All prepared to fly to Puerto Rico, and the airport you are going to land in San Juan Airport. Suppose you are flying there for the first time and not familiar with the airport and having anxieties imagining about coping with the chaotic situation you have to encounter at the airport.
In that case, you have landed on a particular article to get rid of that feeling, as this article will cover all about the San Juan Airport so that you will get to understand the airport like the back of your hand.
Important Information about the San Juan Airport
San Juan Airport is a common name of Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, which was named after the first democratically elected governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Muñoz Marín. And “SJU” is the airport code. It dwells three miles (5 Km) southeast of downtown San Juan in Puerto Rico. SJU ‘s busiest destination is U.S. cities and is a hub for Seaborne Airlines, Air Sunshine, Tradewind Aviation, Cape Air, M&N Aviation, and a focus city for JetBlue. It is also the hectic airport in the Caribbean by passenger traffic as it is the prime gateway.
SJU welcomes visitors from around 50 countries worldwide and offers many connecting flights to other islands in the Caribbean, such as Latin American and beyond, becoming the Caribbean Hub. The fun fact is that U.S. citizens require no passport to get access to the Puerto Rico Island of the Caribbean.
SJU or Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport handles the international flights to Europe, South America, North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
San Juan Airport levels
Airport consists of two levels; the First level and Second Level.
First level
San Juan Airport’s first level has dedicated services and amenities such as a tourism desk and police.
The first level’s primary purpose is to provide services and amenities such as tourism help desk and police. And it has ground transportation options available out the terminal facilitates (taxi and bus). The car parking zone is located facing the terminal building, where you can also find car rental service agencies.
Second level
San Juan Airport Second level is dedicated to the Arrivals and Departures. You can find ticketing procedures, security checkpoints, check-in desks, and access to boarding gates and concourses.
Services: VIP lounges, Information desk, pet relief area, hotel, among others.
San Juan Airport Terminals Information
Airport has a prime terminal building split into 2 terminals: Terminal A / Main Terminal and Terminal B, divided in a north (Terminal C) and south.
Note: Terminal D is partially open due to ongoing renovation.
Terminal A (Main Terminal)
Terminal A or Main Terminal is home to boarding gates A1 to A8.
San Juan Airport Terminal A or Main Terminal is the place of boarding gates A1 to A8. This terminal is primarily consumed by JetBlue Airways and some other minor carriers.
Services: Tourist information desk, Ticketing/checkpoint, shoeshine. Also, you can find various restaurants and retail shops located through the terminal.
Terminal B
Terminal B hosts boarding gates B2 to B11.
San Juan Airport Terminal B is the home to the boarding gates to B2 to B11. The subdivided North (Terminal C) and south sides are the zones for several airlines.
Please have a concern that each section has its ticketing, and it is mandatory to pass through security to transfer from north to south and the other way round.
United, Delta, Southwest, and Spirit are the largest carriers in Terminal B.
Terminal B holds the largest carriers, such as Delta, United, Southwest, and Spirit.
Services: Shops and Restaurants.
Terminal C
Terminal C has boarding gates C2 to C10, being Terminal’s B north side.
The Terminal C of the San Juan Airport has the location for boarding ages C2 to C10. Being Terminal’s B north side, this terminal shares most of the services and amenities with Terminal B, such as security checkpoints and information points. It too shares some restaurants and stores.
Both Terminal B and Terminal C are near the Car Rental Facility, located in the main parking lot.
Terminal D
Terminal D is partially open since 2016 and has been doing renovation works.
Due to the ongoing renovation work, the Terminal D of the San Juan Airport is partially open. It holds boarding gates D1 to D9 and perhaps the closest terminal to the Police Department. It also has an airport hotel.
Transfer between Terminals
All Terminals in San Juan Airport are interconnected.
The entire terminals in San Juan Airport are interconnected, except Terminal A.
Hotel in San Juan Airport
At San Juan Airport Terminals, there’s a 4-star hotel on the second level (Terminal D), the San Juan Airport Hotel.
There is a 4-star hotel on the second level, terminal D at San Juan Airport named the San Juan Airport Hotel.
The hotel is well equipped with 125 rooms. It offers customers disposal services:
- Breakfast
- Complimentary laundry
- 24-hour front desk and concierge
- High-speed Wi-Fi
- Business center
- Fitness center
- A restaurant “Campo Verde” with local dishes
Lounge Facilities
Lounges at San Juan Airport (SJU) are available to passengers at a reasonable cost, regardless of the airline, they travel along. It is the best choice for connecting flights, canceled flights, early morning check-in, or breakfast.
Comfortable chairs, free snacks, and an assorted array of alcoholic beverages, spirits, and liquors are offered in several lounges. Some of its key features are food (buffet or snacks), complimentary drinks, Wi-Fi, convenient seating, showers, although the lounges may be a little different from one another.
Aeropuertos VIP Club
Location: Airside, in front of the Boarding Area.
Lounge Access: Pay at the Door
Lounge membership programs.
Avianca Lounge is operated by Global Lounge.
Location: Terminal C, Airside, 3rd Floor.
Lounge Access: Pay at the Door.
The Lounge
Location: Terminal A and Terminal C
Lounge Access: Prepaid lounge passes *Lounge membership programs.
You can book your stay at San Juan Airport Lounges by visiting this site: www.san-juan-airport.com/lounges.php
Additional Services at San Juan Airport
ATMs
You can find ATMs in Terminal A, C, and C.
Currency Exchange
Banco Popular officially handles the currency exchange services at San Juan Airport.
Besides, there’s an ATM to withdraw Euros in Terminal D.
Restaurants
There are more than 30 restaurants and cafés in the terminals.
You can find around 30 restaurants and cafes in the terminals like Subway, Domino’s Pizza, Mango’s valley, and a few more.
Please note that that U.S. dollar is the currency used in Puerto Rico.
Wi-Fi
You have to pay for the Wi-Fi at the airport.
See rates as follows:
USD 4.99 (3 hours)
USD 6.99 (6 hours)
USD9.99 (full day)
Arriving
Security
The security checkpoints within the airport are managed by The Transportation Security Administration (TSA). In contrast, the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) enhanced their programs to facilitate international tourists’ entry.
Domestic Flights
Tourists traveling to Puerto Rico from the U.S. have to arrive at the airport’s lower level and should walk some distance towards Terminal A or B to claim their baggage. After that, they can exit to the airport’s public area to pick any transport medium to continue their journey.
International flights
Step one
Post landing at the airport, international passengers should exit the gate then proceed to the CBP processing zone. Lately, CBP inaugurated 14 Federal Inspection Sections to cut down the processing time on custom inspections. This new system is capable of processing 400 passengers every hour.
Step two
After clearing CBP initial Inspection, the travelers must claim their baggage and then proceed to U.S. Customs and Agriculture. For any assistance, luggage porters are accessible in the baggage claim area if anyone has any issues. Once passing customs, travelers may begin to process to exit the airport.
Transportation facilities at San Juan Airport
San Juan Airport Rental Car
If you would like to travel the Island on your vehicle, then at the airport, you will find around 14 various car rental companies. You can pick which would accommodate you with your specific need and purposes.
You can get the car rental companies on the first level of the airport’s multistory parking.
Here are 10 car rental companies’ details;
Alamo Car Rental – 787-791-1805
Charlie Car Rental – 787-728-2418
Sixt Rental Car – 787-791-1991
National Car Rental – 787-791-1805
U Save Car Rental – 787-253-4008
Thrifty – 787-253-5930 – SJU Garage Parking
Enterprise Rent A Car – 787-253-3722
Avis Car Rental – 787-253-5930
Budget Rental Car –787-791-0600
Hertz Rental Car– 787-791-0840
Taxis and Public Buses
Taxis can be found when exiting the airport through Terminal B and C. Its central station is Terminal A on the Arrivals Level. The airport has taxi dispatchers that advise the passengers about the costs of their trips. The Metropolitan Bus Authority buses are located in Terminals A and D at the Departure Level.
The station of Metropolitan Bus Authority buses is located in Terminal A and D at the Departure level.