{"response": {"Key": "MBJ-CHS", "orig": {"code": "MBJ", "type": "airport", "city": "Montego Bay", "fullCity": "Montego Bay, Jamaica", "airport": "Montego Bay"}, "dest": {"code": "CHS", "type": "airport", "city": "Charleston", "fullCity": "Charleston, South Carolina", "airport": "Charleston Air Force Base-Intl Airport"}, "faq": {"q0": {"question": "What is the typical flight duration from Montego Bay to Charleston?", "answer": "There is no scheduled nonstop service between Montego Bay and Charleston, so the trip requires a connection. The airports are about 1,000 miles apart, and a typical one-stop journey takes roughly 5 to 8 hours total, depending on the layover.", "methodology": "Carrier service, flight times and distances for this route come from our flight-schedule database, which draws on published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data, and observed operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We report the days of the week and the departure times each carrier operates. The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time, given both per carrier and across all carriers on the route; where a schedule does not publish an elapsed time, it is derived from the scheduled departure and arrival times converted to UTC. Outbound and return times are computed by the same method, so the difference between them is directly comparable and reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in derivation. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two specific airports named, so an actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer. Where shown, on-time departure and arrival rates and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; where a typical fare is shown, it comes from the U.S. DOT Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B), a quarterly 10% sample of tickets sold.", "toolsUsed": ["flight_schedule"]}, "q3": {"question": "What are the ground transportation options in Charleston?", "answer": "Charleston International Airport (CHS) is just a short drive from the historic downtown, with taxis, ride‑share services like Uber and Lyft, and rental cars all readily available. Ride‑share is the most popular choice for its convenience, while a taxi offers a fixed‑rate alternative. There is no direct mass‑transit rail link, but CARTA’s public bus Route 11 serves the airport with a trip of about 40–50 minutes. Car rentals are on‑site and are a good option if you plan to explore the wider Lowcountry. For the fastest door‑to‑door trip, ride‑share or a taxi will get you downtown in roughly 15–20 minutes.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [{"url": "https://iflychs.com/nonstopdestinations/", "title": "Airlines & Flights - Charleston International Airport (CHS)", "favicon": "https://iflychs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CHS_favicon-300x300.png", "time_published": "2025-02-28T11:23:19Z"}, {"url": "https://iflychs.com/nonstopdestinations/?filter=international", "title": "Airlines & Flights - Charleston International Airport (CHS)", "time_published": "2026-02-18T13:50:18Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston_Airport_(disambiguation)", "title": "Charleston Airport (disambiguation)", "time_published": "2019-05-13T22:30:51Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KCHS", "title": "KCHS", "time_published": "2025-05-20T22:41:56Z"}, {"url": "https://iflychs.com/passengers/why-choose-chs/", "title": "Why Choose CHS - Charleston International Airport (CHS)", "time_published": "2025-07-03T17:44:52Z"}]}, "q4": {"question": "When is the cheapest time to fly from Montego Bay to Charleston?", "answer": "The cheapest months to fly from Montego Bay to Charleston are May, April, and January, with average fares around $453, $472, and $489 respectively. The most expensive months are December, July, and November, where average prices climb to $650, $592, and $538.", "methodology": "This 'good deal' estimate shows a representative best price for each departure date across roughly a 12-month window (about 3 months back and 9 months forward). It is built from real flight prices found by Priceline users searching this route, accumulated into a price history for each departure date. Rather than weighting all of that history equally, we apply exponential time decay so recent prices dominate — a price seen yesterday counts almost in full, one from about a month ago roughly a third, and prices from a few months back very little — giving a figure that tracks today's market instead of a stale long-run average. Clear price outliers are removed before any calculation, departure dates with no observations are filled in from nearby dates, and the resulting curve is lightly smoothed so it reads as a clean seasonal trend rather than day-to-day noise. For this route, fares for the requested travel direction were unavailable, so the pattern shown is derived from the reverse direction, which shares the same seasonal demand cycle.", "toolsUsed": ["seasonal_prices"]}, "q5": {"question": "How far in advance should I book tickets from Montego Bay to Charleston?", "answer": "For the best fare from Montego Bay to Charleston, aim to book about 19 to 21 weeks ahead, when average prices are around $488. The priciest bookings tend to be just 3 to 4 weeks before departure, so avoid last-minute purchases.", "methodology": "This booking-window guidance is built from the same real flight prices found by Priceline users searching this route, re-grouped by how many days before departure each price was seen (from the departure day out to about 180 days ahead) across the route's price history. At each booking lead time we report the 25th-percentile price — the cheaper end of what travelers were quoted, rather than the rock-bottom minimum (which can be a fluke) or the average (which is pulled up by expensive last-minute fares). The buy-or-wait advice then applies a risk premium that grows as departure approaches, since seat availability shrinks and prices become less predictable; using that adjusted curve we flag windows where waiting is likely to save a meaningful amount (at least $20 or 5%) versus windows where booking now is the better call. Isolated single-day recommendations are filtered out, so the advice only reflects a window that holds for several days in a row. For this route, fares for the requested travel direction were unavailable, so the pattern shown is derived from the reverse direction, which shares the same seasonal demand cycle.", "toolsUsed": ["booking_timing"]}, "q6": {"question": "Are overnight (red‑eye) flights available from Montego Bay to Charleston?", "answer": "No overnight (red‑eye) flights are available from Montego Bay (MBJ) to Charleston (CHS) — neither a nonstop red‑eye nor a connecting itinerary whose long leg operates as a red‑eye is currently scheduled on this route.", "methodology": "Red-eye flights are identified from scheduled local departure and arrival times in our flight-schedule database — built from published airline timetables and official schedule data, including U.S. Department of Transportation records for domestic routes — flagging services that depart late at night and arrive the following morning; for connecting itineraries the red-eye is based on the timing of the overnight long-haul leg.", "toolsUsed": ["redeye_flights"]}, "q7": {"question": "Which airlines usually operate this route from Montego Bay to Charleston?", "answer": "There is no nonstop service from Montego Bay to Charleston. American Airlines offers the most common connecting routing, with about 12 daily itineraries through Charlotte and a few through Philadelphia or Miami. United connects via Newark around 3 times a day, and Southwest offers a handful of daily options through Baltimore. Per-carrier fares are not available for this route.", "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours.", "toolsUsed": ["route_airlines"]}, "q8": {"question": "If I need a connection, what are common layover cities between Montego Bay and Charleston?", "answer": "Common layover cities are Miami, Charlotte, and Atlanta. Miami offers broad Caribbean connections and efficient U.S. preclearance, Charlotte provides quick onward flights to Charleston, and Atlanta has extensive domestic links with competitive total travel times."}, "q10": {"question": "Which months have the best weather for traveling to Charleston?", "answer": "March to May and September to November offer pleasant temperatures and fewer tourists."}, "q11": {"question": "What documents should I bring with me to the airport when flying from Montego Bay to Charleston?", "answer": "Bring a valid passport, any required U.S. visa or ESTA authorization, proof of onward or return travel, a payment method for baggage, and any vaccination certificates if applicable."}, "q12": {"question": "Which airport should I use in Charleston?", "answer": "Charleston International Airport is the only commercial airport serving Charleston. It is located about 12 miles northwest of downtown and offers domestic flights on major carriers including American, Delta, United, Southwest, and JetBlue."}, "q13": {"question": "How do I get to Montego Bay from the city center?", "answer": "To reach Sangster International Airport from Montego Bay's city center, taxis and ride‑shares are the fastest and most popular options, taking about 10–15 minutes for the 3‑mile trip. Shared shuttle buses and hotel‑arranged transfers offer a lower‑cost alternative, though they may involve multiple stops. There is no direct public bus service to the terminal, but route taxis and private cars provide fixed‑route shared rides at a moderate fare. Driving and parking are also possible, with short‑ and long‑term lots available near the terminal.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [{"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangster%20International%20Airport", "title": "Sangster International Airport", "time_published": "2026-04-30T22:27:59Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangster_International_Airport", "title": "Sangster International Airport", "time_published": "2026-07-06T02:40:17Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MBJ", "title": "MBJ", "time_published": "2024-01-20T04:22:11Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport%20in%20Trinidad%20and%20Tobago", "title": "Transport in Trinidad and Tobago", "time_published": "2025-06-13T01:56:23Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston%20to%20Montego%20Bay%20railway", "title": "Kingston to Montego Bay railway", "time_published": "2026-01-03T10:17:17Z"}]}, "q14": {"question": "Are there hotels or sleeping facilities at Charleston airport?", "answer": "Charleston International Airport (CHS) does not have an on-site hotel, capsule hotel, or sleeping pods, but several nearby hotels offer complimentary shuttle service, including the Courtyard North Charleston Airport/Coliseum and the Fairfield Inn & Suites Charleston Airport/Convention Center. These hotels are located within a short drive of the airport and provide free shuttles for guests. If you prefer to stay inside the terminal, seating near baggage claim is available and staff are generally tolerant of overnight sleepers, though the lights remain bright and food options are limited after hours.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [{"url": "https://www.sleepinginairports.net/guides/charleston-airport-guide.htm", "title": "Charleston Airport Guide", "time_published": "2024-08-26T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://iflychs.com/charleston-international-airport", "title": "Charleston International Airport - Charleston International Airport (CHS)", "favicon": "https://iflychs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CHS_favicon-300x300.png", "time_published": "2025-02-28T11:41:24Z"}, {"url": "https://iflychs.com/business/contact-us", "title": "Contact Us - Charleston International Airport (CHS)", "favicon": "https://iflychs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CHS_favicon-300x300.png", "time_published": "2025-02-28T11:31:36Z"}, {"url": "https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/chscn-courtyard-north-charleston-airport-coliseum/overview/?scid=f2ae0541-1279-4f24-b197-a979c79310b0", "title": "Hotels Near CHS Airport | Courtyard", "time_published": "2023-08-11T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/chscs-fairfield-inn-and-suites-charleston-airport-convention-center/overview/", "title": "Fairfield Inn & Suites Charleston Airport/Convention Center - Near CHS", "time_published": "2023-08-11T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://iflychs.com/passengers/amenities-lounge/", "title": "Amenities & Lounge - Charleston International Airport (CHS)", "time_published": "2026-02-11T16:54:38Z"}]}, "q15": {"question": "Are there currency exchange offices, prayer rooms and Wi‑Fi at Charleston Air Force Base-Intl Airport?", "answer": "Charleston International Airport (CHS) has two ReadySTATION cash-to-card kiosks in ticketing across from Frontier Airlines and American Airlines, which convert cash to a prepaid Visa card for a $5 fee per transaction, but there are no traditional currency exchange offices. The airport does not list any prayer rooms or chapels among its passenger amenities. Free Wi‑Fi is not mentioned, though the airport offers a premium lounge (The Club CHS) with workspaces for a fee.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [{"url": "https://iflychs.com/passengers/terminal-map/", "title": "Terminal Map - Charleston International Airport (CHS)", "time_published": "2025-06-27T13:54:16Z"}, {"url": "https://iflychs.com/passengers/amenities-lounge/", "title": "Amenities & Lounge - Charleston International Airport (CHS)", "time_published": "2026-02-11T16:54:38Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston_Airport_(disambiguation)", "title": "Charleston Airport (disambiguation)", "time_published": "2019-05-13T22:30:51Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?printable=yes&title=Joint_Base_Charleston", "title": "Joint Base Charleston", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png", "time_published": "2013-01-27T00:08:12Z"}, {"url": "https://iflychs.com/charleston-international-airport", "title": "Charleston International Airport - Charleston International Airport (CHS)", "favicon": "https://iflychs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CHS_favicon-300x300.png", "time_published": "2025-02-28T11:41:24Z"}]}, "q17": {"question": "What aircraft are typically used on flights from Montego Bay to Charleston?", "answer": "There is no nonstop service from Montego Bay to Charleston. On typical connecting itineraries, the longer leg is most often operated with an Airbus A321-100 (via Charlotte or Philadelphia on American) or a Boeing 737 MAX 9 (via Newark on United); Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 737-800 also appear on some connections through Baltimore or Miami. The shorter domestic leg into Charleston uses a mix of Airbus A320 family aircraft, Boeing 737s, and Canadair Regional Jets, so the exact aircraft can vary by day and by airline.", "methodology": "Aircraft types are taken from the equipment each operating carrier schedules on this route, drawn from published airline timetables and airline equipment schedules in our flight-schedule database. They describe typical scheduled aircraft and can vary with seasonal or day-of-week assignments and last-minute equipment swaps.", "toolsUsed": ["route_aircraft"]}, "q18": {"question": "Which airline alliances serve flights from Montego Bay to Charleston?", "answer": "American Airlines (oneworld) and United Airlines (Star Alliance) are the two major carriers connecting Montego Bay to Charleston, both via one-stop itineraries — American through Charlotte, Philadelphia, or Miami, and United through Newark. Southwest Airlines also appears as a connecting option, but it does not belong to any global alliance.", "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours.", "toolsUsed": ["route_airlines"]}, "q20": {"question": "What are the best airport lounge options when departing from Montego Bay?", "answer": "At Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport, the main lounge is Club Mobay in the international terminal, located airside on the mezzanine level near gate 12. It's accessible via Priority Pass, LoungeKey, and some premium credit cards like the Amex Platinum, as well as through day passes and select airline premium cabin or elite status programs. The lounge offers complimentary drinks, Wi‑Fi, showers, a children's play area, and spa services for an extra fee, with hours typically 6 am to 10 pm. There's also a separate Club Mobay Arrivals Lounge after customs in the ground transportation hall, with similar access and a three‑hour stay limit. No airline‑branded lounges like Delta Sky Club or American Admirals Club operate here.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [{"url": "https://prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/jamaica/sangster-international/mbj-club-mobay", "title": "Club Mobay MBJ AIRPORT  Montego Bay Sangster Intl | Priority Pass", "time_published": "2024-11-05T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://prioritypass.com/lounges/jamaica/montego-bay-sangster-intl", "title": "Sangster International Airport MBJ Lounges - MBJ Airport Guide and lounges.  | Priority Pass", "time_published": "2024-11-05T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://americanexpress.com/en-us/travel/lounges/the-platinum-card/MBJ/Club-Mobay-International-Terminal-ioroMlngrq", "title": "Club Mobay at Sangster International Airport | Amex US", "time_published": "2026-05-03T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangster_International_Airport", "title": "Sangster International Airport", "time_published": "2026-07-06T02:40:17Z"}, {"url": "https://americanexpress.com/en-gb/travel/lounges/the-platinum-card/MBJ/Club-Mobay-Arrivals-Lounge-International-Terminal-1KaMdVrI0b", "title": "Club Mobay Arrivals Lounge at Sangster International Airport | Amex GB", "time_published": "2026-05-03T00:00:00Z"}]}, "q21": {"question": "What is the baggage allowance on this route from Montego Bay to Charleston?", "answer": "Baggage policies on this route depend on the airline and fare type. Basic economy tickets are restrictive and may not include a checked bag, while standard international economy fares typically include one free checked bag and a carry-on. Premium cabins offer more generous allowances."}, "q22": {"question": "What cabin and seat options are typical from Montego Bay to Charleston?", "answer": "On this route, you'll typically find Economy and sometimes First class with recliner seats; flat‑bed Business and Premium Economy are uncommon."}, "q23": {"question": "Are same‑day changes or standby possible on this route?", "answer": "Policies vary by airline and fare; flexible and premium tickets usually allow same‑day changes or standby, while Basic Economy generally does not."}}}}