It's our first travel out of Manila on a domestic trip for 2025! Because of the change in the administration of the NAIA Manila Airport last 2024 and our last traffic experiences at the NAIA Terminal 3 (took 1 hour by car from Newport to the Bay Area!), we wanted to try out the Runway Manila Footbridge for the first time via Grabcar. The first advantage was the cheaper fare because we could apply a Grab coupon when we do Runway Manila as a final destination from our house vs. no coupons directly to the Terminal 3 airport. Here's a short run through of our experience. You can also do this if your flight arrives at Terminal 3 so you just go the opposite route that we took!
Our Grabcar dropped us off here - a covered area with elevators. Your bags will go through a security X-ray check like at the airport gates (but no need to show flights and IDs like at the airport) and the guard said that Runway Manila is open 24 hours. We saw many airline crew pass through here as well so we think this is convenient if you are commuting.
This is the location and various Newport City hotels and resorts do have free shuttle service according to this sign.
Spacious elevators greet you after the X-rays. Go up to 5.
It was a fully airconditioned walk with restrooms. I think that you need luggages with good wheels here to have a pleasant experience or travel light.
It's around 3 airplane tubes worth of walk (maybe 10 minutes) and only 50% of the walkalators work both ways. You won't notice but the walkway is sloping down on the way to the airport so if you're going the other way, make sure to grab a nice cart from the Baggage claim area.
At the end, a lot of restaurants were already open (we were there 7:45am on a Saturday) and we were at Level 4 of Terminal 3! The NAIA overnight car parking area will be to your left. So if you have an early flight, you can have breakfast here. Just maybe limited options before 8am. We saw a restaurant that was open 24 hours as well. So we went straight between Tenya and Via Mare. There's an elevator going down to Level 3 but we went further.
So if you're going to Newport City, you can get to Marriott Hotel, Hotel Okura, Sheraton Manila, Hilton Manila, Holiday Inn, Belmont, etc. using the Runway Manila Footbridge.
When you get to the end, just turn right and you'll see a McDonalds.
Do a right again and there will be an elevator to go down the Departures Level to catch your flight.
Just go down to the 3rd Floor.
Show the guard your ID and flight ticket and you'll get to the Cebu Pacific counters with no lines haha. Or look for the departure board for your flights.
So if you're not in a hurry like us, why not exercise or explore Terminal 3 before your trip and save a little money haha.
Update: We did this the opposite direction for our arrival in Manila because the building for catching Grab rides was moved to almost the same way. Again, the Grab rates were cheaper at the Runway Manila pickup. We suggest getting a cart because the bridgeway is apparently sloping so you need to push up your luggage or ride the walkalator (if it works) all the way to the Runway Manila entrance. Then, most restaurants we passed by are still open at around close to 10pm.
