When fares are this low, paying cash is the way to go
We surveyed many routes from the US to the islands and found First Class fares from $680 to $978 to the following destinations from many US cities: Aruba, Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles), Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands), Montego Bay (Jamaica), and San Juan (Puerto Rico). Other destinations are available for another $100 to $200.
On a per-mile basis, these fares are hard to beat ...
... and at these prices, not worth using miles. Dividing the price by the miles flown is a way of leveling the playing field when comparing fares among different destinations, airlines, and classes of service. It tells you how far a buck will take you from your departure city.
Let’s take a closer look at each example.
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Forget 2-for-1s
Buying two published First Class fares will usually cost less than using Continental’s or Delta’s (Amex IAP) 2-for-1 programs because companion tickets are valid only with full fares, and only from two or three US departure cities. (Still, it never hurts to check.)
Forget elite upgrades, too
In this case, they’re a lose-lose proposition. If you’re flying American or United, the surcharge could bring your outlay close to that of a paid First Class fare—and you can’t confirm until just before departure. If you’re flying Continental, Delta, Northwest, or US Airways, all of which offer “free” upgrades to elites on Caribbean routes, you’ll have a lot of competition, especially in peak season. Why play elite-upgrade roulette when low fares are a sure bet?
One lesser-known airline to consider is Spirit, which serves 10+ Caribbean destinations and calls its First Class product “Big Seat.” The cabin is meager and the seat barely approaches what the majors offer. But at fares usually about half those of the big guys, Spirit has some travelers cheering.
[table_opt style="gray-header" id="1620 " width="" alignment="center" responsive="all" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter"]
When fares are this low, paying cash is the way to go
We surveyed many routes from the US to the islands and found First Class fares from $680 to $978 to the following destinations from many US cities: Aruba, Curaçao (Netherlands Antilles), Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands), Montego Bay (Jamaica), and San Juan (Puerto Rico). Other destinations are available for another $100 to $200.
On a per-mile basis, these fares are hard to beat ...
... and at these prices, not worth using miles. Dividing the price by the miles flown is a way of leveling the playing field when comparing fares among different destinations, airlines, and classes of service. It tells you how far a buck will take you from your departure city.
Let’s take a closer look at each example.
[table_opt style="gray-header" id="1617 " width="" alignment="center" responsive="all" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter"]
[table_opt style="gray-header" id="1618 " width="" alignment="center" responsive="all" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter"]
[table_opt style="gray-header" id="1619 " width="" alignment="center" responsive="all" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter"]
Forget 2-for-1s
Buying two published First Class fares will usually cost less than using Continental’s or Delta’s (Amex IAP) 2-for-1 programs because companion tickets are valid only with full fares, and only from two or three US departure cities. (Still, it never hurts to check.)
Forget elite upgrades, too
...