Most rules for getting the best airfares to the Caribbean are the same as for air travel to other destinations: be flexible in your travel planning, check the web for the best fares, and subscribe to airline e-newsletters to keep up on last-minute deals and fare sales. About.com
Air Travel guide Arlene Fleming offers more helpful tips. Bargain-hunters also can increase their odds of getting deals by:
Buying Packages
Traditionally, the Caribbean has always been a more cost-friendly destination to travelers who buy air-land package deals than to independent travelers. It's not uncommon, for example, to find hotel deals that include airfare cheaper than the published prices for airfare alone on airline websites. Airlines, hotels, travel agencies, and even some destinations offer package deals that can save you big bucks on Caribbean travel.
Flying with Budget Airlines
San Juan is served by ATA Airlines and JetBlue; JetBlue also flies to Puerto Rico's regional Aguadilla and Ponce airports and Nassau, Bahamas and is adding flights to Bermuda. USA 3000 also serves Nassau as well as Montego Bay, Jamaica, La Romana, Dominican Republic, and Bermuda. Another discount carrier to check out is Spirit Airlines, serving Grand Cayman, Turks and Caicos, Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica, Nassau, Bahamas, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Arranging Travel via San Juan
Puerto Rico's Luis Munoz Marin International Airport has become the region's major transportation hub, served not only by major U.S. carriers but by a number of regional carriers. In some cases, it may be cheaper to book a cheap flight with a discount carrier to San Juan and then make arrangements to fly on a "puddle jumper" to one of the region's less-traveled islands than to fly directly or on both legs with a major U.S. carrier.
Checking Out Charters
Charter airlines serve destinations like Aruba and Bermuda and sometimes offer good deals on airfare, even if you're not traveling with a group.
Traveling Off Season
The best airfare deals to the Caribbean can be found in the offseason -- roughly mid-April to mid-December.
