www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I was wondering if anyone in the travel industry or in south florida has heard if Spirit Airlines is kicking around the idea of flying into Panama City (PTY).
It would be nice to fly Airbus A319 into Central America via Fort Lauderdale vice Miami with cheap fares compared to COPA or American Airlines.

Its looking like this destination is becoming a better alternative for expatriots than San Jose.

Might be a better place for expatriots but most of us expatriates prefer Costa Rica

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Alex Levine

I have been looking for inexpensive fares to Panama for awhile.

I believe, correct me if I'm wrong, the government of Panama has a large tax added to each ticket.

I have seen a fare out of Miami for around 200 and then seen the extra tax added which resulted in the total fare being closer to, if not over, 500.

I have flown into CR from the east coast for less than 200 and always less than 400.

never have I seen a flight into Panama for less than 400.

I agree that Panama looks like a nice place to vist, but jeeez, where are the inexpensive fares?

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Panama is too expenisive for me hopefully i will not get screwed out of any colones eh i think i will stay home

I flew down in april on ff miles and only paid 48.00 in taxes.

I think American and Copa will move down their fares if challenged from fort lauderdale.

There is a real estate boom in Panama City that dwarfs anything in costa rica.

Actually I thought prices for hotels/restaurants/etc were 30% less than san jose.

Hey guys....haven't been on this board in a while. As a CR veteran, I began going to Panama about a year ago. I agree that the fares from Miami are outrageous! And yes, more than half the ticket is comprised of taxes. My guess as to why there is not much competition is because almost every flight that I've taken down there has been half empty. As for everything else that Panama has to offer, I believe it is less expensive for many other things, including mongering!

Yes, I agree with Fred. The hotels are much cheaper. One place call the Milan charges $25.00 per night in the center of the hot spot in the city.
I also found the food much cheaper.
The airfare is another thing. On Copa, it costs $400.00 round trip for a 55 min flt from SJO. One the other hand, It costs 200.00 round trip to Managua for a 45 min. flight from SJO. Must be the taxes.
LVSteve

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