Philippine Airlines were not my first choice to get me from Hong Kong to Sydney. That fell to Batik Air, but a schedule change meant I had to cancel. As luck would have it, my flight from Hong Kong to Manila was to be operated by the brand new Airbus A350-1000, which has only been in service with PR for a matter of months.
I arrived in Hong Kong on Etihad and quickly passed through baggage claim and immigration. There were a few people in front of me at check-in, but I was seen soon enough and checked through to Sydney.
Hong Kong Airport
After security screening, I visited the Plaza Premium First Lounge near Gate 35. This turned out to be fortuitous, as once the gate was announced, it turned out to be nearby. Boarding was soon called and I was one of the first on board.
PR319 – Hong Kong to Manila (HKG-MNL)
24 July 2026
Airbus A350-1000 – RP-C3511
Seat: Business Class 6A
Departure: 13:40 Arrival: 16:05
You could instantly tell the aircraft was less than two months old. Everything inside was pristine, modern and looked great. I stowed my cabin bag and set to work taking photos.
The New A350 Business Class
Philippine Airlines use the Collins Aerospace Elevation seat in business class. I have flown this seat with British Airways as their Club Suites in 2023, and it’s also the same one I flew with Malaysia Airlines on their A330-900 last year, so it is pretty familiar to me.
Welcome Drinks, Menu and Safety
The crew came by offering welcome drinks and I elected to have both as I was thirsty. While I can’t remember what they were, they were nice, of course. Menus were provided so I had a look to decide what I’d enjoy for lunch.
Touring the new A350-1000
As it turned out, the flight was pretty empty. I imagine the aircraft is operating such a short route as part of crew familiarisation, which is typical with new deliveries. This meant I could go take lots of pictures, including those of the other classes.
Lunch Time
When the crew asked for orders, I asked which dish she would recommend. After a pause, the Beef Shortribs in Sweet Soy and Black Mushroom was suggested, so I went with that. I wouldn’t usually eat ribs at all, so I was looking forward to giving them a try. The starter was billed as an Oriental Cabbage Salad, with coriander, carrots, snow peas, leeks and sesame seeds.
Overall Thoughts
The new A350-1000 at Philippine Airlines looks amazing. I commented that it looked perfect and the crew basically said, “Not for long!”. That was a bit strange, but my next flight was on an A330-300 and never have I seen business class seats in such a ratty condition. After that, I understood what she meant.
With a friendly crew and fine enough food for such a short flight, I was happy enough. Being able to take photos of lots of the aircraft was a nice little treat too. I was also able to earn Avios by crediting the flight to Qatar Airways, so that was a great added bonus.
What do you think of Philippine Airlines and their new A350? Have you flown with them before? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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