Do You Have a Costa Rica Domestic Flight on Your Trip?
What to Know
Domestic Flight, Sansa Flight, Puddle Jumper. They are called by several different names, but there are things about them that are the same.
We love the Sansa flights! They take out a ton of time that you would spend driving to make it so you can enjoy more of the country. However, this is not a commercial international flight. There are a few key differences we want you to be aware of.
What to know about your Luggage
The first thing we want you to know is that there will be fewer seats. It’s a smaller plane with fewer people and so it has different weight requirements for your luggage. It makes sense. Smaller plane can’t hold as much in the air. Safety first for sure but it might make you want to pack differently.
If you plan to have a domestic jumper flight, your luggage will need to be 30 lbs or lighter and your carryon needs to be 10 lbs or lighter. Don’t rely on the fact that ‘someone told you they let them do something heavier.’ If your luggage is higher than that, there is a fee per pound of $1.50 per pound.
Also, if every seat on your flight is full, your overweight luggage will not be able to come on that flight. It will be sent on the next available flight that has room for it. This is for your safety and the safety of all that are on the plane.
If your luggage needs to come on a later flight, let the team in Costa Rica know so they can arrange to get your luggage to wherever you are. There is a transportation fee that we will pass on to you. If you would rather, you can plan on your own to head back to the domestic flight airport to pick up your luggage when it comes or make your own arrangements to have it delivered. However the team is happy to help minimize this stressful situation.
Where is the Domestic Flight Terminal Located?
If we are dropping you off and picking you up for the domestic flight, it will be similar to your international flight. We will drop you off at the correct entrance and get you where you exit.
If you are going from your international arrival flight in San Jose straight to your domestic flight or from your domestic flight straight to your departure flight, the international flights are in a different building than the domestic flights.
When you exit the airport from the international flight you will turn left and walk (or there are plenty of taxis that would be happy to give you a ride) to the domestic flight terminal. As you can see in the map below – it’s not far (.2 miles), but you will want to walk from the red circle to the blue circle.
If you have a domestic flight before your international flight to return home it is the same, only in reverse. When you exit the airport from the domestic flight you will turn left as well but will want to walk (or ride) from the blue circle to the red circle, international terminal.
Either way the walk should take you about 5 or 6 minutes.
The domestic flight terminal does not have restaurants or shops like the international. Also, you do not need your ticket to enter, just your passport and ID.
Here is a video of the SJO airport to help orient you.
What to Expect Inside the Terminal
Once inside the domestic flight airport – things will be quite a bit different than an international flight.
There will generally not be anyone there to direct you or tell you where to go – or verify your ticket – or even have a ticket.
Sometimes these flights can be late – sometimes they can be early.
You will wait in the main area until someone comes in and announces the flight to your location.
You will then go to them with your luggage, your ID, and your passport to verify that you are scheduled for that flight.
They will then direct you to where you will board and take care of your luggage. If there is a fee to be paid for your luggage, you will pay it then. If your luggage cannot travel with you, you will need to contact the Amazing Vacations Costa Rica team through WhatsApp and let them know to make arrangements to get your luggage to you when it arrives.
You will then board and take your flight
Feel Prepared
These local domestic flights are extremely convenient, but run just slightly different than you might be used to, so we want to make sure that you are prepared.
If you have any questions about your flight or how it will go, please feel free to ask us. If you have questions while you’re in Costa Rica, reach out to our team through WhatsApp.
Not flying but driving from one location to another in Costa Rica? Click here for more info.
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