Costa Rica will include airport tax in ticket prices
#61
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 1,890
Panama, El Salvador, and Ecuador use the US dollar as their currencies. There's been talk of totally "dollarizing" the economy here too. I doubt Costa Rica would go that route completely.
#62
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
This is what bothered me that I still can't really explain. As a Canadian there's a BIG problem with this. Because when someone says "$5" it's really $6.50 to me. So I feel like the arbitrary amounts quoted by people just get worse and worse. I paid for everything in Colones, I don't know what currency my CC got charged in, I can only see the final price in CAD.
#63
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: YVR
Programs: OZ Diamond, Jiffypark Manhattan Gold
Posts: 4,483
Yea I know that about Panama and El Salvador, I didn't know that about Ecuador.
The difference is...from what I'm told, Panama is cheap. Obviously not everything, but going out, buying clothes, small things are cheap. I base my price metrics on small items. For instance, I went to Subway near Estadio Nacional, a 6 inch turkey combo was nearly $12 CAD. Even in the US that won't cost me anywhere near $9 USD. So not only am I paying an exchange, I'm also paying an inflated price.
I haven't actually explored Panama/ES outside of their airports, so I can't speak to the pricing other than ads I've seen and things I'm told. I've been told about prices so low in Panama for clothing that I'm skeptical. The PTY airport food is SUPER expensive, but I chalk that up mostly to airport pricing.
I'd prefer everyone to either have their own currency, OR have prices that reflect the economy...if that makes sense. I hope it's not rude either. I'm fine with places being dollarized, but then a beer in San Salvador should cost far less than a beer in Seattle.
The difference is...from what I'm told, Panama is cheap. Obviously not everything, but going out, buying clothes, small things are cheap. I base my price metrics on small items. For instance, I went to Subway near Estadio Nacional, a 6 inch turkey combo was nearly $12 CAD. Even in the US that won't cost me anywhere near $9 USD. So not only am I paying an exchange, I'm also paying an inflated price.
I haven't actually explored Panama/ES outside of their airports, so I can't speak to the pricing other than ads I've seen and things I'm told. I've been told about prices so low in Panama for clothing that I'm skeptical. The PTY airport food is SUPER expensive, but I chalk that up mostly to airport pricing.
I'd prefer everyone to either have their own currency, OR have prices that reflect the economy...if that makes sense. I hope it's not rude either. I'm fine with places being dollarized, but then a beer in San Salvador should cost far less than a beer in Seattle.
#65
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 1,890
1) You just pay it when you get to the airport that day to fly home.
2) Some of the resort hotels will collect the tax for you and issue you the form. It depends on where you're staying.
3) You can pay the tax in advance at branches of Bancredito, but who wants to stand in a bank line when you're on vacation? Lines at the state banks are pretty awful. I needed to do something in person at Banco de Costa Rica this morning. I took a number <134>. They were on <82>. I'll go back another day.
If (2) isn't an option, go with (1).
2) Some of the resort hotels will collect the tax for you and issue you the form. It depends on where you're staying.
3) You can pay the tax in advance at branches of Bancredito, but who wants to stand in a bank line when you're on vacation? Lines at the state banks are pretty awful. I needed to do something in person at Banco de Costa Rica this morning. I took a number <134>. They were on <82>. I'll go back another day.
If (2) isn't an option, go with (1).
#66
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: BOS/MHT/PVD/BDL
Programs: Belong to Many but No Longer Loyal to Any
Posts: 878
Looks like Southwest is now with the program.
Just purchased a ticket for April travel.
U.S. Security Fee $ 5.60
U.S. Customs User Fee $ 5.50
U.S. APHIS User Fee $ 3.96
U.S. Immigration User Fee $ 7.00
Costa Rica Security Fee $ 1.50
Costa Rica Common Area User Charge $ 5.69
Costa Rica Transportation Sales Tax $ 8.90
Costa Rica Baggage Inspection Fee $ 2.00
Costa Rica Boarding Tax $ 27.00
Just purchased a ticket for April travel.
U.S. Security Fee $ 5.60
U.S. Customs User Fee $ 5.50
U.S. APHIS User Fee $ 3.96
U.S. Immigration User Fee $ 7.00
Costa Rica Security Fee $ 1.50
Costa Rica Common Area User Charge $ 5.69
Costa Rica Transportation Sales Tax $ 8.90
Costa Rica Baggage Inspection Fee $ 2.00
Costa Rica Boarding Tax $ 27.00
#68
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,869
Purchased AA tix in June 2015. In CR now (Mar 2016) and there is no break down on my receipt (at least as far as I can get on aa.com with invoice there...purchase tix via amextravel.com and the fees are also not listed there). I believe it was included based on roll out dates last year, but I'd like confirmation.
Also, what do you have to do to NOT pay it twice. Most folks aren't going to have their invoice with them as they walk through airport, only boarding pass.
Also, what do you have to do to NOT pay it twice. Most folks aren't going to have their invoice with them as they walk through airport, only boarding pass.
#69
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 1,890
AA started including the tax on June 15, 2015. Do you know the exact date of ticket purchase? Can you call the travel agency and ask them for the tax breakdown?
At check-in, they'll know if you've paid the tax. I guess you risk standing in line, getting up to the counter, and being told you have to go back to the tax counter to pay if they see you haven't yet.
They will not know at the tax counter if you've paid or not.
At check-in, they'll know if you've paid the tax. I guess you risk standing in line, getting up to the counter, and being told you have to go back to the tax counter to pay if they see you haven't yet.
They will not know at the tax counter if you've paid or not.
#71
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, MLife Gold, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Caesars Diamond, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,869
I can't answer this but on AA it was two fees $27 and $2. Neither seemed to be for departure tax but AA confirmed that essentially they were.