Cheap Flights to Puerto Rico: Nonstops From NYC, Boston and FLL

Looking for cheap flights to Puerto Rico from New York, Boston or Fort Lauderdale? The short version: Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, so U.S. citizens fly there on a domestic ticket with no passport, and San Juan's main airport (SJU) has nonstop service from JFK, Newark, Boston and Fort Lauderdale. The biggest ways to pay less are choosing the right airport, comparing every nearby departure city, and being flexible on dates. For live prices, check current fares in the search box on this page.

Puerto Rico flights at a glance

Question	Answer
Passport needed for U.S. citizens?	No. Bring a valid ID such as a driver's license or state ID
Main airport	Luis Muñoz Marín International (SJU), in Carolina, minutes from San Juan
Other airports with U.S. flights	Rafael Hernández (BQN) in Aguadilla; Mercedita (PSE) in Ponce
Nonstops to SJU from our area	New York (JFK), Newark, Boston, Hartford, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando and more
Nonstops to PSE	Orlando and New York City
Hurricane season	June 1 to November 30, peaking around September 10
Leaving the island	Bags are checked by USDA for fruits, plants and other farm items before you fly back

Which Puerto Rico airport should you fly into?

Most travelers land at San Juan (SJU). According to Discover Puerto Rico, the island's official tourism organization, SJU has more than 120 daily nonstop flights to U.S. cities, and U.S. carriers serving it include American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Southwest, Spirit, Frontier, Avelo and Sun Country. More airlines on a route usually means more fare competition, which is why SJU is the first place to search.

Two smaller airports are worth checking if you are not staying in San Juan:

Aguadilla (BQN) serves the northwest corner of the island. Discover Puerto Rico lists JetBlue, Frontier and United there, with service to Orlando and other cities.
Ponce (PSE) on the south coast is served by Frontier and JetBlue, with nonstops to Orlando and New York City.

If your hotel is on the west or south coast, flying into BQN or PSE can save you a long drive across the island. If you are staying in San Juan, Isla Verde or Condado, SJU is the obvious choice.

There is also a small fourth airport, Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci (SIG) on Isla Grande in San Juan. Discover Puerto Rico says it serves Puerto Rico's smaller islands and nearby Caribbean destinations.

Nonstop flights from New York, Boston and Fort Lauderdale

Discover Puerto Rico's list of U.S. cities with nonstop service to SJU includes New York (JFK), Newark, Boston, Hartford, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia and many others, from Atlanta and Charlotte to Chicago, Dallas and Denver. Avelo has also announced new San Juan routes from New Haven, Connecticut, and Wilmington, Delaware.

What this means for your search:

New York area travelers can compare JFK and Newark to SJU, plus the New York City nonstop to Ponce if you are headed south. If you are flying out of JFK, see our guide to JFK security wait times. Driving to Newark? Read our Newark Airport parking guide.
New England travelers can compare Boston and Hartford. Avelo's New Haven route is another option to check once it is running.
South Florida travelers can compare Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Both have nonstop service to SJU.

Airlines add and drop routes often, so check current fares and schedules in the search box rather than relying on any list, including this one.

How to find cheaper Puerto Rico flights

We don't publish "deal" prices, because fares change by the minute. These habits help you find the lowest price yourself:

Search every airport near you. A New Yorker should check both JFK and Newark; a Bostonian should check Boston and Hartford.
Search every airport in Puerto Rico that fits your trip. SJU, BQN and PSE are priced separately.
Be flexible by a few days. Use a date range in your search and compare departure days.
Count the bag fees. Some airlines charge separately for carry-on and checked bags, so compare the total price, not just the base fare. If you're considering Frontier, which flies to SJU, BQN and PSE, see our Frontier baggage fees guide before you book.
Watch hurricane season. It runs June 1 to November 30. Discover Puerto Rico suggests monitoring forecasts and considering travel insurance if you travel during those months.

When to go to Puerto Rico

Discover Puerto Rico says "the Island is always in season," with warm weather all year. A few timing notes from its seasonal guide:

Winter: humpback whale season runs January through March, and surf season peaks from October to April.
Summer: typically the warmest season, popular for beach days and bioluminescent bay tours.
Fall: a quieter time suited to mountain towns, coffee farms and food routes.
Hurricane season: officially June 1 to November 30. The U.S. National Hurricane Center puts the peak around September 10, with most activity from mid-August to mid-October.

Do you need a passport to fly to Puerto Rico?

No. Discover Puerto Rico confirms that U.S. citizens and permanent residents do not need a passport because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory. You still need a valid ID, such as a driver's license or state ID card, just as you would for any domestic flight. Make sure your ID meets current TSA rules before you go.

SJU also has CLEAR for faster identity checks at security. If you fly often, compare your options in our guide to Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck.

Flying home: the USDA bag check most visitors don't expect

This is the step many first-time visitors miss. Before you fly from Puerto Rico back to the U.S. mainland, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (APHIS) inspects passenger bags at the airport for fruits, vegetables, plants and other farm products that can carry pests.

What to know:

Declare agricultural items. Tell the inspector about fresh fruits or vegetables, plants or flowers, souvenirs made from plants or wood, and other farm products.
Many fresh items are not allowed. USDA lists soil, plants in soil, sugarcane, live insects, land snails, cotton and palm-frond handicrafts among the items that can't go to the mainland, along with most fresh fruits and vegetables not on its allowed list.
Coffee is fine. USDA allows roasted and green coffee, which is good news if you want to bring Puerto Rican coffee home.
Pork snacks are a problem. USDA's travelers' notice says most pork products, including chicharrones, are not allowed. Commercially canned pork and shelf-stable baked goods with pork are exceptions.
Penalties apply. USDA warns that failing to declare items can lead to civil penalties of $100 to $1,000 per violation.
Be ready to open your bags, and leave a little extra time at the airport.

USDA's allowed and prohibited lists change, and its pages don't always agree on specific fruits. If you plan to bring produce home, check the current list or call the USDA office at your departure airport (offices are in Carolina, San Juan, Aguadilla, Aguada and Ponce).

Side trips to Vieques and Culebra

If your trip includes the smaller islands, Discover Puerto Rico says small planes leave San Juan several times a day, taking about 25 minutes to Vieques and 30 minutes to Culebra. Some trips involve getting from SJU to the Isla Grande airport (SIG), about 12 miles away, so check which San Juan airport your flight uses. Ferries leave from the Ceiba Ferry Terminal, about 1.5 hours from San Juan, not from San Juan itself; the official advice is to arrive at least an hour early.

Quick checklist before you book

Compare SJU, BQN and PSE based on where you're staying.
Search all departure airports near you.
Add bag fees to the fare before comparing airlines.
Pack a valid ID that meets TSA rules (no passport needed for U.S. citizens).
Plan to eat your fresh fruit on the island, and bring coffee instead.

Prices and rules change. Always confirm with your airline, Discover Puerto Rico and the USDA before you travel.