Superdeals: 40–80% off flights from Europe to Philippines

Direct flight routes to Philippines

Currently there are no regular non-stop flights between any European city and Philippines. All routes require at least one connection.

Layover/stopover options

Dubai (DXB) – Emirates hub offering 3-4 daily flights to Manila. Average connection time 2-4 hours. Modern airport with excellent shopping and dining options.

Doha (DOH) – Qatar Airways main hub with twice daily Manila flights. Efficient minimum connection time of 1.5 hours. Features the exceptional Al Mourjan lounge for business class passengers.

Singapore (SIN) – Singapore Airlines hub with multiple daily Philippines connections. Average layover 3 hours. Features butterfly garden and free city tours for longer layovers.

Hong Kong (HKG) – Cathay Pacific’s base with frequent Manila services. Typical connection time 2-3 hours. Excellent airport facilities and efficient transfers.

Time vs money

Flights with longer layovers or multiple stops typically offer lower fares but can double total travel time. Gulf carriers (Emirates, Qatar) often provide the best balance between price and journey duration.

Tips and recommendations

• Book layovers of at least 3 hours when connecting in large Asian hubs to avoid stress during security checks and terminal transfers.


• Gulf carriers often offer free hotel stays for layovers over 8 hours – useful for breaking up long journeys.


• Flights with layovers in Singapore or Hong Kong often cost more but provide opportunity to visit two destinations on one ticket using free stopover programs.


• Avoid booking separate tickets for different legs of journey – if first flight is delayed, airlines won’t be responsible for missed connections.


• Mid-week departures typically offer better rates than weekend flights regardless of chosen route.

• Turkish Airlines offers consistently lower fares from secondary European cities to Manila, with comfortable 777-300ER aircraft featuring 31-inch pitch in economy. Their routing via Istanbul typically saves 15-20% compared to direct options, though requires a longer total journey time of around 17-19 hours.
• Korean Air’s A330-300 service connecting European cities to Manila via Seoul provides an excellent balance of comfort and value, with their economy class offering generous 33-inch seat pitch. The carrier frequently offers promotional fares from Amsterdam, Vienna, and Prague that undercut direct competition by up to 25%.
• EVA Air’s route from London, Paris, and Amsterdam to Manila via Taipei operates the modern Boeing 787-9, featuring superior air filtration and humidity control that significantly improves comfort on long-haul flights. Their premium economy product offers 38-inch pitch at prices often just 30% above regular economy fares.
• Gulf carriers Emirates and Qatar Airways are expanding their European network to Manila in 2024, with new connections from Düsseldorf and Lyon offering competitive fares. Both airlines provide complimentary stopover options in their respective hubs, effectively giving travelers two destinations for the price of one.
• Singapore Airlines’ Fifth Freedom flights from various European cities to Manila via Singapore offer exceptional value during off-peak seasons (February-March and October-November). Their economy class features 32-inch pitch and one of the widest seats in the industry at 19 inches, making the longer routing more comfortable.

1. Ignoring alternative hub airports Many travelers fixate on Manila (MNL) while overlooking Cebu (CEB) or Clark (CRK) airports, which often offer better connections and less congested terminals.
2. Booking the shortest layover times Transit times under 2.5 hours in major Asian hubs like Singapore, Hong Kong, or Dubai can be risky due to frequent delays and long terminal distances.
3. Flying during peak season without advance booking December to February flights to Philippines should be booked 6-8 months ahead as prices can triple and seats become scarce on preferred routes.
4. Choosing pure price over routing quality Super-cheap flights often involve multiple stops or poor connection timing, leading to exhausting 30+ hour journeys when better 20-hour options are available for slightly more.
5. Missing terminal transfer requirements Some routes through Manila require passengers to transfer between terminals via shuttle bus, which needs extra time not shown on booking sites.

Emirates

Best for: Most extensive European network with flights to Manila from 15 European cities, including London, Paris, and Frankfurt.

Emirates offers consistently high-rated Economy service with comfortable seats featuring 32-34 inch pitch. All flights connect through Dubai with efficient layovers typically under 4 hours. Passengers praise the complimentary multi-course meals with regional specialties, extensive entertainment system with 4,500+ channels, and attentive cabin crew. Economy travelers get a generous 30kg baggage allowance.

Qatar Airways

Best for: Superior dining experience and service quality in Economy Class.

Operating from 12 European cities (main hubs in London, Paris, Munich) to Manila via Doha, Qatar Airways stands out for its award-winning service. Economy seats provide 31-33 inch pitch with adjustable headrests. The airline receives high marks for its restaurant-quality meals, responsive cabin crew, and modern aircraft fleet. Connection times in Doha are well-coordinated, typically ranging from 2-5 hours.

Turkish Airlines

Best for: Most competitive prices while maintaining good service standards.

Flying from 11 European cities (largest operations from Istanbul, Frankfurt, Amsterdam) to Manila, Turkish Airlines offers an excellent value proposition. Economy class features comfortable seats with 31-32 inch pitch. The airline is known for its high-quality catering by “Flying Chefs” even in Economy. Connections in Istanbul can be longer than Gulf carriers, but lower fares often compensate for this.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Best for: Only European legacy carrier offering direct connections to Philippines with minimal layover times.

Operating from 8 European cities (Amsterdam, London, Paris being largest) to Manila, KLM provides reliable service via their Amsterdam hub. Economy cabin offers 31-32 inch seat pitch with personal entertainment systems. While meal quality is good, it’s not as elaborate as Middle Eastern carriers. The airline scores high on punctuality and baggage handling efficiency.

Smart routing with regional carriers to Philippines

When traveling from Europe to Philippines, splitting your journey using regional Asian carriers can lead to significant savings compared to booking with major airlines. The key is to break up the trip into strategic segments.

Main money-saving tactics

1. Book separate tickets: Consider flying to major Asian hubs like Bangkok, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur with regular carriers, then connect to Philippines using budget airlines like AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, or Scoot
2. Timing matters: Book the regional segment during low-season periods (June-September) when APAC carriers offer their best deals
3. Hub selection: Bangkok and Singapore typically offer the most competitive rates for regional connections to Manila or Cebu
4. Flexibility bonus: This strategy allows for potential stopovers in hub cities at no extra cost

Important considerations

Remember to allow ample connection time between flights when booking separate tickets, as airlines won’t be responsible for missed connections. Also factor in baggage fees, as regional carriers often have stricter allowances than international airlines.

Savings can reach 30-40% compared to traditional single-ticket bookings, especially during peak travel seasons.