Escape EDSA traffic via Ascent Flights by Philjets

ASCENT FLIGHTS by PHILJETS offers a helicopter ride from NAIA to Makati or Quezon City and vice-versa. 

Metro Manila traffic has been a struggle Manileño has been battling on a day-to-day basis. Although the government has been creating different strategies to ease the traffic, it is still not enough to solve the problem.  EDSA traffic could feel like a hopeless case but I do hope it could be given a proper solution. It may not be the right time yet but it was a good thing that even private companies are making an effort to develop options to escape the horrible traffic we usually experience.

Why take a car if you could just fly! ASCENT FLIGHTS by PHILJETS now offer (since March 23, 2018) a faster way to commute from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to Makati and/or Quezon City and vice versa. 

Continue reading, will tell you more things you need to know about the ASCENT services.

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I was able to try the service a few days ago. The route I chose was a freight from NAIA to Makati City. This is an option one can choose if you are coming from a flight and would want to be in Makati in no time. Escaping traffic has never been possible if you’re traveling via EDSA especially on a rush hour. And if you are on a hurry and would need to be on an important meeting or something else, availing this kind of service would be ideal.

On the other hand, you will never missed a flight by taking a freight from Makati to NAIA which only takes 15 minutes. Add to that, the nice view on the top! As a matter of fact, I was able to appreciate the Manila Skyline more when I tried the ASCENT Flight. Honestly, It was my first time riding a helicopter so I was excited and nervous at the same time.

Currently, ASCENT FLIGHTS have the following routes and pricing per seat:

FLY FROM NAIA TO MAKATI P7,800
FLY FROM MAKATI TO NAIA P7,800

 
FLY FROM NAIA TO QUEZON CITY P12,800
FLY FROM QUEZON CITY TO NAIA P12,800

 
FLY FROM MAKATI TO QUEZON CITY P8,800
FLY FROM QUEZON CITY TO MAKATI P8,800

Booking is quick and easy. After confirming my preferred route, I received a confirmation email with the details and things I would need to know about my flight. That includes their bag requirements as well as the time of departure. Here is a quick guide for booking a seat.

1. Select your preferred route via ascent.flights
2. Choose your preferred date and time along with the complete passenger’s details.
3. You will then be redirected to a cart where you have to login, then you can proceed with the payment.

Passenger coming from NAIA, should be at the ASCENT office a few minutes before the flight. There you would need to confirm your flight at the reception area. Just state your name and they would counter check your ride. If you arrive a bit early, you can chill at the lounge and have some free coffee, water or tea, which is basically what I did. (Check out the Heli Ride Video here)

A shuttle service would then take the passengers to the docking area. The transfer would just take a few minutes and you are good to go. Each freight can accommodate seven (7) passengers including the pilot. Of course, best seat would be at front.  (More commuting guides here)

My flight was at 4:00 pm. I was told to be at the departure area no later than 20 minutes before the flight. The check-in of my flight closes at 3:40pm. I was lucky to be at the front seat and was joined by some businessmen on this trip.  The flight from NAIA to Makati would only take less than 15 minutes. Ascent Flights station in Makati is located at Peninsula Manila. As soon as it landed, Ascent personnel assisted us down to the lobby.

Aside from escaping from traffic, it was also a super fun experience. Special thanks to ASCENT FLIGHTS and PhilJets for making this freight happen. For bookings, you may go directly to https://ascent.flights/. Do not forget to leave a comment below if you have any questions in mind. 

Traffic Status and Behavior in Manila, Philippines (and other Popular Cities) during Peak Hours

Manila, Philippines

The capital region of this island nation is home to over 12 million people with a daytime population of 15 million. This translates to around 21,000 people per square kilometer, making it one of the most densely populated cities in the world. A recent study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for ride-hailing service Uber Philippines showed that the average time spent in traffic per person goes up to 16 days per year. And that’s not including the 24 minutes spent a day looking for parking.

Recent efforts to alleviate traffic congestions include the consideration of an Electronic Road Pricing (ERP), improvements on public transport systems and the recent passing of the Telecommuting Act.

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is split up into 50 districts and holds quite a number of business and retail districts. With the exact location of Central Business Districts (CBD) shifting over time, Bangkok is now split into its Core CBD and Outer CBD. The Core CBD is made up of its original CBD locations, Silom and Ploenchit. While the Outer CBD is mostly made up of Sukhumvit. While the distribution of its CBD and the recently built mass transit lines have firmly anchored the Core and Outer CBD, traffic congestion in Bangkok is still a pertinent challenge. The same study from BCG shows that the average time spent in traffic per person is estimated to be 24 days per year.

Recent efforts to alleviate traffic congestions include stricter enforcement of traffic laws, road improvement projects, and flood control programs. However, some districts like Ekkamai, Ratchadaphisek and Rama III have also started to boom, providing reason to believe that the city is set for yet another extension of its CBD.

Jakarta, Indonesia

Inrix ranks Jakarta as the second-most congested city in Asia next to Bangkok and 17th in the world. With over 10 million people trying to get to their destinations in and out of the city, traffic jams are a common occurrence in Indonesia’s capital. In fact, the BCG study reported that the average time spent in traffic per person is estimated to be 22 days per year.

Recent efforts to alleviate traffic congestions include the high-occupancy vehicle scheme and odd-even plate program. To augment this, plans have been announced to integrate an electronic road pricing system that aims to charge motorists for entering certain roads.

For more details about and to know the Cities with Good Traffic Conditions, you can visit  the article:

Traffic Status and Behavior of Popular Cities During Peak Hours

To give you an idea of how traffic affects our lives, here is an infographic of the traffic status and behaviors of popular cities during peak hours:

Until our next discovery in the City!

またね Mata ne!

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