Question to anyone who knows:

If you buy the tax online, do you have to print it out, get a confirmation code, or is it somehow just linked to your passport?

SR

San José Airport Tax Soon Can Be Paid Online, Bancredito Announces

Leaving Costa Rica by air at San José costs us$26, the airport tax that is payable by every user of the airport and a source of delays for many facing long lines at the counter to pay the tax.

The tax is collected exclusively by Banco Credito Agricola de Cartago (Bancredito) at the airport counter, to the right of the main entrance on the second level of the Juan Santamaría terminal.

The tax can also be paid at a number of hotels around San José, come charging a premium for the service.

The payment of the tax is a requirement, as the payment stub is required by the airlines before allowing a passenger to check-in.

However, that system is changing and expected by December is the payment of the tax online, by way of the internet, from anywhere in the world.

The Bancredito says, in co-operation with the Ministerio de Hacienda (Revenue ministry), the Asociacion Lineas Areas (ALA) and Aeris, the airport manager, it will be changing the system in response to complaints by customers having to wait in line.

Starting in December, the San José airport tax can be paid online at the website http://www.coimsacr.com (cobro de impuesto salide Costa Rica).

The website - currently not working - says the bank will be available in six languages and payment can be made from anywhere in the world using a credit or debit card. The change also means that the customer - passenger - does not require the stub that is currently used for the airline.

Bancredito officials explain that the system will allow the customer to create a database by entering their passport information. Once the payment is made the customer will have the option to print out the payment confirmation, but not necessary to board their flight as the airlines will have access to the database and confirm payment.

Although Bancredito did not spell out the airlines and other companies - more than a 100 it says - that will have access to the database, it did say that it also include travel agencies and others who can make payment on behalf of their clients and all confirmed by the airline at the time of check-in.

At many airports the cost of the airport tax is incorporated in the price of the airline ticket.

In Costa Rica that is still something far away, according to Carlos Plass, Aeris general manager.

Plass explained that there have been discussions with Hacienda and ALA to incorporate the tax in the ticket, that reality won't be for some time.

Plass says that the incorporation of the tax in the ticket would be a benefit to passengers, not only in saving time at check-in, but could also decrease the cost of the tax.

Guillermo Quesada, general manager of Bancredito said "were are offering a solution, we will try it out, the authorities will have the last word if it will be a permanent thing or not".

The website - currently not working - says the bank will be available in six languages and payment can be made from anywhere in the world using a credit or debit card. The change also means that the customer - passenger - does not require the stub that is currently used for the airline.

Will they charge it as a good/service or treat it as a cash advance like they do now?

The tax is collected exclusively by Banco Credito Agricola de Cartago (Bancredito) at the airport counter, to the right of the main entrance on the second level of the Juan Santamaría terminal.

I've never had any issues either. Never waited more than about 3 minutes. The biggest advantage I see is being able to buy it online whenever you want, and not having to worry about keeping up with the piece of paper.

Airlines usually do roll such taxes into the total ticket price. My understanding is that it's CR that's stopping that from happening. Dominican Republic was like that the last time that I was there also.

SR