San Juan Airport Live Departures
Checking in at San Juan Airport
San Juan Airport, formally known as Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), is divided into five concourses: Terminal A, B, C, D, and E. All terminals feature boarding gates, however, San Juan Airport departures only use Terminals A and B for checking-in.
Most airlines open up online check-in 24 hours in advance, allowing you to save time at the airport by placing your luggage in the “Bag Drop” lane.
Similarly, certain airlines have self-service kiosks at the airport where you can check in and print your boarding pass before dropping your bags off. Be sure to check with your airline how far in advance you can drop off your bags, e.g. 4–6 hours before your flight.
Lastly, you can use the airline counter to check in directly. This option is usually available 3 hours before an international flight and closes 1 hour before departure. For domestic flights, the cut-off is usually 40 minutes. In any case, we recommend following your airline’s guidelines on when to arrive at the airport.
For United States Departures
If you are flying to the US, you must have all your bags screened by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) before checking in your bags. A tag will be placed on each bag to indicate that it has passed the inspection, without this, you will need to rejoin the queue which can cause significant delays.
In Terminal A, the USDA is located to the left of the entrance. In Terminal B, they are located adjacent to each entrance.
*To confirm which terminal you need to use, refer to our live flight tracker above for an up-to-date list of San Juan Airport departures for today.
Terminal A
Location – The Check-in Hall is located on Level 2.
Terminal B
Location – The Check-in Hall is located on Level 2.
When to arrive at San Juan Airport?
San Juan Puerto Rico Airport departures should aim to arrive 3 hours ahead of an international flight, and 2 hours in advance if you are flying domestically. During the busier holiday periods, add 30 minutes to this time to allow for lengthy queues at Customs and Security.
To help plan your journey, check the San Juan Airport departures for tomorrow using our live flight tracker.
What’s next?
Once you have checked any bags in and have your boarding pass, international departures from San Juan will need to pass through Immigration. Otherwise, you can head directly to the Security gates to undergo TSA clearance. The process is quite rigorous so be prepared to remove your shoes, belt, hat, and jacket, along with anything in your pockets.
Furthermore, any liquids (including gels, creams, and aerosols) under 100 mL should be placed in a single transparent plastic bag before placing it in a tray. Any items with a volume larger than this will be confiscated so be sure to pack them in your checked luggage. The exceptions to this are medications and baby foods.
It can take up to 1 hour to clear TSA, so it’s important that you arrive at the airport early. If you are a US citizen flying from the airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, departures will have the option to register for TSA PreCheck. This can save you time as you won’t need to screen any items separately, including liquids, which means you can pretty much walk straight through.
Another option available to US citizens is the CLEAR service which allows passengers to register their biometric details so that they can use a fast-track lane at Immigration. When combined with the TSA PreCheck, it can cut down wait times considerably.
What to do in Departures at San Juan Airport?
The San Juan Airport Arrivals and Departures area includes free WiFi for both passengers and visitors. Other services include money exchange booths, toilets, and convenience stores.
Past the Security gates, the departures lounge features a hair salon, baby changing room, duty-free stores, business lounges, and a doggy area for anyone traveling with a furry friend. There are also several food outlets available where you can relax and grab a bite to eat.
For more details about the airport, see our comprehensive San Juan Airport Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should I arrive at San Juan Airport?
It is recommended that international departures from San Juan Airport arrive at least 3 hours before their flight, and domestic departures should allow at least 2 hours. This will give you enough time to clear USDA, Immigration, and Security.