The Best Airlines and Flights To/From Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is stunningly beautiful and has some of the most interesting cultural destinations out there!

As the beautiful island of Puerto Rico continues to attract visitors from all over the world, the demand for convenient and reliable flight connections between Puerto Rico and the United States has grown exponentially. With numerous options available, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to choose the airline that will best suit your needs.

To help you navigate the various flight options, in this article, we will explore the top airlines and flights connecting Puerto Rico and the USA to help you figure out which airline and flight makes the most sense for you! This list has taken into consideration various factors like airline reputation, route reliability, flight frequency, services on board, and of course, price. Since direct flights from Puerto Rico to the USA generally only go to the east coast and typically fly out of San Juan Airport (SJU), we’re going to focus on those flights for this article. Whether you are a frequent traveler or planning your first trip to Puerto Rico, this article will serve as your ultimate guide to navigating the travel options between Puerto Rico and the USA.

Now that we’ve set the background, let’s jump into the list!

The Best Airlines (and Flights) Between Puerto Rico and the USA

1. Frontier Airlines

One of the best options to get to the USA from Puerto Rico (and specifically San Juan Airport, SJU) is to use Frontier Airlines! Frontier is an ultra-low-budget carrier that travels throughout North America with a focus on the domestic USA. However, from San Juan (and Puerto Rico overall), no other airline flies to more locations in the USA than Frontier Airlines

See Spirit Airline’s flight map from Puerto Rico below:

Frontier’s flight map to and from San Juan, Puerto Rico and the East Coast of the United States

Not only does Frontier fly to more US-based destinations from San Juan than any other airline, but it’s also one of the cheapest airlines you can take. You’re going to get no frills, no amenities, and everything beyond a carry-on personal item will cost an extra fee, but if you’re hoping to fly between the USA and Puerto Rico for cheap and quick (i.e., without any stops), Frontier Airlines is an excellent option. For example, round-trip direct flights from San Juan to Atlanta can go for as cheap as $130! Frontier Airlines also has a subscription service where you pay an annual fee in exchange for discounts on flight prices (called the “Discount Den”), so if you fly between the USA and Puerto Rico frequently, it is definitely something to look into for long-term savings.

An example round-trip direct flight on Frontier Airlines from San Juan to Atlanta

2. Spirit Airlines

If you want to travel as cheaply as possible between the USA and Puerto Rico, and you're okay with the potential for long layovers, Spirit Airlines is the airline for you! Spirit is another ultra-low-budget airline that aims to get you to your destination for as cheap as possible with no (or few) extra services provided. While Spirit Airlines does not fly to quite as many locations as Frontier (and many of the direct flight routes for these destinations are seasonal), they still cover the second most destinations in the USA of any airline carrier.

Spirit Airlines flight map from San Juan, Puerto Rico

Spirit excels as an airline option largely in its prices: for many destinations, flying Spirit will be the cheapest possible way to get there. Interestingly, flight prices between nonstop flights with layovers are largely similar, so if you have the flexibility we recommend looking at different dates and different destinations to try to find direct flights. If you can find one that works for you, you can get to your destination for a fraction of the price of any other airline. For instance, we have flown round-trip from San Juan to NYC (via Newark Airport, EWR) for less than $100 (see below)! However, the tradeoff for Spirit is that if you can’t find a direct flight, the layovers can be pretty brutal, with wait times of 4+ hours in various airports. While not the most luxurious airline, Spirit is a great option to travel between Puerto Rico and the USA.

You can go nonstop round-trip between San Juan and Newark for less than $100!

3. JetBlue

Unlike the two previous airlines which have been for those wanting to travel as cheaply as possible, JetBlue is a great option for anyone who wants to travel between the USA and Puerto Rico on an airline with more amenities. While JetBlue still offers cheaper seats in their basic economy section, the airline is known for its “JetBlue Mint” first-class experience, which can elevate any trip you take. Similar to the other airlines, JetBlue flies almost exclusively to the East Coast of the USA from Puerto Rico, with a decent selection of destinations covering the full coast.

JetBlue’s flight map from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to the east coast of the USA

However, the trade-off for the added luxuries and direct flights is that the tickets tend to be slightly more expensive. Granted, you will likely have a more relaxing ride on JetBlue than on the ultra-budget airlines and will have more amenities throughout the flying experience. If the price concerns you, there is one other benefit to flying JetBlue: you can use credit card points to pay for your travel! Both American Express points and Chase Ultimate Rewards allow you to transfer your points 1:1 directly to JetBlue, meaning that if you have either an AmEx or Chase points card (or both), you can likely travel using exclusively points. For example, a direct flight one-way from Boston to San Juan would cost ~$250, but only 16,000 JetBlue points! Therefore, if you have Chase, AmEx, or JetBlue points already, flying on JetBlue with points can end up being the cheapest way to travel.

JetBlue flight prices between Boston and San Juan with both cash and with points

Summary

When it comes to flying between Puerto Rico and the USA, there are several airlines that can help you achieve your travel goals. If you’re looking for budget travel, with minimal frills or amenities, Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines cover a wide breadth of locations and fly direct daily for super cheap prices. However, if you’re looking for a slightly more luxurious experience, or you fancy booking your flights with points, JetBlue emerges as the top choice. Whether you prioritize cost-effectiveness, convenience, or luxury, these airlines provide reliable options for a seamless travel experience between Puerto Rico and the USA. So, next time you plan your journey across these two destinations, choose any of these airlines and enjoy a memorable trip from the beautiful island of Puerto Rico to the shores of the United States.

If you’re interested in traveling to the USA, make sure to check out our guide for the best airlines and flights from Key West and from Boston. If you’re interested in booking hotels when you’re traveling between the US and Puerto Rico, make sure to look at our review of the World of Hyatt credit card and our guide on booking hotels with Hyatt points. And finally, if you’re starting to travel but don’t have a travel credit card yet, make sure to explore our list of the best travel credit cards with no annual fee!