Legacy carrier Philippine Airlines has forged a partnership with wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. to provide exclusive, co-branded tourist SIMs to air travelers arriving at major airports in the country.
PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said Smart will provide PAL Travel SIMs to international passengers of select flights arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark International Airport, Cebu International Airport, Caticlan Airport, and Davao International Airport.
She said the all-in-one Smart PAL Travel SIM is pre-loaded with 1 GB of open-access data, unlimited texts, and unlimited calls to Smart, TNT and Sun subscribers, valid for one day.
In-flight vouchers for the Smart PAL Travel SIM will be distributed to travelers, who can then claim them for free at the Smart booths located at the airport arrival area.
Under the partnership, Smart, Sun and TNT subscribers can also look forward to exclusive seat sales and other promos, as well as free access to PAL’s hotline, website and app.
The program partnership was launched Dec. 12 at the arrival lobby of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, with PAL, Smart, MIAA officials and program partners in attendance.
“We are happy to work with the country’s flag carrier in ensuring that our international visitors have access to the Philippines’ fastest network while they are traveling around the country,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT chairman and chief executive officer.
"Philippine Airlines is delighted to forge a program partnership with Smart Communications Inc. [Smart] as it enables our travelers to experience the benefits of a local SIM card—convenient connectivity and saving on hefty roaming charges. We look forward to sustaining this worthwhile collaboration," said PAL president and COO Gilbert Santa Maria.
Joel Zurbano
“With this agreement, our friends from other countries who are visiting our islands can share their travel experiences while on-the-go using the Smart PAL Travel SIM on the Smart LTE network that we have put in place across the country,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT chief revenue officer and Smart president and CEO.