Review : Arajet Boeing 737 Max 8 | Economy Class | YUL-SDQ

Foreword on Arajet

Low-cost carrier Arajet will launch its first flight from Montreal-Trudeau airport in November 2023. Headquartered in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, the airline stands out for its « low-cost » flights to Central and South America, with stopovers at its home airport. Arajet serves 22 destinations in 16 countries, including Curacao, Jamaica, Chile, Brazil, Colombia and several other major Latin cities.

Review : Arajet Boeing 737 Max 8 | Economy Class | YUL-SDQ - arajet flight connections

I took part in the inaugural flight from Montreal to Santo Domingo on November 7, 2023 at 11:10 a.m. aboard a Boeing 737 Max 8 in economy class, for a flight lasting 4 hours 45 minutes. A special celebration with live music took place during boarding, along with a bite to eat and official speeches. My return flight, of similar duration, was a few days later, on November 11, 2023, departing Santo Domingo at 6:30 a.m., with no fireworks.

Review : Arajet Boeing 737 Max 8 | Economy Class | YUL-SDQ - Arajet 3

Registration with Arajet

Although online check-in is available, it is not possible to complete the check-in process without visiting the counter at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport. You’ll notice the many French translation errors on the website when you make your reservation or attempt to check in.

When I arrived at the Arajet counter, only one agent was on hand to check in passengers, with or without hold baggage, making for a very long wait. The situation was the same on the return flight from Santo Domingo. You should therefore allow at least an hour for your in-person check-in at the airport counter, especially if you have suitcases to check. Service is provided in English or Spanish.

Luggage on Arajet

Like many low-cost airlines, baggage is not included in the base fare. Carry-on baggage costs between US 39.99 and US 84.99, while checked baggage costs between US 24.99 and US 74.99.

Economy class 737 Max 8

The economy-class cabin configuration on Arajet is 3 -3 on either side of the row, with 4 seats at the front in comfort class for a total of 185 possible passengers. My seat was aisle-side on the outward journey and window-side on the return. On-board service is in English and Spanish.

Each seat has a tray table, storage pocket and USB socket. The seat, made of imitation leather, can be reclined slightly, and is equipped with a height and side-adjustable headrest (on outbound flights only). Legroom is the same as on other flights on similar aircraft.

Review : Arajet Boeing 737 Max 8 | Economy Class | YUL-SDQ - Arajet 5

Unfortunately, on both the outbound and return flights, the tray table was very dirty, covered in pen scratches and stained with who knows what. Cabin cleaning, especially for this inaugural flight, would have been more than necessary. There was also some garbage on the ground in the middle aisle.

The outward journey was on time, and the return was a few minutes late.

Return Schedule to Montreal on Arajet

Please note that the return flight to Montreal from Santo Domingo is very early (6:30 a.m.). If you’re staying at a resort more than an hour’s drive from the airport, you’ll have to leave in the middle of the night to allow time to check in at the counter and grab something to eat before the return flight. In my case, queues at both check-in and security took over 2 hours. As a result, I didn’t have time to stop at the bathroom, go to a store to get water, or buy some food before boarding (since I wasn’t in charge of my own transport).

Economy Meals

No meals are included on Arajet flights, although a menu of drinks and light meals is available on board. On the outbound flight, my meal was provided by the company, a ham and cheese sandwich on very dry bread. It’s important to note that the entire menu is not always available, and that the only method of payment is cash, in Canadian, U.S. or Dominican peso dollars. On my early morning flight home, only coffee and a tuna sandwich were on the menu. If you don’t already have your meal with you, you’ll need to bring some money.

Arajet On-Board Service

My experience of the service on board the Arajet flight was mixed. The flight attendants didn’t seem very happy to be at work, and shortly after departure, not a single attendant was visible to attend to passengers’ needs or refill glasses of water, most of them sitting up front on their cell phones. Unfortunately, my experience was the same on the return trip.

Review : Arajet Boeing 737 Max 8 | Economy Class | YUL-SDQ - Arajet 10

Entertainment on Board Arajet

There is no video equipment on board Arajet, nor wi-fi with an online entertainment platform. So you need your own equipment to watch videos or listen to music.

Bottom Line

All in all, I found Arajet to be comparable to other low-cost airlines. You pay for what you get, but when you add baggage fees and a stopover in Santo Domingo for flights to the rest of America, the prices are often the same or more expensive than others. There are 3 flights a week from Montreal to Santo Domingo and the many other destinations served by Arajet.

Finally, Arajet does not offer a loyalty program, but you could book your flight using your reward points through a portal such as Scene+ Travel for example. You could also reimburse your travel expense with your points Scene+ if it’s charged to the Scotiabank Passport^™ Visa Infinite +* Card; follow our tutorial to learn all the steps.

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Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Card

Scotiabank Scene+

Annual fee: $150
Our valuation: $350Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.; Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer: Up to 35,000 points; Ends Nov 1, 2026

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card ^+* Card^MC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

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With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

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The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

No fees for foreign currency transactions
6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

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* The potential value of savings and rewards during the first 12 months includes the value of the welcome offer, the potential value of points earned in the first year, the value of savings on foreign currency transaction fees and the cost of airport lounge access as of May 22, 2026:

$250 in travel rewards (25,000 bonus Scene+ points) for new Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite +* Cardholders who charge $2,000 in purchases to their account within the first three (3) months;

$100 in travel rewards (10,000 bonus Scene+ points) for cardholders who charge $40,000 in purchases to their account;

$50 in savings from the annual fee waiver on the first additional card for new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card account holders;

$132 in savings on foreign currency transaction fees based on the average amount of foreign currency purchases made per active account over the past 24 months (by saving on the 2.5% foreign currency transaction fees typically charged by other credit card issuers);

$364 representing the potential value of points earned in the first year (36,400 Scene+ points) based on the average amount of purchases made per active account over the past 24 months, assuming an average spend of 21% of purchases in categories eligible for accelerated earn rates of 2X and 3X points;

$358 representing the value of complimentary membership in the Visa Airport Companion program which includes 6 airport lounge passes (based on « Preferred » membership valued at approximately $357 CAD/$259 USD). Based on the exchange rate in effect on May 22, 2026.

Maximum potential value after the first year = $1,254 (rounded to $1,250)

The actual value of offers, savings realized and points earned will vary depending on card usage and eligibility for applicable offers. Conditions apply.

1 Offer description and conditions: The 25,000 Scene+ points offer (the « offer ») applies only to new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit card accounts (the « accounts ») opened between August 4, 2026 and November 1, 2026 (regardless of the date you apply for the account) subject to the conditions below. The offer may be modified, cancelled or extended at any time without notice, and it cannot be combined with any other offer.

In addition, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Cardholder, you are eligible for an annual bonus of 10,000 Scene+ points if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible everyday purchases to your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account over the course of one year. Conditions apply; see below for more details.

Description and conditions of the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer: To be eligible for the 25,000 bonus Scene+ points offer (« 25,000 bonus points »), you must charge at least $2,000 in total eligible purchases to your account within the first three months following the account opening date.

Conditions for the annual 10,000 Scene+ points bonus:
As a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card credit cardholder, you can earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points (the « annual points bonus ») if you charge at least $40,000 in eligible purchases to your account over the course of one year (12-month period). The annual period begins on the account opening date; a new period starts again every twelve months thereafter. If you replace another Scene+-eligible credit card with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card (i.e., it is not a new card or an additional card), the opening date of your original account will be carried over to your new Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card account and your annual period under this offer will begin on the next anniversary date of your original account opening. For example, if you originally opened a Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card account on January 15, 2022 and you switch to the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card on July 15, 2025, your annual period under the 10,000 Scene+ points annual bonus offer will begin on January 15, 2026 (your next anniversary date) and a new period will start again on January 15 each year thereafter. You will earn 2,000 bonus Scene+ points for each additional $10,000 in purchases made during the same year once you have reached the $40,000 annual purchase threshold.

Eligible purchases means purchases, less refunds, returns and any other similar credits, and excludes payments, cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions), interest charges, as well as card fees and other fees.

Fulfillment of the annual points bonus: Bonus points will be credited within approximately eight weeks after you become eligible for a bonus, provided the account is open and in good standing. In the case of a joint account with a primary borrower and a co-borrower, bonus points will be credited as follows: (i) the 25,000 bonus points and the annual points bonus will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the account of the borrower who made the transaction that reached the eligible purchase threshold ($2,000, or $40,000) within the appropriate timeframe (the first three months, or the first 12 months). If an additional cardholder makes the transaction that reaches the eligible purchase threshold for the 25,000 bonus points, or the annual points bonus, the bonus points will be credited to the Scene+ account linked to the primary borrower’s account. It is possible to transfer points between the Scene+ accounts of a primary borrower, a co-borrower or an additional cardholder by contacting Scene+. An account is in good standing if it is not past due, there is no over-limit, and the cardholder(s) have complied with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement that applies to the account. All other program conditions continue to apply during the offer period.

Offer eligibility and exclusions: You cannot take advantage of the offer if you are currently a primary or secondary cardholder of a Scotiabank personal credit card or have been one in the past two years, including if you transfer your balance from an existing Scotiabank personal credit card account, and if you are a Scotiabank employee. Subject to the exclusions mentioned above, small business credit cardholders are eligible for this offer.

Rates and fees: The annual fees are $150 for the primary card, $0 for the first additional card and $50 for each additional card thereafter (including those issued to joint account holders and additional cardholders). The preferred annual interest rates applicable to the account are as follows: 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances (including balance transfers and quasi-cash transactions). The rates, fees, and features and benefits, which are described in the disclosure statement accompanying the application, may be changed.

Annual fee

Primary card$150

Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000

Household$100,000

Conversion fees

Earning rate

2xGroceries
2xRestaurants
2xTransit
2xEntertainment
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650

2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7

Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days

Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days

Trip CancellationUp to $1,500

Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500

Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000

Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Are you planning to visit the Dominican Republic? Plan your getaway with our travel guide.

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Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card

American Express Marriott Bonvoy

Annual fee: $120
Our valuation: $990Milesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.; Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$990Total$990Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
Welcome offer: Up to 110,000 points; Ends Sep 22, 2026

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The Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card is the best credit card in Canada for free hotel nights.

New Cardmembers can earn up to 110,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points with the current offer:

Earn 80,000 points after you spend $6,000 on your Card in your first 6 months of Cardmembership.
Plus, earn 30,000 points by making a purchase during your 15th month of Cardmembership.

This offer ends on September 22, 2026. The annual fee is $120, and there is no annual fee on Additional Cards, so you can add a partner or a family member at no extra cost.

Every year after your first Card anniversary, you receive an Annual Free Night Award good for a redemption of up to 35,000 points at eligible hotels and resorts worldwide. At a valuation of 0.9 cents per Marriott Bonvoy point, that certificate is worth roughly $315, which on its own more than covers the $120 annual fee. That is the main reason to keep this Card year after year instead of cancelling it.

To get the most out of the certificate, aim it at a night that would otherwise price close to the 35,000 point ceiling.

The Card also gives you 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year and automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. Those credits count toward the next Elite tier, so you begin every year 15 nights ahead of where you would otherwise start.

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Marriott Bonvoy points are generally valued at 0.9 cents each. On that basis, the 110,000 point welcome offer is worth about $990, and an Annual Free Night Award used at its full 35,000 point ceiling is worth about $315.

Marriott Bonvoy points pull their weight on free nights rather than on gift cards or merchandise, which is why this Card should be judged on the hotel stays it produces.

You earn 5 points per dollar on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 hotels around the world.

The Card carries a solid package of coverages: $500,000 travel accident insurance, flight delay, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage and hotel or motel burglary at $500 each, car rental theft and damage up to $85,000 for rentals of up to 48 days, Purchase Protection for 90 days and a one year Extended Warranty.

Two things to plan around: the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on purchases made in a foreign currency, and the 21.99% purchase interest rate, which makes this a Card to pay in full every month. Like all American Express Canada Cards, no minimum income is published for this Card, and you can see whether you would be approved before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.

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American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.