Jamaica deal alert: Head to Montego Bay with nonstop sub-$300 flights

The idyllic tropical beauty of Jamaica is within reach this winter at fantastic prices. You can find peak season fares from a number of cities, including many nonstops from major markets.

JetBlue fares in this sale are for Main Cabin, which includes carry-on and seat assignment. American and Delta flights are Basic Economy seats. So if you're a really efficient packer, this is a great deal to consider. Because most of us are going to Jamaica to enjoy their beautiful beaches, so it should be easy to pack lightly, no?

Thanks to Thrifty Traveler for giving us the heads about this latest deal, which they sent out first to their premium subscribers. That service is available for $7.99 monthly or $49.99 annually. This membership fee can easily pay for itself since you’ll get notified of cheap flights, award flight sales and business-class deals straight to your email.

Nonmembers can find sale prices by using Google Flights to search for desired routes and dates.

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Deal basics

Airlines: American, Delta, JetBlue
Routes: New York, Minneapolis, Houston, Denver and other cities to Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ).
Cost: Round-trip flights are available from $263.
Dates: January-June 2022; availability varies by city.

Pay with: The Platinum Card® from American Express for 5x on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year); the Citi Prestige® Card for 5x on airfare; the Citi Premier® Card (3x on air travel); Chase Sapphire Reserve (3x on air travel); the American Express® Gold Card for 3x on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for 2x on travel.

The information for the Citi Prestige Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: Jamaican all-inclusive resort escape; we compared 3 Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott properties

New York City (JFK) to Jamaica is much cheaper than usual with this deal. We found lots of sub-$300 fares from January through March. This Delta deal, for a nonstop Basic Economy seat, is just $263.

Travelers in Minnesota looking for a break from their typically harsh winters can hightail it from Minneapolis (MSP) to Montego Bay (MBJ) in February on a nonstop flight for $375, a nice discount for this time of year. It's a Delta Basic Economy, which gives you a free carry-on. If you need to check a bag, it will cost you an additional $60.

Houston (IAH) to Montego Bay is also available for almost 50% less than normal prices. We found this January Basic Economy fare on Delta, with a layover in Atlanta, for only $334. Similar itineraries at that same price were available in February and March, too.

If you live near the Rockies and have had your fill of skiing, you can jet from Denver (DEN) to Jamaica in February for a really nice price. American has Basic Economy fares for only $316 round-trip, almost half of what this ticket usually costs.

Related: An insider’s guide to what to see and do in Jamaica with a family

Maximize your purchase

Don’t forget to use a card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, like The Platinum Card® from American Express for 5x on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year); the Citi Prestige® Card for 5x on airfare; the Citi Premier® Card (3x on air travel); Chase Sapphire Reserve (3x on air travel); the American Express® Gold Card for 3x on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for 2x on travel.

Bottom line

As always with deals like this, flexibility is key. So if you have the ability to travel at various times in the early months of 2022, you can score a great price on a ticket to Jamaica and its bountiful beaches.