Manila’s Mabuhay Lounge Wi-Fi complaint: what one review does—and does not—show
A recent Terminal 1 review reported laptop connection problems. Here is how to read that account alongside PAL’s advertised lounge offering.
A published review raises a practical question
A recent review of Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay Lounge at Manila Terminal 1 describes a mixed experience: a place to eat and wait, but also crowding and difficulty connecting a laptop to Wi-Fi. The report is a useful prompt to check whether a lounge can meet a traveler’s work needs before paying for entry.
Ben Schlappig’s One Mile at a Time review describes a September 2026 visit. He reported that his phone connected while his laptop did not. That establishes one visitor’s experience; it does not establish a permanent outage or a fault affecting every foreign computer.
The airline advertises Wi-Fi
Philippine Airlines includes Wi-Fi among the features of its myPAL Lounge offering. Its published paid-access information lists the Manila Terminal 1 lounge at PHP2,850, with access for eligible passengers up to three hours before estimated departure. Travelers should check the current price and conditions during booking.
| Question | What the reviewed information establishes |
|---|---|
| Is Wi-Fi advertised? | Yes, by Philippine Airlines |
| Did the reviewer’s laptop connect? | He reported that it did not |
| Did his phone connect? | He reported that it did |
| Is a universal device restriction proven? | No |
The review also described crowding and loud announcements. These observations are useful context, but the article does not measure conditions across multiple days or departure waves. A quiet visit by one traveler would not invalidate a busy visit by another, and neither should be turned into a guarantee of future conditions.
Separate an amenity list from a work plan
An advertised Wi-Fi connection tells a passenger that the service is offered. It does not tell them how well a particular device, corporate network setup or video call will work during a specific visit. Those are different questions, and a high-stakes work plan should account for that gap.
If a connection is essential, test it before settling in. Open the page or service you need, confirm that the login process completes and check whether the connection is stable enough for the task. Ask staff for the current sign-in procedure if it fails. Do not infer a general technical explanation from an informal comment at the desk.
Download boarding passes and essential documents before reaching the airport. For work that cannot be interrupted, keep a backup plan that does not depend on the lounge connection. That might mean finishing the task before leaving for the airport or arranging another suitable location.
Decide what the entry fee is worth to you
Paid lounge admission is easier to evaluate when the purpose is clear. A traveler who wants food and a place to sit may judge the value differently from someone who needs a reliable office or a shower before a long flight.
At the quoted price, compare the cost with the time actually available before boarding. An allowance of up to three hours does not mean a passenger will have three hours to use. Check-in, security and other departure requirements can reduce the practical visit.
If lounge entry is already included in the ticket or through a qualifying benefit, confirm that entitlement before buying a separate pass. If it is not included, ask which facilities and services the paid option covers. A shower, a quiet seat or another particular amenity should not be assumed to be immediately available merely because it appears in a general description.
What this review can—and cannot—tell travelers
The account provides a specific example of a lounge visit that did not fully meet a reviewer’s expectations. It should be read alongside the airline’s current offering, with the visit date in mind. It is not evidence that all passengers will encounter the same problems.
Lounge Frog has not independently tested the Terminal 1 Wi-Fi or inspected the lounge for this article. The practical lesson is to confirm the exact facility, test any essential service and avoid treating an airport lounge as a guaranteed workspace.
Lead photo: an official Airbus photograph of a Philippine Airlines A350-1000. It illustrates the airline and does not depict the Mabuhay Lounge.
