MIAA: Terminal fee exemption to make ticket purchase easier for OFWs

OFWs can soon purchase airline tickets with much ease and speed as they no longer have to pay terminal fee, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said Monday.
Under the recently signed memorandum of agreement between MIAA and air carriers, OFW exemption shall be recognized at any point of sale in the Philippines or abroad beginning April 30, 2017.
"As they buy their ticket, one has to state or declare that he is an OFW for exemption to be recognized," MIAA general manager Ed Monreal said. "The selling agent may or may not ask for a proof of entitlement during transaction."
"If no proof is shown during transaction, the passenger should be able to present one during check-in at NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) where same shall be validated," he added.
Meanwhile, beginning July 31, 2017, air carriers will start honoring OFW exemptions at any point of sale for tickets purchased online, through telephone and mobile applications.
Montreal reminded the OFWs that a passenger may be asked to show his proof of entitlement upon check-in at the NAIA. These include documents under the Balik Manggagawa exemption, namely valid employment contract or recent payslip, among others.
Previously, only the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) is honored as proof of entitlement.
At present, OFWs, though exempted by law, have to pay terminal fee and are only refunded later on — a process, OFWs said, that is tedious and time-consuming.
According to Montreal, owing to the one year validity of airline tickets, the MIAA shall retain refund counters at the NAIA Terminals until April 2018.
"Beyond that date, refund may be done at the MIAA Collection Division in the MIAA administration building along MIA Road," he said.
Monreal clarified that refund has no expiration and may be done through a representative provided proper authorization is present. —KBK, GMA News

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