Michele

Hi! We will be changing planes in San Juan to a puddle jumper to Punta Cana.

Are your bags checked all the way to through or do you have to reclaim them in San Juan and recheck them?

Coming home - where do you go through customs? San Juan or the US. We have never traveled through a US territory before.

How is the airport?

rqf

I flew American JFk to Punta CAna. My bags were checked through. On the return you go through customs in San Juan. Punta CAna airport is small although it does handle widebody jets. You have to walk on the tarmac when you get off the plane and also when getting on the plane. You have to pay a fee to enter the DR. Save the receipt since you have to show it when you leave. If you don't have it they want another $20.

Michele

Thanks. We are also flying American. I hope that it goes smoothly.

xxx

Small but busy. Should be no problem.

John

You will be able to check bags all the way through going down. Once in SJU you connect on American Eagle (the "puddle jumper" actually is fairly large for a prop plane--central aisle with 2 seats on either side--capacity of about 50) which is at Gate 1. They have many planes going all over the Caribbean. Stay close to the gate and be attentive. You don't hear boarding announcements in the main airport. You will "board" a bus to take you to your plane. They typically close the boarding 10-15 before departure so be sure to be there at least 30 min prior to departure.
On the return, the plane lands and you bus to the terminal. Then a long walk to immigration, reclaim luggage (if checked--youcheck it through to home airport at intial check in but must reclaim in San Juan) then thru customs. American has conveyers right outside customs to "recheck" luggage on out bound flight. You then go thru security and to your gate. This whole process can take as much as 1 to 1.5 hrs depending on how many planes to precess, off load luggage, etc. You can speed it up markedly if you don't check luggage.
Our experience is to make sure we have at least 1.5 to 2 hrs to make connection. There are places to get food in the SJU airport but the restaurant particularly is not fast. There is a "cafeteria" like place near the American Eagle gates.
SJU is laid out in a long rectangle with the AMerican Eagle planes at Gate 1 (one end). It can be a long walk between gates.
Good luck.

Michele

John

Those are the details I love to know ahead of time. Now I feel prepared - which is nice when traveling with two little ones! Thanks!!!

anonymouse

the walk if you land at the Eagle gates to customs/immigration is a very long one down the length of the terminal and across the width. If you have little ones you might want to gate check the stroller. Eagle flights close 30 minutes before departure so be sure to check in ASAP. Check your flight for meals since many flights don't have any now and you may want to brown bag it. We brown bag it even if they have meals because they are so bad. Take lots of water and keep the kids drinking and watch the ear pressure on take off/landing.