San Juan. A major interconnecting point to the Caribbean as well as a hub for airlines such as American, San Juan is also a beautiful and historic city. The Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) (current weather conditions) is about 9 miles from San Juan, reached by taxi, public bus or rental car. See Old San Juan.

Connections. San Juan Airport is served by large intercontinental jets by American Airlines, BWIA, Delta, Continental, Air Canada, British Airways, Iberia, Lufthansa, Northwest, TWA, United, US Airways and Virgin Atlantic. See another list here.

Within the Caribbean, travel is usually on turboprops and smaller planes. The major intra-Caribbean carriers are AA's American Eagle Airlines and LIAT.

American Airlines Dominant. The dominant Caribbean carrier, American Airlines uses San Juan as a major international hub and takes up most of the terminal facility.

Within the Caribbean, smaller turboprop planes are used. American Eagle is the dominant intra-Caribbean carrier and for the most part uses San Juan as its hub, so most American Eagle flights do not go directly to its neighboring islands, but go through San Juan.

Terminal Layout. On the ocean end of the facility are the big jets whose passengers disembark directly to the upper terminal level. American Airlines has one big wing or terminal on the runway side (which is perpendicular to the ocean).

This side includes the lower level American Eagle gates, where buses are used to take passengers to the smaller turboprop planes sitting in line on the tarmac.

For American Airline and other connections from the big jets to the small Caribbean turboprops, there is a notoriously long walk LENTHWISE of the whole terminal facility. Coming and going.

On the other side of the ocean end are facilities for other airlines. There may be a much shorter WIDTHWISE walk between big jet gates.