www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I'm not trying to be Rude, here...


But you strike me as the kind of person whose sole purpose in life is to contribute nothing to the discussion, but only to call out others who are trying to contribute to the discussion. Am I wrong? Have I done something to offend you in some way? Have you made any posts in this thread that are relevant to the discussion?

Dude, I have told that to so many people, so many times, that I can't even remember how many times that I have repeated that advice.

The first time that I convinced a friend to travel with me, he constrained himself with the "rules" and "mores" of the USA. That trip did not go well.

The second time that I traveled with a friend, I successfully convinced him to "Open His Mind." On that trip, everything worked out pretty well.

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I have always been... or, at least, attempted to be... an open-minded person. I think that this is where a lot of people lose their "focus".

For Example...

I had just walked off an airplane at the Amsterdam (Schipol) airport. Unfortunately for me, I actually DID need to exchange money at the airport. I walked up to the currency exchange kiosk (the one with the best rate that I could find) and handed my Passport to the Cashier. She looked at my Passport, then asked me, "You're American?" I immediately answered, "No Ma'am! I am from North Carolina!" She giggled for a moment, handed me back my Passport, and said, "OK. North Carolina, USA. Right?" I answered, "Yes, Ma'am!"

uhh ... ok ... I'm gunna call ... ahem ... BS! on that one. Not that you might have had the original thought too, but I attended a "Big Data" conference 6 years ago where the principal speaker worked for the 'airlines' and had identified several variants for psychology/pattern-based rate increases, including the (then proposed) baggage fee profit center versus the 'smart consumer'.

Oh, and no PR, Costa Rica doesn't suck. It's just getting too expensive now. It's still got more to offer than Colombia does for the one-week traveler.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

And you think that's BS?

Do you really think that the airlines would EVER tell anyone, in a "conference", or any kind of event with a "speaker", what they're actually doing with ticket prices? Dude! That's EXACTLY where we dispensed most of our MISINFORMATION! If you've ever been to any kind of travel convention, conference, or seminar... everything that you heard was complete BULLSHIT! We did that ON PURPOSE!

The only REAL airline ticket pricing policies occur in very secure "Inner Sanctums", to which only very few people have access, to very carefully-guarded secrets of the airline industry.


OK... A couple of you guys obviously think that I'm full of shit on this subject. I'm just being honest with you. I worked in the "ticket pricing department" of a major U.S. airline for over 45 years. You don't have to believe me. Ignore my experience at your own peril. But... just for example, lets say that you buy a round-trip ticket from Bumfuck, USA to San Jose, Costa Rica, for $400. That ticket has a fare code attached to it. Just as an example, let's say that that fare code is "YHUK3Z". That fare code does usually consist of 6 letters and/or numbers. Do you know what the "Y", "H", "U", "K", "3", and "Z" in that fare code mean? I do. That was my job, for over 45 years.

And you think that's BS?

Do you really think that the airlines would EVER tell anyone, in a "conference", or any kind of event with a "speaker", what they're actually doing with ticket prices? Dude! That's EXACTLY where we dispensed most of our MISINFORMATION! If you've ever been to any kind of travel convention, conference, or seminar... everything that you heard was complete BULLSHIT! We did that ON PURPOSE!

The only REAL airline ticket pricing policies occur in very secure "Inner Sanctums", to which only very few people have access, to very carefully-guarded secrets of the airline industry.


OK... A couple of you guys obviously think that I'm full of shit on this subject. I'm just being honest with you. I worked in the "ticket pricing department" of a major U.S. airline for over 45 years. You don't have to believe me. Ignore my experience at your own peril. But... just for example, lets say that you buy a round-trip ticket from Bumfuck, USA to San Jose, Costa Rica, for $400. That ticket has a fare code attached to it. Just as an example, let's say that that fare code is "YHUK3Z". That fare code does usually consist of about 6-9 letters and/or numbers. Do you know what the "Y", "H", "U", "K", "3", and "Z" in that fare code mean? I do. That was my job, for over 45 years.

Do you know what a "SLUT" fare is? Do you know what a Q-Up fare is? Do you know what a "Bucket" is? I do. I'm not saying that to make myself look like some kind of super-hero. That was simply my job.

*********

Besides that, this issue did not even exist 6 years ago. That's long before the legacy air carriers (like the carrier that I worked for) began charging for the first checked bag on an international flight.

We got scrod and now scrod10??? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot???

I sense a disturbance in the force.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

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This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No tourist or travel promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided compensation (monetary or otherwise) for this potentially entertaining contribution.

Ahh... I meant to apologize for that...

I just got my home Internet access hooked up a couple of days ago, which is why I'm suddenly posting on the board. I'm supposed to go to the downtown BCR office on Monday to get my new Credit Card. At that point, I'll be able to sign up for my paid CRT membership.

I do apologize about that. I meant to say that earlier. As soon as I get my Credit Card, I'll be a paying member.

But I did want to keep posting, because these discussions are interesting. And, of course, non-paying members get cut off after 30 posts. It is not my intent to be a non-paying member. As soon as I get that Credit Card, I'm getting a lifetime CRT membership. Thanks for understanding.

hotdogg was Right to call me out on that point


By the way, I also just learned that "Scrod" is actually a real word -- the name of a Fish. I always thought it was just a made-up name for that weird snake-like critter in the first Star Wars movie. I'm a huge Star Wars geek. So that's where the "Scrod" comes from... if you were interested...


Another couple of interesting nuggets: Apparently, Speedy trolls this board, and he recognized me from my recent posts on CRT. He asked me to come over to T******* instead, and I answered, "Why? You're the only guy posting on that board!" Also, I just got hired on a part-time contract with an airline here in Costa Rica, working out of SJO. Party-on for Me! And a little supplemental income in addition to my pension and Social Security!

I wanted to again mention George Hobica's website, airfarewatchdog.com

I've been reading through the CRT forums all night, and much like other boards that mention travel websites, there is very little mention of airfarewatchdog.com

This is not a shameless plug or advertisement for that website, and I don't have any attachment to the site or Mr. Hobica. As a former airline employee who was specifically involved in the ticket pricing department, I can tell you that it's about the only website on the entire Internet that knows what the hell it's talking about. Everything else on the net is complete nonsense, along with all of the so-called air-travel experts who appear occasionally on CNN and the other television networks. None of them have a clue what they're talking about.

As for Speedy... That's what he always calls himself, even on the telephone. Somehow, he manages to make everyone hate him, usually very quickly, except for his customers, who worship the ground he walks on. That's because he's one of the best people in the world at manipulating the air travel industry. Before our computers automatically re-booked passengers on cancelled flights, Speedy already had his customers re-booked, with free upgrades to First Class. He's a dickhead, but he does know his stuff. I've read his stuff over on T*******. Most of it is very accurate and useful info... the kind of stuff that the airlines would prefer you not to know.

He's been around long enough and has met enough of the big dogs in the airline industry and the air traffic control network that he can easily do just about anything that he wants to do with a passenger or an airplane, within reason. He knows Bill at the Sportsmens Lodge, and a few years ago, when Bill flew to the USA, Speedy got his flight a custom route to the Los Angeles airport, bypassed all of the air traffic control delay safeguards, and got the flight landed on a runway that is normally only used for departures, because that runway was the closest to Bill's arrival gate. Bill will verify that, if you ask him about it.

He got into a bit of a Pissing Contest with Nature Air a couple of years ago, when Nature Air moved all of their flights from Pavas to the Juan S. airport in San Jose. Shortly after that, Nature Air moved a couple of flights back to Pavas. He's also one of the big power players behind the Orotina/Cascajal airport. Speedy and a couple of the other big movers in the travel biz want to steal the Central America Hub from Copa and Panama City. They have a pretty decent, say 50/50 shot, at pulling it off.

To whom it may concern:

Uhhhhhh.......I was really enjoying "The Death of the HDR" thread until It was hijacked...


Just saying....there is a complete sub forum and section for airline/travel info.




Ty.

Edited for political correctness...

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This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No advice, tourist or travel promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided compensation (monetary or otherwise) for this potentially entertaining contribution

I didn't hijack the thread. I didn't even mention the airlines until someone who has, so far, contributed nothing whatsoever to the thread, insinuated/accused me of being someone else. I do, however, notice that the majority of the posts in the threads on CRT are made by self-appointed forum moderators who contribute zero information to the topic being discussed, as I was attempting to do before someone else changed the subject.

But, as a newcomer to the board, I'll be fair...

If any of the self-appointed board moderators, even just one of them, wishes me to forget about paying for a lifetime CRT membership and just disappear, I will do that. Just say the word.

Its got to be Srilm...speedy...toetoe...outa time...and now scrod back again.

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Knowledge speaks...Wisdom listens

So was I ...

Me too...

Lmao ... Your subconscious mind came through

Again, welcome to the Club!

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Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

Back to your regularly scheduled thread!

We have been talking about how the Cocal was leaching the best-in-breed, but on my last trip I experienced it in full force. On a Monday night, the lamest nite in the monger week, the Cocal was packed with flacas and women that have yet to lose control of their figures.

Couple this with the downtrend I have been watching in the HDR over the past year, and I must conclude that ... the party's over for the HDR. Until guys start coughing up $150 at the HDR, the cream-of-the-crop ain't coming back.

So go to the beach and pay primo, or accept the second-rate HDR offerings. For me, it's not really about the money. I HATE Jaco. There is nadda there except the adventure shit (which I've done repeatedly) and a lame-ass beach.

Jaco for me is: sleep til 2pm, have a late breakfast, and sit in my room playing games on my computer until the sun goes down. Thanks, but fuk dat!!!

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!