www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Yesterday I learned a hard and costly lesson:

I've been to CR around 14 times over the years always traveling from the U.S. On this most recent trip, I decided to go back to Brasil where I hadn't been for many years. I booked a fare on Delta for LAX - Rio (via Atlanta) and then from Rio to SJO (also via Atlanta).I arrive to check in at the airport in Rio for my trip to SJO and the agent asks some routine security questions and then asks if I have evidence of Yellow Fever vaccine. I haven't had a yellow fever vaccine in 40 years. Needless to say, the nightmare began to unfold. She told me that Costa Rica will not allow me entrance coming from Brasil if I don't have evidence of the vaccine. As a result she could not allow me to travel to Costa Rica. I pleaded and fought with her to try and find a solution but to no avail. I was in no mood to stay in Rio and forego CR so in the end the only other option was for me to end my trip and fly back home to L.A. My original ticket cost me about $1,100.00. To add insult to injury, since I was "changing my ticket" to go back to LAX that would cost me an additional $1,600.00 to change that. So I just bit the bullet and came home.

I would have thought that the airline would have some responsibility to inform clients about required vaccinations especially when traveling to tropical countries. I seem to recall that was standard in my early travel years (Pan Am..TWA...etc) but I don't know what the protocol is these days.

I'm going to try and fight it out with Delta regarding the $1,600.00 since I think they bare some responsibility.

I'm curious to hear from others with similar experiences. Thank You.

It's the traveler's responsibility to know the rules and requirements (immigration, vaccination, duty (import/export), etc). The airline's only job is to enforce the rules.

Your story reminded me of this: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=34545&p=385316&hilit=yellow+fever#p385316

I've never had to take a connecting flight to CR and now I never will

Thanks for sharing OP, definitely an issue one would want to avoid.

Bond, you have my sympathy--it is all so confusing. I flew in my favorita colombiana from CR to CTG. Upon getting ready leave we checked and she needed a yellow fever shot to return to CR, and nurses said I needed one too in order to return directly to the states. So for $2@ I figured let's do it. As it turns out, I wasn't required to have the shot to return to the US-- so I (as well as she) was sick two weeks afterward, as a common side effect, for nothing.

If you bought travel insurance with your original ticket it might be worth filing a claim. Not sure if that is covered under the trip interuption clause but for $1600 it is worth a try.

Sent from my KIW-L24 using Tapatalk

_________________
It's a jungle out there. A pusseycat like you will get eaten alive!!!

Good idea. I did buy travel insurance so I'll give that a shot. Nothing to lose.

What really sucks is that on the Rio to Atlanta leg I did wind up on the same flight that I was originally scheduled on. But since from Atlanta I went back home to L.A. instead of to SJO I wound up, in effect, paying an additional $1,600 for the flight from Atlanta to L.A. Something is wrong here.

I had the same problem flying back from San Andres, Colombia, via Panama City, to SJO on COPA airlines five years ago....after much discussion at the checkin counter, they allowed me to board after signing a waiver to release the airline (COPA) from any responsibility if I was denied entry into Costa Rica.

Took the flight to Panama City, then connected to Costa Rica and entered without any issues...as far as migration at SJO knew, I was flying from Panama City to SJO. If coming from PTY to SJO, no yellow fever vaccination is required. For some reason Panama is exempt, but not other tropical countries (i.e. Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, etc.)

In general, when coming from the US and visiting multiple latin american countries, always plan your trip visiting CR first then going to other countries, thus avoiding this issue.

I got stuck like this years ago - - - no proof of vaccination upon arrival - - - I think it was in Barbados.

The immigration guy took me to a guy at the airport who had the vaccine. I got vaccinated, and was let into the country.

SCARY these days.

But it might be worth asking if you can get vaccinated at the airport - - - unless there is a "waiting period" for the vaccine to become effective.

10 day waiting period for entry to CR.

Or, just get vaccinated and carry your vaccine passport with you.

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

If you're over 65, Yellow Fever vaccination isn't required for entry to CR (apparently the risks of vaccination outweigh the benefits as you get older). Although many of the personnel at the airline check-in counters aren't aware of this and have to consult their supervisors, I haven't had a problem in my numerous post-65 trips. It has never taken me more than 5 minutes to sort it out on Copa, Avianca and United.

_________________
It's faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money--Tom T. Hall
No man is a failure who is enjoying life--William Faulkner

I'm 4 months shy of 65.

I had the vaccine in 2011, anyone know how long the shot is good for?? And I always keep my vaccine report in my passport holder, it fits perfectly.

I understand it is good for 10 years. If anyone else knows otherwise please chime in.

It is 10 for yellow fever