www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Come on ... bash Spirit on the appropriate thread.

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

8 trips through Atl in last 15 months. 7 with global entry and no checked bag. Never took longer than 45 min from landing to customs to train to new terminal gate.

Pops, I have to disagree with you about Spirit. I have flown on Spirit about 20 trips through FLL to Medellin and San Jose. Only three flights of those approximately 40 were delayed more than a few minutes, many departed early. One delay was not Spirit's fault - there was another airline's plane disabled on the runway in MDE. When the other delayed flights arrived in FLL, one flight the passengers going to Orlando were transported on vans (it was late at night); the other one we were booked on the first flight leaving the next morning - confirmed seats, no standby. That was in January of this year. Maybe they used to put the people on standby, but that was not my experience. I did have a problem with them not paying for a hotel. The flight arrived in FLL an hour and 15 minutes before the connecting flight departed. There was no way to make that connection because of waiting for an empty gate, the slow baggage handling in FLL, and a long line at the TSA screening. They said because there was more than one hour between the flights, they would not provide any lodging or meals. I have Global Entry, but that doesn't help with getting your bags, or with TSA screening when flying Spirit.

You are absolutely right GDJ, the only thing that helps is to have enough time between connecting flights when arriving from overseas and dealing with all the immigration, customs, luggage, security and connection gate issues...all the shortcuts are marginal help; wouldn't want to depend on them to make my flight!

Yes, but sometimes it is just not worth it.

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" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

A few quick questions, you mention that you are planning to travel in November, is this over the Thanksgiving weekend, if so 90 minutes on any airline is not enough time, too many travelers during that period and more importantly too many inexperienced travelers who have no idea how the system works.

Are you planning to check luggage, you will lose time waiting for a bag.

Flabuck, you are being kind. You are talking about totally CLUELESS travelers who clog the system.

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" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."

To be honest , I haven't decided on the exact dates yet. Most likely 10 to 14 days in Nov.

A coworker of mine recently connected thru Atlanta coming back from a trip abroad - he spent almost 1 hour waiting in customs in the US Citizen line. It then took him something like 25 minutes to get to his connecting gate. He almost missed his connecting flight with a two hour layover. 1.5 hours seems short coming back. 1 hour heading down is probably OK, but I still wouldn't risk missing a connecting flight down due to a small delay.

Even with global entry, I still prefer layovers in the 2.5-3 hour range at the "problem" airports (ATL, LAX, O'Hare etc.)

I have since found a flight down with a 3 hour timeframe so I think I'm ok with that. However, that same flight only has an hour connect time on the way down (United - Minneapolis to Dallas connection to SJO)....is an hour enough time on the way down Nov. 15th in you guys' estimation?

No customs on way down so unless you have a flight delay and gates are close you should be fine. Usually if you book the entire trip at one time they are pretty confident you will make it. Coming back without global entry 1 hour is never a good idea. Imho

If you arrive in Dallas on time or close to it, should be plenty of time. You don't have to deal with luggage or TSA security...just hop off your flight and go to the next gate.

Keep in mind that DFW airport has several terminals. You may have to take the skylink train if you arrive and depart from different terminals...still pretty quick transfer, but it takes 10-15 extra minutes, if your are quick and know what you're doing.

Good luck!

Too tight IMO and requires pretty much everything to go off without a hitch. A 30 min delay in MSP (not unusual) + a long ass taxi to the gate in Dallas + a long walk between terminals (it's a huge airport), and you're starting to push it. Especially risky if you're taking the last flight of the day out to SJO.

Remember too that Dallas is prone to thunderstorms that affect arrivals and departures at certain times of the year.

Oh my...now I'm concerned again...geez...lol...wouldn't the airline be required to put me up if I miss that flight from Dallas? I suppose the flights the next day or whatever could also be full...hmm...