www.CostaRicaTicas.com

This is what happens when a company buys out another company. Loss of competition and they can jack up prices. Avianca already serves NY (at a premium).

I was bumped off my nonstop this time. I think they are phasing it out as well. but delta has one now out of LA so hopefully competition. their site says no baggage fees as well. think i'll try them next time. taca/avianca whoever they are just aren't special anymore.
three phucking dudes on the plane as stewards too. one was pretty old and looked like mort sahl. wtf

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

Most airlines are phasing out nonstops, unless they a big money maker (i.e. always full).

With non-stops, the airline is only serving people going from A to B.
With connecting flights, the airlines can fill up the planes with passengers going from A to B, with a stop at point C. And now those who are going to go from C to D, E, F, G, and H. Much more likely to have a fuller plane.

Gone are the days of a 737 flying with 35 passengers and 5-6 crew. These days, if they don't get 100, they cancel the flight, or lose thousands.

Orange, I agree with your comments. Luckily in Canada we still have non-stops via Air Canada, Air Transat, CanJet ...Strictly charter flights. You have to closely watch the prices & extra fess they pile on top!

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GO Winnipeg JETS!

Yeah, but those charter companies like Transat or Canjet suck a$$. They cram in extra seats on those planes.

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I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries. Now go away, or I shall taunt you a second time!

Gone is the golden age of flying PERIOD. Nowadays these piece of shit airlines do everything they can to pack you in like sardines. I guess I was spoiled since I remember well the days of flying the likes of Pan Am..TWA...Swissair...etc. when meals were real and served with REAL silverware...and the stewardesses needless to say where a sight to look at and not the middle aged arrogant PIGGY...PIGGY....PIGGY's you mostly see these days.

I'd be a little nervous on these charters... Transat once ran out of fuel over the Atlantic ocean and glided a A330 for over 100 miles (longest ever) to some island where the US had a base and runway. At least the pilots did a good job and saved everybody. But it was their own doing. Seems that their maintenance people installed a wrong part in one of the engines (used a part from the same engine but an earlier model, difference of like 5mm) and it eventually caused a massive rupture in one of the fuel lines and fuel leak. See Transat 236.

Yep, 1st class or biz class now a must. No way am I going on that long of a flight in garbage class. That's what they consider coach and that's how you get treated. Basura clase. I will cut corners down there, pretty easy to make up for the splurge, but I ain't spending 5 -8 hours in a friggin torture chamber.

so for the flight back i was told by the CR duty free that if i was to buy anything in CR and take it through Guatemala customs they would seize it.
after being thoroughly searched and boarding in CR it is amazing that the US government requires you to disembark with your carry ons and be searched again. like you somehow were able to locate something dangerous on the plane. might be Guatemala over interpreting the law but i doubt it. and its really phucking stupid.
so everything is more expensive there and they really don't even have the centenario i want. i buy two 23yr zacatapas for 80.
i will give it to taca that even though we were over 45 minutes late boarding in CR and late to Guat as well as needing to circle the airport they still made LA early.
but i heard from another guy that had booked three months ago that he was also bumped from the nonstop. so i guess its over.
will give delta nonstop out of LA a try next time. looks like they do not have baggage fees etc.

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

Yikes. I've only used Transat once, on a flight to London years ago before I was really experienced in travelling, but would never use them again. Flew Canjet to Dominican Republic last year & it was so cramped it was crazy. At least we didn't have to ditch & swim for Cuba.

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I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries. Now go away, or I shall taunt you a second time!