Introduction
San Juan is the capital city of Puerto Rico island. Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States. San Juan is the financial and industrial center of the island and is also the most visited destination by tourists from across the globe.
When you are traveling to and from the San Juan Airport, it is a good idea to know about the airport and the amenities it offers. Whether it’s your holiday or a business trip, having general information and tips, especially when traveling alone or with a companion, can actually save you from experiencing troubled moments.
Our airport guide gives you all the essential insights that you, as a traveler, can make use of while journeying across places in any part of the globe.
A Brief Overview of San Juan Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, also known as San Juan International Airport or San Juan Puerto Rico Airport, is the major airport on the island of Puerto Rico and the biggest one in the Caribbean. The airport welcomes tourists from over 50 nations around the world. It is the Caribbean hub serving many connecting flights to several islands in the Caribbean and many countries in Latin America. Puerto Rico is the most easily accessible island in the Caribbean with no passport required for U.S. citizens. Although it is additionally acknowledged as the San Juan Airport, it is, in reality, located in the neighboring city of Isla Verde, Carolina, which is just 5 km (3 miles) southeast of downtown San Juan.
IATA: SJU
Address: Av. Aeropuerto, Carolina, 00979, Puerto Rico
Contact: (787) 289-7240
Website: http://www.aeropuertosju.com/en/
Operation Hours: San Juan Airport is open 24 hours. However, certain food concessions, transportation, and other facilities may not offer their services 24 hours. Also, services like airline check-in and baggage drop hours may also vary with the flight schedule. Hence, it is advised that you check with the airport.
Airport Terminal
San Juan Airport has a main terminal building that is divided into two terminals, namely Terminal A or Main Terminal and Terminal B (Concourse). There is, however, another terminal i.e. Terminal D (Concourse), which is only partially open. Terminal A hosts boarding gates A1 to A8, while Terminal B hosts boarding gates B2 to B11. Terminal C (Concourse) is on the north side of Terminal B and is home to boarding gates C2 to C10. The terminals are inter-connected and can be accessed easily via the airport’s transportation services.
Parking Facilities and Rates of San Juan Airport
Vehicle parking facilities are available in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at the San Juan-St. Paul International Airport. Parking options are available and the rates depend on how long you want to park your vehicle. Parking at the San Juan International Airport is handy and low-priced with masses of areas available. Whether you’re taking a flight or embarking on a cruise parking lengthy-term is a manageable option.
San Juan has multilevel parking where you can park your vehicle on the different levels of the Lot which is available with the 2000 spaces where you can pay them at the first and the second levels of the parking. Here you can pay through the Pos machine or at the parking counter.
Rates for Short-term parking Terminal D:- The rate for short-term parking is affordable and budget-friendly, you can prefer the Short term parking lot which is towards terminal D.
| Time Range | Rate |
| First 15 Minutes | Free of cost |
| 15 min to 1 Hour | $5.00 |
| 1 to 2 Hours | $7.50 |
| 2 to 3 Hours | $9.75 |
| 3 to 4 Hours | $12.00 |
| 4 to 5 Hours | $14.25 |
| First 24 Hours | $26.75 |
| Next 24 Hours | $18.00 |
| Ticket Lost | 26.75 |
Long Term parking Terminal E:- This long-term parking is located adjacent to terminal E. It has only a capacity of 249 vehicles to park. The minimum stay for this parking is only 5 days. If you want to pay for a single day then the parking in charge can deny parking your vehicle. You are bound to park for at least 5 days and pay for it.
Rate chart for the parking
| Time Range | Rate |
| Day 1 to 5 | $60.00 |
| Day 6 | $69.50 |
| Day 7 | $79.50 |
| Day 8 | $88.50 |
| Day 9 | $98.00 |
| Day 10 | $107.50 |
| Day 11 | $117.00 |
| Day 12 | $126.50 |
| Day 13 | $136.00 |
| Day 14 | $145.50 |
| Additional/day | $9.00 |
Cell Phone Lot:- This area of San Juan Airport is free of cost for parking but only for 45 minutes. This cell phone lot is basically the waiting area where drivers can wait for their passengers who are already booked or private vehicles when someone is here to pick them up. But here is the condition for the drivers they cannot park and put themself outside of the car they have to remain in the car. If in the given time period driver is unable to pick up their passengers then they have to pay a fine and then parking agents will remove your car outside the cell phone lot.
Additional parking options available at the airport include:
Estaciona y Vuela
It is placed at Marginal Los Angeles, Calle Juaquína #19, Carolina, Puerto Rico. It presents a free shuttle to and from the airport and cruise piers. There is enough parking area and is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Airlines Served at San Juan Airport
San Juan Airport is served by the following airlines: Air Century, Air Sunshine, Air Flamenco, Air Europe, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Avianca, Cape Air, Condor, Copa Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Iberia, InterCaribbean Airways, JetBlue, LIAT, Seaborne Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country, Tradewind Aviation, United Airlines, Vieques Air Link and WestJet.
Facilities and Services Available at San Juan Airport
San Juan Airport provides amenities to passengers to make their experience worthwhile.
Security Check-points
There are security checks at the airport’s terminals. All passengers are required to pass through these security checks.
Help Desk
When you are at the San Juan Airport and need help, there are help desks to assist you. Here, you can inquire about your flight or find other facilities easily at the airport. Traveler’s Aid is a non-profit organization that assists stranded and distressed passengers. Volunteers help passengers with the general airport and destination queries to support them with conditions such as transportation assistance, lost or stolen money, wiring money, emergency housing, etc. You can find them at Terminal E, 1st Floor, Office #8, 4 doors from the police station. Their hours of service are from 8 a.m. till 4 p.m. (Mon – Fri).
Wi-Fi and Mobile Charging Stations
Wi-Fi is available at San Juan Airport, in case you need to connect your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to access the internet. In addition to Wi-Fi, mobile charging power outlets are also available at the airport, in case you need to charge your phone’s battery. Wi-Fi is not free though. You are required to pay to use the airport’s wireless internet. A fee of $4.99 is charged for using Wi-Fi for 3 hours, $6.99 for 6 hours up to $9.99 for full-day internet access.
Baggage Handling
San Juan Airport provides facilities for luggage storage and handling, although there may be charges involved. You can find a luggage storage room located at Terminal D, 2nd Floor. Luggage wrapping service is provided at the airport by Secure Wrap. Their services can be availed at Terminal A, 2nd Level, Terminal B, 2nd Level, and Terminal C, 2nd Level. There is another provider called Global Baggage Protection that provides its services in Terminal D, 2nd Level.
Lounges and Meeting Rooms
There are premium lounges at the airport, where you can relax when you have plenty of time to catch your flight. The lounges can be accessed by either paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass, or lounge membership programs. The Lounge San Juan at both Terminal A and Terminal B, second level. It includes services like snacks, alcoholic drinks, Wi-Fi, flight monitors, newspapers, magazines, TV, and Internet terminals. Please note that the lounge is a non-smoking facility.
Aeropuertos VIP Club: The lounge is located on the Airside, in front of the Boarding Area. You can access this lounge via pay-at-the-door and lounge membership programs.
Passes The Lounge: The lounge is located in Terminals A and C, Airside. You can access the lounge through pre-paid lounge passes and lounge membership programs.
Avianca Lounge: The lounge is operated by Global Lounge and is located in Terminal C, Airside, 3rd Floor. You can access the lounge via pay at the door.
ATM
ATMs are available at San Juan Airport. You can swipe your bank card and withdraw cash at the airport’s ATM if you’re running low on cash or need to make cash payments at other services or stores. You can find ATMs located at Terminals A, B, and C as well as in the parking area.
Shops and Duty-Free Stores
Duty-Free stores are located in all Terminals. Additionally, there is a wide variety of retail shops, which include the Convenience Store 24. It is open 24 hours a day.
Cafés, Bars, and Restaurants
You will find many restaurants and cafés in all four terminals at San Juan Airport. However, some may not be open 24 hours. There are more than 30 restaurants and cafés in the terminals. You will find many fast-food restaurant franchises along its corridors, such as Subway, Mango’s Village, and Domino’s Pizza, to mention a few.
The airport also provides other facilities like barbershops, beauty salons, souvenir kiosks, a chapel, a currency exchange, and the Banco Popular de Puerto Rico.
Hotels at and/or Near San Juan Airport
Finding accommodations at the San Juan Airport or nearby should not be a problem for you as there are several hotels and beach resorts out there. Whether you are traveling alone, with friends, family, or children, you will find comfortable places to stay during your visit to San Juan. With convenience and luxurious accommodations, you may wish to stay at one of the numerous beach-front hotels or resorts in Isla Verde, which is only about a five-minute drive from the San Juan Puerto Rico International Airport.
After you land at the airport, you can journey to your holiday spot via the use of a trustworthy transportation service or rent a car just a few steps from the Arrival Level terminals in the Parking Garage on the 1st Level. You can also use the services of a Taxi Turistico which you will find waiting at the Arrival Level terminals of the airport. From the airport, a taxi ride to Old San Juan takes about 30 minutes at the fee is $20.
A few hotels that are located at a close distance from the San Juan Airport are:
- San Juan Airport Hotel (located at the airport)
- El San Juan Hotel (located about 5 minutes from the airport, but does not provide shuttle services)
- Tryp By Wyndham Isla Verde (located about 10 minutes from the airport, but does not provide shuttle services)
- Earthbox Inn & Spa (located at 410 Spring Street, Friday Harbor, WA; provides free airport shuttle)
Airport/Hotel Shuttles
Many travelers often find shuttle services to be very favorable as it saves them plenty of time when getting to the hotel and/or airport. A few hotels in and around the city of San Juan provide free shuttle services to and from San Juan Airport.
Bus Services
Need a bus ride? There are many public transportation services that serve at San Juan Airport and can take you not only to hotels, can also to enjoy a ride in the city and go on sightseeing. Bus routes 40 and 50 are granted entry to the airport at bus stops located in the Departures Level (2nd Level) of Terminals A and D. You can easily switch between bus routes 40/50 and 5/53 to travel to and from Isla Verde, Condado, or Old San Juan. While this mode of transportation is the cheapest, it may no longer be available for most travelers, as luggage is not allowed on any AMA bus.
Taxi Services
Taxi services are available to pick up and drop off passengers and can be found in the Arrivals Level of Terminals A and B, outside the baggage claim area. Their prices are fixed and are charged $12 to Zone 2 (Isla Verde and hotels); $17 to Zone 3 (Ocean Park Condado Miramar); $21 to Zone four (Old San Juan Piers) and $17 to Zone 5 (Convention Center, Isla Grande Airport and Sheraton Convention Center). A $3 surcharge applies to all fares leaving the airport and additional charges for luggage, night-time tour, or parties of more than 5 passengers.
Car Hire/Rental Services
You can hire a car at San Juan Airport if you are in the mood to move around places in San Juan city. There are a number of car hire/rental companies that provide this service. Rental car counters can be found on-site. A few such companies include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Sixt, Thrifty, U Save, and more.
Conclusion
Expect to be surprised. The capital city of San Juan offers great activities and leisure for both solo travelers and families. Once you venture out of the city, the island of Puerto Rico gives endless activities. You can start your holiday by booking a longer stay, there are so many exciting things to do, you will only wish you had extra time in San Juan. During your visit to San Juan, you can visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites from your bucket list. Old San Juan’s attractions are world-class, one of the many reasons the capital town of Puerto Rico is one of the most popular cruise end destinations in the Caribbean.
