Air Jamaica: A Review
Written: Apr 26 '06 (Updated May 23 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Comfortable, friendly flights.
Cons: Lousy in-flight movies, if you care about that.
The Bottom Line: I would definitely recommend Air Jamaica for the comfort of the flights.
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| cbaker8887's Full Review: Air Jamaica |
This review of Air Jamaica is based on a roundtrip flight from Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) to Montego Bay, Jamaica, leaving April 19 and returning April 24. The airplane was an Airbus A321 with six seats in a row in coach class (two sets of three on each side of the aisle). This was my first and only flight on Air Jamaica.
Overall I found Air Jamaica to be a top notch airline providing excellent customer service, friendly accommodating stewards and stewardesses, comfortable seating, plenty of overhead bin space, and decent food. If the price is right I would definitely fly Air Jamaica again. I found the service better than U.S. airlines, including the few times I’ve flown out of the country.
Ticketing, Fares, and Flights
Since I was flying for vacation I did all my own travel arrangements. I found in searching the Internet that a lot of travel sites don’t include Air Jamaica in their mix of airlines they provide prices and flights for. I went on Air Jamaica’s Web site to compare their fares to others and found two non-stop tickets to Montego Bay for $505 per passenger. At the time I made my travel arrangements this was the best fare and most convenient departure and return times I could find (barring looking at something like Priceline.com). On other sites like Orbitz and Expedia I found more expensive flights, or flights that had ridiculous timings like going from Baltimore to Houston and 19 hours and travel time. Note I did do everything at the last minute so had I planned ahead better I might have found tickets for less on other airlines. But a little over a week or so out, this was the best deal and it was non-stop, which was a bonus for me.
Purchasing tickets on Air Jamaica’s Web site was super easy.
Note this airline mainly serves Jamaica and the Caribbean, so most of their flights are obviously geared toward getting people to and from Jamaica and other islands in that part of the world. They seem to have a good array of North American cities they fly to and from, including Baltimore, Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, and Toronto.
Checking In
Checking in at BWI was very easy and the staff was very friendly. There are no automated kiosks like for domestic flights so you did have to stand in line to check bags and show passports but the line moved fast and efficiently and there were no delays or problems in checking in. The lounge area at BWI is also comfortable with a small shop to buy magazines and sundry items and a coffee shop.
On the flip side, checking in to return at Montego Bay, the service was indifferent, slow, and not quite as efficient, which is typical for service just about anywhere you go in Jamaica. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great either. But hey mon, that’s Jamaica for you, no problem.
The Montego Bay airport (Sangar Airport) has a pretty decent duty free shopping area, but the food and drink prices once you pass security and get inside are steep.
Mostly check in at both locations was problem free and not an ordeal (like British Airways out of Dulles).
The Flight
My wife and I flew coach class and the seats were very roomy and comfortable. I felt the leg room was very decent and I did not feel cramped, even though I was in a middle seat and the flight was full. The seat itself as just a tad hard but overall the flight was very comfortable and smooth both going and coming back.
The overhead bin space was also nice and large so I had no problems storing our bags, despite the flight being full, and I didn’t notice anyone else having problems either. I carry the same slightly oversized brown carry on bag with me everywhere, so I am pretty confident the overhead bin space is larger than most of the other airlines I have flown on. A lot of times it will not fit any way but sideways, but in this plane it fit straight in handle first.
The in-flight service was outstanding. The staff was very friendly. They served breakfast on the way to Jamaica and dinner on the way back. The food was very good for airline food. Now, don’t get me wrong, it was airline food! But compared to most airline food I’ve had, it was very good. And as an added bonus they also offered a generous glass of champagne on both flights, and it was good, decent champagne too. I felt this was a nice, classy touch on their part.
They also showed some lousy movie on the way there and back. On the way there it was Cheaper by the Dozen 2 starring Steve Martin. On the way back, I didn’t even notice. I just know it was not a highly rated movie by critics. But I didn’t care about some movie for a three hour flight.
Finally, I even noticed that my bags were less damaged on this flight once we returned than if I had flown to Chicago and back on a domestic airline. I’m not sure why that is, I can’t imagine they are any more careful with bags than any other airline, but it was notable to me.
Final Thoughts
If I had a choice and the price was right, I would definitely fly Air Jamaica again. I got superior ground and air service compared to any domestic airline I have been on, the flights were very comfortable and direct from BWI to Montego Bay (about a 3 hour flight). Overall this airline gets a definite thumbs up from me.
(Final aside, they do have a frequent fliers program but I don’t know anything about it.)
Review by C. Douglas Baker
Other Airline Reviews:
American Airlines
British Airways
Continental Airlines
Delta Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
United Airlines
Recommended:
Yes
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