A Dutch vlogger has gone viral after airing his frustration when he realized Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 has a faulty payment system.
After a six-hour flight from Papua New Guinea, a hungry Tom Grom shared his terrible experience at the airport on TikTok.
The vlogger shared, “We’re hungry so we want to eat but ‘cash only.” Grom said while pointing to a sign in the store that says “cash only.”
He asked, “Is Manila the worst airport to transfer?”
“Let me show you how amazing it is to transfer to Manila International Airport Terminal 2,” he vlogged.
https://www.tiktok.com/@traveltomtom/video/7170558654821829893?embed_source=70842512%2C70846779%2C120811592%2C120810756%3Bnull%3Bembed_pause_share&is_from_webapp=v1&item_id=7170558654821829893&refer=embed&referer_url=coconuts.co%2Fmanila%2Fnews%2Fworst-airport-dutch-tiktoker-laments-cash-only-options-at-naia%2F&referer_video_id=7170558654821829893
He added that the ATM was “temporarily closed.”
Grom noted, “So you think you go to ATM to get cash, it says ‘I’m sorry, I’m temporarily closed.’ So this is the only ATM to get cash, so how to get something here, Philippine Airlines.”
“Think twice before transferring through #manila in the #philippines on a #philippineairlines flight! No cash = no food: I am officially HANGRY!” he wrote.
Terminal 2 at NAIA is used primarily by Philippine Airlines and its domestic subsidiary PAL Express for takeoffs and landings.
Many sympathized with Tom, saying the Philippine airport needs improvement.
“Sad to know your experience here in the Philippines brother but I hope you still visit the Philippines brother god bless you,” a follower said.
Did i lie?😂 #NAIA https://t.co/UdJxs2yclp pic.twitter.com/f2KR5OjwB2
— AltGMA🌈 (@KafosoMo) November 27, 2022
However, most Filipinos criticized Tom for being “unprepared.”
These are some of the comments :
“If you’re a frequent traveler you should have brought cash with you… make sense?”
“Blaming his unpreparedness on other people.”
“Is it our problem that you didn’t bring cash with you?”
The vlogger admitted in a response that he should’ve been more prepared.
He replied, “Also this year I went to 60 countries next time I will actually bring currency for every country you’re right.”
Over 802,000 people have watched Tom’s video, with 21,600 likes and 4,153 comments.
Most recently, the NAIA was ranked as the third most stressful airport in Asia and Oceania by the travel blog Hawaiian Islands.
The blog analyzed 1500 Google reviews from travelers who visited 500 airports around the world.
It was found that 58% of passengers reported feeling anxious while going through the Philippine airport’s main gateway.