Over on the scubadiving.com board, there are trip reports from folks who booked flights from New York to Bonaire on Air Jamaica. When they arrived at JFK, they learned that AJ had "outsourced" the flights to some charter airline called "North American Air," apparently due to shortages of AJ aircraft or flight crews or both. The JFK to MoBay legs (in both directions) were on scruffy and uncomfortably- configured NAA jets, while the MoBay to BON segments were on AJ-liveried planes. Doesn't sound like "Champagne Flights"! Has anyone else had similar experiences?

We we came back from Bonaire last year, we arrived in Montego Bay to find out that AJ did not even have a plane for us to go back to ORD . We ended up spending the night in Montego Bay and we were to depart the next morning at 9:35am. Needless to say we still were in Montego Bay at 11:30 am . No more AJ for us !

Ugh.... I don't want to hear all of this bad stuff about AJ! I have never flown them before, but I booked 2 flights home with them recently. I'm going from Bonaire to Philly next month and at christmas. Should I go to the pharmacy to get some valium or will it really be not that bad?

Jenny,
You can have problems with any airline. My family has traveled with AJ many times to Bonaire with no problems. In fact, many times early as far as squeduals go. I wouldn't want to count the number of times people have been stranded(bumped) by the other carriers that service the Island. That is one thing AJ doesn't do is BUMP a passenger! As far as having problems with the aircraft that is the luck of the draw with any company. Seems this worry is the price we have to pay to get to PARIDICE!!! Ron

(Message edited by ronindiana on August 30, 2006)

Jenny, We flew AJ from Philly on our recent trip. Aside from being delayed about 1 1/2 hrs in each direction and one rather pushy gate agent things went well.

And our 2 cents, Ms Jenny - we've flown AJ 8 times in the past 3 years, and our offspring and friends flew three times from LA, all via Montego Bay - our experiences have been excellent, arriving twenty minutes early on three occasions. Only once was there an hour delay in MoBay while they awaited a late plane with customers bound for Bonaire. The service has been 90% wonderful, the planes tight but adequate and even the food's not too bad. We flew Continental last time just to try it - 3 hours late and a bloody awful red eye experience. In October we return on AJ.

ok, well as long as the plane isn't falling apart in the sky... i might still need the valium, tho This flight will be the longest time I have ever spent in a plane. I 'll be all by myself & I get nervous on planes to begin with. You should see me on Divi Divi - white knuckles the whole time!

seriously, thanks for the AJ encouragement. When you stop in Montego Bay, do you have to change terminals or get your bags or anything like that? or do you just sit there for X amt. of time, then get back on the plane with your carry-on? Is there a bar there? (lol - i need to be as sedated as possible)

Jenny - as for the layover in MB - last time I went with AJ you just take your carry on and they transfer the bags. As for the bar - yep, there are bars there.

They make a decent pina colada at the bar. Had one in each direction.

Be sure to go down to the first floor and see the bobsled for the Jamaican bobsled team (a la Coll Runnings). Ya mon.

Don't forget the restrictions on liquids and gels on your carryon!

Damn, I was hoping I could bring my valium I.V. ;)

thanks for the tip about the bobsled!

I have flown on Air Jamaica 4 out of the 6 times to Bonaire. The last two years. Air Jamaica refused to take me due to my power wheelchair. I don't know what is wrong with them. I do know that they are now run by the government. Be warned.

I just flew AJ from Bonaire. Here's my story...

My flight from Bonaire to Montego Bay left a little over an hour late. The plane was not crowded - I had the entire row to myself. We arrived in Montego Bay 15 minutes after my flight to Philadelphia was supposed to depart. I got off the plane & asked the first AJ rep "did I miss the Philly flight?!" They told me the Philadelphia flight had been canceled!!!

They sent me over to the customer service counter. They told me that they would be sending to JFK in New York & that they would provide ground transportation to my house. I waited for about 15 minutes at the counter while they issued me a new boarding pass. They upgraded me to first class, which was nice. The woman at the customer service counter also let me use her cell phone to call my mom, so she wouldn't be waiting at the Philly airport for me. No one could tell me why the flight was canceled.

My flight to JFK left late. We arrived at 11 pm. After I got through the baggage claim and customs, I walked out looking for my promised 'ground transportation' driver to be holding a sign with my name on it. He wasn't there. I asked an airport employee where I could find an AJ counter. He was nice enough to phone AJ for me and after some time, I was walking out of the airport and I was put into a gigantic white limousine. It was an 8 passenger limo with a bar - very fancy.

I had to share the limo with another person, Stuart, who also lives in Bonaire. I had never met him before, but we became buddies & I was happy to have some company. He was in the same situation as me - he missed his connecting flight to Newark. Stuart was dropped off first, near the Newark airport. Then I had the limo to myself for the long trek down the Jersey Turnpike to Exit 4. I arrived at my house at 2 am - my flight from Mobay to Philly was supposed to arrive at 9:25.

All in all, it wasn't so bad. I would have preferred just to go to Philly on my scheduled flight, but AJ was really nice & accommodating. First class was cool & the limo was much more than I expected, although I did feel obliged to give the driver a large tip. I have another flight booked with them for the week of Christmas. After that, I think I'll use Continental BON-EWR to get to NJ to see my family.