Club MoBay a Winner - 1st July 2012 Leslie Kepplinger

24.9°C MOBAY

26.2°C KINGSTON

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Club MoBay a Winner - 1st July 2012 Leslie Kepplinger

First impressions are everything. And for the new airport lounge at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica – Club MoBay delivered!

We were met at the end of the jetway by Winsome, a lovely lady from Club MoBay, holding a sign with our names and 2 cold bottles of water. She escorted us to the immigration area where we were handed off to a representative of the Jamaican Tourist Board. She in turn whisked us off to the side; and to the front of the Immigration line, which at 11:30am on a Tuesday was almost 200 people long with 2 recent jet arrivals. Within 10 minutes of getting off the plane, we were thru Immigrations and heading to Customs. Winsome was waiting there to escort us to baggage claim. We only had carry-on, so we bypassed that in favor of Customs. Because we had beat the crowd, we buzzed right thru, and she walked us to our transfer area.

Wow. Now that’s a grand welcome to Jamaica! This part of the service is currently under testing and development before being rolled out on a larger scale by owners, VIP Attractions of Kingston. Worth the effort? Absolutely. Success will be in the pricing, which at this point has not been divulged.

What is up and running with great success is the Fast Track and Club MoBay Lounge itself. What is Fast Track? Basically the same as the above, but in reverse. When you purchase a Club MoBay pass from your travel agent, on-line, or at the airport for $30 per person, you present the ticket at the Club MoBay desk at the entrance to the Departure Immigration check point. From there you are escorted directly to an immigration officer and to a quick-pass security line. No long lines! Note that by the end of 2012, Jamaica plans to phase out exiting immigration, so this part of the service most likely too will be modified.

The Club MoBay Lounge itself is comfortable, quiet, and relaxing. A nice change of pace from the hard plastic chairs of the terminal gates. There are multiple lounges available, depending on preference and capacity – general, quiet, meeting, and overflow, offering a variety of seating options. Wi-fi, a business center, TVs, reading materials, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks; and a variety of snacks, such as sandwiches, sweets, fruits and Jamaican Patties, are available and complimentary! And let’s not forget the kids play room, small spa and showers with towel service – for those who stretched their beach time to the very end.

Lounge attendants announce flights when they are boarding; but do keep track regardless, as they don’t provide overnight accommodations! You do have in/out privileges if you care to shop.

As one who enjoys the relaxation, clean restrooms, wi-fi, snacks and drinks airport club lounges provide – this, for me, was a winner. Call your travel agent or go to www.clubmobay.com to order your passes. Try it. You’ll like it!