Dude - we went to Costa Rica two years ago and I didn't even hesitate getting passports for my twin 7 year-old daughters and my 9 year-old son. Of course you need a passport

:D .... not yet. Not yet. :D

Because they are the ones getting fined and want to check whether someone is eligable for travel when they check in. AA could even sue the traveller for repayment of the cost of the ticket - one way full fare - from Costa Rica back to the States.

If it were me I would have flown back with just my son - leaving the rest of the family behind to enjoy their vacation.

Just to update everybody, we are going back to Costa Rica February 5th. American Airlines has refunded us fully for flight expesnes, and is paying for us to fly back to Costa Rica.

The airline has taken full responsibility for everything that happened last month, besides initial traveller research. They have acknowledged that once we got through the airport in New York, the blame is with them. They have regretted that their mistake of checking us in in New York to fly to Costa Rica with improper documentation was far greater than not having the documentation (due to an employee error) in the first place.
I contacted six Costa Rican consulates around the country to double check that re-entering the country after being denied entry would be ok, and it is. Six Costa Rican Consulate Generals blame American Airlines entirely for our situation.

Not to offend anyone, but everyone should not be so quick to jump to conclusions when it comes to situations that you think you are experts about. A lot of the times there are extenuating circumstances, and a situation becomes completely different then you expect. In this case, the outcome was in my family's favor, and against the general mood and thought of people posting on this board. Just a thought.

Thanks for everyone's time, I appreciate the constructive advice people have offered me. Safe travels to everyone, and thank you.

Good negotiating. If you get your airfare for free, that should more than make up for the increase in the hotel, and your costs in Miami. Glad it worked out. You should make sure you also get miles for all family members for BOTH trips!

Thanks for the update, zresnik. Glad to hear everything is working out in your favor. I hope you and your family have a wonderful time in Cost Rica. And don't forget to take the passports! We don't want to go through this again, do we? :)

You should have returned to the US with the child and let the rest of the family enjoy themselves in Costa Rica.

Congratulations- you must be one heck of a negotiator. Enjoy Costa Rica.

You should want to offend them. It's called accountability. There are a lot of so called "experts" around here just because they have a high post count, or work for an airline, or are in the travel industry :rolleyes:

Good job ^

M8

Glad to see AA try to make happy a customer. Hopefully this customer -- and those whom he formerly informed of this situation and whom he hopefully updates with the outcome like he did to the FT community -- will now consider AA first among equals.

I have found AA more responsive than many US airlines when something goes wrong.

I'm glad to hear this worked out. Enjoy your vacation. ^

Look, you still screwed up... you still were in the wrong. American also screwed up, but that doesn't make your own screw-up any less bad. Forutnantly for you, it did work out well in the end and you'll be able to take your trip.

How did you plan of seeking hotel compensation, emotional distress, etc go over? Or did you just get new tickets?

Glad to hear it worked out - I think you will like the hotel, the facilities, rooms, and food are pretty good for Costa Rican standards. I do suggest you try and get out and see some of the surrounding sights - as this hotel is completely self contained and not a real reflection of what Costa Rica has to offer..

seems that because the OP has been able to get AA to give him a Full refund of his original tkts and give him free tkts for his upcoming trip, that he feels that vindicates him of any Wrong doing.

Id say he was Lucky and Unfortunately probably wont learn anything from it, thinking that if it was his fault AA wouldnt have been so forth-coming.

Id say he would be better off seeing it, that He was at fault Also and got lucky that he was able to get what he did out of AA at that.

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let's just say the result is not exactly the way as described here...