’s the cheapest way from Terminal 3 to Makati?
Take the PHP 40 Airport Loop bus to the MRT in Pasay, then ride north along EDSA. UBE Express from Bay 12 is easier if you’re carrying luggage.

Can I sleep inside Terminal 3?
Yes. The Wings Transit Hotel and Spa on Level 4 has rooms, and the Newport World Resorts hotels are across the walkway.

Do I need eTravel when leaving the Philippines?
According to NNIC, most departing passengers don’t. You need eTravel within 72 hours before flying into the Philippines.

Before you go

The useful Terminal 3 landmarks are straightforward: Bay 4 for Grab, Bay 12 for UBE Express, Level 1 for TamBayan, Level 3 for check-in and the free shuttle for transfers to another terminal. Verify the terminal on your e-ticket; airline changes in 2026 affected several carriers. And if someone at the curb offers a “special rate,” keep walking to the marked bay.

Safe flight—and kain muna bago lipad.

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About the author

Bianca Rei is a Filipino traveler, entrepreneur and problem-solver who has lived in Serbia for many years. She began following Two Monkeys Travel Group in 2014 as a reader collecting travel stories of her own; contributing to the site now brings that relationship full circle.

She runs Rodi Solutions, helping people and businesses navigate life and work in Serbia. Her work also includes website design, development and management. Away from work, she spends time traveling, boxing, seeking new adventures and being with her family.

Find her work at rodi.consulting, or visit biancarei.net to get to know her beyond work.