SJU - A new hub to Northern South America?
Jul 9, 2012, 2:56 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: I was loyal to One Pass & Star Alliance before FT ... now I value all miles and programs
Posts: 219
SJU - A new hub to Northern South America?
Thanks to the recent addition of Copa Airlines into the Star Alliance, there seems to be tons of 'Saver' availability to Northern South American cities from San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) via Panama City, Panama (PTY). From SJU, it's only 10,000 MP miles one-way to get to Bogota, Lima, Caracas, Quito, or even La Paz Bolivia - an incredible value if you ask me.
I thought I'd share this in case it wasn't already discussed.
I looked up the following on the United site and they seem to be green pretty much every day for the next 365 days.
I thought I'd share this in case it wasn't already discussed.
I looked up the following on the United site and they seem to be green pretty much every day for the next 365 days.
- SJU-BOG
- SJU-LPB
- SJU-UIO
- SJU-CCS
- SJU-LIM
Jul 9, 2012, 5:30 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,528
Thanks to the recent addition of Copa Airlines into the Star Alliance, there seems to be tons of 'Saver' availability to Northern South American cities from San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) via Panama City, Panama (PTY). From SJU, it's only 10,000 MP miles one-way to get to Bogota, Lima, Caracas, Quito, or even La Paz Bolivia - an incredible value if you ask me.
I thought I'd share this in case it wasn't already discussed.
I looked up the following on the United site and they seem to be green pretty much every day for the next 365 days.
I thought I'd share this in case it wasn't already discussed.
I looked up the following on the United site and they seem to be green pretty much every day for the next 365 days.
- SJU-BOG
- SJU-LPB
- SJU-UIO
- SJU-CCS
- SJU-LIM
Jul 9, 2012, 5:37 am
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
In this case PTY is the hub and CM is the carrier with decent award inventory. What SJU offers is easy access to the PTY hub and a different award chart assuming you route via Central America rather than the mainland USA.
Jul 9, 2012, 6:54 am
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,816
A friend of mine in the airline buiness told me it's very tough making $$ on SJU flights. I doubt there will be any real ramp out of any UA hub.
Jul 9, 2012, 8:57 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: I was loyal to One Pass & Star Alliance before FT ... now I value all miles and programs
Posts: 219
SJU - A new hub to Northern South America?
I should change the title. I meant "hub" in the figurative sense of the word and should have been more careful on these forums, ha. Maybe "gateway" would have been a better option?
Jul 9, 2012, 9:06 am
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Even as a gateway it is only mediocre, unless you already live there. The connections from IAD, EWR, ORD and IAH require 3-5 hours of layover in SJU and only can connect to the 6pm SJU-PTY flight. That gets to PTY late enough that onward connections aren't all that great.
If you cannot get to PTY direct from the mainland then SJU is one of a few CM stations worth looking at for the connection, especially as it saves an immigration experience in another country, but the timing isn't great with the connections there.
If you cannot get to PTY direct from the mainland then SJU is one of a few CM stations worth looking at for the connection, especially as it saves an immigration experience in another country, but the timing isn't great with the connections there.