A distressed overseas Filipino worker (OFW) has called out budget carrier Cebu Pacific after a severely delayed domestic flight on Saturday, April 27, 2025, caused her to miss her scheduled international flight from Manila to Doha, Qatar.
Based on the Facebook post of Ninz O. Tagle said she was booked on Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 2268 from Iloilo to Manila, originally scheduled to depart at 8:05 a.m.
However, according to her account, boarding was abruptly halted around 7:30 a.m. after the airline announced that the flight was overbooked. Cebu Pacific offered passengers travel vouchers and cash incentives to voluntarily give up their seats, but no updates were provided on whether any passengers accepted the offer.
By 8 a.m., boarding had yet to commence, raising concerns among passengers with tight onward connections. The passenger, who had a 1:00 p.m. Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight bound for Doha, sought assistance from Cebu Pacific staff, who assured her they would prioritize passengers with international connections.
As the hours dragged on, frustration mounted. Cebu Pacific began distributing snacks at 9:30 a.m., a sign to passengers that delays would persist. Despite repeated pleas at the boarding counter, she was advised to standby for the next Manila-bound flight at 10:05 a.m., only to be told later it was fully booked.
At around 11 a.m.—three hours after her original departure time—the passenger realized she would miss her Manila-Doha flight. Cebu Pacific staff issued her a certificate confirming the delayed flight but said they could not assist with her international booking, as it involved a different airline.
“It’s like they just left me to fix everything on my own,” she said. “They handed me a calling card for PAL and told me to email them about my situation. I couldn’t believe it. I lost my flight because of their delay, but I was the one running around asking for help.”
Worse, when she contacted PAL, she was informed that rebooking her flight would cost over P70,000, as only business class seats were available.
“We are just ordinary OFWs,” she lamented. “If you exceed baggage allowance by just one kilogram, airlines will charge you hundreds of pesos. But if you miss your flight because of them, it seems they think saying ‘sorry’ is enough.”
According to her, Cebu Pacific’s delayed flight eventually left Iloilo for Manila around 3 p.m.—seven hours past the original departure time.
The incident adds to a growing number of complaints against Cebu Pacific, particularly concerning overbooking practices, chronic delays, and limited passenger compensation. Many travelers have voiced frustrations on social media, calling for stricter regulations on airline accountability, especially for passengers with onward international connections.
As of writing, Cebu Pacific has not issued an official statement on the matter.
