We are arriving on Feb 15 (32 days!!) from Newark, via MoBay on AJ. My biggest concern is missing the connection in MoBay, as AJ only flies 3 days/week to Bonaire and it's only a 90 minute layover. Has anyone else ever had this problem & what has AJ done to get you to Bonaire?

We actually bought some inexpensive trip insurance to compensate us for lost vacation time if this happens. Upside of the policy is that it also contains a CDW for the truck rental, as AmEx specifically excludes pickup trucks.

Sue, we have had several trips with AJ and the connecting flight was less than an hour. We have never missed the connection, AJ has actually held flights when we were behind schedule. Hope you do as well as we have. Enjoy the flight and your time on Bonaire.

AJ was fine going down, but was late going back. LOTS of people missed their connections and had to stay overnight. It was chaos, but I guess it's preferable to it happening going down!

What I really didn't like was the surly attitude of the AJ reps at Flamingo airport in Bonaire. Waited in line for over an hour, only to be told to go to another line to get a boarding pass-this was entirely preventable. Reps were very uninterested in customer service and helping problem solve.

When we got to Montego Bay, the reps really tried to help people and take care of the situation, so I think it more had to do with who had been hired in Bonaire.

All in all, if you want to travel to Bonaire (and who wouldn't?!!!!), it's the luck of the draw. We went twice with AA-ALM (!) and never had a problem, so you just don't know. On the positive side, it keeps a lot of tourists away!

We've never missed a connection and yes, they have held the plane on one or two occasions for us when our inbound flight was late. I love AJ. Carole

I am a bit worried...in the 6 weeks I was there, JM was often late. On the 7th coming in 5 hours late arriving and on the 18th 2.5 hours leaving..such was the case a few times. JM is a super airline in my opinion but they HAVE to watch things..

We got to Bonaire fine but on the way home we missed our flight to Atlanta and had to spend the night. AJ was great...put us up in a VERY nice hotel..with all meals and drinks includes...taxi ride to and from the Airport. There was actually a flight to ATL very early the next morning but my husband asked the agent to put us on the late flight ....we figured if we had to stay in MBJ then we might as well enjoy it. The hotel had these great water slides at the pool and a lazy river floating pool. My twins thought this was the highlight of our whole trip!!

We have flown Air Jamaica from BWI through Montego Bay 4 times now and have NEVER had a problem making the connection....they have always held the flight to Bonaire if it is running late.

coming back we have never had a problem either...they have always held that flight too if we are running late.

I receive a message last Sunday from AJ advising us that our return flight...Montego Bay to Newark connection, #019 will now depart at 5:10 pm instead of 7:10 pm....two hours earlier. We have very little time in between flights now as we aren't scheduled to arrive in MB from Bonaire until about one hour (if that) earlier. Should be VERY interesting! This is on June 7, by the way, so it could be changed several more times before that date. CArole

Have only done the AJ trip from BWI to Bonaire and return one time. Not a problem. Was nice only having about a 40 minute layover. I'm not a fan of layovers longer than 1 hour. Yes I'm bad and run on a tight schedule. I hate waiting around.

More difficult were the lines checking into AJ at BWI. I was afraid there I would miss my flight. From DC AJ is the only choice.

In April 2002 we missed the MB connection coming home. They put us up at the Sun Spree Resort for the night; all drinks & food were free.

Oct. 2002 coming home it was raining when we arrived at MB and they would not let us off the plane even though we were already running 45 minutes late. Mind you this was not a storm, just a little shower. I guess they were afraid someone would fall down the wet steps and sue. They assured us that our connecting flight would be held; meanwhile we were sitting there watching flights take off. Needless to say I was beginning to get very frustrated. I convinced the pilot and attendants that we would be very careful on the steps and then we made a mad dash to the other end of the airport to find our connection waiting. Whew! Just remember that when you are in MB they are very much on island time.

Other then these two instances I have been very pleased with AJ. I love arriving in Bonaire in the mid-afternoon and not having to catch the early morning flight on the way home. Now, if we could just get them to fly out of Charlotte or Greensboro. The 5-hour drive to and from Atlanta bites.

We, too, love AJ and have flown with them several times to Bonaire. I was just curious about the new departure time. I'll have to check my prior trips...probably the same time as the "new" time for this year! LOL. Thanks! CArole

We're returning to Bonaire in April and are old KLM "fans".Some of the few who never had a problem. I'm looking into AJ from NY, but was wondering about that new airline. Getting there is always part of the adventure I like to say. I will call Caradonna when I get my dates set. Any suggestions?

We missed our connections in both directions in August 2002. On the way down we left Baltimore late. The crew got in late the day before and could not fly at 8:30. They put the 6 of us into 2 rooms at the Holiday Inn. All inclusive etc. The next day we went MoBay to Curaco by AJ then switched with some work to DCA. It was a little Nerve racking, I was not sure until the plane took off we would get there on day 2.

Part II
On the way back the Bonaire Flight did not leave until 6 PM. The flight from MoBay returned to Kingston for a new plane or something. That time a whole plane was mis connected so AJ was overwhelmed but eventually we were put in another all inclusive. Sunset Beach? The hardest part of that was getting my employees to believe I was stuck in Jamaica and would not be back on time.

AJ says they will let you stop over for free in Jamaica, you might want to leave a day early and take them up on it. This was trip #4 for us, all other trips were ok even our first ALM trip.

I also might plan my trip to Bonaire on a day when there is a Mobay to Bonaire trip the next day in case you miss. Once they get late I think the crew rest thing makes the next days flights late too.

I will leave a day extra to get home next trip. Despite all this there will be another!

Brian, when you say "for free" does that refer to AJ not charging an extra rate for the air portion of the trip (a layover) or do you mean they will put you up for free in Jamaica (overnight accommodations) at a hotel and then fly out the next day?? I have a feeling it refers to not charging a layover fee on the airfare, tho....Carole

Carole,

I just spoke to AJ about this question. They allow stop overs which means on your return from Bonaire (or on the way to Bonaire), you can spend several days in Jam. The airfare is the same. They will not put you up overnite :-)

Thanks, Brian. I was certain that is what your post said, but thanks for clarifying it for me! Love the family shot at BelMar, too! Carole

Missed one connection with Air Jamaica but it was the return trip so who cared! They put us up in a hotel in Montego Bay and we arrived the next day.....

Yikes!!At least KLM got us their and back on the same day.
What about if I try a connection out of Miami. I wonder how the cost will be? I will call and drive them crazy at the travel agency and Divi too. Making reservations this weekend.Cann't wait to come back. Masha danke for the input.