Pinoys now more confident, adventurous travelers, says Star Alliance member airline
Filipinos are becoming bolder, more intentional travelers, according to All Nippon Airways, a Star Alliance member.
Taking the do-it-yourself approach in planning their travels, Filipinos, especially the frequent flyers, now tend to bypass travel agencies and put together their journeys themselves.
"Compared to travelers in other countries in Southeast Asia, Philippine travelers book directly on airlines' websites," Jane Santos, sales manager of ANA, told PhilSTAR L!fe during the media briefing of Star Alliance on Tuesday, Nov. 10, in Pasay City.
"We see that there's real confidence in booking," Santos said.
"The first time you go to Japan, Filipinos usually go with a travel agency. But from our experience, and talking to consumers, when Filipinos go a second time, a third time, they really monitor our [seat] sales. They know when to talk to us," Santos continued.
"Sila na mismo 'yung nagpaplano for their own travel... They're really developing [as travelers] and matapang," she added.
CONTINUE READING BELOW
The modern conveniences of travel have helped a great deal. If, years ago, Filipinos were apprehensive about traveling to a country with a language barrier, such as Japan, the anxiety is gone today. According to Santos, mobile apps, specifically, are helping Filipinos feel comfortable navigating a country where English isn't the main language.
"I think that's really opening up the travel landscape for us," Santos said. "Filipinos are doing more, exploring a little bit more. It's always been Tokyo and then Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya, 'yung mga may direct flight. But we're seeing a lot of the not-so-well-known destinations are opening up to Filipino travelers."
"For us in ANA, it's very encouraging," Santos said.
Seamless travel
ANA is one of the 26 member airlines of Star Alliance, a 13-time winner of World's Best Airline Alliance. According to its press release, one Star Alliance flight taking off every five seconds across the globe.
Twelve of the alliance's member airlines operate in the Philippines.
Because Star Alliance holds its member airlines up to strict standards, flying on any of the alliance's airlines can be a journey worth repeating.
The great travel experience doesn't begin only on the plane, per Star Alliance, but at the airport, since the brand crafts solutions for customer journeys in four stages: booking the trip, navigating the airport, making connections, and preserving customer loyalty.
For Malu Oclarence-Dueñas, chairperson of Star Alliance, Country Sales & Marketing group, customers also get to enjoy the wider range of options from this big group of airlines that work together.
"The biggest game changer would be choices," Oclarence-Dueñas told L!fe. "Because the moment you are given a wide array of choices for your travel needs, automatically, the prices will be more competitive, the convenience is there."
Customers who fly with any Star Alliance airline get numerous perks, including access to over 1,000 airport lounges, priority security and immigration access, seamless free seat selection across airlines, more flight choices with 42% global alliance seat capacity, and miles earning for 450 million members across 19 Frequent Flyer Programs.
Ahead of the journey
Star Alliance, the first of its kind, launched in 1997 and grew to become the largest airline alliance in the world, according to its press release.
"The 1990s brought about a fundamental shift in how people travel: globalization, economic growth, even the open-skies policies spurred passengers to travel not just domestically or regionally but globally," Oclarence-Dueñas told L!fe.
As people traveled more frequently, they realized they required "more sophisticated" conveniences while in transit to their destinations.
"It was then established that no single airline can actually cater to these needs and wants, which is why the Star Alliance was born," Oclarence-Dueñas said.
"For nearly three decades, we have redefined global mobility, bridging continents, cultures, and communities," she continued.
Star Alliance member airlines include Aegean, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, ITA Airways, Lot Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS International Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways International, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines.
WATCH: Can you still trust someone who betrayed you? (Generations Ep. 22)
September 23, 2026
WATCH: Boomers: Hirap mag-adjust o ayaw lang? (Generations Ep. 27)
October 28, 2026
WATCH: Pixar Summer Fest adventure at Hong Kong Disneyland
August 10, 2026