PAL advises foreign passengers from US to Philippines of Jan. 3 to 15 non-acceptance

Philippine Airlines on Saturday advised foreign passengers from the US and foreign travelers who were in the US within 14 days before their planned arrival in the Philippines that they will not be accepted on flights to the country from January 3 to 15.

This is due to the travel ban imposed by the Philippine government after a new variant of the coronavirus was detected in the US.

PAL said foreign passengers from the US and foreign travelers who were in the US within 14 days before the planned arrival in the Philippines will not be allowed on its flights from 12:01 a.m. of January 3 to January 15.

However, Filipino citizens who will be coming from the US or who traveled to the US within 14 days before their scheduled arrival in the Philippines will still be accepted on PAL flights from January 3 to 15. 

They will however be "required to undergo a 14-day quarantine at a stringent quarantine facility," according to PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna.

All passengers from the US who will be allowed entry in the Philippines will have to undergo RT-PCR testing upon arrival, and regardless of the result, will undergo 14-day quarantine.

PAL said returning overseas Filipinos may choose a quarantine hotel from the list of DOT-accredited hotels for the quarantine.

Aside from the US, the Philippines has also put restrictions on flights to the Philippines from:

1. Denmark
2. Ireland
3. Japan
4. Australia
5. Israel
6. The Netherlands
7. Hong Kong
8. Switzerland
9. France
10. Germany
11. Iceland
12. Italy
13. Lebanon
14. Singapore
15. Sweden
16. South Korea
17. South Africa
18. Canada and
19. Spain
20. United Kingdom

PAL advised passengers who may be affected by the restrictions to rebook their flights after the restriction period. Rebooking service fees would be waived, it said.

Passengers may also opt to refund the cost of their tickets with refunding service fees waived.

They may also choose to convert their ticket into a travel voucher to be used in the future. —KG, GMA News