On Feb. 12, Margo, India, and I flew from DAV to San Jose, Costa Rica on Air Panama. Then we connected to flight 972 to MIA, Miami International on American Airlines. Our flight to San Jose was delayed one hour because apparently Air Panama needed to send a special A&P technician to San Jose to fix another plane. (And I thought boats where a bunch of trouble!) Even with the delay, we arrived in plenty of time to transfer calmly to our international flight. Our Air Panama flight parked on the ramp behind a hanger with a Gulfstream Jet, a United States of America government jet. A modern and clean passenger bus picked up all the passengers and transported us to the main terminal. The San Jose terminal is modern, clean, and busy building. At passport control they warned us that it was not their fault if we missed our flight, as if they had been through some special circumstances with other clients trying to avoid spending a night in Panama City.
Our luggage came out much quicker than the David airport, and there are plenty of free luggage carts to use. The San Jose luggage claim area puts to shame the Tocumen airport also. Much like PTY, after customs you must give up the cart and use the services of a porter. The porter we used showed us the way, across the street, to the left, under the parking garage to the elevator. Upstairs you go to the right and cross the street, enter the check in area, and walk to the left. At the customs service desk you need to explain to them that you are in transfer and that will help you fill out some forms that are free. With these forms you then go to the airline check-in counter, check-in, then you go through passport control, and security. With a child they make you feel extra special (again something that PTY needs to learn). Once you are in the passenger terminal, there are an amazing array of concessions to choose from. Why is Tocumen, PTY so different?
