As Airlines Hone in on Puerto Rico, Cheap Flights are Here

Whether you’re going to visit family or looking to head for Caribbean beaches while leaving your passport at home, there’s never been a better time to plan a trip to Puerto Rico. 

For Americans on the mainland, Puerto Rico is the perfect spot: It’s a passport-free destination just a short nonstop or one-stop flight away. And as airlines have ramped up flights to the island this year, fares are dropping fast – and far.

Cheap flights to Puerto Rico – especially the capital of San Juan (SJU) – have been in steady supply lately, with roundtrip fares in the $300s available from all across the U.S. We’ve even seen those prices tumble under $300 … and sometimes, even in the $100s!

That’s what we’ve been finding and sending our Thrifty Traveler Premium members lately, helping them get to the surf of Aguadilla or Old San Juan for cheaper than ever. And if you’d believe it, we’re even finding lie-flat business class deals to Puerto Rico bookable with points, too. 

The airfare environment to Puerto Rico means more travelers should put the lovely island on their lists for 2024 or 2025. Here’s why. 

Airlines Are Flying to Puerto Rico More than Ever

Flight prices really hinge on two things: Supply and demand. And the supply of flights to and from Puerto Rico is higher than ever – the perfect recipe for cheap flights. 

Airlines big and small have been adding flights to San Juan (SJU) like crazy. Two U.S. airlines – Frontier and JetBlue – have even established crew bases on the island to increasing service to the island.

All told, 10 mainland carriers are scheduled to fly to Puerto Rico this year and next including the likes of Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, and United, among others. There are even nonstop flights to other airports on the island like Ponce (PSE) and Aguadilla (BQN).

Here’s the result: Airlines are scheduled to fly 7.5 million seats from the mainland to Puerto Rico this year, according to aviation analytics data from Cirium – a nearly 9% increase from 2023 … and up almost 40% compared to pre-pandemic. It’s still early, but the numbers next year are on track to  meet or even exceed what’s on tap for 2024.

That’s a lot of seats to fill – and the best way for airlines do so is to slash fares.

Surprise, surprise: That’s exactly what they’re doing. 

Cheap Flights to Puerto Rico Just Keep Coming

To find a cheap flight to Puerto Rico, your best bet is flying into San Juan (SJU). That’s where airlines are flying the most and thus where you’re likely to find the lowest fares.

Like these, for example.

Just a few weeks back, we found these low fares flying from all over the U.S. to San Juan this fall, winter, and even into spring 2025. 

That’s a long list of sub-$400 (and even some sub-$300) fares … and yet it’s only about half the list of cities that got in on these cheap fares to Puerto Rico. When the airlines start competing against each other, travelers like you and I are the winners! 

From most of these cities, you’ll need to make a quick connection to get to San Juan for less. But there are plenty of U.S. cities with nonstop service to Puerto Rico, too! Airlines like Delta, American, Southwest, and United fly nonstop to the island from several of their major airports.

Those are some great nonstop fares on major airlines. But what if you want to use your credit card points or airline miles instead? 

Tasty Delta SkyMiles flash sales down to Puerto Rico aren’t impossible to find, but there’s a better best way: Booking Delta nonstop flights through Virgin Atlantic for even fewer points. 

As you can see, a number of Caribbean cities were bookable using this awesome hack. Full disclosure: This is how I booked my own Puerto Rico trip coming in January! 

If you have Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points (which you can instantly transfer from credit cards from all the major banks like Amex, Chase, Capital One, and more), you can book Delta flights for next to nothing and save your cash for a few fancy dinners in Old San Juan instead. 

Those flights are terrific and the price is right, but one way to fly to Puerto Rico reigns supreme: JetBlue Mint Business Class.

These are JetBlue’s lie-flat business class seats with excellent service and some of the best food you’ll eat on a plane. JetBlue flies these jets between New York (JFK) and San Juan (SJU) every day. 

And lucky you, JetBlue sneakily puts these fares on sale from time to time, too.  

Think you could make that luxurious seat work for your four-hour journey to SJU? Well, you could…for just $675 roundtrip. 

Just make sure you get the right flight with the right plane. Install the Google Flights Legrooms extension to make sure your seat is lie-flat. For about the same price, you could have also booked United Polaris business class down to Puerto Rico from Newark (EWR) as well. 

Whether it’s in economy or in a lie-flat seat, there are no shortage of great ways to get to San Juan this year or next. But you don’t have to fly to the capital city to find a great deal to Puerto Rico.

Airlines also fly nonstop from the mainland to Aguadilla (BQN) and Ponce (PSE), too. Budget carrier Frontier is battling it out with other airlines like JetBlue and United with nonstop service to Ponce.

That competition has led to deals like this. 

On the west coast of the island, Aguadilla is known for its beaches and surfing. And you don’t have to head for San Juan first to make a trip to the west coast happen. 

Recently, JetBlue and United starting fighting for passengers for their Aguadilla flights, leading to bargain prices like these! 

From coast-to-coast, you can fly to Puerto Rico this year for less than you may think. 

Bottom Line

U.S. airlines see opportunity in Puerto Rico, increasing flights as a result. And it’s making cheap fares down to this Caribbean island easier to find than ever.

From economy to lie-flat business class seats, to San Juan or the coasts of Aguadilla, there’s a great flight at an even better price waiting out there for you. Make 2024 (or 2025) the year you visit Puerto Rico … for less!