AA to Puerto Rico

Chirimoya · #1 12-08-2007, 08:22 PM

The Chirimoya clan are planning a new year break in Puerto Rico. Flights are slightly less expensive than I thought, but still pretty steep. I think it was here on DR1 that I read that Santo Domingo-San Juan is one of the most expensive flights on earth per mile. Is it true that AA have the absolute monopoly?

My PR friends say Caribair and Liat also fly the route, but I think they must be mistaken.

Is the ferry significantly cheaper? I doubt it's enough of a price difference to make up for the time lost on a long crossing when you're only going to be away for a few days.

And no Yola comments - this is by far the most expensive option.

MommC · #2 12-09-2007, 08:41 AM

leaving Dec.30 returning Jan 3rd.......

Also AA was the only carrier that had a direct flight!

Going to Miami was cheaper.....

And then there's St. Maarten.....only CAN$210!

Chirimoya · #3 12-09-2007, 09:10 AM

Well, that's much cheaper than what I was quoted (540 rtn for adult, 440 for child) on thos exact dates - where did you find those?!

adrianb · #4 12-09-2007, 10:15 AM

Chiri, use aa.com and

ITA Software: Login

Expedia sometimes is also good. But for really indepth searching, the second one is the best.

Adrian

Chirimoya · #5 12-09-2007, 10:39 AM

Thanks Adrian - the net prices are more or less what MommC quoted, but once you add on the Dominican taxes it comes to US$500 per adult, and US$400 for the child - still a total saving of US$120 compared to the travel agent's quote.

Isla del encanto - here we come!

Chirimoya · #6 12-09-2007, 11:01 AM

Turns out the taxes are US taxes so I ended up not booking, in case we would be subject to DR taxes on top. Will go direct to the airline tomorrow to check this out. (Does anyone have any experience of booking online from the DR in this way?)

MommC · #7 12-09-2007, 11:26 AM

Canadian taxes only (EXCEPT FOR 'NORMAL' DEPARTURE tax).
Tickets issued are E tickets and are claimed at the relevant airlines desk!

adrianb · #8 12-09-2007, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

Turns out the taxes are US taxes so I ended up not booking, in case we would be subject to DR taxes on top. Will go direct to the airline tomorrow to check this out. (Does anyone have any experience of booking online from the DR in this way?)

I travel frequently and always book through one of the US websites, above. I print out the ticket and go directly to the airline. There aren't any extra "dr taxes", they are already built into the fare.

Working with local travel agents is too much hassle.

You may want to consider other islands, maybe making a list of 15 of them and checking the fares to all of them. Turks and Caicos or USVI may have better fares.

Adrian

Kiboko · #9 12-09-2007, 02:04 PM

Hello!

The ferry to Mayaguez leaves Santo Domingo at 8pm and arrives the next day at 8am, the same coming back, so you wouldn't actually lose any sightseeing/relaxing time, and depending on where you are going in Puerto Rico, you could actually save time.

Air Caraibes doesn't fly to San Juan. LIAT does, but you would have to fly to Antigua, transfer, and then fly back to San Juan, which doesn't make any sense. So much so that it is not even an option on their website

If you just want to get off the island, rather than going to Puerto Rico in particular, I've found the cheapest prices are either Turks and Caicos from Santiago or Puerto Plata, as Adrian mentioned, or Curacao from Santo Domingo on Aeropostal, followed by New York, then Miami, then San Juan, strangely enough.

For AA tickets, I either buy on the website or go to their booth in Bella Vista Mall. It once worked out $10 cheaper to buy from the booth than on the website, but sometimes there are special offers you can only buy online.

Kiboko

suarezn · #10 12-09-2007, 02:47 PM

If really think your best option is the ferry as it is cheaper and as someone said you wouldn't lose any day time in PR. As a family you'd be saving 6-700 USD (not sure what prices are nowadays, but back when my mother used to take it to PR it used to cost about 200 USD with sleeping cabin or about 150 USD without a cabin.