Airline ticket costs higher than normal for flights leaving Puerto Rico after earthquakes

ORLANDO, Fla. — The ground is still shaking in Puerto Rico. Small aftershocks have hit all day after weeks of several larger earthquakes.

People in Central Florida have been trying to get friends and family off the island, but airline ticket prices have skyrocketed.

Prices seemed to be back to normal as of Saturday, but one woman said it’s been very expensive trying to book flights in the last few weeks.

Jimarie Flaquer said she couldn’t believe it when she checked airline ticket prices last week.

“I mean, they had a one-way ticket coming out for over $2,000,” Flaquer said.

She was looking for flights out for family and friends after two earthquakes rattled the island just four days apart.

Flaquer said the prices were very high but she didn’t give up. She needed to help get her aunts to Florida.

She said over the next few days, she checked prices and called the airlines. Flaquer even alerted others on Facebook when they should buy tickets.

She was able to get her family back to Florida between Jan. 10 and Jan. 14.

Channel 9 reached out to Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. The companies said they did not raise prices but offered a $299 one-way ticket.

Channel 9 found flights ranging from $100 to just over $2,000 round trip for next week.

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