I'm flying LPB-SJO on TACA and arriving at 1:30 PM. I'm then on CO's SJO-IAH that departs at 2:55 PM. These flights were booked independently at each airline's site. I've made several international connections before but it was always on partners and was seamless. I'm worried about how this connection will go. Will I have to get my luggage, go through customs, check-in luggage with CO, etc. or is it normal to be able to check luggage straight through? I did see this as a valid connection on either Orbitz or CheapTickets but I don't know if that means that the airlines/airports are "compatible" for connections. At least the airport looks really small on Wikipedia...

Thanks for any info!

Call TACA and see if they will interline bags?

if your bags are checked thru then you dont have to pass customs or immigration in san jose, just walk from gate to gate.

You should be able to check your bags through to IAH, but you will have to tell them that as they have no way of knowing you have a connecting flight.

If you have to pick up bags and check them again, fugeaboutit

I've been turned away from CO counter one hour before scheduled takeoff with only hand luggage because "there is not enough time to clear customs"

Of course they did me a favor, as the plane a had a mechanical, and unlike pax who were already past security, I got a boarding pass for the afternoon flight, while many who were there earlier did not

EmailKid

Can you do it without checking bags? If you can connect without checking bags, you can do it no problem.

When you arrive into SJO, you're dumped directly into the terminal building.

If you're connecting, in theory you could just walk right over to the departures gate and ask to check in with the gate agent.

You're not specifically directed to head towards security or the customs/immigrations.

In fact, after arrivals into SJO, if I'm near the back of the plane, I'll head over to the food court to get something to eat while the immigrations line shortens up a bit.

Immigrations line takes awhile, there's only I think 10 positions for processing arrivals. Usually they only staff 5 or 7 of those positions, but I have seen them staff all 10 if the line get's really long. IIRC they are remodeling and removed one of their gift shops to make room for additional line space for immigrations.

If you must check bags and they can't be interlined...

Once you clear immigrations, you head downstairs to pick up your bag and go through customs. I have never seen an "inter-line" baggage belt for connecting passengers.

You'll probably have to go through customs and then head back upstairs to check in again. Don't forget to pay the $26 airport tax prior to check-in! Pay in cash or with your Visa card (beware that Visa processes it as a cash advance!)

the problem is that if he has to do ALL THAT he will probably not be able to check in at all

lets see

he has 1:25 minutes to do all that

clear immigration.........if he gets lucky and there is no line at all ...say 10 minutes

10 mins waiting for luggage

5 mins going through the xray machine and getting outside

5 mins more going upstairs and getting back to the terminal

10 mins paying tax

by that time he has 45 minutes and supposedly the flight will be closed as international flights leaving to the US must be totally 'done' 1 hour (I think it is) to be able to submit the manifest info to the US using the APIS system

Believe he's one our resident SJO experts here

It has been reported that you DO NOT have to pay the Departure Tax if you only step out and don't spend time on the ground.

But again, you should be able to interline.

EmailKid

I've got a backpack that I'm pretty sure I'm going to have no choice but to check. I might be able to get away with it on CO (51 linear inches, 40 pounds) but TACA limits it to 45 linear inches and only 22 pounds. Time to call TACA...

TACA said I should be able to check through to IAH if I show them my CO boarding pass when checking in. I'm not sure that I'll actually be able to get a boarding pass since I may not have internet access but maybe the e-ticket itinerary will be enough. Thanks for the info. This is such a great community!