Just did the Newark-Santo Domingo roundtrip on USA 3000 airlines (Brendan Airways). USA 3000 is affiliated with Apple Vacations, though for the EWR-SDQ route, it is operated like a regular scheduled airlines. They fly to Santo Domingo at odd times when their planes would not otherwise be in use carrying college kids to Cancun or their parents to Aruba.
All in all, I could call the service acceptable for the price. Importantly, though, that price is CHEAP. $375/roundtrip for the heart of Christmas season, and considerably less now. And that price includes all taxes, including the $10 departure tax that the airlines make you pay upon departure.
What do you get for that money? The check-in at Newark had a 45 minute wait when I arrived two-hours prior to departure. The line was well organized by airlines staff. The airline appeared to be suprised by the quantity and weight of the baggage being checked and carried, and this seemed to contribute to the delay. However, they handled the problem the same way all of the other airlines do during Christmas season - they intentionally delayed some of the baggage - and I suspect that they won't be suprised next year if they continue to operate the route.
Upon check-in, they oddly make you sign a baggage tag that essentially waives any rights you have to your bags. I modified it before I signed it.
Due to the check in and baggage problems, departure was delayed by about 30 minutes. It was then delayed another 30 minutes due to the airline staff's inability to get the boarded passengers into their seats. The airline needs to be a little more forceful on these matters when dealing with Dominicans.
The plane is an Airbus A320 in an all-economy class configuration. They squeeze 200 passengers into the thing. I think that the guagua to San Cristobal has more leg room. If you're over 6'1" or so, stay away!!!
Upon arrival about an hour late, the flight attendants could not keep the passengers in their seats during taxiing. Again, more forcefulness and more knowledge of Spanish needed.
As often happens during Christmas, my baggage did not arrive, but USA 3000 uses Swissport as their local baggage handler, and they were reasonable to work with. My baggage arrived three days later on a guagua from Punta Cana. However, no offer of compensation was made.
For the return, a similar situation - about 45 minutes wait to check in, and then a further delay of unknown cause for take off. Departure was about an hour late (in fairness, American Airlines also has 45 minute check-in waits during peak hours). Coming into Newark, the plane descended at an oddly fast rate.
As for food, the good news is that they give you some. We'll leave it at that.
The flight attendants were somewhat friendly, but they seemed also somewhat overwhelmed. The crew was obviously accostomed to taking middle class gringos to Cancun and Punta Cana, and didn't know quite how to deal with Dominicans and Dominican Yorks of various classes. These are folks that don't always do what they're told. Again, more Spanish and more cojones ought to do the trick.
In sum, if you're willing to sacrifice your own time and are flexible in your scheduling (USA 3000 only flies to Newark on Tuesday and Thursday, and then at odd hours), then the service is reasonable for the price. Though I don't think that USA 3000's very limited and oddly scheduled service will create any real price competition for the big boys, it's still nice to have A TRULY LOW PRICED OPERATOR out there for the New York market. I hope USA 3000 sticks it out.
All in all, I could call the service acceptable for the price. Importantly, though, that price is CHEAP. $375/roundtrip for the heart of Christmas season, and considerably less now. And that price includes all taxes, including the $10 departure tax that the airlines make you pay upon departure.
What do you get for that money? The check-in at Newark had a 45 minute wait when I arrived two-hours prior to departure. The line was well organized by airlines staff. The airline appeared to be suprised by the quantity and weight of the baggage being checked and carried, and this seemed to contribute to the delay. However, they handled the problem the same way all of the other airlines do during Christmas season - they intentionally delayed some of the baggage - and I suspect that they won't be suprised next year if they continue to operate the route.
Upon check-in, they oddly make you sign a baggage tag that essentially waives any rights you have to your bags. I modified it before I signed it.
Due to the check in and baggage problems, departure was delayed by about 30 minutes. It was then delayed another 30 minutes due to the airline staff's inability to get the boarded passengers into their seats. The airline needs to be a little more forceful on these matters when dealing with Dominicans.
The plane is an Airbus A320 in an all-economy class configuration. They squeeze 200 passengers into the thing. I think that the guagua to San Cristobal has more leg room. If you're over 6'1" or so, stay away!!!
Upon arrival about an hour late, the flight attendants could not keep the passengers in their seats during taxiing. Again, more forcefulness and more knowledge of Spanish needed.
As often happens during Christmas, my baggage did not arrive, but USA 3000 uses Swissport as their local baggage handler, and they were reasonable to work with. My baggage arrived three days later on a guagua from Punta Cana. However, no offer of compensation was made.
For the return, a similar situation - about 45 minutes wait to check in, and then a further delay of unknown cause for take off. Departure was about an hour late (in fairness, American Airlines also has 45 minute check-in waits during peak hours). Coming into Newark, the plane descended at an oddly fast rate.
As for food, the good news is that they give you some. We'll leave it at that.
The flight attendants were somewhat friendly, but they seemed also somewhat overwhelmed. The crew was obviously accostomed to taking middle class gringos to Cancun and Punta Cana, and didn't know quite how to deal with Dominicans and Dominican Yorks of various classes. These are folks that don't always do what they're told. Again, more Spanish and more cojones ought to do the trick.
In sum, if you're willing to sacrifice your own time and are flexible in your scheduling (USA 3000 only flies to Newark on Tuesday and Thursday, and then at odd hours), then the service is reasonable for the price. Though I don't think that USA 3000's very limited and oddly scheduled service will create any real price competition for the big boys, it's still nice to have A TRULY LOW PRICED OPERATOR out there for the New York market. I hope USA 3000 sticks it out.