International Air Service

International Airlines that Service Costa Rica

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Air Canada
Phone: (506) 2243-1860  Fax: (506) 2243-1861 
Reservations:
Costa Rica (506) 2243-1862
US & Canada 1(888)-247-2262. UK +44 0871-220-1111

Website: www.aircanada.ca       Email: aircanadares@ambosmares.com

Air Canada has three direct flights to Costa Rica per week to Juan Santamaria International airport. All flights originate in Toronto, departing in the morning and arriving in San Jose in the afternoon.

Costa Rica Location
150 meters north of the Aurola Holiday Inn in downtown San Jose.

Surfboards
The charge is $50 (plus tax) and it applies per surfboard on one-way flights, and for each way of travel on round-trip or multi-segment flights. Max length 6’6 ft (203 cm).

*Two handling fees will apply for two (2) surfboards packed in the same
container.

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Air France

Phone:
US 1(800)-992-3932 France +33 (0)9 69-39-0215 UK +44 0871-66-33-777
Costa Rica: (506) 2220-4111  Fax: (506) 2220-3092 
Website: www.airfrance.com Email: mgonzalez@sigcr.com

France's largest carrier offers service to and from Costa Rica via connections in Caracas Venezuela with TACA, via Mexico City with , and via Houston with Continental Airlines.

Costa Rica Location
The Air France offices in San José are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 12m and from 1 p.m to 5 p.m.
Their office is located at:   Curridabat: De la Pops 100 Este 10 Norte Condominio Vista Real., San José, Costa Rica

Surfboards
If the length of your surfboard is between 107 and 300 cm (42″ and 9’8 ft), 23 kg (50 lb) maximum per board, you will be required to purchase an additional baggage allowance at the airport, determined according to your trip:
– €55 ($67) on flights departing from a country outside the Europe,zone 1.
– €55 ($67) on flights departing from a country outside the Europe, zone 2.
– €100 ($121) on flights departing from a country within the Europe, zone 3.
– €100 ($121) on flights departing from a country within the Europe, zone 4.
See Zones

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Alitalia Airlines
Phone:

US 1(800)-223-5730. Italy +39 06-65640. France +33 (0) 1-44-94-44 05

Costa Rica (506) 2295-6820  Fax: (506) 2295-6824 
Website: www.alitalia.com  Email: sales@alitalia.co.cr

Italy's largest airline, Alitalia offers service to Costa Rica via connection through Caracas with TACA or COPA, or via New York with Continental Airlines. Alitalia's offices are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and from 1:30p.m. to 5 p.m.

Costa Rica Location
Paseo Colón, Torre Mercedes, primer piso,  San Jose,Costa Rica   

Surfboards
$75 to $260 (depending on destination)
Surfboards must be 6’5 to 9’8 ft (200-300 cm) and less than 50 lbs (32 kg)

Depending on aircraft size, surf and windsurf boards may not be accepted. Due to the variety of sizes and types of surfboards, you should contact Alitalia before booking and checking in. When you check-in or ship a surfboard you must:
* Declare the item when you book your flight and
* if you are you taking a connecting flight on another carrier, get approval from that carrier or it will only be accepted on the Alitalia flight
* Check in for your flight at least an hour before departure
* Make sure the surfboard is properly packaged in containers or wrapped to
protect it during loading and unloading

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American Airlines

Phone
US 1(800)-433-7300 UK +44 (0)844-499-7300 France +33 0826-460-950
Costa Rica (506) 2248-9010  Reservations: (506) 2248-9010 
Website: www.aa.com

American Airlines has daily flights from Dallas/Ft. Worth, and three flights per week from Miami to Juan Santamaria International airport in San Jose, Costa Rica.
They also fly Tuesday through Thursday from Miami to Liberia, (Daniel Oduber airport) and from Dallas Fort Worth to Liberia on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Surfboards
$150 fee regardless of the number of checked bags. Lightweight surfboards packaged in a single bag that weighs less than 70 lbs. and will be accepted as a single surfboard for charging purposes.
Maximum weight and size: 70 lbs and 10’5 ft. Acceptance conditional on aircraft and load factors

Costa Rica Location
Centro Cars Building, 40-42 street, 5th avenue in Sabana East.

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British Airways

Phone:
US 1(800)-247-9297 UK +44 0844-493-0787 France +33 (0) 825-825-400
1-800-Airways  Website: www.britishairways.com

•   Main Headquarters: London
•   Major Hubs: London
•   Direct flights to Costa Rica from: Dallas/Ft Worth and Miami (via airline
partners)

British Airways does not have direct flights to Costa Rica, but does offer connections via the United States with United Airlines and other carriers. British Airways does not maintain offices in Costa Rica.

Surfboards
British Airways will accept surfboards as checked baggage providing they do not exceed the maximum weight restrictions for checked baggage and are packed in a recognized bag or case to safeguard against damage. The bag containing the board can be up to a maximum size of 6’2 ft (190cm). *Bags weighing more than 51 lb (23 kg) may incur a heavy bag charge ($60)
No longboards accepted

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Continental Airlines

Phone:

US 1(800)-523-3273
Costa Rica (506) 2296-4913  Fax: (506) 2296-4920 
Reservations: (CR) 800-044-0055 
Website: www.continental.com  E-mail: ivanmontero@copaair.com

Continental has daily flights each week from Houston to San Jose and one flight per week from Houston to the Liberia airport.
They also have one flight each week from Newark to San Jose and Newark to Liberia respectively.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.

Surfboards
Continental accepts surfboards as checked baggage as long as they are packed in appropriate board bags and do not weigh more than 99.9 pounds (45.3 kg). The service charge for a surfboard is $100 (each way) for travel between the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and $200 (each way) for all other travel

Costa Rica Location
Oficentro La Virgen, Ofic #2, Zone Industrial, Pavas, San José.

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Copa Airlines

Phone:

US 1(800)-359-2672 Panama +507 304-2672

Costa Rica (506) 2223-2672    Fax: (506) 2295-7474
Website: www.copaair.com  Email: cmcargo@racsa.co.cr

•   Main Headquarters: Panama
•   Major Hubs: Panama
•   Direct flights to Costa Rica from: Panama

COPA Airlines is the national airline of Panama and offers flights throughout the region, including Central America, South America, the Caribbean and North America. The only direct flights to Costa Rica originate in Panama.

Surfboards
$75 per trip, per bag (two boards per board bag allowed).
$50 to and from Costa Rica and Brazil
Surfboards or surfboard bags measuring more than 9’5 ft (292 cm) in length will not be accepted as checked baggage on Copa Airlines flights. Bags containing surfboards weighing more than 70 lb (32 kg) will not be accepted as checked bags.

Costa Rica Location
San José,Costa Rica Torre Mercedes, Paseo Colón, first floor.

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Cubana de Aviacion

Phone: Costa Rica (506) 2221-6918  Fax: (506) 2221-9917 
Website: www.cubana.cu  Email: cubanaju@racsa.co.cr

Cubana is the official State airline of Cuba. There are two flights per week from Havana to San Jose, Costa Rica via Guatemala.

Costa Rica Location
Avenida Central, 1st Street (calle 1), San José Edificio Lux S.A., Bingo Cruz Roja 5th. piso

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Delta Air Lines

Phone:

US 1(404)-209-3434 UK +44 871-221-1222 Brazil +55 0800-761-7070. Spain +34 902-810-872
Costa Rica (506) 2257-4141  Fax: (506) 2257-3344 
Reservations: (CR) 0800-056-2002  Website: www.delta.com

Delta airlines has two flights daily from Atlanta Georgia to San Jose, Costa Rica. It also has one flight per week from Atlanta to Liberia.
Office hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm.

Surfboards

*$150 traveling to all regions (excluding Brazil)
*$100 traveling to/from Brazil
* Delta Connection carrier surfboard acceptance and charges may vary. Please contact airline for more information
* If the surfboard is not in a protective case, you must fill out a liability form
before the surfboard will be accepted
* Surfboards are allowed up to two boards per bag
* Bags over 70 lbs. will be charged the excess weight fee ($125 – $200)
* Maximum surfboards size - 9’5 ft

Costa Rica Location
Paseo Colón, 100 meters east and 50 meters south from the Toyota Building.

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Frontier Airlines

Toll Free:Costa Rica

US & Canada 1(800)-432-1359
800-2432-1359  Website: www.frontierairlines.co m
Denver based Frontier Airlines offers regular service from Denver to San Jose, Costa Rica.

Surfboards
* $20 up to 11 feet and 50 lbs - overweight charges $75
*Cannot exceed 99 lbs
* Some checked items, such as surfboards will be charged a fixed handling fee
because of size, fragility, or other handling requirements while others may be
checked in lieu of one of your checked bags.
* If you plan to travel with a surfboard, please contact Frontier Airlines directly to
confirm packing regulations and fees.

7001 Tower Road Denver, CO 80249-7312

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Grupo Taca

Phone: (506) 2299-8222  Fax: (506) 2243-0000 
Reservations: (506) 2299-8222  Website: www.taca.com

•   Main Headquarters: El Salvador
•   Major Hubs: San Salvador, San Jose, Lima
•   Direct flights to Costa Rica from: New York, Miami, Los Angeles,
Mexico City, Havana, Santo Domingo, San Salvador, Panama, Bogota,
Caracas, Guayaquil, Lima

TACA is Central America's largest regional airline serving a number of destinations in North, Central and South America. TACA offers direct flights to a number of cities in the US and via it's partners can get you almost anywhere you want to go.   

Costa Rica Location
San José,Costa Rica Northeast corner of the La Sabana Park, San José.

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Iberia Airlines

Phone:

US 1(800)-772-4642 Spain +34 902-400-500 UK +44 0-870-609-0500 France +33 0-825-800-965

Costa Rica (506) 2431-5633    Fax: (506) 2443-0454 
Reservations: (506) 2431-5633    Website: www.iberia.com
 E-mail: (CR) 0800-011-0802

•   Main Headquarters: Madrid, Spain
•   Major Hubs: Madrid
•   Direct flights to Costa Rica from: Madrid, four days a week.
Iberia is Spains largest airline and is the only airline offering non-stop flights to Europe.

Surfboards

Surfboards will always be treated as excess baggage with a fixed charge of €150 per leg, payable exclusively at the airport.
* Trips originating in America, Nigeria or Israel, the charge will be $150.
*For flights coming in and out of Brazil, Surf equipment is not included under the baggage allowance and involves a charge of $60.
* Additional equipment will be charged $120/per unit. Surfboard should not
exceed 2.5m in length.

Costa Rica Location
San José,Costa Rica Paseo Colón and Calle 40, Edif. San Jorge.

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Lufthansa

Phone:

US 1(800)-645-3880 Germany +49 69-86-799-799 UK +44 871-945-9747 France +33 892-231-690
Costa Rica (506) 2243-1818    Fax: (506) 2233-9845 
Website:  www.lufthansa.com    Email: lufthansa@ambosmares.com

San José,Costa Rica 150 mts west of the Contraloria General Building in Sabana Sur, Edificio Edicol, First Floor.

•   Main Headquarters: Cologne Germany
•   Major Hubs: Frankfurt, Munich
•   Direct flights to Costa Rica from: None - via airline partners they can connect you through major cities in the US.
Lufthansa is based in Cologne. Its main base and primary traffic hub is at Frankfurt International Airport in Frankfurt am Main with a second hub at Munich. There are no direct flights to Costa Rica by Lufthansa. If you wish to use this airline for part of your travel you may fly into Miami, New York, Dallas, Houston or Atlanta and from there catch a direct flight on another carrier.

Surfboards

Must be less than 70 lbs (32 kg) and/or 6’5″ (2 meters). Within Europe: $70 (€58). Europe to intercontinental: $150 (€124). If it’s over 6’7″ (2 m), the fees are doubled. You need to register sports baggage 24 hours before the flight

In Costa Rica, Lufthansa is represented by Ambos Mares in Barrio Amon.
Office Hours:  M-F 8:00 am to 5:30pm 
Address: Ambos Mares Barrio Amon Calle 5 Avenidas 7 y 9 442-1000 San Jose

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Martinair

Phone: (506) 2232-3246  Fax: (506) 2296-7360
Website: www.martinair.com

Each year, close to two million people head off from the Netherlands to sunnier climates on board Martinair aircraft. One of these destinations is Costa Rica, via Miami or Orlando. The carier has 6 flights per week into San Jose and is a great low cost carrier to consider for flying to Europe or Florida. To and from Miami: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays To and from Orlando: Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
•   Main Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
•   Major Hubs: Amsterdam
•   Direct flights to Costa Rica from: None - stops in Miami to/from
Amsterdam.

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Mexicana Airlines

Phone:

US 1(888)-882-9994 1(877)-801-2010

(506) 2295-6969  Fax: (506) 2295-6919 
Website: www.mexicana.com

Main Headquarters: Mexico City, Mexico Major Hubs: Mexico City, Guadalajara

Mexicana has daily flights from Mexico City to San Jose. It has the most modern fleet in the world (6.3 years on average). It also has one of the highest on time performance levels with a 90% reliability rate.

Surfboard Fee: $75 One-way per bag, Max 8’3 ft.

Costa Rica Location
San José,Costa Rica Paseo Colón, Torre Mercedes

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Spirit Airlines
US/Canada 1(801)-401-2200
Website: www.spiritair.com

Spirit Airlines has named itself the Ultra Low Cost Carrier. They offer low cost direct flights daily to Costa Rica from Orlando, Florida. Their theatre of operations includes the US, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Surfboards
Maximum two surfboards in one bag, $100 each way

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United Airlines

Phone:

US & Canada 1(800)-864-8331. UK +44 0845-607-6760. France +33 01-71-23-03-3

(506) 2234-3434  Fax: (506) 2442-3151 
Reservations: (506) 2234-3434  Website: www.united.com

United airlines has regular flights to Costa Rica from Los Angeles into Juan Santamaria International airport. Their main hub is Los Angeles (LAX) from which they offer connecting flights to all parts of the US. Their San Pedro offices are open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Surfboards

United Airlines will accept one surfboard or one surfboard bag containing up to four boards per customer as checked baggage, weighing 50 pounds or less for a service charge fee of $100 (each way) for travel between the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and $200 (each way) for all other travel. This service charge is in addition to any excess and overweight baggage charges that may apply.
** Boards and board bags combined weighing more than 99.9 pounds (45.3 kg) will not be accepted as checked baggage. The fin must be removed or well-padded. The entire board must be encased in a suitable container to avoid scratching. United is not liable for damages. Excess valuation cannot be purchased for a surfboard.

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US Airways

Phone:

US & rest of the world 1(800)-428-4322

Costa Rica (506) 2520-0507  Fax: (202) 2223-9823 
Toll Free: (506) 800-011-0793 
Reservations: (506) 800-011-0793  Website: www.usairways.com

Surfboards

Surfboards will be accepted as checked baggage for a charge of $200 per direction. One item of surfing equipment consists of 1 surfboard. When packaging a surfboard, keels and/or kedges must be removed or crated in such a manner so as to prevent damage to other baggage. Surfboards will be accepted on US Airways Express flights. Acceptance may be restricted by length on some aircraft. A US Airways Reservation agent can provide additional information.

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