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We arrive in Montego Bay Sat Dec 21 and I am guessing the line ups will be horrific. Has anyone used the club mobay for arrival? How much time can it save? I am thinking of buying the package for wife and me and keep it a secret. Would be a pleasant surprise for her (as long as it is a good outcome).
Last time we landed, the line in the immigration hall was huge. Not quite up the ramp, but close. The people who paid for Club MoBay were wisked right through and I found myself wishing I'd coughed up the $50 pp. After all was said and done, we were still only about 1/2 hour getting through and our bags were waiting. Either way, it probably woudl have worked out the same?? Having said that, I'm struggling with our Christmas flight. We land Christmas Day and I have no idea how busy it will be or how many staff will be working...
I would think the 21st would be very busy, but they'll probably staff for it. What time does your flight land? That makes a big difference...
We flew in on the Friday before Thanksgiving and immigration lines were out to the ramp. It only took about 30 minutes as that had enough staff to handle the crowds. I don't think it would have been worth the extra money for Club Mobay.
Our biggest problem was we chose to save some money and fly in on the 3:10 flight and we normally get to Mobay about 12:15. The Friday traffic in Mobay, Hopewell and Lucea was horrible at that time of day on a friday afternoon. We will in the future make sure we book the earlier flight.
I immigration lines in Atlanta coming home were much much much worse than the lines in Mobay. We flew home the Monday after Thanksgiving. If you are not a Delta Sky member so you get to go to the front of the line in Atlanta the wait in the immigration line was more than a hour.
Our flights arrives just past 1PM, as long as it is on time. We are flying first class so should be off the plane in the first wave. But I hate waiting in lines anywhere, its a peeve of mine. Our last trip to Jamaica I believe we also arrived the Saturday before Christmas and it had to be around 90 minutes from the time we got off the plane to when we picked up our luggage. Its not a huge deal this year as we are staying in Montego Bay the first night before picking up our car and heading east the following morning.
We used the arrival service for a 1 p.m. arrival on a Friday in October and I felt like it was well worth it. The lines were all the way to the back of the immigration hall and we walked straight to the front of the line. The luggage was coming out just as we got to the luggage carousel. Our private ride didn't turn out to be private and we had to wait about 20 minutes for people that came in on an earlier flight. They said they waited about an hour and a half.
I did a lot of research on flightstats.com to see how many flights were arriving on Friday's at 1 p.m. prior to our trip. I would also check out the MBJ airport arrivals webpage on Fridays prior to our trip.
its all about less hassle...some folks indulge all the way, their vacation starts the minute they leave home....if you have the means go for it...its good to know, no matter what happens you will be out in a short amount of time, and on your way...we used it on the way in also, now that is less hassle for sure......
since late 80's every improvement has been countered with delays as the amount of people coming in has risen along with the methods of shorting the time in the airport AND on the roads leading out of MoBay....part of the price of being a popular place....
I have been touting how great club mobay is for the last year plus.
Not so much anymore.
The 21st may be an awful travel day, so it might be worthwhile, but on our last trip it was utterly worthless, aside from the additional feeling of being slightly pampered.
On arrival, the lines were minimal, and we got our dedicated service, once the people that pushed past us were taken through. The very nice young lady that helped us was maybe 95 pounds, and was zero help with our four 60 pound suitcases and multiple carryon items. She did find our driver, but he was right outside the door. Time saved on arrival, zero.
Departure also has dedicated lines, and here is where I got slightly aggravated. There were MORE people in the dedicated line than in the normal lines. We took longer to get through security than if we had not gone club mobay. With only one scanner serving the club mobay lines, it was worthless.
Sangster is a nice airport. Based on past years experience, it is very nice. The lounge, which used to be a haven of sorts from a rather dismal airport experience is kind of a hassle now.
Bottom line, if you want a bit of extra pampering... The service is worth it, but it is a purely psychological addition to the vacation in my mind.
I've used it on a few occassions....mostly positive. I think for arrival at Christmas...its a good thing..its saved metime in the past and im using it on the 22nd of dec this year. I also used it at departure last June...but purchased only after I checked in..there was a kiosk at the security gate. I was early.n.hungry and thirsty...and I figured it was worth 30 for that alone. I went to the lounge...had a few cocktails and grazed on the food for a couple hours. I'll do the same on departure this year...wait til I get there.
I think its a great service if you want to pamper yourself and its been all good for me so far.
We loved it. Our flights are always late leaving, and last year it was 3-4 hours late, so we were happy to sit and drink/eat for free. As others have said, if you go into it for the pampering and mental boost that comes with that, and not necessarily for the time savings, you will not end up feeling ripped off if the lines are not long. However I would have been upset if the dedicated lines were longer, as you experienced Hussyband. We will definitely do again. (My husband has injured shoulder/back and can't life, so I told them this in advance and they had a young man with them to carry all.)
No doubt it saves time, especially around the holidays; though, I think Jamaica does a good job of expediting people through immigration and customs. Last Christmas, the 21st, we landed and it took about 3/4 hour to an hour to get through. I don't really mind. It is part of the experience for me. I guess it all depends how you are at waiting and shuffling and where you want to spend your money. To me it isn't worth paying what they want for the 2 of us to save a half hour or so.
Love it!!! For arrivals...but IMO only if you have a private driver and not going on one of the all inclusive busses. With a private driver, the sooner I can get on the road the better, using one of the AI buses, you're not really getting anywhere any faster!
Loved the service, and we will always use it on weeked arrivals.