A number of major airlines have regular flights to the region. These
include American, Delta, US Airways, American Eagle, Continental, United,
Northwest, Air Jamaica, Air Canada, and British Airways. There are
also a few smaller Caribbean airlines that provide service between
the islands.
Many travelers book their flights through a travel agent. Others prefer
to make their own arrangements, often online through either an airline''s
web site or a travel booking site. Some of the most well known online
travel sites include
Expedia,
Orbitz,
Travelocity,
Priceline,
Cheaptickets,
Site59,
or
Onetravel are
all online travel sites, and each has its own niche. Priceline offers
cheap fares, but travelers must bid on them. Expedia lets travelers
select their arrival and departure times, Priceline requires that a
passenger accept a flight any time between the hours of 6:00 AM and
10:PM with at least one stop. Some of these sites require that you
become a member, while others do not. When evaluating fares, remember
to factor in the cost of membership to a travel web site.
When selecting a Caribbean flight, remember that a nonstop flight does
not make any stops, while a direct flight stops at least once. Caribbean
airlines sometimes jointly operate a connecting flight, so if you have
a preference as to which airline you wish to fly with, make sure you
know the carrier of your connecting flight.
Both the airlines and the travel sites often have web only specials,
so it''s wise to check out web sites. Most savvy travelers compare prices
by checking online and by calling the airlines directly. When you do
find a good rate, book it immediately. Often this rate is available
for only a short period or on a limited basis. If you wait, it may
not be there.
Consider flying to the Caribbean during non-peak hours or into an alternate
airport. These rates are typically less expensive. Roundtrip Caribbean
flights are the least expensive and must be purchased in advance. In
most cases you can change your return date, but you will pay a fee
for doing so. Most low-fare tickets, however, are nonrefundable. Check
whether the flight is nonstop (no stops are made) or direct (at least
one stop is made). A flight from New York to San Juan, Puerto Rico
is about 3.5 hours, while a flight from Miami to San Juan is about
1.5.
Always confirm your flight before leaving for the airport. With the
new safety regulations in place, you will need to allow plenty of time
to pass through security.
Caribbean airports are small and most planes disembark on the tarmac
and then passengers proceed to the terminal. Sometimes there is a shuttle,
but generally passengers will walk to the terminal. If you are unable
to do this because of a physical problem, ask the airline about alternate
arrangements.