Getting There

Scheduled air service to Aruba from the United States expanded dramatically at the end of 2000. American Airlines once dominated the route, but Continental, Delta, United, and US Airways have joined the fray. There are no nonstop flights from Canada, but American, Continental, and Delta have connecting service. Although the number of flights generally increases during the high season, airlines may alter service depending on demand (and their own financial condition). Don't assume the flights mentioned below will be offered when you're ready to book.

Charter flights offer an alternative for both Canadians and Americans. If you've booked a package through a large tour operator, your flight might be a charter anyway. Charters serve Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Hartford, Louisville, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Toronto.

Whether or not you choose a package, consider these rules of thumb:

• When you fly makes a difference. If you fly in spring, summer, or fall, you're guaranteed substantially reduced airfares to Aruba. You can also ask if it's cheaper to fly Monday through Thursday or to stay an extra day. Many airlines won't volunteer this information, so ask questions and be persistent.

• Keep an eye out for sales. Check your newspaper for advertised discounts or call the airlines and ask if promotional rates or special fares are available. You'll almost never see a sale during the peak winter vacation months of February and March, or during the Thanksgiving or Christmas seasons; but in periods of low-volume travel, discounted fares are common.

• Check with consolidators. Consolidators, or bucket shops, buy seats in bulk from the airlines and then sell them to the public at prices below the airlines' discounted rates. Make sure you know the airlines' current fares before buying from a consolidator. Before you pay, ask for a record locator number and confirm your seat with the airline itself. Also be aware that bucket-shop tickets are usually nonrefundable or rigged with stiff cancellation penalties, often as high as 50% to 75% of the ticket price.

  Reliable consolidators offer great deals. Try Cheap Tickets (tel. 888/922-8849; www.cheaptickets.com), Cheap Seats (tel. 800/243-2773; www.cheapseats.com), Priceline.com (www.priceline.com), and 1-800-FLY-CHEAP (www.flycheap.com). STA Travel (tel. 800/781-4040; www.statravel.com) specializes in young travelers, but its bargain-basement prices are available to folks of all ages. (Note: In 2002, STA bought competitors Council Travel and USIT Campus after they went bankrupt. It still operates some offices under the Council name.)

• Search the Internet. Check for deals online and compare your findings to the research of a dedicated travel agent, if you have one, especially if you're booking more than just a flight. Travelocity (www.travelocity.com) and Expedia (www.expedia.com) are a couple of the better virtual travel agents. SmarterTravel.com is a great source for last-minute deals.

American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300; www.aa.com) offers a daily nonstop flight from New York's JFK airport (flight time is about 4 1/2 hr.), two daily nonstops from Miami (2 1/2 hr.), and one daily nonstop from San Juan, Puerto Rico (1 1/2 hr.). Flights from Boston leave five to six times a week. These nonstops take just under 5 hours.

Continental Airlines (tel. 800/231-0856; www.continental.com) leaves daily from Newark (5 hr.) and on Tuesday and Saturday from Houston (4 1/2 hr.). Service from both cities is nonstop.

Delta Air Lines (tel. 800/241-4141; www.delta.com) offers daily nonstop service from Atlanta (4 hr.) and Saturday flights from New York's JFK (4 1/2 hr.).

JetBlue (tel. 800/538-2583; www.jetblue.com) has a daily nonstop flight out of JFK in the morning; on Saturdays two morning flights depart for Aruba.

United (tel. 800/241-6522; www.united.com) offers daily service from Miami via Curacao that takes 3 1/2 hours. Saturday nonstop service departs from Chicago's O'Hare Airport and arrives at Aruba's Queen Beatrix International Airport 5 hours and 10 minutes later.

US Airways (tel. 800/428-4322; www.usairways.com) nonstop service departs daily from Philadelphia (4 1/2 hr.) and from Charlotte (3 1/2 hr.).

Airlines with service from Canada include American, Continental, Delta, and US Airways. Each requires that you make connections in Miami, New York, or some other city in the U.S. Air Canada (tel. 888/247-2262 in the U.S and Canada; www.aircanada.ca) can get you as far as Miami, Bermuda, or the Bahamas, where you'll have to switch carriers.

If you're departing from Europe, KLM (tel. 800/374-7747; www.klm.com) is your best bet. Flights from Amsterdam leave almost daily and take 10 hours.