www.CostaRicaTicas.com

http://travel.channel.aol.com/travel/De ... and=aolsvc

I've been looking daily for cheap flights to SJCR from Houston, hell even Dallas. So every day I go to the above link and go to section 2, plug in IAH then SJO. Dallas would be DFW.

Then I go down to section 3 and put a bullet on date range for lowest price, then scroll down a couple of months.

About a month or so ago American (AA) airlines had a quicky special, but when I got serious about planning, the special was off.

A couple of days ago, I went to the site again, plugged in IAH....SJO and got real lucky. I noticed that AA had fares that were about $200 cheaper than Continental. I bought them for the Labor day weekend (didn't even know about the Labor day fiesta that is coming till later). I called Continental (3.5 hour straight flights versus Houston/Miami/SJCR) to see if they priced matched, They do not. So it looks to me like AA will have a few 24 hour specials that come and go.

Just another option for my bros. in here to consider.

I agree that timing is everything, and having the flexibility with your schedule to take advantage of it. On certain days, United has what they call "EVERY DAY LOW PRICING," however, it is not every day. For my upcoming trip to San Jose, I managed to get a roundtrip, non-stop flight from Dulles for $269.00, total price, including taxes and fees. I booked it over a month ago. I see that same flight now is $489.00. There certainly are bargains if you can fit your schedule with the airlines schedule.

Good advice guys. Just a community suggestion...your AOL travel link is powered by "travelocity.com"...so going to www.travelocity.com is the same thing. Even better is entering by the "travelocity" link on the CRT homepage...you get the same deal but CRT gets a little affiliate commission. Why not book through the CRT affiliate number and help support this effort?

Travelocity will notify you when a special fare is available. Just go there and set your preferences. Sometimes these specials only last a few hours.

Two reasons.

1. Travelocity adds a $5 surcharge to every ticket.

2. By booking directly on Continental.com I'll get a 1,000 mile bonus (about a $10 value to me), and more importantly 100% elite qualifying miles (EQM's) instead of just 50% (very important since I need 75,000 (EQM's) a year to maintain my Platinum elite status.

However, if you are going to book on travelocity anyway, then yes definately use the link and help support CRT. Not just for San Jose but you might as well for all of your travel needs.

I'm trying to maintain my lowly Gold Status (no business this year by the looks of it), and with CO only get 50% EQM on cheap fares unless it's booked on CO.com.

And for those of us stuck at InterCONTINENTAL Airport where CO has over 90% of the traffic, good fares are hard to come by.

And Travelocity used to be very good about sending out fare updates if you signed up for them, but these days the notification arrives in the afternoon for a fare that was updated at 2 a.m. Just means you have to check Travelocity.com on your own. Travel.Yahoo.com also uses the Travelocity engine btw.

Despite the high fares I bit the bullet and bought a ticket for the 4th weekend. CO bought on CO.com, of course.

EmailKid

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Then again, what the hell do I know, I'm a newbie for life. EmailKid

Hey fellas,
Does anybody have experience flying TACA, the Costa Rican airline? Are they relieable? Safe? There is a non-stop flight from NYC (JFK) to SJ, 5 hour flight (3 hrs to SJ with time difference). It's about 10% cheaper than USAir and AA.

I just returned from my first CR trip 6 days ago and I am already browsing for flight deals...

Damn, when I saw the title of this thread I thought it was going to be about scoring with one of the stewardesses

Orange wrote:



Grupo Taca is a consortium of Central American airlines of which Lacsa (the CR airline) is part.

I have been using them for years and never had a problem. There equipment is all airbus 319 or 320's. I find them reliable and safe. Some have posted about disorganized check in procedure but I have not experienced that.

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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

It takes a LOT longer to check in at the airport, at least it always did at IAH and SJO, and my one flight to SAL.

Just get there much earlier than US Airlines, and you should be OK. They no longer serve free food, but last I heard still free booze.

Nice, safe planes, very nice FAs. Even had a Chinese woman as an FA, though she spoke good English and Spanish, and has lived in Costa Rica for about ten years.

LACSA is the old Costa Rica airline before they merged with a bunch of the small Cental American airlines, and you will see Lacsa and Taca listed on Travelocity, even though it's the same airline now. And many of the planes have a secondary name along with Taca. I've even seen Cubana, even though Cubana has their own planes as well.

I quit flying them because from IAH there's a stop in Belize and change of planes in San Salvador, which is their main hub and headquarters.

EMK

_________________
Then again, what the hell do I know, I'm a newbie for life. EmailKid