I recently had the opportunity to fly with Arajet for the first time, and I wanted to share my honest thoughts about the experience. After careful consideration, I’d give them a 6 out of 10 – solidly average with some room for improvement.
My Overall Experience
As a first-time passenger with this Dominican low-cost carrier, I went in with moderate expectations. While the airline has been making waves in the Caribbean and Latin American market, my experience was a mixed bag of positives and areas that definitely need attention.
The Upsides
Let me start with what Arajet got right:
Competitive Pricing
I paid approximately $800 including checked bags and carry-on during March break – a notoriously expensive travel period. Compared to other carriers flying the same route, this was actually less expensive, which is impressive considering the peak season demand.
Professional Flight Attendants
The cabin crew genuinely impressed me. They were professional, friendly, and attentive throughout both flights. Their positive attitude made a noticeable difference in the overall experience.
Punctuality
Both my outbound and return flights departed and arrived on time. This might not sound like a big deal, but other members of my family traveling on different airlines experienced significant delays. In the world of budget carriers, on-time performance is a major win.
The Downsides
Unfortunately, there were several issues that brought down my overall rating:
Language Barrier in Digital Systems
The check-in process and all communications are entirely in Spanish. While I understand Arajet is a Dominican airline, the real problem is that when you try to use translation tools, they break the dropdown menus on the forms. This made the online check-in process unnecessarily frustrating for non-Spanish speakers.
No In-Flight Entertainment
There’s no WiFi available on the flights, which means no streaming movies or shows. For longer flights, this is a significant drawback in 2024. I recommend downloading entertainment to your device before boarding.
Airport Processing Inefficiencies
At Punta Cana airport, there was a massive lineup even though I had already checked in online. I couldn’t simply drop my bag – I had to wait in line to be seen by a person anyway. This defeated the entire purpose of online check-in and wasted precious vacation time.
Seating Assignment Chaos
Here’s a bizarre one: I was assigned seat 1C, but when I boarded, those seats didn’t exist on the plane. The airline had to scramble to relocate me. This kind of system error is concerning and suggests poor coordination between their booking system and actual aircraft configurations.
Expensive Beverages
A Coke Zero cost me $4. Yes, this is typical for airlines, but it’s still worth noting for budget-conscious travelers. Pack your own snacks and drinks if possible (after security, of course).
Uncomfortable Seating
My return flight was on a newer plane, which should have been a positive. Unfortunately, the seats were terribly uncomfortable. The armrests are positioned too low for average-height adults, which put stress on my shoulders throughout the flight. This seems like a poor ergonomic design choice that could easily be fixed.
No USB Charging Ports
The return flight had no USB connections for charging devices, so, bring a portable charger!
The Bottom Line
Arajet earns its 6 out of 10 rating honestly. They excel at the fundamentals – getting you there on time at a competitive price with friendly service. However, the passenger experience has notable gaps, from language accessibility issues to uncomfortable seating and missing basic amenities like charging ports.
Would I fly Arajet again? Yes, if the price is right and the route works for my travel plans. They’re a functional budget option, but I’d go in with adjusted expectations. Bring your own entertainment, a portable charger, a neck pillow.
For a low-cost carrier establishing itself in a competitive Caribbean market, they’re doing okay – but there’s definitely room for improvement, particularly in passenger comfort and digital accessibility.