www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Got some credits with Southwest Air so I'm thinking of using those for the return portion of my next visit from SJO - lAX (via Houston). Never flown SW to or from SJ before. I't just a 1 way fare for the return but I have enough credits to choose "Business Select" option so I can get earliest boarding. I assume the seating is the same as their domestic flights? That is, no reserved seating but you get whatever is available once you board? Is that correct? Anything other things I should be aware of? Thanks.

yeah it is the same.

just a note; just as with any international flight...when you land in houston, you willl grab your luggage and then recheck it and then need to go upstairs to go through security again. Houston Emigration is quick.

Houston immigration on my last two trips sucked. Clearing immigration (have Global entry), getting bag and recheck was a breeze. Then wait forever in two lines to clear security to get to the departure gate. A very long line to just go up the escalator to get to another long line to go through the Xrays. No TSA precheck and they make you remove ALL electronic from your bag except for phones. Very surly TSA agents. I was flying United. I would not schedule a connection less than 2 hours on United through Houston.

This process was in terminals E / F. I understand the terminal D process is much better as they do have precheck. And the if you have to catch your connection, usually terminal C, it is a long walk or a medium walk and a train ride.

In the future if I am connecting through Houston on United I will just exit the terminal after i get my bag, take the transport to the United checkin gates and go through normal check-in. With United status and precheck it should be quicker.

Returning to any of the hubs in the US and changing from International to domestic flight has become a nightmare.
I was on a flight from San Jose to San Francisco via Miami. At Miami the train between terminals did not work. It is a mile walk from the gate to immigration. The lines are long and after rechecking your bag another long line to go through security to go to the domestic departure gate. Horrible.
I have decided it is worth paying more to fly Avianca that flies from San Jose to San Salvador and then direct to San Francisco. Fast immigration , pick up your bag and go home.

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You need to differentiate Immigration at Houston Hobby (HOU) and Houston International, Bush (IAH). Southwest uses Hobby Airport, the old airport closer to downtown. The International Concourse at Hobby is only 5 Gates. Entire airport is one Terminal, only 30 total Gates.

Bush is a major International Hub used by multiple airlines; 5 Terminals, 131 Gates. A very different airport experience.

Personally, I have never had any significant immigration, customs, or TSA rescreening delay arriving HOU from SJO. Although as a small airport there is not much to do once through Customs/Immigration.

My bad. My issues were definitely at IAH. I'm sure Hobby like Midway is a lot less stressful than the main airports.

I have been happy with SWA direct from HOU to SJO even living in Austin. I will drive from AUS to HOU since layovers both ways in HOU if I were to fly from AUS are 3+ hours when I can drive in the same amount of time and no flight time or misconnect risks.

I'm planning another trip soon perhaps in Sept. or to Guadalajara. If CR I WON'T stay at Amistad again since after the pandemic they stopped paying for flaggers in the morning. Matt trying to sell it too and closed Hamburger Mary's (Marshal steak house) in March. He mentioned he may shut the bar too.

Just FYI, Copa Has started to fly in/out of AUS certain days of the week. Connect in Panama in to SJO....something to maybe look at and try. I live in Dallas...If I live in Austin, I would definitely try that at least once.

Thank you for the info NYr. I checked out Copa earlier this year and either 1. too long a layover in PTY + extra travel time to go back north to SJO, 2. they have eliminated the route or 3. if I'm going another 1/2 hour past CR and 1/2 hour back north + layover time in PTY why not go somewhere into Colombia?

I am always looking for the most efficient flights to fun places so will re-check Copa especially onwards to Colombia! I am going to Orlando in Nov for a 3 day EDM concert and am starting to look for any decent flights from there for the following week including to the D.R. (Santo Domingo MPs!).

I used Copa on a previous trip and was able to arrange a three night stopover in Panama City for no extra charge. Though considerably more expensive, though a lot safer, PC is great for locating Colombian and Venezuelan woman. I don't know if that is standard procedure or I just got lucky, Definitely makes that layover a bit more palatable.

Came in thru there Wednesday about 5pm & it wasn't too bad. Immigration/Customs went quick, there was about a 15 minute backup @ the bottom of the escalator but once @ the top it went quickly, 10 min. or so to get thru the x-rays. Other parts of the trip were delayed-leaving sjo 1 hr. 15 min. late & sitting on the tarmac @ iah 1/2 hr. waiting for our gate to open up. Luckily my connecting flight to las was delayed 2 hrs. so it all worked out, I just got home later than planned.

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Lots of flights from Orlando to Colombia, some direct and others one-stop. I would ignore any flights with a stop in either Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. I always fly Copa to Medellin. They stop in Panama, but it's usually a very short layover.