www.CostaRicaTicas.com :: View topic - Sansa vs Nature Air fares for air travel within CR

Best bet is to go at least 3-4 days before with your travel companion and buy the tix together to guarantee you'll get the same flight.

I just checked Natureair's website and it looks like you can get a ticket from SJ to Quepos for about $102.

I'm staying in SJ for all of my visit this time, and have been planning to make day trips out from there (my first visit, I'm not trying to see ALL of CR on this trip, just trying to get a good taste).

I knew I probably wasn't going to make it to MA, just too far. But was hoping to get the Catamaran to Tortuga at least.

But the flights look cheap and quick. In your opinions, could I fly to Quepos in the AM, see it (at least worthwhile for a first time), and fly back in the late afternoon?

Does this sound doable, or too aggressive? And is transport from Quepos's airport to MA easy to arrange?

I just checked Natureair's website and it looks like you can get a ticket from SJ to Quepos for about $102.

I'm staying in SJ for all of my visit this time, and have been planning to make day trips out from there (my first visit, I'm not trying to see ALL of CR on this trip, just trying to get a good taste).

I knew I probably wasn't going to make it to MA, just too far. But was hoping to get the Catamaran to Tortuga at least.

But the flights look cheap and quick. In your opinions, could I fly to Quepos in the AM, see it (at least worthwhile for a first time), and fly back in the late afternoon?

Does this sound doable, or too aggressive? And is transport from Quepos's airport to MA easy to arrange?

Bottom line: check both sites before you book.

Sansa-One engine, but two pilots
Nature aIr-Two engines, but one pilot

NatureAir is safer since there are two engines. These are more robust "true" airplanes.

The DHC-6 (Twin Otter) has been around for years and years, and is also very reliable.

Hopefully, Nature Air is not flying the first ones ever built.

Author:	Orange [ Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:11 pm ]
Post subject:	Sansa vs Nature Air fares for air travel within CR
They have different pricing structures. I have found that Nature Air has lower fares (usually). They have 3 different pricing tiers for their seats on each flight, while all the seats on each Sansa flight are priced the same. If you book early, you can get a NA flight as cheap as a 5 hour Interbus ride to Tamarindo. For example, let's take San Jose-Tamarindo (one-way fares): Sansa: $89 + taxes (all seats to Tam same price) Nature Air: some seats are $96, some are $62, and some are $29 + taxes Taxes are about $15 each way/person. A few months ago, a few of us went to Flamingo. I paid $88 total roundtrip on NA, but our wingmen paid $100 more on Sansa. Bottom line: check both sites before you book. Websites: www.natureair.com www.flysansa.com FYI--On Sansa (don't know about NA), your favorite Tica (or Tico if that's your thing) get 50% off when they walk-up and buy their ticket. They must show their CR ID card ("cedula"). No discount given online. But she/he MUST buy early because walking up the day of the flight is not recommended, they will probably be sold out. Best bet is to go at least 3-4 days before with your travel companion and buy the tix together to guarantee you'll get the same flight. Also note: Sansa -flies out of SJO (the same airport we fly into from the US) -single engine planes -12 seats Nature Air -flies out of the airstrip in Pavas (about 20 minutes from the gulch, closer than SJO) -twin-engine (very colorful, happy ) planes -17 or 18 seats

Author:	Senordos [ Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:15 pm ]
Post subject:
Orange wrote: Quote: Best bet is to go at least 3-4 days before with your travel companion and buy the tix together to guarantee you'll get the same flight. Can you still buy the tickets at downtown hotels with a travel desk? I remember doing this 10 years ago but we were both Gringos. So I guess I have 2 questions, can you buy reserved tickets at travel desks in general and if yes can you buy one for your Tica too if she's present w/ her cedula?

Author:	Orange [ Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:28 pm ]
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I don't know if you can buy tickets at a hotel. I always book online, I'm forgo the discount for my novia. I'm that lazy. If you can, I doubt they would give you the Tica discount at a travel desk. I assume you have to show the cedula to a airline ticket employee to get the discount. I'm just guessing, so I could be wrong on both though.

Author:	Ciaociao32001 [ Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:43 am ]
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Orange Isn't there an "official" TACA desk at the Amon Plaza? Is TACA affiliated with Sansa? If so, the Tico discuenta may be available. Just speculation. Ciaociao

Author:	Archieleach [ Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:49 am ]
Post subject:
I just checked Natureair's website and it looks like you can get a ticket from SJ to Quepos for about $102. I'm staying in SJ for all of my visit this time, and have been planning to make day trips out from there (my first visit, I'm not trying to see ALL of CR on this trip, just trying to get a good taste). I knew I probably wasn't going to make it to MA, just too far. But was hoping to get the Catamaran to Tortuga at least. But the flights look cheap and quick. In your opinions, could I fly to Quepos in the AM, see it (at least worthwhile for a first time), and fly back in the late afternoon? Does this sound doable, or too aggressive? And is transport from Quepos's airport to MA easy to arrange?

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Author:	Senordos [ Fri Jan 04, 2008 3:39 am ]
Post subject:
Archileach wrote: Quote: I just checked Natureair's website and it looks like you can get a ticket from SJ to Quepos for about $102. They have much cheaper fares if you choose dates that their discount seats are still available, or are you talking r/t w/ taxes? Quote: I'm staying in SJ for all of my visit this time, and have been planning to make day trips out from there (my first visit, I'm not trying to see ALL of CR on this trip, just trying to get a good taste). I knew I probably wasn't going to make it to MA, just too far. But was hoping to get the Catamaran to Tortuga at least. Most, if not all travel desks can book your catamaran trip, I think its $80 or $90 and includes hotel pickup and drop off. Quote: But the flights look cheap and quick. In your opinions, could I fly to Quepos in the AM, see it (at least worthwhile for a first time), and fly back in the late afternoon? Your only in the air for about 20 minutes, so it's possible, but Manuel Antonio deserves at least a 2 night visit in an ocean view hotel. Quote: Does this sound doable, or too aggressive? And is transport from Quepos's airport to MA easy to arrange? When I've taken Sansa, they'll drop you off in their shuttle van at your hotel. If Nature Air is the same, Just name a hotel near the park and they'll drop you off there. But yes, personally I think although doable you should at least overnight in Manuel Antonio, or save it for a time when you can.

Author:	Crookedcr [ Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:59 am ]
Post subject:
Archieleach wrote: I just checked Natureair's website and it looks like you can get a ticket from SJ to Quepos for about $102. I'm staying in SJ for all of my visit this time, and have been planning to make day trips out from there (my first visit, I'm not trying to see ALL of CR on this trip, just trying to get a good taste). I knew I probably wasn't going to make it to MA, just too far. But was hoping to get the Catamaran to Tortuga at least. But the flights look cheap and quick. In your opinions, could I fly to Quepos in the AM, see it (at least worthwhile for a first time), and fly back in the late afternoon? Does this sound doable, or too aggressive? And is transport from Quepos's airport to MA easy to arrange? I did the MA trip as a day trip in early 2007. The flight was quick. The Sansa people had a van waiting at the airstrip for the ride to MA and charged us $20 each for 4 people to ride one-way to MA. We got a cab on the way back for about $5 and the van driver and guy at the Sansa desk were pissed that we didn't take the van back - WTF? I found MA to be a good day trip, myself but it would also be nice to overnight there.

Author:	Mucho Gusto [ Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:01 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Sansa vs Nature Air fares for air travel within CR
Orange wrote: Bottom line: check both sites before you book. Good advice. I've flown Sansa over 30+ times in past years, but I've just started flying Nature Air within the past couple trips. As Orange stated - Definitely check prices on both Sansa AND Nature Air before booking. Two days ago, I booked flights for myself and a wingman (with Nature Air) for a 2 night trip to the beach Superbowl weekend. I was able to get a couple of the $29 seats for one of the flights. Another small benefit with Nature Air: They fly out of the airport in Pavas, which is much closer to the gulch. Sansa flies out of a smaller terminal, next to the main terminal at Juan SantaMaria Airport (SJO). MG

Author:	Tango [ Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:34 am ]
Post subject:
Sansa-One engine, but two pilots Nature aIr-Two engines, but one pilot

Author:	Pacifica55 [ Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:53 am ]
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Sansa - Cessna Caravan C206 turbo-prop. Very dependable but small. Nature Air - DeHavilland Twin Otter. Equally dependable and larger but maybe a little older. Nature Air flights I have taken had two pilots. Both seemed competent to me...

Author:	Berk2302 [ Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:51 am ]
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Tango wrote: Sansa-One engine, but two pilots Nature aIr-Two engines, but one pilot You know what the 2nd engine is good for? It takes you directly to the scene of the crash! Berk....

Author:	Udo [ Wed Jan 09, 2008 10:59 pm ]
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NatureAir is safer since there are two engines. These are more robust "true" airplanes. I have flown NatureAir a few times and enjoyed them all. You must realize that flights on these small planes involve a lot of turbulence. They are always bumping up and down while banking left or right. It's somewhat like a rollercoaster since the planes are so light! Do you really want to be concerned with the lowest cost at 10,000 feet over the mountains? Just spend the money to fly NatureAir and the peace of mind that the larger plane provides.

Author:	Irish Drifter [ Thu Jan 10, 2008 1:04 am ]
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Udo wrote: NatureAir is safer since there are two engines. These are more robust "true" airplanes. There is no factual evidence to support any of that babble especially the "true" airplane reference. Perhaps you might want to explain what that means and at the same time do some research comparing the accident rate of Nature Air as opposed to Sansa. You prefer Nature Air or if you prefer twin engine airplanes thats fine but keep your comments factual or at the very least label them as opinion.

Author:	Orange [ Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:25 pm ]
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Srilm wrote: The DHC-6 (Twin Otter) has been around for years and years, and is also very reliable. Hopefully, Nature Air is not flying the first ones ever built.

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Author:	Irish Drifter [ Fri Jan 11, 2008 4:42 pm ]
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Srilm wrote: The DHC-6 (Twin Otter) has been around for years and years, and is also very reliable. Orange wrote: Hopefully, Nature Air is not flying the first ones ever built. Can not rule out the possibility. From November - December issue of nature Air's official magazine "Nature Landings". "At Nature Air, We are proud to continue the rich tradition of exploration and adventure of the Twin Otter, opening up remote destinations that previously where only reachable by long and difficult journeys over land. Nature Air has the largest fleet of Twin Otters in Central America. Our aircraft have come from destinations as far away as the Grand Canyon, Canada, Samoa and even Australia."