www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I have a scenario and need to find out if this is doable.

Lets say I book a RT air ticket from NY-SJO for a 6 month stay from Jan 1 to June 30.

Can I then buy and make a RT (SJO-NY-SJO) in March, before my return date on the original ticket? Can it be done with the same airline?

Yes

&

Yes

I have a neighbor, who lives here, but goes back and forth to South Florida 8 or 9 times a year who has done that.

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Alex Levine

Thanks.

Good thinking Orange. We'll look into that myself.

Lee

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Technically, I think there is some sort of regulation against it, though I can not recall what the issue is related to it.

I have done this many times and never had a problem. in fact I am in the US right now under those exact circumstances.

I do recall discussing it with an airline employee once and getting scolded for it. Oh well.

The only issue is that you are only allowed 90 days in CR unless you are a resident, so it would be a problem if they check that out going into the country. you are supposed to have a return ticket before the visa expires.

Since I am resident have never encountered the problem of having to show a return flight. However have talked to others who have been asked and when the showed the return ticket the airline never checked the date only that they had a return ticket.

Do not think the 90 day thing would be an issue with the airline. Now if Costa Rica Immigration should check that is a whole new ball game.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

The only problem when booking tickets is when you purposely buy a round trip ticket at a reduced fare but don't use part of the reservation or (or similar scenario) to avoid paying a higher cost.

Here is an example:
Say you want to flight from NYC to ATL. The fare is $300 round trip. The "flight" that goes from NYC to MIA makes a plane change in ATL and the fare is only $250.

You, with all of your travel wisdom, decide since you're only taking a carry-on bag that you'll buy the NYC to MIA ticket and just get off in ATL.
The only problem with that is there is a good chance that your reservation for the return flight will be canceled since you didn't show up for the ATL to MIA leg.

It's hard to catch but the computers are programmed for these type of things.

One easy way this will work is if you can find a return flight that ends up farther than you want to go with a stop at your final destination. You just get off when it stops at your city (MIA-ATL $300, MIA-NYC with a stop in ATL $250). Just keep in mind it will only work if you don't check any luggage.

As far as booking a flight within the same time frame as another reservation, it won't make any difference as long as you don't try to use the tickets from one reservation for the other flights. These are two separate reservations and ticket combinations.

With the economics as they currently are in the airline industry I doubt that they would care as long as they get your money.

I have yet to fly into costa rica with a return ticket back out of the country... Probably done it 14 times by now.

All my flights are SJO > elsewhere > SJO, with the exception of the very first one, which was a one way into CR

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Orange, I have done this twice before. It is frowned upon by the airlines, however, so I avoid discussing it. they actually have a name for this, which of course escapes me at the moment.

Be sure to have the return flight out of CR within 90 days ticket in hand upon your middle return to CR trip to avoid issues. It is required that you have a round trip ticket within the 90 day window, or they may challenge your boarding rights at check in.

Enjoy!!!

You can do that no problem I did it on american airlines twice and the ticket is actually about 100bucks cheaper to go SJO>Sandiego>SJO than the other way around. Maybe they figure CR travelers have less money? dont know...shouldnt matter because the US travelers would fill the planes anyway

It's by far the best way of getting cheap flights in winter... I am doing it currently...

I bought a return ticket, and will gladly pay the $100 change fee for the return sometime in march or april.

For now I'm on the first leg of my outbound, from SJO ticket. With a return in Dec.

I did this many times when I lived in San Jose. I would buy a round trip ORD-SJO-ORD with the return flight about 8 months after the my departure. I would then buy round trip flights SJO-ORD-SJO if I were going back to the U.S. for a weekend or so. Even though I was never asked for it, I would always bring my itinirary from my original return flight so I could show the immigration people in CR that I had an onward ticket if it were requested.

It was actually an American Airlines representative that recommended that it be done in this manner, rather than modifying existing reservations.

......tickets longer than 30 days anymore. Buy two one ways and work from there. You have to leave for a day or so every 90 days anyway.

Buying one way tickets would be very expensive. In many cases you would save money buying non refundable-non changeable round trip tickets each way and simply throwing away the return portions.

What airline would only issue you a 30 day return ticket? I checked both AA and Taca using SJO/MIA on January 10, 2008 and MIA/SJO on July 19, 2008. Got flights and prices from both web sites.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine