If you've read my 17 must-try experiences in Mombasa! you'll know how much Kenya has to offer as a tourist destination, and how Jambojet is making travel between Uganda and Kenya easier - for all types of traveler.
Jambojet's twice daily flights between the two capitals are also an exciting development for Uganda tourism and for Ugandans. Kenyans are adventurous tourists and many would love to come gorilla tracking in the Pearl of Africa or spend the weekend enjoying Kampala's music festivals and (in)famous nightlife! The Jambojet flight schedule makes business between the two countries much easier too.
Jambojet flies two times a day between Entebbe International Airport and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Within Kenya, Jambojet also flies from Nairobi to Eldoret, Kisumu, Malindi, Mombasa and Ukunda (Diani).
Check out Jambojet's flight schedules to find the best flight for you.
At the time of writing (August 2018) the fare from Entebbe to Nairobi is from $120 and from Nairobi to Entebbe is from $113. To get the cheapest fares you must book early (weeks or even months in advance). Prices are quoted 'from' as the best fares sell out early. All prices are inclusive of taxes. (The slight price difference is due to the difference in airport taxes in the two countries).Jambojet offers the cheapest air service between Uganda and Kenya. They keep their prices low by having a 'no-frills' Low Cost Carrier strategy, so expect to pay extra for drinks and snacks on board. Standard baggage allowance is 10 kg but you can carry up to 64 kg, if you're willing to pay the extra cost.
I enjoyed my four flights with Jambojet. All flights took off and landed on time. There is no WiFi and no entertainment system but flights are so short, I didn't feel I missed anything. In fact, I spent the whole flights gazing out of the window marvelling at the clouds below us!
Note that to buy snacks, drinks and duty-free on board you have to pay cash (Kenya shillings or USD only. Uganda shillings are not accepted).
Jambojet is a low-cost operator. The terms and conditions of booking are a little different to some other flight providers so read this section before starting your booking.
What are the different ticket types? What does each one include?
Basic fare. This ticket allows you 10 kg cabin luggage only. You cannot select your seat choice in advance.
Smart fare. The smart fare ticket gives you more options:
10 kg cabin luggage
20 kg hold luggage
FREE standard seat selection
NO FEE to change your flight date/time (once). However, if the new flight has a higher fare, you will need to pay the fare difference.
Optional extras that you may want to buyExtra baggage. Extra legroom.
Why do Jambojet prices range so widely?Tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis so the earlier you book, the less you pay.
The cheapest and most convenient way to book flight tickets is online. If you make a flight reservation online, there are no extra charges beyond the quoted fare. I found the system very easy to use. It has tons of very useful info too!
- - Got to www.jambojet.com
- - Input your 'leaving from' and 'going to' airports and fill in your dates of travel.
- - Indicate how many adults and children are travelling. Put in a promotional code (if you have one). If you book online, you have to pay in US dollars.
- - Next you have to choose the basic or smart option. At this point you can click on Price Lock if you want to secure this booking for 24 hours before paying. Price Lock is $5 (and non-refundable).
- - Put in the passenger name(s) and add hold baggage. Choose between 0 / 1 / 2 bags only. The maximum you will pay for luggage is $58 (assuming you had two bags weighing 32 kg each). You can also pay for special equipment such as golfing, fishing or a surfboard! The total is calculated as you go.
- - On the next screen, choose your seat. For $6 you can buy extra legroom.
- - Note: you still have the option to hold your booking / price using Price Lock.
- - On the next screen, add your address.
- - Finally, you pay with Visa, MasterCard, MTN mobile money, Airtel money, MPesa or a voucher.
Do I get an e-ticket through the website?
Jambojet is ticketless. This means that rather than being issued with an e-ticket you will simply receive a booking reference number and an itinerary.
Which other ways can I book my Jambojet ticket?
You can also book tickets at Jambojet offices or by contacting:
Uganda sales +256 706 534 545 [email protected]
Kenya sales +254 (0)711024545 / 0734104545 / 020 3274545 [email protected]
Note that booking at a sales office or by phone incurs an additional service charge of $7 per person per one way.
Useful information that you really should read before you book ...
How much baggage can I take on a Jambojet flight?All passengers are allowed to carry one free piece of hand luggage with a maximum weight of 10 kg and maximum dimensions 55 cm x 35 cm x 25 cm. Bigger than this and it's classed as an 'oversize bag' and will be accepted as hold luggage - but checked-in for an additional charge. NOTE: if you have to pay for extra baggage at the airport, the rate is double (so plan ahead). Once you're at the check-in gate, you can only pay with a debit or credit card.
What is the maximum luggage allowance?Each passenger can take a combined luggage weight of strictly two pieces of baggage not exceeding 64 kg. This extra luggage must be paid for.
I'm not sure how much luggage I will take. Can I book hold luggage or add extra weight to my booking later?Yes, you can add extra bags and/or extra kilos to your luggage until two hours before departure (unless you have already checked in online). This is more cost-effective than buying extra luggage at the airport. Go to the 'manage my booking' menu at www.jambojet.com or contact the Jambojet call centre.
What is Price Lock? How does it work?Sometimes you want to check ticket availability and price but need to confirm other travel arrangements before purchasing your ticket. If you're not ready to commit but don't want to miss out, choose Price Lock and go to checkout. For $5 per passenger you can lock the price of your booking for up to 24 hours. The Price Lock fee is non-refundable and is only available for online reservations on Jambojet.com five days before departure. You can enter your passenger details when you're ready to make the payment.
What if I want to change or cancel my flight?All fares are non-refundable. Visit the website for details about itinerary changes and fees.
What happens if I see a lower fare on Jambojet.com after I have made my booking?The prices you're presented with are based on the timing of your booking and the number of available seats. The cost of flights is constantly changing due to a number of factors such as booking cancellations and non-payment of bookings. To get the best possible rates, book as far in advance as possible. Changing your booking to a lower fare is not possible.
Which seats provide extra legroom?The web site has a map showing which seats have extra legroom. You can view this during the Jambojet seat reservation procedure.
Do I need my passport when flying with Jambojet?
Citizens of Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda can travel on an ID card or passport within the three countries. (This is explained in more detail in my Definitive Guide to the East Africa Tourist Visa and Interstate Pass). Other nationals must carry their passports. (For Kenyan citizens that are taking Jambojet flights within Kenya, you only need to carry your ID card or driving license).
Do I need to carry my Yellow Fever certificate?
Yes, a yellow fever certificate is required to enter Uganda and Kenya. At the time of writing (August 2018), passengers are also being screened for Ebola.
What do I present at the airport as confirmation for my booking and payment?
Your booking reference number and itinerary will be sent to the email address you provide during booking. You will also receive an SMS with your booking reference number. Show this when you check-in at the airport.
When can I check-in?
Online check-in starts 30 hours before departure and closes 2 hours before departure. Go to Jambojet.com, select your seat and print out your boarding pass. Once you have done online check-in, you don't have to wait in line at the check-in counter.
On the day of your flight, passengers travelling with travel with hand luggage only can go directly to the departure gate. Checked-in passengers with luggage should take luggage to the Jambojet baggage drop-off point at the airport. Check-in for international flights closes 1 hour before departure and 40 minutes before departure for local flights.
Jambojet's flights between Entebbe and Nairobi are so affordable, I'm sure a lot of people will be flying this route for the first time, so don't forget to pack:
- Passport or national ID. Yellow Fever certificate.
- Booking reference number and itinerary. Printed boarding pass (if you check in online).
- Credit card - needed in case your baggage at the airport exceeds the amount you have paid for during the booking.
- Cash to buy drinks and snacks and duty free on board the plane.
- Keep your travel and insurance papers, medications and other valuables in your hand luggage - never in your hold luggage.
- Note that any liquids measuring more than 100 ml must be checked-in (hold) baggage.
Are you a first-time flyer? Read What not to carry in both hand and checked-in baggage.
I come from Europe where no-frills airlines (such as Ryanair and easyJet) have revolutionised air travel. Essentially, book in advance and you get the best fares. Travel light and the costs are low. If you carry lots of luggage, want to guarantee the best seat or eat snacks on board, that's all available - but you will be charged extra for it. This kind of flexibility puts you in charge of your budget. For me, that's a big positive.
I've visited Kenya many times and what really struck me on my recent visit was how most Kenyans I met had a big affection for Uganda. They told me how they had worked in Kampala hotels... have a sister studying here... how much they miss Ugandan food... how much they love Kampala nightlife... how they look forward to return visits. The few Kenyans who had not travelled to Uganda, all expressed a wish to.
Until the arrival of Jambojet, you had to be pretty well-off to be able to fly to the coast for the weekend. Even when travelling between Kampala and Nairobi on business, many of us saw the bus as the only option. Jambojet provides an affordable alternative. If you save money, you might be able to do the journey more often (so more holidays!)
If you have only ever been able to afford bus transport between Uganda and Kenya , calculate how much time you waste sitting on the bus. Time is money and if you can travel to Nairobi and have all your meetings in one day and fly back on the same day, then you've actually saved yourself two days. Think about that time in monetary terms. Let's be honest, air travel is a lot safer as well.
Jambojet is a 'point to point airline.' All flights fly to and from JKIA with no stops en route. If you want to fly from Entebbe to Mombasa, for example, you will need to make two separate bookings and change planes at JKIA.
Jambojet has the youngest fleet in the world. Planes average just 3 months old. Aircraft are 78 seater Bombardier Q400 Next Generation. Q stands for quiet (the aircraft cabins are quiet, modern and very comfortable). The muzungu can vouch for that!
Jambojet has an excellent score for flight departures. On-Time Performance (OTP) is the primary internationally accepted standard by which airline and airport reliability is measured. The universal standard benchmark set by IATA (International Airlines Transport Association) considers flights departing within 15 minutes of the scheduled departure time as being on-time. In January 2018, Jambojet had an OTP of 93%. (An OTP of 80% and above is considered excellent by international aviation standards). Not bad eh?
For questions about special offers, gift vouchers, group bookings, changes to your flight, printing of booking confirmations, free disabled assistance, traveling with babies or while pregnant, unaccompanied children, Price Lock reservations, refunds, cancellations and more, go to www.jambojet.com
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