On an unplanned trip back to my hometown just before the hectic Chinese New Year holidays, I was happy to find a reasonably priced Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight. I often flew Cebu Pacific, big thanks to its recurring low-fare promotions. But when booking unscheduled trips, I found out that PAL offers more competitive rates.

However, as with past personal experience and gripes from friends, I was expecting the flight to be delayed. Such notorious characteristic of this airline earning monikers such as PAL meant Plane Always Late, PALaging Late (Always Late) and other airline name jokes.

In fairness, flying Philippine Airlines is a relief from the cramped seats I often experience at Cebu Pacific. FAA’s downgrade of Philippine carriers to Category 2 meant PAL cannot expand its reach within the United States. European Union also banned Filipino (along with Honduran and Congolese) airlines from flying within its airspace. This also meant it is possible to ride its wide bodied aircraft intended for long-haul expansion flights even during domestic flights. As a result, I took a comfortable ride in PAL’s Boeing 747-400 and 777-300ER in and out of Hong Kong.

But with its unstable handling of flight schedules, Philippine Airlines has put passenger’s at risk of missing connecting flights and subsequent appointments. My flight from Davao to Manila was not an exception. The flight took off more than an hour later than its schedule. A proud yet talkative captain informed everyone that it “was an honor to have a high-ranking official of the Philippines to be on board that Davao-Manila flight”, making me suspect that boarding a VIP could be a recipe for delayed flight.

PAL makes contingency plans but only as required by United States authorities and may not apply to other international as well as domestic flights.

While our domestic flight arrived late as expected, the connecting flight flew as scheduled. To accommodate the four of us from that delayed domestic flight, authorities had to call our attention, run unobstructed at baggage inspection counter and bump other passengers (special thanks to the Canadians who didn’t mind us taking their queue) at the immigration counter. On the cabin a Hong Kong passenger half-jokingly said I was responsible for the delay of the flight but was quick to reassure me it wasn’t my fault.

We landed in Hong Kong as scheduled, but as I was anxiously waiting for the luggage to arrive at the conveyor, I found myself left behind along with the other three passengers in that delayed Davao-Manila sector. One was a solo traveler and the other was a couple on holiday. Several minutes after the screen display indicated the last of the luggage had been dispatched, we were left with no choice but to file a lost baggage claim.

With another flight the following day, I was hoping to reuse that lost luggage. Filling up the form at the luggage enquiry section at Hong Kong International Airport, I couldn’t entirely blame Philippine Airlines for the botched handling of our bags. I learned that the flight to Davao was delayed because of another delay from a flight to Manila from Los Angeles. In short, it was a domino effect and we were destined to suffer the fate of passengers boarding that state-of-the-art aircraft.

Airport staff were professional enough in handling our case and offered to deliver the lost luggage once it is recovered. I had a feeling it’s not if, but when, will I get hold of that bag. True enough, the luggage was delivered at home while my wife and I were rolling at Jisan Resort.

Many thanks to the prompt action of Hong Kong International Airport staff. To Philippine Airlines, I just wish there will be fewer flight delays in the future. It would be a shame to be celebrating more than 70 years of service as Asia’s first airline if passengers find creative ways to make fun of it.