www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I'm flying LAX to SJO on LACSA in a few days. LACSA lost my reservation but after much complaining, the agent finally helped me. So far, NO good. Does anybody have any comments about LACSA? Am I risking my life by flying this airline?

You'll be fine with Lacsa.

I've made the non-stop LAX to SJO flight on LACSA/TACA about 6 times recently and had a great experience on every occasion. They're great. On one occasion my luggage was misdirected and their customer service people went out of their way to find it and get it to me ASAP. Safe? Absolutely.

LACSA, which is part of TACA, is a very good airline. I have flown with them 8 times to CR.

-They are usually on time (if late, you get 500 extra miles)
-Their crew is very courteous and friendly (sharp contrast from the bitchy gringas on AA)
-They are competitively priced
-The only nonstop from NY
-They now provide a free hot meal on all flights over 3 hrs + snack + unlimited free drinks (incl alcohol)
-Online check-in (no waiting in line to check-in, just go to business check-in to drop off your suitcase)
-Their customer service isn't great, but adequate (has a lot to do with the language barrier and the Tico way of doing things)

Overall, it's a good airline, you should have no problems.

I used to think of LACSA as a 2nd tier airline, several years ago, when AA, Delta, & United were good.

In the last several years, LACSA has gotten SUBSTANTIALLY better, and the others SUBSTANTIALLY worse.

I would now choose LACSA over the above mentioned ANY day, and would gladly pay 50-100 more for their flight over the others.

Their fleet is new and clean. They provide meals, and alcohol. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The flights are on time and convenient.

They are a far cry better than any US major carrier... Which is sad, I think.

Also one of the youngest fleets in the industry. Mostly small airbuses.
LVSteve

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.

Hey Orange, I don't mean to be picky, but Continental has 2 a day...

Yeah, it may not be convenient from where you're coming from, but from where I live, both airports are equally inconvenient.

I prefer CO, as they go more places that I go, and I have many more FF miles with them, but I hate Newark airport, even more than JFK, and I prefer LACSA's schedules, generally...

I was waiting for somebody to bring up CO, although I thought it would be Muffy that would bring it up first.

That's why I said NY. Newark is just too inconvenient for me, I'm 35 minutes from JFK (15 at 4am).

CO does have specials that can be really cheap around $300 from Newark. But then again, all us NY'ers are filthy rich, as somebody mentioned earlier.

I've flown Taca/Lacsa to Costa Rica from LAX every time now since Trip #3 in May of 2005 - 16 times total - and never had a major problem. I usually get a non-stop, but even when having to connect in El Salvador or Guatemala, it's usually no more than an hour layover.

Along with the plusses cited by others, let me add that the itinerary is ideal (mid-morning arrival in San Jose, late afternoon departure from SJO for the return to LAX), and once you've accumulated enough miles, there's huge benefits. I've already flown free to CR twice using miles, and am about to get a third free trip to Peru over Xmas. Even better, more often than not I get a free first class upgrade, which is heaven on earth on a long 5-1/2 hour flight. Especially nice, comfy seats, good food, and free alcohol - ahhh....

AFAIC - from LA, Taca/Lacsa is the only way to go.

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Check out http://weluvlatinas.com/ for the web's best info on the latin american monger lifestyle...

Again, that's why I said it was better for you... However, you put it though. Newark is a NY airport. phuk Jersey, it's really just a suburb of NY (or philly down south) anyway... I know they don't like that, but it's true...

For me, living North, I'm 1hr from JFK, and 1hr 10 min from Newark. At 4am it's 45 min and 1 hr. So they're virtually the same.

At rush hour, chances are I can get to Newark easier...

Allover
I fly on LACSA/TACA out of Los Angeles quite often and I have never had a problem with lost luggage or bad service. Also free booze and food help on the long flight. Plus the female flight attendance are usually attractive and young!

Thanks for the info guys. Its amazing how far down the level of service for the US airlines has gone. I fly often to Asia and I'll take any airline, including China Air and EVA over any US carrier.

From L.A., going non-stop is a huge plus.

Lacsa doesn't let you pick your airline seats do they? Are they randomly assigned?

I sent an e-mail and requested aisle seats for my flight in September. they returned my e-mail within 24 hours and gave me aisle seats for both flights.

I was given 14D, so I assume that on the Airbus 319 all D seats are aisle seats. I tried looking on-line and found the configuration of the Airbus 319, I could find the row numbers, but not the seat letters.

Steve - Santas Bro

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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!!!

You'll be over the wing on the aisle, on the right hand side of the plane.