Last week I traveled to Jamaica to speak at the Bridal Dreams Showcase. As a part of my experience, my hosts arranged for my party to be met at arrivals in Montego Bay by a representative from Club Mobay. By arrivals, I speak not of that crush of sign-wielding drivers and family members waiting just beyond the sealed doors of the immigration “interrogation” area. No, we were met as we stepped off the jetway from American Airlines flight 2035.

Our greeter scooped up our carryons, double checked our paperwork and led us through immigration. More accurately, we were escorted around the perimeter of the Disney ride-length maze of an arrival line, straight into the arms (ok, up to the desk) of an immigration officer. She collected our bags and rolled us straight past customs and out the sealed doors to the exotic world beyond.

On the return, the company representative swooped in just before we hit the stone wall of a security line, led us to the front and got us through immigration, into the departures area in record time. The Club does also offer the amenities of both departures and arrivals lounges. Club Mobay staff can’t avert the inevitable jockying and jostling that comes with boarding a flight, but the lounges are fully stocked with Jamaican Red Stripe beer and rum punch to help take the edge off. A soundproof playroom is provided to allow the little ones to let loose. There are snacks, computers, wifi and even a full service spa to help ease the pain of flight delays. (The company running Club Mobay has a similar program at Kingston’s international airport.) I don’t know of any other service to usher passengers through immigration. It is not something I’ve ever experienced in any part of the world. But I am in strong support of more tourist-heavy destinations adding some sort of service that glides savvy travelers past the steaming heard. For those of us who suffer the throb of panic attacks, the experience is worth any price.

Privilege does have a cost but it’s a reasonable one when compared with the price of a domestic airline lounge. Rates start at $30 for advanced booking. There are annual memberships for frequent travelers and arrivals and departures bundles as well as group packages.

Jamaica is a beautiful island, but Club Mobay might be the true paradise.

Photo: Club Mobay media gallery