Find cheap Caribbean Airlines flights

Caribbean Airlines is a Trinidad-based regional carrier that’s generally cheaper than US airlines, and it’s a smart choice if you’re looking to stretch your vacation budget. The airline services more than a dozen Caribbean airports, five major US and Canadian airports, and a few northern South American locations. These expert tips can help you navigate your Caribbean Airlines flight like a pro.

Caribbean Airlines fare classes

Caribbean Airlines sells tickets under six fare classes across two cabins (business and economy), though not all planes include the business cabin. As with most airlines, the higher the fare class, the more perks you’ll receive. All fares include one free carry-on bag (up to 22 lbs) and one personal item.

The three economy tiers start with Economy Non Flex, the cheapest option with one free checked bag (23 kg) on most routes but non-refundable tickets to and from North America. Economy Semi Flex and Economy Flex offer greater baggage allowances and more flexibility with changes and cancellations. All classes come with free entertainment and refreshments, with loyalty members earning more miles as fare class increases.

Business cabin offers Business Non Flex, Business Semi Flex, and Business Flex fares. Business Flex includes three free checked bags and earns the most reward miles, though refunds and changes may still have fees depending on the fare rules. While reasonably comfortable and less expensive than business class on most US airlines, I recommend skipping these fares for the Caribbean Plus upgrade instead.

Here’s the real insider tip: Caribbean Plus is available to anyone in economy and moves you to rows 4–10 on the Boeing 737-800 with a 37-inch seat pitch compared to the 30–34 inches in economy, and that’s up to 7 inches of extra legroom and better recline (except Row 10, which doesn’t recline). You’ll board and disembark earlier, and the cost is less than buying a decent lunch at the airport food court. I can vouch that it made a world of difference on my flight from New York to Guyana. The improvement beats premium economy on US airlines at a much lower price, and you can even add it to the Economy Non Flex fare.

Caribbean Airlines check-in

Caribbean Airlines has stricter timing requirements than most airlines. Online check-in isn’t always available, and they close check-in and baggage a full hour before departure. Boarding begins 60 minutes before departure, and you must be at the gate by then or they can cancel your ticket and give away your seat.

I tend to arrive at airports as late as possible, but I never do this when flying Caribbean Airlines. With this airline, I urge you to arrive the full three hours before departure to clear all lines and reach the gate on time.

Caribbean Airlines offers separate check-in desks for each cabin. Economy passengers use the general line, while business cabin passengers get priority check-in. Two workarounds exist for priority access without a business ticket: Caribbean Miles Silver, Gold and Executive Gold members and Caribbean Club members can use the business class counter.

Inflight entertainment on Caribbean Airlines

Caribbean Airlines offers free inflight entertainment but the setup varies by aircraft. On the Boeing 737-8 (MAX), business class seats have 13.3-inch seatback touchscreens, while economy and Caribbean Plus passengers must use their personal devices to stream content via the “Caribbean View” wireless system. The ATR 72-600 fleet also uses the wireless streaming system, so bring something suitable and have it fully charged before boarding.

Power availability varies by aircraft. The Boeing 737-8 (MAX) models have USB-A ports at all seats, with business class and Caribbean Plus seats also featuring 110V AC power outlets. The ATR 72-600 fleet doesn’t have power outlets. If you’re flying on an ATR 72-600, bring a backup power supply if you want to stream content throughout your flight.

Caribbean Airlines’ frequent flier status

Caribbean Miles is the free Caribbean Airlines loyalty program. As of early 2025, Caribbean Miles has four elite tiers: Bronze (the base tier, Silver, Gold and Platinum. These provide increasing benefits including bonus miles, mileage accrual, upgrade rewards, increased baggage allowance, priority boarding and business class counter check-in.

Elite status is now based on the amount you spend on tickets, with Silver requiring $3000 spent and Platinum Tier (formerly Executive Gold) requiring $12,000 spent. These may not seem high compared to US airline programs which depend on steep spending, but you have to remember the limited reach of Caribbean Airlines’ routes.

The airline primarily flies within the relatively small radius of the Caribbean and bordering North and South American cities, so it may take many flights to spend enough to reach Platinum status. You should sign up for the free program, but I wouldn’t recommend intentionally choosing Caribbean Airlines flights to chase status unless you’re flying to and from the region frequently.

Caribbean Club membership

Caribbean Club is a paid membership program that costs $350 USD for an individual or $650 USD for an individual and co-applicant (about half the price of US airline lounge memberships). It offers access to the Caribbean Club Lounge in Trinidad and partner lounges in destinations including New York, Miami, Orlando, Toronto, Kingston and Georgetown, plus preferential airport check-in, priority boarding and priority standby status regardless of your fare class.

Though it’s relatively inexpensive, I don’t find this membership worthwhile as a US-based flier. It’s worth considering if you’ll be spending a considerable part of the year flying between Caribbean islands.

Caribbean Airlines alliance

Caribbean Airlines flies solo and it’s not part of the big three airline alliances. But it does play nice with others through interline agreements with several individual airlines including Emirates and Winair. This allows you to book a multi-airline trip on a single ticket, which is a huge plus.

This means your luggage will usually be checked all the way to your final destination, and you’re protected if delays cause you to miss a connection. I’ve taken advantage of this to use Caribbean Airlines for the first leg of a trip from the US before connecting deeper into South America, saving a bundle without the risks of booking multiple, disconnected reservations.

Caribbean Airlines credit card

Caribbean Airlines offers one branded credit card, the RBC Caribbean Airlines Visa Platinum, which comes in a personal and business version. The personal card has an annual fee of $450 TTD (about $66 USD) and earns 1 Caribbean Mile per dollar spent, with 50% more miles on grocery, gas, and drug store purchases. The business card costs $600 TTD annually (about $88 USD) and earns unlimited miles with no ceiling, plus you get a 10% discount and bonus miles on Caribbean Airlines Duty Free purchases. You can redeem miles for flights or upgrades.

Even if you’re planning to become a frequent Caribbean Airlines traveler, I recommend opting for a premium travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Platinum. Though these come with a hefty annual fee, much of that is returned to you through statement credits for common travel expenses and you’ll earn better rewards with added perks.

Caribbean Airlines’ pet policy

Thinking of bringing your furry co-pilot? Pets typically travel in the cargo hold, though policies may vary by route and aircraft type. The only animals allowed in the cabin are service dogs, which are different from emotional support animals.

Keep in mind that each Caribbean island has its own entry requirements for animals, including service dogs. You could be allowed on the plane but denied entry at your destination. I fly regularly with a companion who uses a service dog, and I can attest to the many hoops you have to jump through. Start your research as early as possible to make sure you have time to meet every requirement.