{"response": {"Key": "CHI-SJO", "orig": {"code": "CHI", "type": "airport", "city": "Chicago", "fullCity": "Chicago, Illinois", "airport": "Dupage County"}, "dest": {"code": "SJO", "type": "airport", "city": "San José", "fullCity": "San José, Costa Rica", "airport": "Juan Santamaría Intl Airport"}, "faq": {"q0": {"question": "What is the typical flight duration from Chicago to San José?", "answer": "The flight from Chicago to San José covers about 2,220 miles and typically takes 5 hours 7 minutes nonstop. On the return leg, the flight is longer at 5 hours 30 minutes due to prevailing winds. United and American both operate daily nonstop service from O'Hare.", "methodology": "Carrier service, flight times and distances for this route come from our flight-schedule database, which draws on published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data, and observed operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We report the days of the week and the departure times each carrier operates. The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time, given both per carrier and across all carriers on the route; where a schedule does not publish an elapsed time, it is derived from the scheduled departure and arrival times converted to UTC. Outbound and return times are computed by the same method, so the difference between them is directly comparable and reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in derivation. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two specific airports named, so an actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer. Where shown, on-time departure and arrival rates and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; where a typical fare is shown, it comes from the U.S. DOT Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B), a quarterly 10% sample of tickets sold.", "toolsUsed": ["flight_schedule"]}, "q3": {"question": "What are the ground transportation options in San José?", "answer": "From Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), you can reach downtown San José by licensed taxi, 24-hour public bus, or rental car. Taxis are readily available, accept both colónes and U.S. dollars, and are the fastest and most-used option; the airport's official orange taxis provide a reliable door-to-door service. The bus stop outside the terminal has frequent departures — roughly every 10 minutes during the day — and is the most economical choice. Ride-share services like Uber operate in the area but may face restrictions at the airport, so taxis remain the dominant mode. Car rentals are also available if you prefer to drive yourself, though traffic and parking can be challenging.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [{"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1355176469&title=Juan_Santamar%C3%ADa_International_Airport", "title": "Juan Santamaría International Airport", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png", "time_published": "2005-03-20T10:54:40Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan%20Santamar%C3%ADa%20International%20Airport", "title": "Juan Santamaría International Airport", "time_published": "2026-04-30T22:20:36Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Santamaria_International_Airport", "title": "Juan Santamaría International Airport - Wikipedia", "time_published": "2005-03-20T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%20of%20airports%20in%20Costa%20Rica", "title": "List of airports in Costa Rica", "time_published": "2025-10-21T05:05:04Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Santamaría", "title": "Juan Santamaría", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png", "time_published": "2026-07-15T19:46:26Z"}]}, "q4": {"question": "When is the cheapest time to fly from Chicago to San José?", "answer": "The cheapest months to fly from Chicago to San José are April, May, and October, with average fares around $508 to $559. The most expensive months are December, July, and August, where average prices range from $599 to $731.", "methodology": "This 'good deal' estimate shows a representative best price for each departure date across roughly a 12-month window (about 3 months back and 9 months forward). It is built from real flight prices found by Priceline users searching this route, accumulated into a price history for each departure date. Rather than weighting all of that history equally, we apply exponential time decay so recent prices dominate — a price seen yesterday counts almost in full, one from about a month ago roughly a third, and prices from a few months back very little — giving a figure that tracks today's market instead of a stale long-run average. Clear price outliers are removed before any calculation, departure dates with no observations are filled in from nearby dates, and the resulting curve is lightly smoothed so it reads as a clean seasonal trend rather than day-to-day noise.", "toolsUsed": ["seasonal_prices"]}, "q5": {"question": "How far in advance should I book tickets from Chicago to San José?", "answer": "For flights from Chicago to San José, the optimal booking window is about 6 to 9 weeks before departure, with average fares around $573. The cheapest single day is roughly 30 days out at $569, but prices rise notably after that; for peak summer and holiday periods, you'll want to lean toward the earlier side of that window to lock in the best fares.", "methodology": "This booking-window guidance is built from the same real flight prices found by Priceline users searching this route, re-grouped by how many days before departure each price was seen (from the departure day out to about 180 days ahead) across the route's price history. At each booking lead time we report the 25th-percentile price — the cheaper end of what travelers were quoted, rather than the rock-bottom minimum (which can be a fluke) or the average (which is pulled up by expensive last-minute fares). The buy-or-wait advice then applies a risk premium that grows as departure approaches, since seat availability shrinks and prices become less predictable; using that adjusted curve we flag windows where waiting is likely to save a meaningful amount (at least $20 or 5%) versus windows where booking now is the better call. Isolated single-day recommendations are filtered out, so the advice only reflects a window that holds for several days in a row.", "toolsUsed": ["booking_timing"]}, "q6": {"question": "Are overnight (red‑eye) flights available from Chicago to San José?", "answer": "There are no nonstop red-eye flights from Chicago to San José, but a connecting overnight itinerary is available: Avianca departs Chicago O'Hare at 11:20 PM and arrives in Bogotá at 5:30 AM, then connects onward to San José after about a two-hour layover.", "methodology": "Red-eye flights are identified from scheduled local departure and arrival times in our flight-schedule database — built from published airline timetables and official schedule data, including U.S. Department of Transportation records for domestic routes — flagging services that depart late at night and arrive the following morning; for connecting itineraries the red-eye is based on the timing of the overnight long-haul leg.", "toolsUsed": ["redeye_flights"]}, "q7": {"question": "Which airlines usually operate this route from Chicago to San José?", "answer": "American Airlines and United Airlines fly non‑stop from Chicago O'Hare to San José, with American operating 21 weekly flights and United 8 weekly flights, both daily. No typical per‑carrier fares are provided for this route.", "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours.", "toolsUsed": ["route_airlines"]}, "q8": {"question": "If I need a connection, what are common layover cities between Chicago and San José?", "answer": "Common layovers include Miami, Houston, Atlanta, and Dallas, all offering broad connections and efficient transfers. Miami and Houston provide the most direct southerly routings, keeping total travel time competitive. These U.S. hubs allow domestic-style connections with no additional visa requirements for U.S. citizens."}, "q10": {"question": "Which months have the best weather for traveling to San José?", "answer": "December to April is the dry season with sunny days and comfortable temperatures, and it avoids the heaviest tourist rush of late December."}, "q11": {"question": "What documents should I bring with me to the airport when flying from Chicago to San José?", "answer": "Bring a passport valid for at least six months, proof of onward or return travel, a payment method for baggage and any required vaccination or health insurance documents."}, "q12": {"question": "Which airport should I use in San José?", "answer": "San José has one main international airport, Juan Santamaría International Airport, located about 20 minutes northwest of downtown. It serves all international and most domestic flights."}, "q13": {"question": "How do I get to Dupage County from the city center?", "answer": "From downtown Chicago, the fastest and most popular way to reach O'Hare International Airport is the CTA Blue Line 'L' train, which runs 24/7 directly to the terminal and costs a few dollars. Taxis and ride‑share services offer door‑to‑door convenience at a higher cost, with typical travel times of 35–60 minutes depending on traffic. Several regional shuttle buses also serve O'Hare from downtown and suburbs. Driving and parking are available with on‑site garages and economy lots, but the train is generally the quickest and most economical choice.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [{"url": "https://flychicago.com/ohare/tofrom/pages/default.aspx", "title": "Getting To and From O'Hare International Airport | Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)", "favicon": "https://flychicago.com/_catalogs/masterpage/favicon.ico"}, {"url": "https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/map", "title": "Map | Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)", "time_published": "2026-05-27T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_Chicago", "title": "Transportation in Chicago", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png", "time_published": "2026-05-15T02:56:07Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation%20in%20Chicago", "title": "Transportation in Chicago", "time_published": "2026-04-13T06:59:09Z"}, {"url": "https://faa.gov/regulations_policies/orders_notices/index.cfm/go/document.information/documentID/6111", "title": "Order  3330.39 - Chicago/o'hare Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) Staffing PChicago/o'hare Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) Staffing Plan (Cancelled)", "time_published": "2026-04-10T00:00:00Z"}]}, "q14": {"question": "Are there hotels or sleeping facilities at San José airport?", "answer": "San José's Juan Santamaría International Airport does not have an on-site hotel, capsule hotel, or sleeping pods. Several nearby hotels, such as the Hilton Garden Inn San Jose Airport City Mall and the Hampton by Hilton San Jose Airport, are located within a mile and offer shuttle service. The airport itself remains open 24 hours, but seating is limited and can be noisy and cold, so a nearby hotel is recommended for a proper rest.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [{"url": "https://activities.marriott.com/north-america/costa-rica/alajuela/activities/costa_rica_sjo_airport_to_san_jos%C3%A9_hotels_nearby_private_shuttle-XF7A2K?property=SJOAP", "title": "Costa Rica SJO Airport to San José Hotels nearby Private Shuttle", "time_published": "2026-05-04T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://activities.marriott.com/north-america/costa-rica/alajuela/activities/private_transfer_sjo_airport_to_jaco_los_sue%C3%B1os_marriott_hotels-XB84BN?property=SJOAC", "title": "Private Transfer SJO Airport to Jaco / Los Sueños Marriott Hotels", "time_published": "2026-05-04T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://sleepinginairports.net/guides/san-jose-airport-guide-cr.htm", "title": "San Jose Airport Guide (SJO) - Sleeping in Airports", "favicon": "https://www.sleepinginairports.net/nitropack_static/oBWrHkPujHTPIaVWqdDSDhClXUyrYhhb/assets/images/optimized/rev-b853180/www.sleepinginairports.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cropped-sia-logo-180x180.png", "time_published": "2018-10-02T00:00:18Z"}, {"url": "https://www.hilton.com/en/locations/costa-rica/san-jose/sjo-juan-santamaria-international-airport/", "title": "Hotels near Juan Santamaria International Airport, San José, Costa Rica - Find Hotels - Hilton", "time_published": "2025-08-21T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1355176469&title=Juan_Santamar%C3%ADa_International_Airport", "title": "Juan Santamaría International Airport", "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png", "time_published": "2005-03-20T10:54:40Z"}, {"url": "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?hl=gsw&id=com.frugalflyer.airport.sjo", "title": "Juan Santamaría Airport Info – Apps bei Google Play", "favicon": "https://www.gstatic.com/android/market_images/web/favicon_v3.ico"}]}, "q17": {"question": "What aircraft are typically used on flights from Chicago to San José?", "answer": "There is no nonstop service from Chicago to San José, so all flights connect. The most common aircraft on the longer leg are the Boeing 737 MAX 8, Boeing 737-800, and Airbus A321-100, with the Boeing 737 MAX 8 appearing most frequently across multiple airlines and connecting hubs. On the shorter leg into San José, you'll typically find Boeing 737 variants (MAX 8, MAX 9, 737-800, 737-700) or Airbus A320-family jets, depending on the connection point. The exact aircraft can vary by day and airline, and Wi-Fi and seatback entertainment are widely available on these routes.", "methodology": "Aircraft types are taken from the equipment each operating carrier schedules on this route, drawn from published airline timetables and airline equipment schedules in our flight-schedule database. They describe typical scheduled aircraft and can vary with seasonal or day-of-week assignments and last-minute equipment swaps.", "toolsUsed": ["route_aircraft"]}, "q18": {"question": "Which airline alliances serve flights from Chicago to San José?", "answer": "American Airlines (oneworld) and United Airlines (Star Alliance) are the only carriers flying nonstop from Chicago to San José; no other alliances have a presence on this route, and neither operating airline is unaffiliated.", "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours.", "toolsUsed": ["route_airlines"]}, "q20": {"question": "What are the best airport lounge options when departing from Chicago?", "answer": "At Chicago O'Hare, departing travelers can access several airline-operated lounges, including United Clubs in Terminals 1 and 2, the United Polaris Lounge in Terminal 1 for international first and business class, an American Airlines Admirals Club in Terminal 3, and the American Flagship Lounge for premium international passengers. Delta Air Lines operates a Sky Club in Terminal 5, and the same terminal also houses the Air France Lounge, the LOT Business Lounge, and the Wingtips Lounge, which serves many Star Alliance and other partner airlines. The independent Swissport Lounge in Terminal 5 is accessible via Priority Pass and select airline status, while most lounges offer day passes for a fee. Eligibility generally requires same-day travel on a partner airline, elite status, or a paid membership, with the Polaris and Flagship lounges reserved for premium international cabins.", "toolsUsed": [], "references": [{"url": "https://www.flychicago.com/ohare/ServicesAmenities/services/Pages/lounges.aspx", "title": "Airline Lounges | Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)", "time_published": "2026-05-29T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://www.delta.com/us/en/airports/united-states/chicago-sky-club-airport-map", "title": "Chicago O'Hare (ORD) Airport Map & Lounges | Delta Air Lines", "time_published": "2022-11-18T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://my.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-states-of-america/ohare-international/ord10-swissport-lounge", "title": "Swissport Lounge ORD AIRPORT Terminal 5 O'Hare International | Priority Pass", "time_published": "2024-11-05T00:00:00Z"}, {"url": "https://americanexpress.com/en-ca/travel/lounges/the-platinum-card/ORD", "title": "American Express Lounges at O'Hare International Airport | Amex CA", "favicon": "https://www.americanexpress.com/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png"}, {"url": "http://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/travel/lounges/the-platinum-card/ORD/Swissport-Lounge-Terminal-5-Concourse-M-5mTKilCqDl/", "title": "Swissport Lounge at O'Hare International Airport | Amex US", "favicon": "https://www.americanexpress.com/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png"}]}, "q21": {"question": "What is the baggage allowance on this route from Chicago to San José?", "answer": "Baggage rules on Chicago–San José flights vary by airline and fare type. Basic economy often excludes a free checked bag but allows a carry‑on. Standard economy typically includes one checked bag and a carry‑on, while premium cabins offer more generous allowances."}, "q22": {"question": "What cabin and seat options are typical from Chicago to San José?", "answer": "Flights from Chicago to San José typically offer Economy and recliner or flat‑bed Business class; Premium Economy is not common on this route."}, "q23": {"question": "Are same‑day changes or standby possible on this route?", "answer": "Policies vary by airline and fare; flexible and higher cabins typically allow same‑day changes or standby, while Basic Economy usually does not."}}}}