Airfare to San Juan

[pamjsc]

We are sailing on the Caribbean Princess on March 7 for 14 days. I've been looking for airfare from Minneapolis to San Juan and prices are running anywhere from $650 to $800 a person which seems high to me. Most of the returning flights out of San Juan seem to leave early in the morning and the few afternoon flights are high.

 

I'm looking for opinions on whether I should bite the bullet and book now or wait to see if prices goes down.

 

Thanks for any input.

[mea718]

Have you thought about staying over a day or two? We did just that last April. We were enjoying the city and relaxing while the airports were jammed. We left on the early, cheaper flight 2 days later. San Juan offers much more than just being a start/stop point for cruising.

 

The high fare could be due to spring breaks also. Don't know that it will get any cheaper.

[pokergirl34]

The best I found for "low" season from SEA was $460/person rt. I am not sure if March is low or high season for the caribbean, but I would guess high since hurricane season hasn't started yet.

 

I recently booked our air using miles for one way and paying for the other. We will be traveling in high season and holiday season to boot so it was important to me not to wait too long to secure our plans.

 

We used our American Airlines miles for the flight there (17,500 each since it is high season :rolleyes: ) and found air for $249 each for us for the return. Granted we are flying from Seattle which is way farther from Puerto Rico than Minneapolis.

 

If possible I would try to stay a few days in PR and see if that helps. Otherwise, I would set a date for myself by which I needed to book air then see if I can find a deal before then. Look multiple times a day and also look in the middle of the night (that's how I found the $249 fare...it was $365 earlier in the day and the next morning!)

 

Good luck!

[Contessa30]

We are sailing on the Caribbean Princess on March 7 for 14 days. I've been looking for airfare from Minneapolis to San Juan and prices are running anywhere from $650 to $800 a person which seems high to me. Most of the returning flights out of San Juan seem to leave early in the morning and the few afternoon flights are high.

 

I'm looking for opinions on whether I should bite the bullet and book now or wait to see if prices goes down.

 

Thanks for any input.

 

We have flown to San Juan from MSP many times. I don't think you will find much cheaper airfare unless you decide to spend extra days there. We have found that if we fly in on the day of the cruise, and out on disembarkment day, that the fares are high. That airport can be a zoo, epecially on your return flight day. I assume you are considering Delta's flight around 4:30. That means, unless you make other plans, you will spend many hours sitting around the airport.

[FlyerTalker]

We have found that if we fly in on the day of the cruise, and out on disembarkment day, that the fares are high.

Our old friends, Supply and Demand.

 

So, to the OP...is it that the fares are "high" that day, or in general? I would suggest a search on ITA looking at the next day as well.

[alcpa1]

Please do not book an early morning departure on your day of disembarkation. Most cruise lines offer a bus tour of San Juan which is great if you have not been there before and have an afternoon flight. Your luggage will go with you on the bus. These excursions are modestly priced as opposed to most that are offered and it sure beats sitting on the floor at SJU. They have chairs, of course, but the terminal is terribly crowded on cruise days. Not only are the concourses crowded but so is the check in area. That is why those of us who are familiar with SJU almost always recommend flights after noon.

If you can swing an extra day there are many wonderful beach front hotels very close to the airport. A weekday flight is almost always less expensive than a cruise day flight.

I would not wait too long to book. Your cruise is in the height of the season.

[Gopher1934]

I booked Air from Mpls to San Jaun March 5th return March15

 

I did a lot of looking and found the best for me was a one way flight each way

 

Us air going down for 378.20 for 2

and American coming home for 538.00 for 2 people this works out to 458.oo per person