www.CostaRicaTicas.com

1. If you set up the Kayak daily buzz, you will see anomalies in the Rio pricing. I stick with American for the FF Platinum benefits but if you are looking to take one flight, especially from the NE general area, tons of amazing fares. I've seen under $700 connecting through DC direct on a TAM flight (operated by United or vice versa). I know TAM ended it's American Airlines alliance in August, so perhaps this is their new alliance. That's killing me.

Also, word on the street is Varig is going to do NY > Rio direct under their new Gol ownership, but they won't commit to it on the phone and the future routes map all go into Sao Paolo from the US.

2) The Int'l sale that came out Thursday night has some great fares, if you can travel at ceratin times. Something like $260 from NYC to Cabo, I almost booked a $480 (including taxes) from NYC to London, a bit more to Paris and Frankfurt, and a ton more of really cheap ones to places like Barbados. Too bad they don't fly to Iceland. It's different from each city, but worth checking out if you have the desire to go to non-mongering towns.

Just an fyi....

How do I go to Rio directly from CR ?

Go southeast. Turn left at Bolivia.

_________________
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but your love don't pay my bills,
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Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

Although I agree with Pac55, you have 3 options that I know for sure, and I'm not too familiar with Varig or TAM, but those airlines are the Brazilian airlines worth looking into.

1) Copa flies to Rio but I've seen many cancelled flights, hop to Panama City.
2) Taca flies it but it's lots of stops, Lima... Sao Paolo at least. I'm not sure where Copa stops, it might be direct or Sao Paolo, not sure which is the best of the two. If you have Taca miles, that is your answer.
3) Safest and fastest might be to buy the flight from Miami direct to Rio on American, and try to go on American the whole way. Or you can try separate airlines, say spirit to Miami. Not sure how it works flying on AA from and to countries that are not the US, but I would imagine it's not much different from NY, can get a flight from around $800.

Varig??? I thought they went Belly Up years ago?