Have you ever felt hungy while waiting for your flight at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)? I have. But the food at NAIA is "golden" when it comes to price. Imagine paying P110 for a pork jumbo special siopao - I mean, in Chinese restos where the siopaos are really good, you won't pay more than P50 for a jumbo (e.g. Jade Valley-Timog siopao is only P38 - and it's one of the good tasting ones). Or what about the "mami" - P120 per bowl, and we are talking about a styro-bowl, pour hot-water type of mami! Or a triangle-shaped sandwich overflowing with mayo, or a burger that looks too dry that just looking at them turns you off. Or a 3-in-one coffee for P50.
I would not complain if the quality is good - but these are microwave-heated food. The shops seem to be capitalizing on the fact that passengers have no choice. Compare NAIA with other airports - Bangkok airport have fastfood joints or sit-down type restos, so does Singapore, or Narita, or Schipol, or Hongkong .... the list is long actually. These airports have McDonalds, Burger King, and other fastfood joints with the same prices, or maybe just a little bit higher than their stores outside the airport (but definitely not twice the amount, like the "golden" siopaos at NAIA). If you want to eat a fancier dish and willing to pay more, there are choices in these airports.
Now going back to NAIA's siopao and mami... I really wonder what's so special about those siopao and mami. Maybe they taste good... but, despite my hunger, I can't make myself buy those food and patronize the food shops - it's a matter of principle!! I may pay P100.oo for the cup noodle at a Cebu Pacific flight- at least the stewardess can justify the price; "Hey, isn't it cool, you're eating cup noodles on air!".
(NAIA, as we all know, is named after the modern-day hero, Ninoy Aquino. He probably would turn in his grave if he learns about the pitiful state of his namesake.)
3 comments:
In fariness to NAIA, they have a canteen between the International and Domestic terminals at the NAIA Centennial. So before I check-in, I used to eat at the canteen. Obviously the price is reasonable since the canteen caters to the employees of the airport.
As for the pasalubongs, the P104 peso Goldilocks pulvoron costs P150inside the airport. I am not complaining about this - but if you want save better buy your pasalubong outside the airport.
Sir, maybe they are in dreamland
Hi Boss Apple, I actually tried the siopao and siomai in NAIA on my way back to NZ. What can I say about the expensive siopao - tasted like an ordinary siopao, the sauce was in a tight ice-candy plastic and I used my teeth to open it. I would definitely not buy this siopao again.
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