Bahrain based carrier Gulf Air is currently offering nice business class fares to the Philippine capital of Manila, with roundtrips departing available for as little as €1,417 from Athens. While a change of planes in Bahrain is necessary both ways, the ticket includes lie-flat-seats on all four segments, lounge access, priority services and 2 pieces of luggage, each weighing a maximum of 32 kg. Departures are available from October 2025 through May 2026.
Our availability calendar highlights all possible flight dates at the lowest price for trips up to 28 days. It will forward you to Gulf Air with your selected flight dates. You can also check what OTAs have to offer, as they sell these tickets up to €160 cheaper.
We have filtered out flights with excessive layovers in Bahrain. Availability gets broader if you don’t mind spending 6+ hours at the airport.
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Gulf Air uses its Airbus A321LRs on its routes between Europe and Bahrain. These planes have a 2-2 configuration of lie-flat seats. On the flight to Manila, the airline uses its Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Those feature the Apex Suites, allowing direct aisle access to everyone regardless of the 2-2-2 configuration. On the inbound, you have a longer layover of up to six hours in Bahrain – but can enjoy lounge access during that time.
Gulf Air’s Boeing 787 Dreamliners feature Collins Aerospace’s Apex Suites, which allow direct aisle access to every seat, while having a 2-2-2 configuration. You can read reviews of the experience by Live and Let’s Fly or One Mile at a Time.
Most EU citizens can visit the Philippines visa-free for 30 days when travelling for touristic purposes. However, prior online registration is required.
Search & Book
These tickets are on sale today, September 15, 2025. A minimum stay of three days and a maximum stay of twelve months applies. Departures are available from October 2025 through May 2026.
Google Flights will show you additional flight dates. Once you select your dates, you can book on Skyscanner or Gulf Air’s website with your preselected flight dates. Booking through Skyscanner is roughly €150 cheaper, but a little riskier.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Miles & Points
Gulf Air issues tickets for all flight segments in booking class I. A ticket from Athens earns the following miles and points:
- 13,250 Miles on Etihad Guest
- 12,740 Award Miles on Air Canada Aeroplan
- 12,740 Points on Air Canada Aeroplan 2026
- Customize Calculation
Destination
Information & Tips for Manila
Manila, the capital of the Philippines, offers historical sites like Intramuros, Rizal Park, and the National Museum, as well as modern attractions such as shopping malls and entertainment districts. The local currency is the Philippine peso (PHP), and while credit cards are accepted in many places, cash is often used in smaller shops and markets. The cost of travel is relatively low, with affordable food and transportation options. The weather is tropical, with a hot and humid climate year-round, and a rainy season from June to October.
→ All Dealz for Manila
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Comments (2)
is it Possible to do a long Transit in Bahrain like for 2 days?
According to the fare rules, stopovers in Bahrain of up to seven days should be possible. Sadly, we haven’t found any combination in which this works, prices always increase to at least €2,500.