www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I've noticed an irritating change in the attitude and process of the TSA like security folks at the San Jose Airport. They have gotten as rude and obnoxious as the TSA employees in Miami used to be. I had one Tica actually dump my backpack out into one of the bins and then confiscated a small foldup multi blade screwdriver that had blades less than one inch long. I've carried it back and forth to/from Costa Rica for over five years with no problem.

I stopped her and insisted upon her supervisor coming over. He sheepishly agreed with her and I asked him to show me in his rule book where it was not permissible. He said that he had no rule book, so I asked for his supervisor and said I'll wait right here. When the supervisor came he also said that he had no rule book. However when I pointed out to him that she had actually poured out my back pack into the bin, he looked shocked. I asked him to instruct her to place each item back into my backpack as I told her where it went. He agreed and she was glaring the entire time, but she did it. She even put the bottle of water back where I told her it went.

Then when I got to the JetBlue gate the attendant was over and over calling up passengers to get a blue stamp on their boarding pass. THEN when boarding the airplane, every carry-on (100%) was opened and things were taken out of the bags and carelessly shoved back in. They were confiscating one lady's make up tubes and one small makeup plastic bottle. She was holding a baby and raising hell about the stupidity. The Tica that "inspected" my bag pulled a 6oz tube of AIM tooth paste that was half empty and read the 6oz and said it was illegal even though less than 3oz were in the tube. I took the tube and rolled it up, smiled handed it back to her and told her that it's now a 3 oz tube. I again asked for the supervisor and he just shrugged his shoulders and pointed to the lady as if to say the lady raising hell is a bigger problem for me than you are sir. He then left the area as if to avoid dealing with any further conflict. It was truly bizarre and several passengers were really pissed off. All of this made the plane an hour late in leaving.

Have any of you noticed this change at the San Jose airport? Also are the carry-on bags of flights to the US on Delta, Spirit or United inspected a second time by unzipping every zipper and taking things out of the bag, or is this just something that's happening on JetBlue flights. In addition, are other airlines also having you check in again at the air side desk and get your boarding pass stamped or is this only a JetBlue activity? Are they doing the same thing on flights to countries other than the US?

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Slut Puppy in Training

Is low self esteem a prerequisite for being a good Ho or is it a result? ;-)

They do the secondary bag search for every airline flying to the U.S.

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You do costa rica your way and I'll do it my way

Srilm is it just pure American Hypocrisy that when I left Orlando, I went through the TSA Precheck lane at inspection and did not have to remove my laptop, belt, or shoes on my way TO Costa Rica. I paid $40 for that right and also got a seat with more legroom. However, you say the USA insists that all of the same passengers (who are US citizens like me) bags must be hand inspected in addition to the TSA type inspection when they are returning to the US?

WOW! This kind of policy sounds "Muy Tico" with process being more important than substance. Exactly who are the dummies here? The US govt for insisting upon such stupidity? The Costa Ricans for going along with it? Or us Americans for enduring it?

If what you say is the case, I guess I can better understand why the Ticos would stick it to us Americans in applying the policy since it's our government telling them what they have to do.

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Slut Puppy in Training

Is low self esteem a prerequisite for being a good Ho or is it a result? ;-)

Paranoid usa are the cause...

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Jaco is called little USA by all ticos

Just FYI - not everyone is eligible to pay a fee at check-in to receive TSA pre-check. The TSA does prescreening randomly and oftentimes offers the pre-check option. Different airlines offer the service at different costs, I don't think Southwest charges anything of you are pre-qualified. The airlines justify it as a processing fee. Some airlines only offer it to members of their frequent flyer programs.

Of course if you like using TSA pre-check you can complete an application with an $85 fee with the TSA, then the airlines can charge you nothing. You are also automatically pre-check if you are enrolled in a program such as Global Entry.

According to TSA rules, cigar cutters and corkscrews are allowed, but not in CR, both were confiscated by TicaTSA. I wouldn't at all doubt that an anti-monger contempt existed in my encounter.

I made three trips last year (and many before that), and each time I had two or three of the rum 'minis' in my carry-on, and they didn't say or do anything...at the initial (xray) check or at the gate while boarding (in SJO).

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

Very annoying - there should be some consistency

I almost never check bags - but flying out of SJO - always.

You go through the "standard" security check - then - and I don't recall if this was the case a few months ago - they do another security check in the gate area - and then - a final check as you enter the gateway! The final check I remember them doing - I don't think the gate check was done.

A tad bit of overkill.

I was told that there could be a security breach - you have me on how??? - thus the need for additional screenings.

I have flown out of many airports, foreign as well as domestic, and have never been subject for 2 additional screenings - as a "trusted global" most times I can by pass some of the procedures at the main security screening (Trusted Global is a great program, btw - consider applying - it really saves you a ton of time on entering the USA, especially with the very crowded lines in south FL airports).

Fyi, the US Customs Global Entry program will help you qualify automatically for TSA pre-check, one being AA. You can get more information on the airlines that use it for pre-check online.

does you no good on a 2nd or 3rd check which was my point

I have global entry - sometimes it does and sometime it does not - even on airlines and at airport who offer it domestically - overall its a great program.

I've been going to CR every month for the last 5 months and haven't noticed any changes. I've been pulled out of line twice at boarding for a thorough personal search. I wish they had a partition cause all ya need is a little " boom shack a lacka boom" for a good show. But I 've been overall pleased with the situation there in SJO. Once I forgot to stow my clip on folder and realized it as I was in line for screening. I stepped over to one of the gendarme and 'splained the situation. They were very courteous and took me to the security desk, got my info and told me they would hold it for 30 days. I picked it up my next time through without a hitch. All personnel were very polite.

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"Girl, I got saddles older than you!"

I remember when I just brought a coke for the plane ride back to US(in the Terminal). They said I couldn't bring it on board the plane. I pointed to my 3 bottles of rum from the Duty Free and told them strange I can bring these bottles of alcohol from the duty free, which are way more dangerous. She tried to argue with me, and I asked for manager.

He walked over and tried to tell me the same thing. Told him it is not posted anywhere when you are buying the coke prior to boarding that you cannot bring it on the plane. He relented and checked if it was open. Which is was not then let me go on with it.

Stupidity of some people amazes me.

Did you have a receipt for the Coke? They are not supposed to let you board with any liquid more than 3.4 ounces without a receipt from inside the gate area of the terminal.

it's not a Costa Rican rule, it's the stupid rules from the US for inbound flights.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!