Flights from Manila to San Jose Costa Rica

[Joe Kano 327]

If a person books from Manila to San Jose Costa Rica you have a 5 hour layover in Japan and 6 hour layover in DFW Airport (Texas).  Is it safe to assume since they will not leave the International Terminal at DFW they can stay there waiting for next flight without a US Visa?

 

 

[SteveInBostonI130 3,434]

11 minutes ago, Joe Kano said:

If a person books from Manila to San Jose Costa Rica you have a 5 hour layover in Japan and 6 hour layover in DFW Airport (Texas).  Is it safe to assume since they will not leave the International Terminal at DFW they can stay there waiting for next flight without a US Visa?

 

They would need a transit visa.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/other-visa-categories/transit.html

 

[Mike E 11,739]

2 hours ago, Joe Kano said:

If a person books from Manila to San Jose Costa Rica you have a 5 hour layover in Japan and 6 hour layover in DFW Airport (Texas).  Is it safe to assume since they will not leave the International Terminal at DFW they can stay there waiting for next flight without a US Visa?

 

 

Likely no visa needed for Japan but some of those airline itineraries involve a transfer between Narita and Haneda.  

 

For the USA this itinerary is going to require clearing us immigration passport control and visa is likely.depending on the citizenship of the passengers.  
 

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/passport-visa-health-travel-document-requirements.htm is IME a very though web site where you enter the information about the traveler and the itinerary.  It can be tedious as it wants dates and times of each flight but it turns out that for some combinations of citizenship, and layoff times, the rules about transit vary.  Nonetheless this gives reasonably accurate advice.  

 

[payxibka 10,045]

3 hours ago, Joe Kano said:

If a person books from Manila to San Jose Costa Rica you have a 5 hour layover in Japan and 6 hour layover in DFW Airport (Texas).  Is it safe to assume since they will not leave the International Terminal at DFW they can stay there waiting for next flight without a US Visa?

 

 

Not even safe to assume they would be allowed on the plane.  This itinerary requires the Filipino to have a US visa.

[top_secret 2,417]

If a Filipino Citizen could get a US Transit Visa, they could just as easily get a B2 Tourist Visa and visit in the US.  The requirements are identical for a Transit Visa or a B2 Tourist Visa.  Right now if a Filipino Citizen does not already have a valid US Visa, they have about a 0.0% chance of getting either one of those visas, as the Embassy is not doing interviews for those visa types.

 

To get from Manila to Costa Rica without a US Visa a Filipina could transit through Turkey, Europe, Mideast countries, Africa or possibly Mexico City though recent experience says Mexico City might not be such a good idea.

[Joe Kano 327]

4 hours ago, top_secret said:

To get from Manila to Costa Rica without a US Visa a Filipina could transit through Turkey, Europe, Mideast countries, Africa or possibly Mexico City though recent experience says Mexico City might not be such a good idea.

I will look into those other countries, Mexico is ruled out

[top_secret 2,417]

Try on https://www.qatarairways.com/  They have Manila(or Clark)-Doha-Madrid-San Jose for like $1600-$1700 round trip.  Turkish Airlines has Manila-Istanbul-Panama-San Jose but its like $2,600 on https://www.turkishairlines.com/.   That's how we did it in December but we did it with an award ticket using miles which is a way better way to do it.    Next month I already booked Manila-Istanbul-Panama-Lima Peru round trip for $1,200 on https://www.turkishairlines.com.  That's by far the cheapest paid ticket for a Filipina round trip to South America with no visa that I have seen for a long time.  Manila to San Jose on Turkish is the same route except the last short hop which is on Copa but San Jose costs $1,400 more than Lima which is further.  Go figure.  Sao Paulo Brazil has some good options as well.   Sometimes there is good deals on Ethiopian Airlines through Addis Ababa.  I did that with the wife before and it's an easy way to get from Manila to Brazil.  When pricing tickets from Manila to South America keep in mind it is a long haul, followed by a long haul, followed by a regional flight. So essentially a round trip Manila to South America is like two round trips US to Asia.

 

Yea, don't try Mexico.  Not even if she has a valid visa.

[Joe Kano 327]

8 hours ago, top_secret said:

Try on https://www.qatarairways.com/  They have Manila(or Clark)-Doha-Madrid-San Jose for like $1600-$1700 round trip.  Turkish Airlines has Manila-Istanbul-Panama-San Jose but its like $2,600 on https://www.turkishairlines.com/.   That's how we did it in December but we did it with an award ticket using miles which is a way better way to do it.    Next month I already booked Manila-Istanbul-Panama-Lima Peru round trip for $1,200 on https://www.turkishairlines.com.  That's by far the cheapest paid ticket for a Filipina round trip to South America with no visa that I have seen for a long time.  Manila to San Jose on Turkish is the same route except the last short hop which is on Copa but San Jose costs $1,400 more than Lima which is further.  Go figure.  Sao Paulo Brazil has some good options as well.   Sometimes there is good deals on Ethiopian Airlines through Addis Ababa.  I did that with the wife before and it's an easy way to get from Manila to Brazil.  When pricing tickets from Manila to South America keep in mind it is a long haul, followed by a long haul, followed by a regional flight. So essentially a round trip Manila to South America is like two round trips US to Asia.

 

Yea, don't try Mexico.  Not even if she has a valid visa.

Great Post

 

I am open to anywhere in Central / South America.  Do you recommend Brazil as the easiest destination from Manila?  What would be your suggest place to rendezvous with a friend from the Philippines? 

[top_secret 2,417]

9 hours ago, Joe Kano said:

Do you recommend Brazil as the easiest destination from Manila?  What would be your suggest place to rendezvous with a friend from the Philippines? 

 

For many, the most difficult part will be making it out past Manila exit immigration.  Either that, or from some provinces, just getting to Manila will be the most challenging travel.   As for where to go?  During the pandemic we have been to Brazil and Costa Rica.  Both countries were really awesome.  I would have to say Costa Rica was a very easy destination to visit as they have a huge tourist infrastructure specifically catering towards American tourists so pretty much everything is super easy to navigate as a foreigner.  Quite a few people speak a little English and signs and stuff are familiar so communication is easy. No problem at all renting a car and driving around the country with either me or the wife driving.  Very friendly people. It's a beautiful country. Everything works pretty well there.  Walmart in every town if you need supplies.  Immigration was no problem at all for a Filipina and their only real requirement is COVID travel insurance which is not terribly expensive.  They stamp your passport with the authorized stay dates matching your insurance coverage.

 

Brazil was awesome too.  We went to Rio De Janeiro.  I wouldn't be afraid to drive there but I am terrified to try and find parking in Brazil so we just used Uber everywhere which was cheap.   English was a little rare so communication is a little more challenging but we did fine.  Probably a bit more crime than CR but just use common sense.  It was amazingly cheap in Brazil due to the Brazilian Real having totally crashed against the US Dollar last year.  I couldn't believe how inexpensive allot of things were there due to the exchange rate. No problem at all with Brazilian Immigration except some funny confusion when at first they ask my wife for her Seamans Book because they just automatically assumed that a Filipina or Filipino arriving in Brazil was there to join their ship.  But after they figured out she was a tourist no problem at all.  Filipina tourists are apparently rare but welcomed in Brazil.  A few Brazilians kept referring to her as Japonês and seem to pretty much think any Asian looking person is Japanese and probably think the Philippines is an island near Japan that is inhabited by darker skinned Japanese people. But Brazilians like Japonês so Filipinas get along great there. We have nothing but positive things to say about Brazil or the Brazilian people, it was a really great trip, but if you aren't already familiar with Brazil you might need a little more planning for a trip there than Costa Rica.

 

Next month we go to Peru.  I have been to Peru once long ago and really like it.  It is currently the cheapest plane ticket to central or South America from Manila.  They just reopened from a strict lockdown and 14 day quarantines for arrivals.  That seems to be over now if you take an antigen test on arrival but there are recent changes in travel requirements for Peru so there is a little less clarity on how everything will go there.  We are headed there to be adventurous and try different places and I think it will be great but not as clean cut a trip as Costa Rica.

 

Columbia would be another option, Filipinas don't need a visa for Colombia and Turkish Airlines flies Manila-Istanbul-Bogota.  Cartagena might be a nice visit..

 

 

[Talako 781]

7 minutes ago, top_secret said:

A few Brazilians kept referring to her as Japonês and seem to pretty much think any Asian looking person is Japanese and probably think the Philippines is an island near Japan that is inhabited by darker skinned Japanese people. But Brazilians like Japonês so Filipinas get along great there. 

Brazil and Japan have an unique relationship.  In the early 1900s, Japanese emigrated to Brazil to work in the coffee plantations.  So today, Brazil has the largest population of Japanese outside of Japan.  

[Joe Kano 327]

16 hours ago, top_secret said:

 

For many, the most difficult part will be making it out past Manila exit immigration.  Either that, or from some provinces, just getting to Manila will be the most challenging travel.   As for where to go?  During the pandemic we have been to Brazil and Costa Rica.  Both countries were really awesome.  I would have to say Costa Rica was a very easy destination to visit as they have a huge tourist infrastructure specifically catering towards American tourists so pretty much everything is super easy to navigate as a foreigner.  Quite a few people speak a little English and signs and stuff are familiar so communication is easy. No problem at all renting a car and driving around the country with either me or the wife driving.  Very friendly people. It's a beautiful country. Everything works pretty well there.  Walmart in every town if you need supplies.  Immigration was no problem at all for a Filipina and their only real requirement is COVID travel insurance which is not terribly expensive.  They stamp your passport with the authorized stay dates matching your insurance coverage.

 

Brazil was awesome too.  We went to Rio De Janeiro.  I wouldn't be afraid to drive there but I am terrified to try and find parking in Brazil so we just used Uber everywhere which was cheap.   English was a little rare so communication is a little more challenging but we did fine.  Probably a bit more crime than CR but just use common sense.  It was amazingly cheap in Brazil due to the Brazilian Real having totally crashed against the US Dollar last year.  I couldn't believe how inexpensive allot of things were there due to the exchange rate. No problem at all with Brazilian Immigration except some funny confusion when at first they ask my wife for her Seamans Book because they just automatically assumed that a Filipina or Filipino arriving in Brazil was there to join their ship.  But after they figured out she was a tourist no problem at all.  Filipina tourists are apparently rare but welcomed in Brazil.  A few Brazilians kept referring to her as Japonês and seem to pretty much think any Asian looking person is Japanese and probably think the Philippines is an island near Japan that is inhabited by darker skinned Japanese people. But Brazilians like Japonês so Filipinas get along great there. We have nothing but positive things to say about Brazil or the Brazilian people, it was a really great trip, but if you aren't already familiar with Brazil you might need a little more planning for a trip there than Costa Rica.

 

I have always heard good things about Costa Rica.  You are right getting out of the Philippines especially if you are in the province is one hurdle.  I guess going back into Philippines and back to the province is another hurdle with the quarantines.

 

Excellent post and thanks for the information.

[John & Rose 7,239]

I have a friend that just booked this exact flight last night...I just noticed that the Filipino travels through Dallas...doesnt she need a transit visa that they are not issuing right now?  Is a transit visa the same as a short term tourist visa that requires a DS-160 and interview?  I don't believe they have a chance of making this work as they booked the flight for late April.

 

 

Edited March 26, 2021 by John & Rose

[top_secret 2,417]

Yep.  If they have a Filipino passport and no preexisting US visa they will never be allowed to board the first flight.  A US Transit Visa has 100% the same requirements as a US B2 Tourist Visa.

Edited March 26, 2021 by top_secret

[payxibka 10,045]

5 hours ago, John & Rose said:

I have a friend that just booked this exact flight last night...I just noticed that the Filipino travels through Dallas...doesnt she need a transit visa that they are not issuing right now?  Is a transit visa the same as a short term tourist visa that requires a DS-160 and interview?  I don't believe they have a chance of making this work as they booked the flight for late April.

 

 

Many people assume you can transit a US airport from one international flight to another international flight like you can in a majority of airports in the rest of the world without going through customs.   Not going to happen. 

[Skyman 321]

What's wrong with Mexico?