The Zest Air Experience, My ZestAir Review
ZestAir is a relatively new airline in the Philippines servicing flights to many destinations in the country. They offer lower rates than their competitors and are using brand new planes (though others air saying that it’s actually just newly acquired from a foreign airline). Because of this a lot of people are interested to fly with ZestAir but are a bit skeptical about it because of its acquired reputation from Asian Spirit. Hopefully, my experience flying with ZestAir can help would-be zest air passengers, who’ll read this post.
Booking a flight
I bought a Iloilo-Manila-Iloilo round trip tickets for only P976 during my Aliwan 2009 trip through ZestAir’s online booking service. I don’t have a credit card of my own so, at first, I decided to visit their ticketing office at the Iloilo Airport, which was listed in their website. When I got there, I found out that their ticketing office in the airport is actually just a table/desk with one lady behind it. The lady informed me that the actual office of Zest Air is in Marymart Center back in the city and I can only make my bookings there. I decided not to have to deal going to Marymart because I was already upset about being misinformed and wasting time going to the airport. I borrowed a credit card from my relative instead and made my booking online, which was much more convenient.
Going to Manila flight
I arrived at the Iloilo Airport 30 minutes before my scheduled departure flight. I was already a bit anxious because I know I should have arrived earlier since flights can sometimes be rescheduled at an earlier time without notice. The check-in was good, though they still aren’t using computerized systems. You can check in your baggage with no additional charge unlike when you get promo tickets from Cebu Pacific, PAL, or AirPhil. Last time when we bought go-lite Cebu Pacific tickets, we had to pay an additional fee just to check in our tripods, because apparently you can’t hand carry them in the plane. The terminal fee in the Iloilo Airport is P200 by the way. I then checked the LCD info screen for departures and my heart raced when I didn’t see my flight. I hurriedly went to the an airport official and asked her about my flight status, she said my flight was delayed for an hour and explained that they still haven’t updated the airport’s system to display the status of ZestAir flights. Waiting was very inconvenient because we passengers have almost no idea on the exact time our plane will arrive. I heard from other people that ZestAir flights can be delayed for as much as four hours, fortunately, my plane did arrive at just an hour 30 minute delay.
Boarding
ZestAir planes do not use the terminal bridges in the Iloilo Airport you have to go down to the runway to get to the plane.
Other airlines are conveniently using the bridges 
ZestAir Inflight
The plane does look fairly new and the cabin is quite spacious inside with ample leg space. The take off was very very smooth. The flight attendants look great but moved really amateurish. The service was great! They offer unlimited zest-o juice, coffee, and water at no additional cost. There was even a time when I was jotting down some notes and the flight attendant approached me and politely offered to brighten the overhead lights, neat!
Camwhoring at the restroom
Arrival at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
The flight was again very smooth but the landing wasn’t so much … maybe because the runway in NAIA isn’t as new as the Iloilo Airport’s. I arrived at the Domestic Terminal of NAIA. My sister, who fetched me, complained about how inconvenient it is to go to the domestic airport compared to terminal 2. I also was a bit anxious because I had to make her wait a long time because of the delayed flight.
Going back flight to Iloilo from Manila
Went to terminal 1 for my flight back to Iloilo. The check-in was still good, though I have to say, the Domestic Terminal of NAIA really sucks compared to Terminal 2 and 3!. I don’t think my P200 terminal fee is worth its price. I think some airports in the provinces, which collects lower terminal fees is better than the Manila Domestic Terminal! Anways … our plane arrived 30 minutes – late as usual. ZestAir also uses an Airbus A320 for their Manila-Iloilo flight (both of my flights had full seats)
Again, you have to walk the runway to get to the plane.
I was very excited that the plane arrived without too much delay, which meant that I’d have the chance to shoot my first ever sunset shots hundreds (or thousands, I’m not sure) in the air. It was really beautiful, na manol pa ko 
It was already dark when we arrived in Iloilo, which was also good because I got to take my first aerial night shot of the city. I had to shoot with the highest ISO my camera has (ISO3200) to get the less blur but it also meant a very very grainy result.
Conveyor belts at the Iloilo Airport
I hope this post has helped you. If you’ve also tried flying with ZestAir, why don’t you share tell us about your experience?
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Tags: , Airlines, iloilo, iloilo airport, Manila, Zest Air, ZestAir
13 May 2009 at 11:09 am #
Thanks for sharing your ZestAir flying experience. I guess, they somehow improved. They would have to work on making their flights on time. You are lucky, when they were still Asian Spirit last year, our flight to Coron has been moved to the next day without us being notified. If I didn’t call their office, I wouldn’t know about the flight frequency change. And what’s worse, they called to inform us that the rescheduled flight will be delayed and be moved to afternoon. Te dula na 1 and a half day from our itinerary… so we just demanded to have us transferred to an earlier flight with another airline. On our return trip to Manila, delayed na isang oras and they were using a very old plane then (ung turbo prop pa). I guess if you are really not that in a hurry, Zest Air would be okay. PAL is actually affordable with their econolight fares and you don’t have to pay additional charges for check-in baggage. The econolight fare includes a 15kg check-in baggage.
13 May 2009 at 11:52 am #
Whoa! That’s a real bad experience with Asian Spirit, I guess they really needed to have a makeover because their rep is so badly affected by their horrible service and planes. Usually, I bring just enough money with me, now I know that I have to being a lot of extra money in case something like that happens.
Yes, I’ve also tried PAL’s econolight last January. Bought a Manila-Iloilo ticket for less than P1,000. It’s good that they allow check-in, I didn’t know that since the airport officials did not mind me handcarrying my tripod at the time. The only comment I have is that the flight attendants paid no attention to us, as if we were invisible … I was thinking that maybe it’s because we were only paying for promo seats and they do not feel obliged to make an effort with us.
14 May 2009 at 10:00 am #
I heard of such complaints — PAL flight attendants don’t pay attention to you if you have an econolight ticket. Fortunately, when I took their flight with an econolight ticket, I didn’t get such treatment. They were even offering to have my cup refilled with water.
13 May 2009 at 4:19 pm #
Nice website, what you’re doing looks fun, I’ll link up your site.
14 May 2009 at 5:46 am #
Uyy Aldrich, dugay na la kbtyag simu ba. Thanks guid for the link. How’s life BTW?
14 May 2009 at 12:48 pm #
@gene: Goood for you, hehe. We look like we’re ignorable anyways
20 May 2009 at 5:04 pm #
Hi thank you for your blog i’m travelling with my family to Kalibo via Zest Air- i think it’s not bad to travel with them at all based on your experience. I hope we will have a favorable experience too. it’s my kids first time to ride a plane. They’re very exicted. I’ll update you on our trip.
28 May 2009 at 3:43 pm #
cool … cool luck with your trip dyeni
28 May 2009 at 6:35 am #
Hey marc, can you give some directions on how to get to tagbak terminal coming from the new Iloilo Airport?.. Thanks
28 May 2009 at 3:52 pm #
If you have a lot of baggage, you can take a taxi in Tagbak Terminal I’m not sure about the prices but it’s probably around P300 or P350 going to the airport from there.
If you want, you can also ride a Leganes Jeepney (P10) and drop off at SM City in Mandurriao. There, you can ride an L300 van going direct to the Iloilo Airport in SM City’s Terminal (P50 or P75).
There’s also the all jeepney/multicab route, which is the cheapest, but can also burn you a lot of time because they wait for the jeepney/multicab to get full before going off. From Tagbak Terminal, ride a Leganes Jeepney (P10) to SM City in Mandurriao. Cross the street (Diversion Road) and ride a Santa Barbara Jeepney (P15 or 20, I think) there. Tell the driver to drop you off at Total Gas Station in Santa Barbara. There are multicabs going direct to the Iloilo Airport from Total Gas Station (P7). I hope that helps.
29 May 2009 at 4:54 am #
Thanks Marc, that really helps.. I just want to know other options I can take cause the prices of taxis going to Tagbak Terminal really sucks!! (Imagine, I have to pay 500pesos just to get there!!) My father told me that the old airport in Mandurriao is more convenient in terms of distance going to Iloilo City. Also, it will really help me cause you mentioned the landmarks (It will lessen my time asking questions to locals since i’m not that good in Ilonggo, hehehehe).
29 May 2009 at 10:57 am #
Oh. It’s P500 already? that’s quite expensive. Yeah, the Mandurriao Airport was convenient because it was just within the city. We used to live less that 5 minutes from the airport. But I’m happy they moved the airport because it’s much better now (new, bigger, terminal and wider space for future development). The longer travel time is worth it for me because I love our new airport, hehe.
31 May 2009 at 11:42 pm #
Well, actually I was amazed with the new Iloilo airport.. It looks like the T3.. It could become an international airport.. It could help a lot to boost the economy and tourism in Iloilo.. Looking forward to spend my vacation again in father’s hometown in Carles next year.. P.S. Kudos to your photoblog!!
1 June 2009 at 9:45 pm #
Thanks mike. Good luck on your trip! sa Carles pa! There’s a lot of nice looking islands to explore there.
8 June 2009 at 4:21 pm #
what camera are you using?
8 June 2009 at 6:30 pm #
I’m using a Nikon D40.
15 June 2009 at 11:35 pm #
I like the way Zestair departs and lands.
That includes using the old method of tarmac walk (it didn’t rain that day).
Zestair pilots are more suave on the landing gears.
16 June 2009 at 12:15 am #
yeah, their landing and take off is so smooth
18 June 2009 at 2:31 pm #
I fully agree… what is there with bridges? I like walking in the tarmac, the noise, the smell … walking up the ramp … umbrellas are there when it rains and during typhoons, well you should not be flying anyway!
Most important is departing and arriving on time …
19 June 2009 at 11:17 pm #
It’s just that there are vacant bridges in the terminal, which could have been fully utilized. No major complaints with walking on the tarmac, sometimes I like it because I can shoot better pictures of the terminal and planes.
18 June 2009 at 2:27 pm #
Wow,great shots! By the way isn’t terminal 1 for international flights? Domestic is just called domestic for point of reference, but then yeah, terminal 1 international and domestic are like cattle markets.
Can’t be bothered to risk with an airline where flights are delayed by several hours for just a few pesos difference. I have no fun lounging about in airports when I should be enjoying myself at my destination already. A few pesos saved can’t top the distress we feel when we can’t reach our destinations on time.
19 June 2009 at 11:15 pm #
I thought that Terminal 1 and the domestic airport are the same, I guess I’m mistaken. For me, I can put up with delayed flights. A few hundred/thousand pesos is already a big difference and can be spent on more food and pasalubong.
21 July 2009 at 2:07 pm #
I am officially following your blog.
27 July 2009 at 11:19 am #
I would say that Zest Air is relatively ok, especially if you are in a budget. Their cabin crew are quite professional, and they’re always ready to serve with a smile. However, our recent flight from Kalibo to Manila wasn’t that perfect. Upon claiming our baggages, we saw our bags wet! At first we thought maybe it is only due to the heavy rains, but after picking up our luggages, we found out that our bags are not just wet but they are fishy wet!! it was as if they were soaked in PATIS or BAGOONG! worse was after following up our complaint, we learned that for cases of lost and damaged baggages, Zest Air would only pay 40pesos per kilo if ever they have proven it is really their fault. According to their customer service manager, the initiative of informing them about the worth of our baggages should have come from us. She said we should have declared it beforehand. Great customer service isnt it? We then have to wait for ten days for them to finish their investigation and get to know their response.
11 August 2009 at 4:25 pm #
I hate hate HATE ZESTAIR and here’s why.
I made a booking via ZestAir’s website last JUNE 20 for a DAVAO – CEBU – DAVAO flight for 9 passengers departing August 22, 2009. ZestAir’s website is a bit weird. If you enter more than 1 passenger, it will give you a higher class/fare. So I booked us each separately — meaning 9 Record Locators, 9 different transactions, 9 different e-tickets, to avail of the lowest possible fares.
My credit card statement came, and BEHOLD. I was charged 10 transactions. This is the beginning of my ZESTAIR TORMENT. I called their customer care center and they put me on hold COUNTLESS TIMES, and long enough for the machine to cut me off. Which meant I had to call again LONG DISTANCE, talk to ANOTHER CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE.
Some time last July, Cebu Pacific had a promo, and 3 of our companions cancelled their bookings with Zest to transfer to CebPac. So now I’m left with 7 charged (and paid for) bookings — with only 6 passengers.
I still haven’t gotten feedback regarding this. Until last SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2009 — or so I thought. ZESTAIR called me, but not to inform me that they found the double charge. No. They called me, 14 days from my flight, to inform me that OUR FLIGHTS ARE CANCELLED.
“Sorry Ma’am, all flights are cancelled until October. We can either refund your ticket or rebook your flight to October.” That was all I got.
I demanded to speak with a supervisor because I would not accept that they simply give me a REFUND for the cancellation. Of course, this is an immense hassle for us. It is NOT my problem that they cancel our flight. It SHOULD NOT be my problem and expense to book another flight.
ZESTAIR only has one DVO – CEBU – DVO flight daily. So when I spoke with the customer service agent that afternoon, her other alternative was that we fly DAVAO – MANILA – CEBU. Ano sila, hilo? Was I supposed to thank them for that offer?! That offer is ridiculous because the DVO – MNL flight departs at 4AM and the MNL – CEB flight departs at 8AM. *Cheers Zestair! you are the best in taking care of customers!* We get a cancelled flight, and in return you offer us a tour of LUZON, VISAYAS, AND MINDANAO in 6 Hours! Take note that we have to be in the airport 2 hours before our flight, so the entire “tour” will last 8 hours! You should promote this!!! NOT.
I asked to speak with whoever has the authority to fix my problem. And today I got a call from their manager/supervisor, some Jocelyn Tolentino, who offered me 3 alternatives:
* A Refund ( of P980 each! *woah I’m rich!!!*)
* DVO-MNL-CEBU flight (PILIPINAS in 8 hours, san ka pa?)
* Rebooking our flight to OCTOBER. (I forgot to ask if this was free of charge though. harhar)
She also mentioned that there is nothing they can do because company policy says they cannot transfer us to another airline. Because their management is incredibly generous (this is nothing but sarcasm, of course) they also booked us via Cebu Pacific (everyone, kindly give them a round of applause) and making us pay for it.
Who wouldn’t be a disgruntled customer?! To those who know me, you know that I have travelled A LOT. This had been, by far, my worst airline experience. I don’t know why I even bothered to make a booking via this airline.
Now, let me ask you, is there any establishment out there who can beat this kind of service? Would you like to fly on an airline who treats customers this way?! I don’t think so. Tell your friends.
Eden Siason
1 March 2010 at 1:02 pm #
oks ako sayo @misterious. tama ka. sometimes, kasi ung mga mahilig magcomplain ung mga taong complain nang complain without knowing ung mga policy. kaya pag may kunting bagay complain agad. if 1st time nyo sumakay make sure u know everything. the airport, the fees, the technical probs for aircraft or the weather kaya may cancelled flight. before complaining make sure u know knowledge sa sasakyan nyo. kung wala panay complain nlang kayo.
1 March 2010 at 3:52 pm #
@ ms eden – I asked to speak with whoever has the authority to fix my problem. And today I got a call from their manager/supervisor, some Jocelyn Tolentino, who offered me 3 alternatives:
**ooppss be careful with the words. walang jocelyn tolentino.. nde po un ang names ng manager / supervisor nila..
6 November 2009 at 12:18 am #
dont ever ever dare na sumakay sa pesteng ZESTAIR “refreshing airline” kuno na to. especially kapag importante ang lakad mo. kahit nag daing na isda mabubulok sa pesteng delayed at cancelled madalas na ginagawa nila. sasabihin lang nila technical problem daw. no detailed information silang ibibigay. Teka sabi nila bagong bili daw ung mga eroplano nila, san nyo po nabili? sa ASIAN SPIRIT na sprit na lng matitra sayo kapag sumakay ka dito. meron bang bagong bili na madalas sira? pesteng technical problem yan! baka naman MARKETING STRATEGY! gusto nilang e compressed or mixed up ung mga pasahero today para sa flight nila bukas kase lugi cla. Haaaaayyy eto pa ang delay nila hindi lng isang oras! October 31, 2009 MLA to PPS ang flight ko 3:20pm flight schedule dapat daw 2 hrs before the flight don ka na. aha! 5:30pm p pala kmi makakaboarding dahil delayed. inexpect namin bago magpasakay ang eroplano dapat me clearance na sila na ayos ang makina nila at lahat lahta. aba! 7:10pm asa eroplano p rin kami at me inaayos daw sa bababa. in short asa Manila terminal kami habang ang pwet ng eroplano e galaw ng galaw, sobra ka pa sa batang pinapatulog sa galaw ng eroplano nlia, ayy oo nga pala syempre me nagtatrabaho nga s a baba eh. buti na rin kesa naman sa himpapawid pa atakihin tong eroplano na to e malamang dedo n kmi ngayon.
Me pasaherong nagtanong; di nyo pa ba kami pabababain? kung hindi, e di pakainin nyo na lng kmi ng dinner. imagine ung mga bata inagugutom na! susmaryusep wag nyo naman silang igaya sa sikmura nyo.
7:20pm na realized nilang pababain na lng kami, and wait for advise adw if derecho ang flight to PPS, ganon? parang bike lang kung mag repair ng eroplano.?
e2 na tinanong ko ung staff nila sa lobby if magpapakain sila at sabi “sori po walang pagkain” haaayyy kung exacto pala ang pera mo mamatay k ditong dilat ang mata. balahaahahh blaaaahhh daming argument! kung pwede lng lumubog sa kahihiyan ng representative nila malamang nagunaw na sya sa bwisit ng mga pasahero. In short pinakain naman kmi ng (ewan! wag n lang ewww!)
e2 pa ala hotel accomodation na ibibigay, di daw approved ng management at kailangan ilabas ang mga bagahe dahil magsasara daw ang airport ng 12MN? gannoooon? e san matuitulog ang mga rescheduled nyong pasahero? sa labas? sa passengers waiting area na malamok at pagnakatulog ka ala na rin ang gamit mo? haayayay asan na ba talaga ang mga kaluluwa nitong mga taga zestair! mamatay na sana ang nakaisip ng stratehiyang ito.
Me kapalpakan pa uli pag dating sa refund, grabe! ala n yatang katapusan tong kapalpakan ng mga tao d2. syempre mahaba ang pila me rebooking me refund! aba pagdating ba naman sa gitna (10:00PM) ala nadaw PERA para sa magrerefund kaya balik n lng bukas! ano? another pamasahe naman. BWISIT!
To hell with them. kung gusto mong magkaroon ng heart problem. TRY nyong mag transac dito sa zestair. HIGHLY recommended. di mo na kailangang uminon ng lason dedo ka kaagad.
GOOD LUCK everyone!
19 November 2009 at 2:16 am #
I TOTALLY AGREE TO BOYCOTT ZESTAIR! I have friend who plans to visit me here in Zamboanga City. 10 days before the flight, they called my friend because the round trip flight will be cancelled. WHOA! Here’s the catch! They offered my a friend a refund and assistance to rebook to other airlines but my friend will shoulder the fare difference. Yes, my friend bought a promo fare but that’s not her problem anymore. When she checked the website, that was the fare they offered. My friend is suppose to see a client but the cancellation will cause her so much. When we tried to talk to the personnel, they said that that’s their policy. It is so frustrating that this kind of service still exist. My friends and I already booked a flight to boracay this december. I will definitely cancel my flight with them and demand for refund without charge! I am afraid that they will just ruin our trip. Once is enough.
25 November 2009 at 12:05 pm #
Duke, hindi lang ikaw ang nasira ang travel plans…this stupid airline informed us yesterday that they have cancelled our flight to hongkong because they scheduled their planes to only go there every sundays, wednesdays and fridays. our trip, which fell on a monday in dec was affected and I was so pissed off last night while talking to their customer service agent. the management wanted to ensure the safety of their passengers thats why they had to make 3 trips na lang daw to HK per week. what’s really getting into my nerves is the fact that we already paid for our hotel. as if the airline will shoulder the expenses since we cant refund in case we cannot change our booking! buti na lang we didnt buy tickets online for the cable car and ferry ride otherwise lugi na naman kami ng almost 500HKD. this is really a lesson for us; we’ll stick to cebupac kung budget travel din lang ang pinag-uusapan
20 February 2010 at 10:41 am #
Flying domestically in Philippines has always been a disaster, it becomes even worse over the last years, like delays, incompetent ticketing-, cabin- and ground staff, bad in-flight services, snobbish cabin crew, etc.
Last year on a flight to Zamboanga, not even a glass of water had been offered and/or served. A San Miguel beer is sold for Pesos 100,– while bought in bulk, the company pays only Pesos 5,– (or even less) for a can of beer.
They should also safe money on cabin crew, as only 1 cabin attendant is more than enough.
The best ground service I experienced was at Zamboanga Airport, as staff was utmost helpful and polite.
Well, that is Philippines style, WHO CARES.
1 March 2010 at 12:13 pm #
excuse me. terminal 1 is internatinal airport. zestair is in old domestic airport. terminal 1 is different from domestic airport where zestair depart and arrives. Actually all airlines sometimes they have delayed flights its depend to the weaTHER or sometimes to the aircraft. and for online booking if you book 1 person they give a rates which is the lowest while you input a group they will give you much higher because all promos even not in zestair are limited seats only. maybe the time you booked your flights 1seats left thats y when you booked a group it gives you much higher rates.and fro terminal fees in airport its depend in the airport premises not in airline.. when you paying 200 for terminal fees you paid in airport not in airline.kahit before ung cebu pac nung sa old domestic airport pa nakabase ganon din naman need mo magwalk sa runway. since ang zestair is dun pa rin kaya ganon! and regarding sa bridges sa iloilo terminal its depend sa aircraft di ka pedeng gumamit ng bridges kung nde sakto ung door ng aircraft sa bridges dahil kung pipilitin ay baka may maaksedente pa. thats my opinion in this site.
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