Southwest adds Cost Rica in 2015

[Caribsurf]

Just read that Southwest will be flying from Baltimore/Washington to Costa Rica starting March 2015….might be a nice affordable option for those along the mid Atlantic states.  I am sure they will have low intro fares to announce this service so keep checking their website….

link below

http://www.caribjournal.com/2014/09/12/southwest-to-launch-service-to-costa-rica/?utm_source=Caribbean+Journal&utm_campaign=688ea786ae-Caribbean+Journal&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ea4e1e4090-688ea786ae-187281757

[Wetstuff]

Thanks Carib..  That would be a big help for us in MD.  The last time I went we had to leg at odd hours thru Miami.  After looking into it last spring, it seemed better to fly into Liberia airport than Jan Jose as the cost to fly local airlines internally to reach Nosara or the southern beaches in CR is expensive. (renting a car adds cost, possible extra hotel stays in SJ to make return connections and two wasted days driving to/from beaches) 

Flying into Liberia, you're pretty much limited to Tamarindo, but that does not seem a bad option if you want to hold down costs and still get a injection of 'full tropical'.   Today it's an 18hr flight/s from BWI to Liberia ..but Philly also 2hrs. from me, is only an 8hr flight to Liberia ..about $800 R/T in Feb.   Maybe cheap SW tickets would offset the flight costs within CR?   

Jim

[eastbound]

i want to fly to liberia in mid feb and stay north.

any suggestions for good surf and good lodging--lodging that would please a lovely wife, often abandoned by surfer husband?

the ny liberia nostop rt is appx 700 as of now--ouch

[SUPJorge]

Liberia gives you more than just Tamarindo. I was there for the first time this past Summer and found Playa Negra and Avellanas to be a short drive away. There's plenty more but to be had ... need to plan a return trip.
Look into Hotel Capitan Suizo.

[eastbound]

thx much jorge---is that a decent break directly in frt?

[Dwight (DW)]

Very nice. I love Southwest for their $50 surfboard baggage fee.

[Wetstuff]

Dwight,  It could be tricky when you get to the counter.. their legal contract is vague.

"(4) Excess, Oversize and/or Overweight Baggage Embargos. Excess, oversize and/or overweight Baggage may not be accepted on flights to/from certain cities during certain specified dates. Contact Southwest Airlines Reservations or southwest.com Baggage Policies for a list of cities and effective dates.

(5) Prohibited Baggage. Baggage in excess of 80 inches (outside length plus height plus width) and/or Baggage weighing more than 100 pounds will not be accepted for Carriage, except if mobility or other assistive devices, hanging garment sample bags with outside length, width, and height measurements up to a maximum of 110 inches, if flexible, or as provided in Section 7e above."

...but then they go on..

"(4) Kayak (other than a sea kayak). Paddle(s) must be secured.
 (5) Life Raft
 (6) Surfboard
 (7) Vaulting poles will be accepted in a single bag, regardless of the number of poles in the bag.
 ( Wind surfing board, sail, boom."


Most other airlines have better contract writers.

Jim

[Dwight (DW)]

Jim, Southwest is the happy airline. They take surfboards with a smile. I love them. I did see they raised price to $75 though.

When your bags are light, things just go easier, no matter who you're dealing with. My boards are light. My last flight with them, my boards weighed 25 lbs in the bag.

[SUPJorge]

East - not really.

Jim - Many companies take great care to write ambiguous contracts, thereby allowing themselves the option of interpretation. Not the most honest business model nor a good litigation model, but I know many who do it, nonetheless.

[eastbound]

thx jorge--i checked it. and turns out a proner friend said he'd been to capitan suizo 4 times with family, and loves it, knows the owner etc--seems a very nice place and not too pricey--poor guy's en route to indo right now, but that's another story.