Philippine Airlines Carry-On Rules (2026)

Philippine Airlines (PR/PAL) is the flag carrier of the Philippines and one of Asia's longest-operating airlines, founded in 1941. It is a Star Alliance member since 2014 and operates from its hub at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in Manila, with secondary hubs at Cebu (CEB) and Clark (CRK). PAL operates a wide network of international routes to Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East, as well as an extensive domestic network within the Philippines.

Carry-On Allowance at a Glance

Cabin	Carry-on size	Carry-on weight	Personal item
Economy (all sub-classes)	56 × 36 × 23 cm (22 × 14.2 × 9.1 in)	7 kg	Allowed (under seat)
Business/Mabuhay	Same dimensions	Higher (check fare)	Allowed

The 7 kg economy limit is standard for full-service Southeast Asian carriers. The dimensions (56×36×23 cm) align with Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Fiji Airways — a Pacific/Asia-Pacific regional standard.

Fare Classes and Carry-On Inclusion

Philippine Airlines uses a fare class system with multiple economy sub-classes:

Fare sub-class	Carry-on included	Checked bag included
Economy Lite / Value	7 kg	0–20 kg (fare-dependent)
Economy Classic	7 kg	20–23 kg
Economy Flex	7 kg	23 kg
Mabuhay Business	Higher allowance	2 × 32 kg

Domestic Philippine Airlines routes may have a different carry-on weight limit (sometimes 7 kg, sometimes 10 kg) — always check the specific fare terms for domestic flights.

Key watch-out: Some PAL promotional fares have lighter included checked bag allowances (as low as 10 kg). If your total carry-on weight exceeds 7 kg, you may want a checked bag add-on rather than trying to sneak extra weight into the cabin.

Manila Airport (MNL) Notes

Ninoy Aquino International Airport has four terminals (T1, T2, T3, T4):

• T1: International airlines, including some Star Alliance partners
• T2: Exclusive to Philippine Airlines international and some domestic flights
• T3: Budget carriers, some international flights
• T4: Regional/turboprop domestic operations

Philippine Airlines primarily uses Terminal 2, which is a dedicated PAL terminal. It features dedicated check-in counters, a PAL Mabuhay lounge, and its own departure gates.

MNL security is thorough — expect bag scans, shoe removal checks, and liquid screening. Allow extra time at MNL: queues can be long, especially on departure for peak US flights (typically evening/overnight). MNL has a history of security infrastructure challenges, so budget 3 hours before international departure.

Domestic Philippine Routes

Within the Philippines, PAL operates a dense domestic network to over 30 destinations including Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Bacolod, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, Palawan, and Siargao. Domestic rules:

• Some domestic sectors are operated by propeller aircraft or smaller regional jets (ATR 72, Q400) — overhead bins may not accommodate full-size rollers
• The same 56×36×23 cm / 7 kg limit nominally applies, but practical enforcement varies by aircraft type
• On smaller aircraft (ATR), valet-checking of rollers is routine

Star Alliance Benefits on PAL

As a Star Alliance member, Philippine Airlines passengers benefit from:

• Gold status reciprocity — miles from United, Lufthansa, ANA, and other Star Alliance partners earn on PAL flights
• Priority boarding — Star Alliance Gold members may board early (varies by route and airport)
• Lounge access — Star Alliance Gold members can access partner lounges at certain airports; PAL Mabuhay lounges accept Gold members at MNL

Extra carry-on weight for Gold status is not a standard benefit — the 7 kg cabin limit applies regardless of status tier.

Long-Haul Fleet

Philippine Airlines' international widebody fleet includes:

• Airbus A350-900: Long-haul (MNL–LAX, MNL–JFK, MNL–LHR). Generous overhead bins.
• Airbus A330-300: Regional/medium-haul international (MNL–SYD, MNL–NRT, MNL–SIN). Good bins.
• Boeing 777-300ER: US and European long-haul routes. Ample bin space.

On US-bound flights operated by widebodies, overhead bin space is rarely a constraint.

Liquids and Security

Departing from Manila:

• Philippine liquids rules align with international aviation standards: containers ≤100 ml in one 1-litre transparent bag
• NAIA (MNL) security is strict — both manual and X-ray screening
• Arriving in the US from Manila: Filipino customs officers screen on behalf of US CBP pre-clearance at some airports

Arriving in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore: follow destination country rules.

Practical Tips

• Weigh your bag at home — 7 kg is tight for tropical travel (toiletries, sunscreen, sandals, reef shoes add weight).
• Use a personal item strategically — a 20L backpack under the seat can hold your laptop, camera, and daily essentials, freeing your overhead bag for clothing.
• T2 for international PAL flights — allow time to transit MNL if connecting between terminals (T2 is separate from T1 and T3; inter-terminal transfer requires ground transport).
• Pre-purchase excess baggage online — significantly cheaper than paying at the airport.
• Mabuhay Miles program — PAL's frequent flyer program; miles can be credited for carry-on-only trips too.

Comparing Philippine Airlines vs. Southeast Asian Full-Service Carriers

Airline	Carry-on size (cm)	Economy weight	Alliance
Philippine Airlines	56×36×23	7 kg	Star Alliance
Singapore Airlines	55×38×23	7 kg	Star Alliance
Thai Airways	56×45×25	7 kg	Star Alliance
Malaysia Airlines	56×36×23	7 kg	Oneworld
Garuda Indonesia	56×38×23	7 kg	SkyTeam
Vietnam Airlines	56×36×23	12 kg	SkyTeam

PAL matches the Star Alliance Southeast Asia standard of 7 kg carry-on.