Deal Alert: Flights to Costa Rica in Biz Just Dropped to $572 Round-Trip
Quick summary
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
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Airfare deals are typically only available on limited dates. We recommend you use Google Flights to find dates to fly, then book through an online travel agency such as Orbitz or Expedia, which allows you to cancel flights without penalty by 11pm Eastern Time within one day of booking. However, if you're using The Platinum Card® from American Express, you'll need to book directly with the airline or through the Amex Travel portal to get 5x MR points. Remember: Fares may disappear quickly, so book right away and take advantage of Orbitz or Expedia's courtesy cancellation if you're unable to get the time away from work or family.
Business class flights from New York (JFK/EWR) and Houston (IAH) to Costa Rican cities Liberia (LIR) and San Jose (SJO) are on sale from just $572 round-trip. These flights usually cost upwards $1,000 round-trip! The discounted fares are available for travel from September 2019 through May 2020, but you'll typically find the cheapest deals for Sunday and Thursday departures. The airlines offering the low fares are COPA and Avianca, which are both a part of Star Alliance.
These fares probably won't last long, so if you've been waiting to get to Costa Rica, now may be the time. To search, head to Google Flights and enter your origin and destination cities. Scroll through the calendar function to find dates and prices that work for you. Finally, click through to book directly with the airline or through an OTA like Priceline or Expedia.
Airlines: Avianca, COPA
Routes: EWR/JFK/IAH to SJO/LIR
Cost: $572+ round-trip in business class
Travel Dates: September 2019 to May 2020
Pay With: The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on airfare booked directly with the airline), Citi Prestige Card (5x on airfare), Citi Premier® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve (3x on airfare), American Express® Gold Card (3x on airfare when booked directly with the airline) or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on travel)
Here are a few examples of what you can book:
New York (JFK) to Liberia (LIR) for $572 round-trip on COPA business class:
Houston (IAH) to San Jose (SJO) for $622 round-trip on Avianca business class via Orbitz:
Newark (EWR) to San Jose (SJO) for $684 round-trip on Avianca business class:
Maximize Your Purchase
Don't forget to use a credit card that earns additional points on airfare purchases, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel), Citi Prestige Card (5x on airfare), Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express® Gold Card, Citi Premier® Card (3x on airfare) or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on all travel purchases). Check out this post for more on maximizing airfare purchases.