Airline Ticket from Puerto Rico to Aruba ?

[Llamster]

Is it just me or is it not possible to find a ticket from P.R. to Aruba?

This will be a first for me... I have a passport and all my papers, but i've got to get to Aruba. Does anyone know where I can get a cheap ticket? Can I even get there one way?

My plan is to get a one way ticket to Aruba from P.R. and then from there take a boat onward and westward... I already have plans with Captain of ship and all, I just need to get to Aruba.

Any suggestions?

[jdoe71]

Got this off the ITA trip finder:

1 Details $400 COPA Airlines SJU to AUA
AUA to SJU
PTY
PTY
Thur, Dec 10
Thur, Dec 17
7:09a-2:54p
4:36p-10:55p
7h 45m
6h 19m
Coach
Coach



Go here:
ITA Software: Login
Log in as guest and go nuts.

[sailingaway221]

American Eagle direct...not cheap!

[Llamster]

christ.. why are they so expensive? IS there a cheaper route? Besides of course taking a boat there... Pref a way that comes with wings etc..

[Llamster]

does anyone know if it's possible to get a one way ticket out of the states? I talked to a customer rep from AA and they said that it's not even possible... Can someone please confirm this?

I am planning to take a plane to Aruba from P.R. and from there take a boat to the South Pacific. Why are all these tickets so expensive? Aruba is right there ?!?!

[Hud3]

I've always provided a letter to crew members flying one-way to join me on my boat. It included the crew's name and passport number, the boat's name and doc number, and stated that I, as captain, would be responsible for their departure from the island. Worked every time.

Note that one-way tickets are often more expensive than round-trip tickets! And it's much cheaper to fly to Aruba from, say, Atlanta, than from San Juan.

[jdoe71]

Copa Air appears to fly Mon, Wed and Thurs San Juan to Aruba via Panama, $381USD one way. If that's where you want to go, that's what you're going to pay.

Why don't you use the ITA trip planner?

ITA Software: Login

You can make it a multi segment flight and try going from SJU to maybe Miami and see what that does. There's no better tool for finding flights that I've ever seen.

[jdoe71]

ITA shows that AA has flights from SJU to Miami and then Miami to Aruba for $355. Leave SJU at 7:10 am, you're in Aruba at 3:05 pm.

[Llamster]

Originally Posted by Hud3

I've always provided a letter to crew members flying one-way to join me on my boat. It included the crew's name and passport number, the boat's name and doc number, and stated that I, as captain, would be responsible for their departure from the island. Worked every time.

Note that one-way tickets are often more expensive than round-trip tickets! And it's much cheaper to fly to Aruba from, say, Atlanta, than from San Juan.

I don't necessarily need a letter though do I? Also what airline do you recommend? Have you made this trip before?

Originally Posted by jdoe71

Copa Air appears to fly Mon, Wed and Thurs San Juan to Aruba via Panama, $381USD one way. If that's where you want to go, that's what you're going to pay.

Why don't you use the ITA trip planner?

ITA Software: Login

You can make it a multi segment flight and try going from SJU to maybe Miami and see what that does. There's no better tool for finding flights that I've ever seen.

??? I've never even heard of ITA o_O

[jdoe71]

Well then click on the link and use the tool and you will find out about them.
Or read this:

ITA Software - Solving the Travel Industry's Most Complex Problems

Basically very powerful travel software that knows all the skeds for all the major airlines worldwide.

[FSMike]

Llamster -
Island nations are not necessarily going to let you in unless you can prove you're going to leave. Proof is usually a round trip ticket. Airlines will often not even sell you a oneway ticket for the same reason. The letter as suggested, preferably with a copy of the vessel's cruising permit for the country in question (if there is such a thing), should solve that problem.

[Reality Check]

Llamster, you may need to better understand international travel and specifically when you will be using air and boat legs to accomplish it. Are you aware of what your and the ships master's obligations are relating to termination of service?

It appears you are getting into something you really need to better understand in order to prevent some very major problems and difficulties.

[Hud3]

Originally Posted by Llamster

I don't necessarily need a letter though do I? Also what airline do you recommend? Have you made this trip before?

A letter from the captain of the boat you're joining is an alternative to having a return flight ticket. Let me try to make this clearer...

A country like Aruba is happy to have a non-resident visit and spend money as a tourist, but takes extraordinary steps to avoid allowing someone into the country who could become a liability. That is why they want to see a return flight ticket. They sometimes even require proof of financial resources.

Because of these policies, the airlines don't like to sell a person a one-way ticket to a foreign country, because they could be required to fly that person back home without compensation if he turns out to be an "undesirable" in that country. All parties involved want to know that you can easily leave.

That's why the letter works. It is a guarantee of sorts that you have a way off the island. Specific airlines that crew joining me have used are American and US Airways. And, no, I've never flown to Aruba.