www.CostaRicaTicas.com

For those who take flights that connect through Houston, I have a few questions.

On the return trip BACK home, would 1hr6min be enough time to get to your next flight?

Do you have to get passed Border Patrol and Customs before you even head to your next flight?

Do you have to RE-check your baggage?

Thanks in advance!

- Almond

You might make the connection but that's cutting it close, yes you have to go thru customs, immigration and re-check bags anytime you re-enter the US.

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I don't think you will make it. You have to get your bags and then go through customs. It will depend on the length of the line at customs. It took me 1 hour 45 minutes the last time I went through Houston. If the line is very short you can make it, otherwise your SOL

ok what about trip connecting in houston, if i check my bag then get to houston will i have to go to the baggage claim area then rush to my flight to CR and recheck my bag.I thought it sounded to weird to ask so i was thinking of bringing a carry on and having SL do my laundry.

BTW,great trip report almond. I hope I have as much fun as you

I go through Houston on my way back to Dallas about 2 dozen or more times every year. I have had connection times as little as 45 minutes or so and never had a problem in Houston. They have their stuff together and while it is a long walk from the plane to immigration it is easy to do. The only bog down is when you go through security it may look like a long line but it generally moves quickly.

For further back up, generally when I make my reservations on line with A'A I get a warning that my connection time is too close but I book it anyway.

For the two trips in which I went through Houston I would never have made an hour connection; fortunately mine were over two hours. Both times--neither on a Sunday or Friday--the immigration lines were very long and didn't move that quickly. I tracked my progress to see if I would have made an hour connection and didn't come nowhere near close either time.

When you check in at your origination point your bags should be checked in all the way to your final destination. If the flight originated in the U.S. and connects in Houston to San Jose you should not have to touch your luggage at Houston. If your flight originates in San Jose and connects through Houston you will have to claim your luggage and go through customs. Then you have to give your luggage back to the airline to be loaded on your next flight segment. At most airport this requires you to take the bag through security. You do not have to recheck your bag as it should have been checked to your final destination when you checked in at San Jose (make sure to confirm this by checking the final destination on the baggage stubs when you check in).

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Alex Levine

I travel with carry on only and with this in mind getting through in that time is no problem. With checked luggage I think that time frame might be cutting it a bit short.

If security knows that you are running way behind they will typically help you move through the queue. Houston's a pretty fluid and well organized airport, I think.

cool,thanks for the info just booked room at S L for the modern wing. now I hope I can find a good deal on airfare

I have made it through Houston in less than an hour with two K*ds in tow; but “it ain’t easy.”

The first stop is Immigration. When you come into the big processing room, look for one of the plain clothes supervisors and explain your time constraints. In the past they have helped to reposition me in line.

Of course, just like Murphy’s Law, there is the Law of the Line: Which ever line you stand in the other line will move faster; if you change lines and get into the line that was moving it will come to a stop and the line you just left will begin to move.

Next you have to pick up your baggage from the carousel. Don’t take anything that could trigger a search such as anything wrapped in aluminum foil or any food products. Whenever I take a wheel of cheese back they always check my luggage.

Take your luggage past the Customs person sitting at a podium and hand over your little card -- make sure it is completely filled out.

Through the glass double doors is baggage re-check. It is easy; then it is up the escalator to the nightmare of the next round with TSA.

At TSA screening, make sure the little person there knows your time constraints. They select only those people who are the rudest and impolite for the job of greeter.

Once you clear TSA screening you are set for open field running to your connection gate. If it is far away get on one of those “beep-beep” carts and let the driver know you are in a hurry.

An hour is enough if you know where you are going and walk fast. My connection at Houston tomorrow morning is 57 minutes en route to Liberia. Can't wait.

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I'm glad I live in Houston and don't have to worry about connecting flights.

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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!

I just went thru Houston last Sunday on Continental. My layover was 1 hr 15 mins and I made it with plenty of time to spare.

I had a 45 minute connection going to SJO. The flight was late and I had literally 15 minutes to make the connection. I had to run like hell and houston is a big airport. I barely made it only because a few other people were in the same boat. So I would say it is cutting it close. If you are coming back, I would say not a chance. To many problems could arise.