www.CostaRicaTicas.com

fyi


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/best-airl ... 00814.html

I use the AA advantage card, managed to get two one way tickets, one from my town to Quito, and one from Guayaquil to a nearby airport (take the bus home) for 30K miles in sept/oct, would have been about 1100$ otherwise. Made visiting Equador and Galopagos a lot cheaper of a trip.

I am not saying that United Airlines (former Continental) is great, but I have redeemed miles the last 10 years to fly to South America a couple of times a year and I got good deals. I have also used AA, but personally I like Continental a little better. I hope that UA doesn't complicate things

I grabbed 5 of the applications. They expire on may 31 whoever wants one send me a pm i will be there in about 5 hours

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"If you think that I'm half crazy your wrong, I'm at least seventy-five percent gone. I was born this way and I'll die this way so I probably won't be changing today." - Richie Allbright, South Texas Singer/Songwriter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftvsq3mX0Ow

IMO Asia Miles. Sounds ironic considering most dont go to Asia. But never had a date/flight I couldnt get, pretty standard-good mileage rates. Only catch is hardly any of that 2X-3X bonus mile crap, which IMO most Cathay guys take for granted as the FF clientelle is pretty good. Lots of upgrades, lots of individual recognition.

I also have status on Air Canada ( star alliance) and KLM, and by far the Asia Mile (Cathay Pacifics mileage program with one world) is by far the best of the group Im involved in.

For travel within the country I recommend Sansa Costa Rica. They have the most modern models of Caraban airplanes. Also, they offer charter service.

I see the Star Alliance mentioned here and was wondering how do you book a flight using this alliance. For example I have lots of miles on US Air but want to book a trip on Copa or United where I have no miles. Star Alliance has its own web site but I couldn't see how you would book off that site.

Would I book on Copa and somehow they know the miles I have on US Air? Any help you guys could provide would be appreciated...

US Airways doesn’t display Star Alliance award space on their website, so you have to call them on the phone to book using US Air miles (at least until their merger with AA at which point they will probably be in the OneWorld Allinace). United will show Copa and other Star Alliance partners award availability and let you book online.

Do not code share with United and LACSA.

I booked United to CR from LAX, and it was code shared with LACSA. It was a nightmare. When I got to LAX for the trip to CR they didn't have me on the manifest. They admitted that they had the ticket number from United, but they wouldn't pu me on the flight anyway. It took about 45 minutes, and supervisors, for that to happen. The flight was not even full. If it had been I would not have been put on the flight. I spent an hour on the phone with United at LAX. The lady was very nice, but finally told me that she could not do anything for me. TACA admitted that they had the information from United, but for some reason they would not put me on the flight.

When in CR I went to the TACA office to check and make sure that I was on the return flight. The lady at the TACA office told me, no problem that I was on the flight. I get to the CR airport, and the same thing happened that happened at LAX, even though I had checked with the TACA office in person and told there was no problem. When I ask the ticket agent in CR about it, she said that apparently the lady at the TACA office didn't know what she was talking about. Another 45 minutes at the TACA desk at SJO and they finally ticketed me. I was almost to immigration when the counter lady came and got me and said for some reason they had canceled my ticket. We ended up in the bowels of the SJO airport at the United office. They canceled my ticket and re-issued it, and that finally worked. Again, this flight was not sold out. If it had been I would not have been put on the flight.

Do not code share with d TACA, I saved $60, but could have missed my flight on both ends if either of the flights were full.

Health & happiness.............

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It's not the size of the wand that put the rabbit in the hat, it's the magic in it!!!

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfromt ... our-miles/

Looks like that's been a problem with them going back to the Continental days. The above link recommends calling up the operating airline after ticketing to confirm that they not only see your reservation but also your ticket, and that the ticket number is linked properly to the reservation.

I did all that with both United and TACA. I called both two days prior to my departure in LA, and I knew something was up, from the answers TACA gave me, so I went to LAX early. On that call I confirmed that TACA had my right ticket number.

They both agreed that I had a paid ticket number (the same on both systems), but for some reason TACA would not put me on the manifest. I even went to the TACA office in downtown San Jose and was told by the lady at the desk I was booked and there was no problem. The lady at the counter told me when I told her I had gone to their office , "The lady at the office did not understand". It took me about 45 minutes and supervisor's from TACA at both ends, and eventually having to go to the United office at SJO to have them cancel and re-write my ticket. If the flight had been full on either end I would not have been able to travel on a code share ticket that both agree was paid and the ticket number was the same, and correct.

The lady on the United line told me that the same thing had happened to a traveler the week before, and since TACA agreed I had the proper ticket number there was nothing that United could do about it. It seems to be a failure in the TACA code share system. Since it is a code share I had a booking number (and ticket number), but no booking number from TACA. To me, and United, it just seems like a muy Tico moment

I guess you can choose to believe me, or not. I will never code share with Untied and TACA again. The $60 I saved was not nearly worth it.

Health & happiness.......

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It's not the size of the wand that put the rabbit in the hat, it's the magic in it!!!

These airlines seem to love trying to give you a headache Santas Bro. I think it was the last time we were both flying out of MDE on the same day that Copa tried to say you didn't have a seat after they downsized the plane for the MDE-PTY leg.

That wasn't me, but it was my wingman. He flew out on a different airline, and we met up in Panama to continue home.

If you do not believe the facts I have presented I'm O.K. with that.

This will be the last I have to say about this. Good luck if you code share with United and TACA out of LAX.

Health and happiness......................

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It's not the size of the wand that put the rabbit in the hat, it's the magic in it!!!

Of course I believe you Santas Bro and thanks for the warning on Taca and Lasca. I was just posting the link in case it could help anyone with other United partners, someone had recently asked about Star Alliance award booking.