Chicago to Manila nonstop flights start this week. Philippine Airlines is launching the first nonstop service between the two cities on Monday, Nov. 9, flying an Airbus A350 three times a week. For Filipino American families across the Midwest, it turns what has always been a two-flight trip with a connection in San Francisco, Tokyo or Taipei into a single long flight.
And it is long. At about 8,100 miles, it's one of the longest flights in the world, scheduled at around 14 hours heading east to Chicago and close to 17 hours on the way back to Manila, when the plane fights the winds over the Pacific.
The Schedule
The flights run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in both directions. Based on the schedule Philippine Airlines announced, flight PR132 leaves Manila at 4:40 p.m. and lands at O'Hare at 4:45 p.m. the same day, thanks to the time difference. The return, PR133, leaves Chicago at 10:45 p.m. and arrives in Manila at 5:25 a.m. two days later. Schedules can shift, so check the exact times on your booking.
The plane is an Airbus A350-900 with 295 seats: 30 in business class, 24 in premium economy and 241 in economy. Business class seats on the A350 turn into flat beds, which matters a lot on a flight this long.
Why Chicago, and Why Now
Chicago becomes Philippine Airlines' eighth destination in the US and its territories, joining Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Honolulu, Guam and Saipan. Chicago has one of the country's larger Filipino communities, and the airline already flies to the cities with the biggest ones, so the Midwest was an obvious next step. Until now, travelers from Chicago had to connect, usually on United through San Francisco or on ANA or EVA Air through Asia.
The timing is bolder than it looks. Philippine Airlines reported a net loss of about $159 million for the first nine months of the year, largely because of soaring jet fuel prices, even as revenue grew. Launching an ultra-long route, which burns a huge amount of fuel, during a year like that is a sign the airline is betting heavily on demand from families visiting relatives around the holidays.
Our Take
For travelers, this is a genuinely good thing. A nonstop cuts out the risk of a missed connection, a second security line and hours of sitting in a transfer airport, and it puts real competition on a route that only had one-stop options. It also arrives right as people are booking Christmas flights, the busiest time of year for trips home to the Philippines.
Philippine Airlines doesn't always get the credit it deserves either. When we flew its A321 business class, it was far more polished than its reputation suggests, and the A350 is one of its best long-haul planes. The bigger question is whether three flights a week is enough to win over Chicago travelers who are used to United's daily options. If it fills up this winter, don't be surprised to see more days added.
How to Book
You can book directly with Philippine Airlines or through most travel sites. The airline doesn't belong to one of the big global alliances, so if you're collecting miles, check whether your program has a partnership with it before you book. And with around 17 hours in the air on the way to Manila, it's worth paying close attention to seat choice and bringing your own headphones.
