Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Royal Jordanian and Jordan connection question

Greetings everyone,
I'm flying Royal Jordanian soon from Chicago-Amman-Alexandria Egypt soon. This is the first time I'm flying like this alone and would like any insight anyone would have about what to expect on these flights. The aircraft are the A340 and the F-28.

How is the Amman airport for connecting? I'm flying Continental to Chicago from Cleveland so I'm guessing I will collect my luggage and recheck in at ORD? Will I have to do that in Amman or will customs be in Egypt?

thanks everyone

I'm flying coach.

I don't know whether you will have to collect your luggage in Amman, but my guess is that you will not have to. The Amman airport is small and dumpy, with little to do, although it has free wireless internet. Also the duty free store is quite nice. The only restaurants in the airport are Western fast-food chains (e.g., Popeyes, Pizza Hut) and coffee shops.

Depending on how much time you have, you could go into Amman. It's about a half-hour cab ride costing JOD 17.5 (about $25). Plus you would need a visa, which costs JOD 10 ($14). There's not much to do there, either, but it's a good way to kill time and see the place if you have a few hours between flights.

The subject has been covered in the ME forum. There's sterile transit at AMM so (like most airports outside N. America) you don't clear customs until your final destination and in this case immigration in Alexandria too. As far as Chicago goes, it all depends if CO interlines with RJ. Check to see that your baggage tags say ALY (and AMM and ORD) when you check in at CLE.

Agree with what has been mentioned above. You should be able to check your luggage all the way through to Alexandria and retrieve it there. Amman airport is alright. As has been mentioned, just American places to eat - Pizza Hut, Popeyes, Starbucks. The duty free shops are decent. If your layover is relatively long, RJ might provide you with a room at the Alia hotel (airport hotel) and you don't need a visa for that as RJ has some agreement with the immigration folks. My biggest issue with the Amman airport (along with most of the middle east) is the amount of cigarette smoke. Security is a bit of a pain for departures to the US but I suppose that is expected in that part of the world.

Thanks for the help everyone but my flights have changed and I won't be going o AJ or to Jordan anymore. Thanks again though.