www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Here is a question for you experienced Central and South America travelers. I'm looking to use some USAIRWAYS FF miles to get me a free ride to SJO from PHL, with the intention of picking up another flight to MDE on COPA that same afternoon. If I don't leave the passenger transit area and have only carry-on luggage, can I by-pass immigration/baggage claim/customs and...can I avoid paying the $26 departure tax?

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

From what I have observed under the scenario you describe you avoid customs, immigration and do not pay the departure tax. Technically you never enter the country. I believe it is the same procedure that use to be the norm in the U.S. Until immigration admits you you have not entered the country but are in transit.

Recently I arrived on a Taca flight that had a large number of passengers connecting to other flights. They simply stayed in the departure area while we,whose final destination was San Jose, went down to immigration and customs.

I caution this is what I observed and have never actually done that type of connection in San Jose.

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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

ID is correct. I have made connections many times. You are just a passenger in transit. Same is true in Panama.

tuanis

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not as good as I once was, but as good once as I ever was

ID/Tuanis,

That's what I think/thought, too. It seems like the key is not to check any baggage (because you need to "enter" CR at immigration before heading down below to retieve and re-check your bags.) I'll just make sure I pack very light. Thanks.

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

I think you can check baggage just have the final destination shown as the city you will finally disembark and clear customs. I am sure some of the passengers who were connecting at SJO on the flight I observed had checked baggage.I did not observe a lot of unclaimed checked baggage on the carousal when I was waiting for my baggage. Check with the airline you are flying.

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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

I first agreed with what has been said so far.

But after thinking about it a little... I think you may have to check in upstairs, like usual. You will be flying on 2 separate itineraries. You are not really connecting. You bought a whole new ticket from SJO to PTY on Copa. You'll need to get a boarding pass at SJO. Even though you will have a ticket for the Copa flight, they won't let you onboard without a boarding pass. If that's the case, you'll need to pay the tax.

If Copa has online check-in, you may be able to print a boarding pass at home, otherwise I think you'll have to exit, go upstairs, and check-in. If that's the case, you should leave yourself plenty of time to check-in and make the second flight.

I suggest you check with Copa, but maybe somebody here has actually done it exactly the way you're planning to.

Tuanis,
Did you make a conection with a whole new itinerary, or did you just connect with the same airline and got both boarding passes upon check-in at your home airport?

Orange, As long as you do not exit the airport, you are considered en transito. there for no special considerations are required.

tuanis

_________________
not as good as I once was, but as good once as I ever was

But where does he get a boarding pass?

Actually, you can clear customs and leave the airport as long as you return and depart the same day. I found this out last Thanksgiving, when I had a six-hour layover in San Jose en route to Rio on my first trip down there. Left the airport, banged Kristina at ZB, then borrowed a room at Sportsmen's where Leidy came by and met me for Round 2. Rushed back to SJO, and guess what - the Taca reps told me I wasn't required to pay the departure tax! Cool...

On the other hand, on the way back from Rio I had the same sort of layover in Lima, and actually DID have to pay a departure tax when I returned to the airport there. Go figure...

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Check out http://weluvlatinas.com/ for the web's best info on the latin american monger lifestyle...

GR,

Good news about the departure tax, but were you on a "layover" (literally) in San Jose of a continuing TACA flight? I arrive in San Jose on a USAIRWAYS ticket, and leave for MDE with a whole new itinerary from COPA. COPA boarding passes can be printed on-line.

I'll know for sure what happens with COPA in a week and a half...chalk up another brainteaser for Trivial Pursuit.

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

ORANGE, To avoid confusion on this subject, I have always transited on the same company. IE, copa -- Panama, Taca-- Costa Rica.

Sorry for the confusion

tuanis

_________________
not as good as I once was, but as good once as I ever was

Guess that solves the problem.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

BD,
If you can print a boarding pass beforehand and only have a carry-on, you can just wait in the gate area and don't go to immigration, and then just get on the flight. That sounds doable. But this has serious potential for a MUY TICO moment.

I would still check with a Copa about this, you don't want any last second surprises.

Orange,

I sent COPA an e-mail yesterday and will get their take on it.

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

Be interesting to see what Copa says. Baggage should not present any problem as airlines routinely transfer baggage to connecting flights both on line (same carrier) and off line (diffrent carrier). The only difference usually is the minimum connection time requirement.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine