My CebuPacific Story: 8 International Destinations In Three Years

Their slogan is right. It’s time every Juan flies.

4 years ago I wouldn’t have imagined spending a weekend in Australia, my birthday in Japan, our anniversary in China, Thailand and Cambodia, new year in Taiwan and a weekend with my mother and Mary in Hong Kong and Macau (as a Mothers’ Day gift), all in the span of 3 years.

Before we get started, let me leave it out here that this is not a paid ad (I wish it were). However, what drove me to write this is to inspire and encourage other people out there, that traveling is not just for the rich. After all, the purpose of FOOTLOOSETOMCAT.COM is to share experiences, and tell stories.

Not long ago, I couldn’t even afford to buy clothes from the mall – I always bought the surplus kind, the wag-wag, the ukay. I figured that as long as I could wear them to the office, I was okay.

My youngest sister went to college on a stipend and we, as a family, poured in what little resources we had – albeit insufficient for her needs, to ensure she finished her degree in Information Technology. She is a strong woman, my sister, though that story is something I am saving up for her wedding next year (sob, sob).

Fast forward to 2014, my first international flight happened to be…drumroll.. to Hong Kong and Macau. My sister just about got her own job then and I also moved to another company that paid higher than the last.

Then another seat sale happened. I said to myself, maybe I can celebrate my birthday in Tokyo?

A year after, I found myself celebrating our first anniversary and my birthday in Beijing. Wow, this isn’t happening!

Hard work (so I can deserve my vacation leaves), a frugal mindset (so I can afford the expenses), patience (so I can stay awake on hours to snag that seal sale) and a method to this madness (using my GetGo points as wisely as I could) all helped me go to these countries where Cebu Pacific flies to.

I came back to Japan and this time, with Mary, in 2016.

We spent the new year week in Taipei to welcome 2017.

We celebrated our second anniversary in Bangkok and Siem Reap, and then, wow! Sydney.

We had a Guam trip in August that we decided to cancel due to the tense situation on the island territory. I almost booked a RT ticket for two to Dubai for only 5,600 using my points just a few days bacl, but chose not to because of an upcoming trip. Maybe next time!

 

 

How much were those tickets? How did I earn my GetGo points? How do I know if there are seat sale promos?

Let’s start with how I try to save money when not traveling – read more here. It basically says that I go for discounted restaurants, discounted services, discounted accommodation. Getting the trend? 🙂

Here’s how much the tickets cost, which in reality, is dirt cheap compared to regular fares. The key is book months ahead. I had no denied visas yet in all of the countries I went to, which is kind of great.

What I also like about this airline is that there is no extra fee when using a credit or debit card to book. They can even hold your booking up to 24 hours – way, way convenient and favorable to budget-centered people like me.

HOW I GOT THE FREE (BASE FARE) FLIGHT TO SYDNEY:

Cebu Pacific GetGo Credit Card with Union Bank launched a promo for a free round trip ticket to any CEB flight destination (base fare only) if I got approved, and spent a total of PhP 20,000 until a given time.

 

Before this, I never owned a credit card. I submitted all my requirements, was approved, spent money (easy actually since I used the card for groceries in Robinsons – which is another way for me to get the points). Soon after the voucher arrived. Even if the base fare was free, I still had to pay for taxes and such, including the ridiculous (oops, just my opinion) international travel tax of PhP 1,620.

 

 

HOW YOU CAN BECOME A GETGO MEMBER:

Just sign up at www.getgo.com.ph and a card will be delivered to you with your name on it. You can also get one at any Cebu Pacific locations, or at the airports. You will get a nameless card, but you will receive email notifications nonetheless, whenever a seat sale is announced.

 

HOW YOU CAN ACCUMULATE GETGO POINTS:

When you log on to the website, you will see a lot of partners where you can get points. I specifically like Robinsons supermarket and department store because we live a stone’s throw away from Galeria. I get points because I use my GetGo credit card and my GetGo member card (instead of using my Robisons Card). If you have a car, you can use it at Petron, or, as a traveler, you can use it when booking at KLOOK or in some partner hotels.

You also get points every time you book with Cebu Pacific and enter your GetGo member number. You can also use your points outside of booking tickets. You can shop too, just remember to visit the website as promos may change.

One doesn’t have to be rich to travel. Sometimes, you just have to know how do it by the cheap.

And in less than a week, half of my dream for my parents, will come true, in God’s will, through Cebu Pacific. Mama is going out of the country before she hits 60! And who knows, I may convince my father to go to Japan where his sister, my Aunt, lives. Nothing is impossible.

And can I just say thank you, Cebu Pacific?!? You’ve made a lot of Juans fly!