SANSA Luggage Restrictions/Packing
 

Thank you to all who have helped me plan for my upcoming trip to CR. We will be flying SANSA from SJO with 2 children. Can someone advise if the luggage restriction is 25 lbs per person or per bag/person. We would prefer to pack our children's 25 lbs in our packs, but are bigger bags allowed?

If any seasoned CR visitors has a good list of essentials they want to post, I will be packing this weekend.

Any ideas on keeping passport copies and cash dry when you all want to go in the water at the same time and don't want to leave anything on the beach?

Muchas Gracias!

Ana

I flew Sansa from Quepos tos San Jose a few weeks ago and it was a 30lb restriction.

They weighed my suitcase but did not weigh me or my carry on.

I was worried about that as well.

I think the restriction is per bag per person. The reason is that the planes flying in CR are typically very small and it is difficult to load larger suitcases in them (I am assuming that a 50 lbs suitcase would be much bigger than a 25lbs one).

I specifically emailed Sansa to ask about weight restrictions when I went in February. At that time,the weight limit was 25lbs per person, which was inclusive of a carry-on. I did ask if my traveling partner and I could combine and have one 50lb bag between us (to save weight in only using 1 suitcase) and they said that was fine. They were concerned with the total weight, not the total size.

We flew from San Jose to Drake Bay and back. There were 4 of us and they added up all of our bags deducted the 100 lb allowance and we paid for the overage. (This amounted to $6. on the way home. Evidently wet cloths, shoes and bathing suits add up.) They did ask us our personal weight but didn't weigh us. We saw surf boards coming off a flight, so they can take bigger packages.

For those of you who have been weighed, is your weight announced for all to hear (like a Weight Watchers' meeting!)?

swacm, Well they only asked our wieght, so I whispered and the guy wouldn't tell my husband whose been trying to find out my wieght for years now. They are very respectful people, so I really doubt they would announce someone's wieght.

"my husband's been trying to find out my weight for years now"--tbelgian, thanks for the great LOL this evening! That's hilarious! :)

Here's a possible weight-saver for anyone who is worried about the 25 lb limit. There's really no reason to take a lot of make-up. It just slides off in the heat and humidity. Some moisturizer and lipstick was all that I ever used.
Just thought it might save someone a couple of lbs.

Several pounds?! That's a lot of make-up! ;) Seriously, I'm a somewhat reformed overpacker and you would have to take a lot of stuff to go over the 30 lb limit. One of the best things is to get a lightweight duffle bag, you'd be amazed how many lbs those hard-sided/roll-on cases are.

I am also concerned. My family and I are going to CR for a convention; however, we want to go to Manual Antonio before so we will be carrying all our bags. Because of this 25 lb limit, I was planning on having to pay a driver to get us to MA.

Are you saying that you can go on Sansa and just pay extra $$ for the extra poundage over the 25lb limit? OR is it possible they could say no extra at all and our bags would be left behind.

one2travel - well the answer to your question is...it depends, could be you pay overage, could be it gets left behind. I honestly don't know how you can go over 30 lbs though unless you bring a months worth of clothes! Example, I just returned a couple weeks ago and my bag was always right at 30 lbs. I brought: 1 pr hiking shoes, 1 pr tennis shoes, 1 pr flip-flops and wore my tevas, 1 pr pj's, 2 bathing suits, 1 pr of khaki's, 1 rain poncho, 2 flashlights, 7 prs of shorts, 8 shirts, 8 prs of socks, underwear of course, camera, 15 rolls of film, 3 small cosmetic bags with shampoo, face wash, toothpaste, meds etc, 1 small guidebook and 1 large reading book, 2 candles and a small hairdryer. That's a lot of stuff (I said I was somewhat reformed) and I was right at the limit. As I said, your traveling bag can make a huge difference, you don't need more than 1 pr of long pants and fancy clothes. Try just packing a trial bag & weighing it - you'll be surprised!

One2travel - I understand the convention problem. I frequently need business attire for meetings, then want to add some vacation time. It practically results in two different wardrobes!
I assume you will be flying into San Jose and maybe your convention will be there, too. Maybe the hotel you will stay in there would store a hanging bag for you until you return? It could mean taking a taxi to and from the airport to drop it off, but could save you from toting business wear around the country. Just a thought . . .

Here's an idea : Instead of packing these items into your carry-on, Wear one shirt over another and then your coat over that. Wear your heaviest of the two pair of shoes you bring to CR. Stuff your cargo pants with socks and undies.

Ta-DAA!!

Wear all those clothes in Costa Rica? She'll die of heat stroke!

Nice try, MichelleH. The suggestion is for admittance to the plane.

Anyway, most women are a few degrees colder than most men, so the extra shirt or coat will be used.

We just returned from CR and flew Sansa to SJO. When we were checking in for the flight we were asked how many were traveling in our group (which was 3) and all our luggage was placed on the scale together to check total weight for the 3 of us. We were never asked about our body weight. Also the board at the Sansa check-in stated 30 lbs per person max. Larger bags are allowed on Sansa. We had a large rolling duffel which was close to 40 lbs. No problems.