Long Delay Optionos

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

I have started looking at going from Detroit (DTW) to San Jose, Costa Rica ( SJO ) in the spring of 2010. We are going to leave from their because we are taking our grandsons along.


All the reasonable fares (based on same time of the year in 2009) have a long delay in Atlanta. There is one that leaves Detroit 7:00+ PM and gets to Atlanta around 9:30 PM, but doesn't leave till around 9:00 AM the next morning.

Has anyone in this or a similar situation spend the night an airport motel and then came back to the airport to leave in the morning?

Or are there others options besides sleeping on a bench?

[GeoPatSK Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GeoPatSK]

Try American Airlines. There stop over is in Dallas.

DTT to SJO

Under $300 RT

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

We are going the week of Easter, 2010, I didn't see any that price for the same week in 2009.

[idahodude Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close idahodude]

I have flown and spent the night in an airport hotel just to come back and keep flying. It works fine (as long as you only check the bags you want to use to the airport where there's a hotel). It's a little tiring, but not as bad as staying on a bench.

[GeoPatSK Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GeoPatSK]

We are going the week of Easter, 2010, I didn't see any that price for the same week in 2009.

I see that Southwest has $183 each way fares for this year but the lay-over is California. (4/10/2009 ...4/17/2009)

So you may be sitting longer on the plane.

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

I have definitely flown into a city at night, stayed at an airport motel and then gotten on the first flight out. It's tiring, but certainly doable.

I don't know if any airport lounges are open around the clock, but if you can find on that will sell you a day pass, it may be preferable to sitting on a terminal chair all night at the airport.

But if you're brining your grandsons with you, you'll probably prefer the hotel/motel option.