Flights from Philippines to United States — Visa, Best Time, Routes | 2026

Flights from the Philippines to the United States

The United States is the largest balikbayan corridor — ~4.2 million Filipinos and Filipino-Americans, the largest Filipino diaspora outside the Philippines. Philippine Airlines dominates with daily nonstop service to LAX, SFO, JFK, plus 5x weekly SEA at planned ORD service. Off-peak roundtrip economy fares sit at PHP 38,000-58,000 (LAX); JFK at SEA climb to PHP 45,000-72,000. Pasko at summer peak hits PHP 85,000-120,000. US visa required for all Philippine passport holders.

Visa for Philippine passport holders

The United States does not offer visa-free entry for Philippine passport holders — Philippines is not a Visa Waiver Program country. B1/B2 visitor visa ay most common for tourism, balikbayan, at family visits, valid 10 years multiple-entry once approved. Apply via US Embassy Manila with DS-160 form, MRV fee (~USD 185 / PHP 10,500), in-person interview, at supporting documents (financial, employment, ties to Philippines). Approval rates vary by applicant profile; first-time applicants face higher refusal rates. F-1 student visa for university studies. H-1B specialty occupation at EB-2/EB-3 employment-based immigrant visas for sponsored work. Family-based immigrant visas (F1-F4 categories) have multi-year backlogs. K-1 fiance visa for marriage-based migration. B1/B2 holders cannot work, study formally, or stay >6 months per entry. This is general information based on public consular guidance — verify current requirements with the US Embassy in Manila or a licensed immigration attorney. Not legal advice.

Routes from PH airports

Best time to fly

Cheapest pockets are late January through March at September to early November, when MNL-LAX dips to PHP 38,000-48,000 roundtrip. Avoid the Pasko balikbayan rush (Dec 15-Jan 5) — pinaka-mahal window of the year, fares spike 80-150% kasi puno ng kabayan visiting family. US summer travel (mid-June through August) is also peak with leisure uplift. Thanksgiving (4th Thursday November) brings sharp domestic-driven inbound uplift. Holy Week sees moderate uplift mainly from balikbayan returnees. Chinese New Year affects routings via tag points. Spring Break (March-April) brings short uplift. Book 4-6 months ahead for Pasko; 8-12 weeks for off-peak. PAL’s pricing tends to be more stable than third-country carriers’ tag fares.

Currency & on-the-ground budget tips

The US dollar is the global reserve currency: PHP 1,000 ≈ USD 17.85 (1 USD ≈ PHP 56) as of May 2026. Daily food budget: PHP 1,500-3,500 (USD 27-62) for typical fast-food at sit-down meals; Filipino restaurants (Jollibee US, Goldilocks, Seafood City) widely available sa Cali. Mall meals (Glendale, Manhattan) ay PHP 2,500-5,000. Tipping is mandatory in restaurants (15-20%); factor in. Public transport varies — NYC subway ~USD 2.90 per ride, LA Metro card USD 1.75. Stay sa Airbnb Filipino-host neighborhoods (Daly City, West Covina, Eagle Rock) PHP 4,500-8,500/night. Tipid tip: balikbayan boxes via LBC, Forex, Atlas — PHP 2,500-5,500 for a standard box. ESTA does NOT apply to PH passport holders — full visa required.

FAQ

Magkano ang ticket Manila to US? Off-peak MNL-LAX ay PHP 38,000-58,000 (USD 680-1,030) roundtrip; JFK/SEA mas mahal. Pasko hits PHP 85,000-120,000.

Pwede ba mag-direct flight Manila to US? Oo po — PAL nonstop sa LAX, SFO, JFK, SEA (5x). UA via SFO; DL via SEA.

Anong visa kailangan? B1/B2 tourist visa via US Embassy Manila. DS-160 + interview + USD 185 fee. 10-year multiple-entry kapag approved.

Saan pinaka-malaki ang Pinoy diaspora sa US? California (LA, SD, Bay Area), ~1.5M; plus Hawaii, Nevada, NY/NJ, Chicago, Texas, Seattle. Total ~4.2M.

Related

• Manila to Los Angeles flights →
• Manila to San Francisco flights →
• Manila to New York JFK flights →
• Philippine Airlines carrier guide →
• Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) →

Updated 9 May 2026. About the author →.