{
  "response": {
    "Key": "AUS-SJO",
    "orig": {
      "code": "AUS",
      "type": "airport",
      "city": "Austin",
      "fullCity": "Austin, Texas",
      "airport": "Bergstrom Intl Airport"
    },
    "dest": {
      "code": "SJO",
      "type": "airport",
      "city": "San José",
      "fullCity": "San José, Costa Rica",
      "airport": "Juan Santamaría Intl Airport"
    },
    "faq": {
      "q2": {
        "question": "Are there visa requirements to travel from Austin to San José?",
        "answer": "For United States citizens travelling from Austin to San José, Costa Rica, no visa is required for a short tourist visit. U.S. passport holders may stay in Costa Rica for up to 180 days without a visa.\n\nThis is general guidance to help you plan, not official immigration advice — entry rules can change and can depend on your nationality and circumstances, so please confirm the current requirements with the relevant embassy or official government source before you travel.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "article_lookup"
        ],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Costa_Rica",
            "title": "Visa policy of Costa Rica",
            "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/favicon/wikipedia.ico"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/costa-rica/entry-requirements",
            "title": "Costa Rica entry requirements — GOV.UK",
            "favicon": "https://www.gov.uk/favicon.ico"
          }
        ],
        "preopenedReferences": true,
        "stageOnly": true
      },
      "q3": {
        "question": "What are the ground transportation options in San José?",
        "answer": "From Juan Santamaría International Airport, the fastest and most-used option into downtown San José is the frequent public bus, which runs 24 hours with a departure roughly every 10 minutes during working hours. Licensed taxis are readily available at the airport, including a special orange airport taxi service, and they accept both colones and U.S. dollars. There is no rail service of any kind to the airport, and ride-share or car rental options are not part of the standard airport ground transport landscape.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "article_lookup"
        ],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Jos%C3%A9,_Costa_Rica",
            "title": "San José, Costa Rica",
            "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png",
            "time_published": "2026-09-16T18:13:28Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Santamar%C3%ADa_International_Airport",
            "title": "Juan Santamaría International Airport",
            "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png",
            "time_published": "2026-09-15T10:14:28Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Jose,_Costa_Rica",
            "title": "San José, Costa Rica",
            "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png",
            "time_published": "2026-03-10T11:49:05Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Santamaria_International_Airport",
            "title": "Juan Santamaría International Airport - Wikipedia",
            "time_published": "2005-03-20T00:00:00Z"
          }
        ]
      },
      "q4": {
        "question": "When is the cheapest time to fly from Austin to San José?",
        "answer": "Average fares from Austin to San José bottom out around $310 in late January, making that the cheapest stretch to fly. The cheapest months overall are September at $316, February at $321, and October at $321, while the most expensive period is late December at $416, with June, December, and July averaging the highest monthly fares.",
        "methodology": "Seasonal fares come from Priceline's own air booking-summary archive, analysed in-house and refreshed monthly. For each day of the year we take a representative round-trip fare, a blend of the 25th-percentile and average ticket price over the route's bookings, and smooth the series into a seasonal curve; the half-month low and high and the monthly figures quoted here are averages of that curve. Thin and international routes borrow their seasonal shape from the nearest busy routes, with the price level anchored to the route's own bookings.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "seasonal_prices"
        ]
      },
      "q5": {
        "question": "How far in advance should I book tickets from Austin to San José?",
        "answer": "For Austin to San José, the best fares come when booking 3 to 6 weeks before departure, averaging about $288, with the absolute cheapest around 30 days out at $285. Booking too far ahead gets pricey — 180 days out averages $484 — and last-minute tickets climb back up to around $342. Summer and holiday periods tighten that window, so aim closer to 4-6 weeks ahead for those travel dates.",
        "methodology": "Booking-window guidance comes from the same monthly in-house analysis of Priceline's own air booking-summary archive. We aggregate the route's bookings by how many days before departure they were made, from about 180 days out to the day of travel, smooth the curve, and highlight the stretch of lead times with the lowest average fare. Thin and international routes borrow the curve shape from the nearest busy routes, anchored to the route's own price level. It reflects current fares and is refreshed monthly.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "booking_timing"
        ]
      },
      "q6": {
        "question": "Are overnight (red‑eye) flights available from Austin to San José?",
        "answer": "No overnight (red-eye) flights operate on the Austin–San José route — there are no nonstop red-eyes, and no connecting itineraries with a red-eye long leg were found.",
        "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 Austin to San José?",
        "answer": "There is no nonstop service from Austin to San José, Costa Rica. The most common one-stop routings are on United via Houston (about 6 flights a day), American via Dallas/Fort Worth or Miami (about 4 per day on each), and Copa Airlines via Panama City (about 4 per day). Southwest also offers connections via Houston Hobby and Orlando, though less frequently.",
        "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies come 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 typical fare is shown for a carrier, it is the median of 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 Austin and San José?",
        "answer": "Common layover cities include Houston, Dallas, Miami, and Atlanta. Houston and Dallas offer short first legs and frequent service on United and American. Miami and Atlanta provide broad connections to San José on American, Delta, and low-cost carriers, with efficient transfer processes and no need for transit visas 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, offering sunny days and pleasant temperatures."
      },
      "q11": {
        "question": "What documents should I bring with me to the airport when flying from Austin to San José?",
        "answer": "Bring a passport valid for at least six months and proof of onward or return travel, as U.S. citizens do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. Have a payment method for baggage and check if vaccination certificates are required."
      },
      "q12": {
        "question": "Which airport should I use in San José?",
        "answer": "San José has one commercial airport, Juan Santamaría International, about 17 km northwest of downtown. It serves all international and domestic flights and is the only gateway for visitors heading to the city or the Central Valley."
      },
      "q13": {
        "question": "How do I get to Bergstrom Intl Airport from the city center?",
        "answer": "From downtown Austin, the most popular and fastest way to reach Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is by ride-share or taxi, which drop passengers at the upper departures curbside and are generally quicker than public transit. CapMetro’s high-frequency Route 20 provides a more affordable public bus option directly to the airport. Driving yourself is also common, with on-airport parking available, though ride-share remains the go-to for most travelers. Shuttle and limousine services exist but are less frequently used for the short ~8-mile trip.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "article_lookup"
        ],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://austintexas.gov/department/getting-around-austin",
            "title": "Getting Around Austin | Austin Center for Events | AustinTexas.gov",
            "favicon": "https://austintexas.gov/themes/custom/coa_sitestudio_theme/images/favicon/favicon.ico"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://austintexas.gov/department/ground-transportation-barbara-jordan-terminal",
            "title": "Ground Transportation at the Barbara Jordan Terminal | Airport",
            "favicon": "https://austintexas.gov/themes/custom/coa_sitestudio_theme/images/favicon/favicon-airport.png"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://austintexas.gov/page/aus-travel-tips-frequently-asked-questions",
            "title": "AUS Travel Tips & Frequently Asked Questions | Airport",
            "favicon": "https://austintexas.gov/themes/custom/coa_sitestudio_theme/images/favicon/favicon-airport.png"
          },
          {
            "url": "http://www.austintexas.gov/airport",
            "title": "Austin-Bergstrom International Airport | Airport",
            "favicon": "http://www.austintexas.gov/themes/custom/coa_sitestudio_theme/images/favicon/favicon-airport.png"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin%E2%80%93Bergstrom_International_Airport",
            "title": "Austin–Bergstrom International Airport",
            "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png",
            "time_published": "2026-09-14T00:16:07Z"
          }
        ]
      },
      "q14": {
        "question": "Are there hotels or sleeping facilities at San José airport?",
        "answer": "San José's Juan Santamaría International Airport does not have a hotel directly connected to the terminal, but several nearby hotels offer free airport shuttles, including Courtyard San Jose Airport Alajuela, Fairfield by Marriott San Jose Airport Alajuela, Hilton Garden Inn San Jose Airport City Mall, Holiday Inn Express San Jose Costa Rica Airport, and Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton San Jose Airport. For those staying in the terminal, the Alajuela Zone has green couches and long enough benches for sleeping, though it fills up quickly, and there are no dedicated rest zones or cots. Cold air conditioning and a noisy public address system are common complaints for overnight sleepers.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "article_lookup"
        ],
        "references": [
          {
            "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://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.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sjoxc-city-express-san-jose-costa-rica/overview/",
            "title": "City Express San José Costa Rica: Hotel 7.4 km from Airport",
            "time_published": "2024-10-11T00:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.sleepinginairports.net/reviews/sjo-san-jose-airport-reviews.htm",
            "title": "San Jose (Costa Rica) Airport Reviews (SJO) – Sleeping in Airports",
            "favicon": "https://www.sleepinginairports.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cropped-sia-logo-180x180.png"
          },
          {
            "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"
          }
        ]
      },
      "q15": {
        "question": "Are there currency exchange offices, prayer rooms and Wi‑Fi at Juan Santamaría Intl Airport?",
        "answer": "Juan Santamaría International Airport offers free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal, along with currency exchange offices and ATMs in both the main and domestic terminals. Prayer rooms or chapels are not available at the airport. The main currency exchange counters are located in the arrivals hall and departures area of the Main Terminal (M).",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "article_lookup"
        ],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Santamar%C3%ADa_International_Airport",
            "title": "Juan Santamaría International Airport",
            "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png",
            "time_published": "2026-09-15T10:14:28Z"
          },
          {
            "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/Juan%20Santamar%C3%ADa%20International%20Airport",
            "title": "Juan Santamaría International Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-04-30T22:20:36Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_busiest_airports_in_Central_America",
            "title": "List of the busiest airports in Central America",
            "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png",
            "time_published": "2025-10-30T10:06:40Z"
          }
        ]
      },
      "q16": {
        "question": "Are there accessible services or children's facilities at the Austin and San José airports?",
        "answer": "At Austin–Bergstrom International Airport, travelers with disabilities can use the AUS For All program, which includes escorts through the terminal, accessible elevators, wheelchair-accessible shuttles, a dedicated Mobility Assistance Zone for rideshares and taxis, and free visual interpreting through Aira. Airlines provide wheelchair service from curb to aircraft, and requests for assistance should be made through your airline at least 48 hours before departure. Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José offers VIP services and is operated by Aeris Holdings Costa Rica.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "article_lookup"
        ],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://austintexas.gov/department/aus-all-accessibility-services",
            "title": "AUS For All: Accessibility Services | Airport",
            "favicon": "https://austintexas.gov/themes/custom/coa_sitestudio_theme/images/favicon/favicon-airport.png"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://austintexas.gov/blog/equitable-navigation-aus-accessibility-services-our-passengers-visible-and-non-visible-disabilities",
            "title": "Equitable Navigation at AUS: Accessibility Services for Our Passengers with Visible and Non-visible Disabilities | Airport",
            "favicon": "https://austintexas.gov/themes/custom/coa_sitestudio_theme/images/favicon/favicon-airport.png",
            "time_published": "2023-09-21T22:15:41Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.austintexas.gov/page/accessibility",
            "title": "Accessibility | Airport",
            "favicon": "https://www.austintexas.gov/themes/custom/coa_sitestudio_theme/images/favicon/favicon-airport.png"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://austintexas.gov/department/travel-security-austin-bergstrom-international-airport",
            "title": "Travel & Security at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport | Airport",
            "favicon": "https://austintexas.gov/themes/custom/coa_sitestudio_theme/images/favicon/favicon-airport.png"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://austintexas.gov/page/aus-travel-tips-frequently-asked-questions",
            "title": "AUS Travel Tips & Frequently Asked Questions | Airport",
            "favicon": "https://austintexas.gov/themes/custom/coa_sitestudio_theme/images/favicon/favicon-airport.png"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Santamar%C3%ADa_International_Airport",
            "title": "Juan Santamaría International Airport",
            "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png",
            "time_published": "2026-09-15T10:14:28Z"
          },
          {
            "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_Santamaría",
            "title": "Juan Santamaría",
            "time_published": "2026-07-15T19:46:26Z"
          }
        ]
      },
      "q17": {
        "question": "What aircraft are typically used on flights from Austin to San José?",
        "answer": "There are no nonstop flights between Austin and San José; all service requires a connection. United dominates the route, using a Boeing 737 MAX 8 on the long leg via Houston with a mix of Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family aircraft on the feeder segments, while American connects via Miami using the same 737 MAX 8 with Boeing 737 or Embraer 175 on the shorter leg. Southwest connects via Orlando or Houston with a Boeing 737 MAX 8 long leg and 737-800 or unspecified aircraft on the feeder, and Air Canada offers one connection via Toronto with an Airbus A220-200.",
        "methodology": "Aircraft types come 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). For U.S. routes the type is grounded in the tail number that actually operated the flight; elsewhere it comes from the airline's filed equipment code. Where the source does not commit to a specific variant we name the aircraft family (for example Airbus A320 family) rather than guess, and where no reliable type is on file the aircraft is omitted rather than estimated. Types describe typical scheduled equipment and can vary with seasonal or day-of-week assignments and last-minute swaps.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "route_aircraft"
        ]
      },
      "q18": {
        "question": "Which airline alliances serve flights from Austin to San José?",
        "answer": "There is no nonstop service from Austin to San José; all flights require a connection. The carriers that serve this route belong to Star Alliance (United, Air Canada, Copa), oneworld (American, Alaska), and SkyTeam (Aeroméxico), while JetBlue and Southwest are unaffiliated with any alliance.",
        "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. Stop counts, connecting hubs, and per-airline prices are drawn from a large sample of the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours. We group those fares by number of stops, by the hub airport a connection routes through, and by operating airline, and report each group's share of the sample alongside its lowest and median price.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "route_airlines",
          "route_options"
        ]
      },
      "q21": {
        "question": "What is the baggage allowance on this route from Austin to San José?",
        "answer": "From Austin to San José, baggage rules depend on the airline and fare. Basic economy often excludes a checked bag but may allow a carry-on; standard economy typically includes one checked bag and a carry-on. Premium cabins offer more generous allowances."
      },
      "q22": {
        "question": "What cabin and seat options are typical from Austin to San José?",
        "answer": "Typical options include Economy and flat-bed Business class on some airlines, but Premium Economy is uncommon on this route."
      },
      "q23": {
        "question": "Are same‑day changes or standby possible on this route?",
        "answer": "Policies vary by airline and fare; flexible and premium cabin tickets often allow same‑day changes or standby, while Basic Economy typically does not."
      }
    }
  }
}