Flight Review: Arajet - Mexico City to Santo Domingo
Flight: Arajet DM 4161
From: Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU) To: Santo Domingo (SDQ)
I flew with Arajet from Felipe Ángeles (Mexico) to Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)
From: Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU) To: Santo Domingo (SDQ)
I flew with Arajet from Felipe Ángeles (Mexico) to Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)
Arajet Airlines is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Dominican Republic, with headquarters in Santo Domingo. Established in 2022, the airline provides low-cost flights to destinations in North, Central, and South America.
I had booked this ticket back in September 2024. Flying these days is not as footloose and fancy free as it used to be. Check-in staff can and do ask for proof for an onward ticket, and immigration officers can and do ask to see proof that you intend to leave. I wanted to stay 6 months in Mexico, and it sure is easier when you have a flight out.
Fast forward 6 months, I am now married, I have my temporary residency card so I don't actually have to leave but I will always travel. My wife knows that and the flight I had booked, would take me to the Dominican Republic, my 111th UN-Member State.
Fast forward 6 months, I am now married, I have my temporary residency card so I don't actually have to leave but I will always travel. My wife knows that and the flight I had booked, would take me to the Dominican Republic, my 111th UN-Member State.
You are required by law to register on the Electronic Ticket portal for entering and leaving the Dominican Republic.
It's pretty easy. Just follow the steps. I made an arrival and departure electronic ticket separately and emailed myself the documents after each process.
Also, a bit of confusion in that the Centro district in Santo Domingo was NOT listed, nor my hotel, so I put down another town I had booked for later on and filed it under private lodging as my hostel was not listed.
The e Ticket is free. If you are asked to pay, you are NOT on the correct website.
Also, a bit of confusion in that the Centro district in Santo Domingo was NOT listed, nor my hotel, so I put down another town I had booked for later on and filed it under private lodging as my hostel was not listed.
The e Ticket is free. If you are asked to pay, you are NOT on the correct website.
Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU) is located 40 km from Mexico City. I took a bus from the Central del Norte Bus Station:
It was a night flight, scheduled to depart at 23:44 and arrive at 05:59. The Dominican Republic is on Atlantic Standard Time, which is four hours behind GMT and two hours ahead of Mexico City. (Mexico abolished daylight saving time a few years ago.)
In reality, takeoff was at 11:50 pm and arrival was at 5:30. The total flight time was 3 hours 40 minutes.
In reality, takeoff was at 11:50 pm and arrival was at 5:30. The total flight time was 3 hours 40 minutes.
I booked SMART and had a 20 kg checked in bag and a 6 kg personal item for my lap top and other essentials which easily fitted under the seat in front.
I was checking in my main bag. I was asked for the e-ticket and I was asked for a return ticket (which I had). I got my boarding pass, and now, since I have temporary residency in Mexico, I am required to tell everybody when leaving Mexico. So, the agent gave me a new boarding card with RT scrawled on it and was told that I must go to the IMM first. This I knew but the exact process was new to me.
So I headed off to the IMM office, hidden away in a corner of the Felipe Angeles Airport:
Everyone who comes in here has residency. My documents were taken: passport, temporary resident card and boarding pass. Some guy starts flicking through the passport. 4 of them are discussing my 180 entry stamp, which was expiring that very day. I am told to wait.
Another dude comes in. He's processed within 30 seconds. I asked if there was a problem. "No problem, sir".
I chimed in that I had arrived as a tourist, gotten married here in Mexico and applied for residency. They enter the details again. I waited some more.
After a long 20 minutes, my passport was stamped, and all documents were returned to me.
I head to security.
They checked the documents. I give them my card first and tell them I have temporary residency. "Did you go to Immigration?"
Again, they are looking like they have never seen a residency card. They tap the details into the computer, and I am handed the card back.
All very complicated. Why can't they just scan the card?
I am waiting for my flight:
Another dude comes in. He's processed within 30 seconds. I asked if there was a problem. "No problem, sir".
I chimed in that I had arrived as a tourist, gotten married here in Mexico and applied for residency. They enter the details again. I waited some more.
After a long 20 minutes, my passport was stamped, and all documents were returned to me.
I head to security.
They checked the documents. I give them my card first and tell them I have temporary residency. "Did you go to Immigration?"
Again, they are looking like they have never seen a residency card. They tap the details into the computer, and I am handed the card back.
All very complicated. Why can't they just scan the card?
I am waiting for my flight:
Arajet is a no-frills airline. There was no free food or drinks. None were offered. I asked twice for a vaso de agua. The air was very dry, so I masked up.
I flicked through the inflight magazine:
I flicked through the inflight magazine:
Arajet fly to 24 destinations in 17 countries, with Santo Domingo and Punta Cana as their hubs:
I had 3 seats to myself, and for once, I was pretty comfortable. I reckon I slept for 30 minutes.
Arrival in the Dominican Republic:
Arrival in the Dominican Republic:
I was quickly through immigration. I had a 30-day stamp:
I was expecting to have to pay 10 USD for a tourist card. Maybe it's incorporated into the ticket now. I have no idea, and I definitely did not get a tourist card.
Welcome to the Dominican Republic!
I drank a coffee, checked out the airport, then walked to the highway to get the GuaGua to Santo Domingo.
Welcome to the Dominican Republic!
I drank a coffee, checked out the airport, then walked to the highway to get the GuaGua to Santo Domingo.
