BOOK NOW: FLY TO PUERTO RICO FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST FROM $311 ROUND-TRIP
Puerto Rico is an island full of rich culture, vibrant nightlife and delicious food. Throw in the wonderful beaches, the fact that Americans can travel there without a passport and the fact that it's not far from the mainland, and it's easy to understand why it's such a popular destination. Now American Airlines and United Airlines are making it even more enticing with a sale on flights from the Pacific Northwest. This deal is for travel to the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan in the fall from Seattle and Portland, Oregon.
This sale is an unusually specific one, with just two departure cities that we could find. However, some of the prices we saw for round-trip tickets — some as low as $311 — caught our attention.
The travel window is primarily September, but we found a few October bargains, too. We do want to point out that some, but not all, of the lowest prices involved flights with two stops.
Also, these are economy tickets, which means there are restrictions. With American itineraries, you'll get a free carry-on bag. With United, you'll have to pay to check a bag, which will cost you $40 each way.
Deal basics
Airlines: American Airlines and United Airlines
Routes: From Seattle and Portland, Oregon, to San Juan, Puerto Rico
Travel dates: The sale is for flights in September and October
How to book: Browse Google Flights, then book directly with the airline
Book by: As soon as possible
This deal was first sent out by FareDrop. Sign up for FareDrop's free Limited plan or pay $99 annually for its Pro subscription, which gets you unlimited access to domestic and international deals, as well as overseas business-class alerts.
Sample flights
You can book an American Airlines round-trip ticket in mid-September from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in San Juan for only $311. That's a nice savings from normal prices.
You can get the same route earlier in the month for just a dollar more. We do want to make sure you notice that the return flight in this itinerary involves two stops, in Miami and Dallas.
United has a Seattle-to-San Juan itinerary in late September for the same $312 round-trip price. Don't forget that with United, you'll have to pay to check your luggage.
We found a couple of steals for flights out of Portland. You can fly round-trip on United from Portland International Airport (PDX) in September to Puerto Rico for $329. That's a really good price for this route.
Finally, we found a couple — just a couple — of round-trip tickets from Portland to San Juan on United in early September for just $308. That's an excellent price, and judging by the fact that availability was drying up as I searched for flights, other bargain shoppers agree.
Related: Revel in the art and culture of Puerto Rico - no passport required
Maximize your purchase
When you book this deal or any flights, be sure to use a credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: 2 points per dollar spent on travel
- American Express® Gold Card: 3 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through amextravel.com
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
- Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees): 3 points per dollar spent on airfare
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 3 points per dollar spent on travel
Bottom line
Once you book your flight, make sure to save time on your trip to visit Old San Juan, the historic part of the capital that dates back to the 16th century. Stop and enjoy croquettes and mofongo, and maybe wash it down with the island's favorite drink, the pina colada.
Related reading:
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.