Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the United States, is a popular vacation destination for many Americans. Although you may feel like you’ve left the U.S. far behind when you travel to this exotic locale, air travel to the Puerto Rico isn’t much different than air travel between the 50 states. Since American citizens don’t need passports to enter Puerto Rico, getting there is as simple as purchasing a ticket, packing a bag and boarding the plane.
Purchase an airline ticket to Puerto Rico. Direct flights to Puerto Rico are available from most major cities in the United States. You will more than likely fly into San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico.
Arrive at the airport in plenty of time to board your flight. Keep in mind that the airlines generally require you to check your bags and arrive in the boarding area at least 30 minutes prior to your flight. For example, Delta Airline’s website recommends “you arrive at the airport at least 75 minutes prior to departure for travel within the U.S.” Travel to Puerto Rico is considered travel within the U.S.
Delta’s website also states that if you are checking bags, “your baggage must be present at the check-in counter and checked in at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time.” Check with your airline to find its requirements for check-in times, but most airlines have similar requirements, so arrive early enough to ensure that you do not miss your flight.
Provide a form of government-issued photo identification to advance through security and board your flight. American citizens do not need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico. However, the website for the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs states that, “although no passports or immunizations have been necessary for a U.S. citizen or national traveling to Puerto Rico, traveling with a U.S. passport is strongly recommended.”
Pack only items that are allowed to enter the U.S. upon your return flight. You will not pass through customs since the government considers traveling to Puerto Rico no different than traveling between the states. However, officials will carry out a routine agricultural inspection to make sure no forbidden plants, fruits or vegetables are taken back to the mainland. You're allowed to take back some fruits, such as pineapple, but aren't allowed to take back many others, such as avocado and papaya.
