www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Well, since you guys told me no question is stupid I will ask another. My first trip went very well. Great advice with the potholes!
Really, no problems. I have a couple of questions that are SJO airport related. My first trip I played it safe regarding luggage. I had two carry ons and they were in my possession at all times. Now, I had to jam lots of stuff in my main bag and it's a pain in the ass to lug around, especially when your connecting at IAH. I am one to bring a larger bag and just check it.
When I arrived at SJO airport there were many unsavory charators hanging around the baggage area and when I walked out to go to departures to the bank upstairs they were like all over trying to grab my bags. Where is the security at this airport? I guess none..
In your opinions what are my chances of losing my luggage to theft if I check a bag and pray I make it to the baggage carosel before the bags come out? Even with luggage locks do you think it's worth checking bags? It would suck to not have what I brought but then again it would be great to have what I brought that I cannot carry on. I fly Continental.
You guys are probably asking, What the hell is he bringing? Well, I like to bring gifts for the girls. I like to have luggage big enough so everything will fit. That's just me. I can't fit all the gels and lotions and whatever into a 1 qt. plastic bag.
What do you think? Thanks,

I have never had a problem with checked baggage at SJO. You will not have a problem in the customs hall even if your bag gets to the carousal before you do. When you get outside there are guys trying to steer you to a pirate taxi. If you tell them no and do not let them take your bag you will have no problem. Even if they take your bag they are going to a taxi not running away with your bag.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I have checked baggage on every one of my 15+ trips and I have never had one single problem. As far as "characters" outside the baggage area... I don't see unsavory at all. What you see as different I see as normal. They're just trying to make a buck like everyone else. Every ride to downtown has been in a "pirate" taxi except one. Never a problem. You really want to see "unsavory"... take a trip to around the Coca-Cola bus station. Now that's... really unsavory and dangerous at night.

Berk....

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FRUITCAKE... and you thought it was something you eat! Not on CRT!

JazzT:

no problem with checking your luggage. Many times I have arrived at the baggage carousel to find my bag already removed from the carousel and lined up with the other bags from the flight. Nothing to worry about. No problem getting to the taxi. I have always used airport taxis and never had a problem.

Berk2302:

Now that we have the luggage thing cleared up we have a bigger question. What was Berk2302 doing hanging around the Coca-Cola bus station. And late at night at that. I always knew there was something strange about that boy.

Lee

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PS: DO NOT SEND MONEY!

We were held up on our first trip and the luggage was not rolling yet so we went to the duty free shop. When we got back our luggage was taken off the carousel and setting against the wall. we were shocked but pleasantly surprised. Of course we will just wait next time and not temp fate twice.

It's the THRILL of danger!

Berk....

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FRUITCAKE... and you thought it was something you eat! Not on CRT!

The general public is not allowed inside the baggage claim area at SJO. (But we all know what $20 can get you in CR.) I've never had a problem with checked bags. Even after a long line at Migracion and shopping at the Duty Free shop. I'm kinda surprised at how quickly the bags arrive at SJO. I usually have to wait much longer at my home airport. And there, the baggage claim area for domestic flights is NOT secure! Any joe off of the street can walk in and carry off bags!

Just keep ahold of your bags while you are outside in the throng waiting for your ride at SJO. Most of the fellows there are all just looking for their arriving passengers that have rides booked. Some others are looking to transport paggengers who have not made arrangements. It seems like disorganized chaos but it works for them and they seem to have a method to their madness. I've never had a problem there.

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

The only problems with baggage i've ever had is that my baggage didn't make my connecting flight. Continental delivered it to my door later that night.

There are no "unsavory" people in the baggage area. There are only people who work in the airport, and they all have tags and are well known. If the cameras spotted them taking bagage, they would be found.

Now, it's possible some other passenger might take your luggage, and there's not much that could be done about that. I've never heard of it happening though, except by mistake.

It doesn't matter what airport you are in: Always check the luggage tag and make sure it is yours. What has worked for me is placing some small dayglo orange tags on the label. It makes it easier to see and identify on the carousel, but I still check the label and make sure it is mine.

I had my luggage grabbed by some one else on the same flight but was lucky enough to have found them before they left the terminal: Damn those people from Miami, must have been sun stroke
I also had some items stolen from inside my luggage by US inspectors on a return flight. At least they left a card.

I trust the people in CR more than the US when it comes to my bags. But in general I do things as carry ons. Lesson learned from business travel

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Patriot: Ice Road Trucking through the Bearing Sea to recovery

I only put clothes and toiletries in my check bag. An inconvenience yes, but no great loss if something happens to it. All of my expensive stuff like laptop, camera, etc and a single change of clothes, stay in my carry on.

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I can't deny it, with that smile on her face. It's not the kill, it's the thrill of the chase!

The only unsavory characters that I see hanging around the luggage carousels is the fudge-packing tree huggers.

Interesting, I use a very bright green tag in addition to my regular luggage tag.



Yes, the Feds do leave a very large card placed squarely on the top of your stuff. I had to laugh.

Hey Orange...the "tree-huggers" may deserving of opprobrium but remember we have a group of hetero anal-sex fans here--you might want to be careful about slingin' that "fudge-packing" term around too loosely.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED