I know I should have posted this before My Close Encounters with an IO, but better late than never! Read on! 

After holding back the tears, saying my goodbyes and I love you’s to the whole family (all of them went to the airport by the way), I headed on to the airport building entrance. My passport and ticket were checked, and valid ID was requested.

My baggage was screened by the X-Ray ( ?) machine. I was advised to take my shoes of, my belt, jacket, cellphone. All went through the machine. No alarm was set off. Hehehe.



Now for the fees to be paid. There was a counter for the payment of travel tax, Php 1620. Another counter for the terminal fee of Php 550. And Php3600 for 9 kilos of excess baggage!!! I dreaded the thought that if my handcarry bag was to be weighed, my baggage cost might be more expensive than my ticket! I had Php 1500 left. Hand carry limit was 7 kilos, and I knew my bag weighed at around 10kilos. At this rate, I thought I might run out of money and I haven’t left the Philippines yet! Next was the Philippine IO (with a separate post). Good thing there was no weighing counter at the boarding gates. Hehehe. The process took around an hour and 15 minutes.

After a few minutes, I boarded the plane. I felt a mixture of sadness and excitement and gave my silent goodbyes. I had paid a total of Php 5770, a 100% more than my budget. It was a tough night and I know it will surely be tougher in Singapore. Will I survive? 