Flying Air Jamaica from ATL to BON in April. First time using an international airline. Can anyone tell me if there are problems with checked luggage getting to BON. What about the cabin service quality? We are flying coach and have never been on an airbus 320 or 321. Thanks!!!

Tip 1: Order Ting (grapefruit soda)
Tip 2: Bring snacks
Tip 3: When in Mo Bay head downstairs to buy some fresh nutmeg and a grater, coffee, jams and what not.
Tip 4: Margaritaville has decent food..really...
Tip 5. The airport in Mo Bay is HOT...

I love Air Jamaica!

AJ's fleet is new and clean and their crews are wonderful. You should enjoy your excursion with them. We have been flying with them for years now. We, personally, have not experienced any problems with AJ getting our bags from Newark, NJ to Montego Bay onto Bonaire. Of course AJ is an airline just as there are "others" and anything can happen unexpectedly.

You should enjoy your flight with them. Have a great trip! Carole

We've also loved Air Jamaica, though they are a bit less handicap-aware than some (we saw a poor guy in a wheelchair bumped up the stairs like a parcel, then manhandled into his seat, him howling in pain - they just didn't have any facilities for doing it any other way in Montego Bay)

That said, they've always either been on time or held connecting flights in my experience. Our luggage always arrived with us. The staff has always been friendly and courteous in our experience.

The only complaint my husband has is the leg-room - he's 6'3" and begs for the bulkhead seats every time, though it doesn't always work.

We flew AJ from Miami-Montego Bay-Bonaire & back. The planes and seating space is just like any other plane -- not big enough! BUT -- the AJ service was super, they served hot meals, and had complimentary champagne (as well as wine & beer). Where else nowdays do you get that kind of service in coach???

All flights were on time, if not early. And, all the luggage arrived with us -- nothing broken or missing.

They aren't perfect, though. :–) One flight back was delayed a day because of a mechanical down bound from MB that held a planeload of us overnight on Bonaire. Next day, flight up from MB to EWR was late. So... they have been good but not perfect.

Flew them once to Bon and back from LA...the crew was more attentive and pleasant than most airlines in the US I've been on. Their airbus from MBay to Bon...don't sit in the very back seats...very noisy and right by the engines! I have no complaints though They actually make you put up the window shades on take off and landing (to have lots of eyes looking for something?)

Glen, my trip to Bon last July took me 26 hours on AA...TWO broken planes! You're right...noone is perfect!

The little kid in me loves this screen we have had on some flights. It has a map and a little airplane that moves over the map-shows you were you are. Also windspeed, ground speed and coolest of all, the outside temperature. Yup, it does not take much to keep me going.

Cynde,

Every airline I've ever flown has made me put up the window shades for take off and landing. I always assumed it was because most crashes happen on take off or landing and that is to ensure the maximum amount of light to aid in escaping. Don't know for sure though.

Belinda

We agree with Ann, Susan, and Carole. AJ Has been the great in getting to our favorite dive Island! I like the champagne offering.... makes the beginning of our dive trip seem so festive. Craig likes the arrival and departure times into Bonaire. Knock on wood....we have never lost any luggage nor had a overnight layover in MBJ.
Yanagirl

Dean, I did not know there was a chance I would get one of those little screens next month on Air Jamaica (we usually fly AA to Bonaire)! That and Ting and a trip to Bonaire -- life is good. I remember a few years ago when we flew overnight to London I never slept because I was having so much fun checking the screen to see where we were!

Well I’ve used Air Jamaica to Bonaire and others to various places. I will say that AJ is pretty nice. Now the organization of the MB airport needs a little to be desired. Maybe things have improved but you will notice you’re not in the US. We had lines all over the place and no one knew what line they were in. But everyone seemed to make their planes without any hassles. Though, on the return flight, my daughter and I were able to board without someone taking our boarding passes. They did call our names and take them once we were on the plane though. What would have happened if I simply walked onto the plane without a boarding pass? Would they have noticed?

Great thing about AJ from DC is that it takes a fraction of the time and the flight times are superior.

I love flying AJ! It gets you to Bonaire early enough in the day to get in a snorkel,a trip to the Cultimara and see the beautiful sunset!!
As with any airline, if you need assistance, you need to ask ahead of time or you are out of luck. I found that out the hard way on AJ.
Just for the record, the year I broke my knee in Bonaire I was flying American and American Eagle and I had to be bounced up the stairs in a lot of pain. The smaller airports, as Sue said, just aren't equiped. However, once in San Juan, they had a special lift to get the wheelchair off.

Belinda, AJ was the first airline I had ever been on that made us pull the shades up, and I've been flying for 35 years! (Although, AJ is the first non-US airline I had ever taken.) Strange indeed! I actually asked the AJ flight attendent when we were taking off from MBay to Bonaire, why we had to have them up (I wasn't keen on looking and hearing that big engine right beside me)...I don't remember her exact words, but they were something to the effect of having all eyes watching for anything "unusual" that we could help alert the cabin crew...

Cynde,

Truly amazing. I've been flying for over 20 years and have never been on a flight where we did not have to have them open. You know the drill - seat backs in their upright position, tray tables stowed and locked, window shades open... How bizarre.

I'm not sure how warm and fuzzy I would have felt knowing the crew was relying on me to notice anything "unusual" and alert them to it!!

Belinda

I forgot to add that I've even had a flight attendant wake me from a sound sleep to put my shade up!

Belinda

Belinda...I just asked 4 co-workers if they are asked to put the shades up for take off and landing...they all said noone has ever asked them to! How bizzare is that...maybe they don't care about Kahlifounian's! LOL!

Cynde,

Our midwestern flight crews must be very strict! :-)

Belinda, must be! I lived on the East Coast for a while and was never asked to do it either! Maybe I look intimidating or something I guess I better make myself more approachable now when I fly!

Cynde,

For research purposes I'm going to have my shade down when we fly to Bonaire in February (on AA) and see what happens. Or maybe I'll make my trial run our trip to Chicago in December (on United) cause I care a lot less if I get kicked off that plane! /ch{}

Belinda

even!

Belinda, I think the trial run on United is a good idea hee hee....I'm going to do the same thing when I travel the beginning of December...Southwest Airlines...anyone else want to join in on our "hypothetical experiment!" LOL!

We will be flying from ATL to BON in April too--on the 14th. So J. when are you going? Whoever goes first should let the other one how it was and if there are any snags to look out for!!
Thanks.