NaturalAir new eco look and carbon neutral planes are now offering a Kids Fly Free program.
Getting around Costa Rica can be a pain in the ass when taking land transportation, like renting a car or any type of bus, either public, shuttle or private. When one vacations, just traveling from San Jose to Jaco (the closest beach) the 1 1/2 hr drive can be a full day of adventure, but more likely, stressful, due to traffic and weather conditions … so flying is the way to go to allow more time for vacationing.
There are two puddle jumper air services SANSA and NatureAir. By law, no carrier, commercial or charter, can fly after dark in Costa Rica and has one of the safest flying records in the world. And with tourism down as much as 80% in some areas, the competition for those tourist dollars has increased. So, NaturalAir went on a massive advertisement campaign on their new eco hype of carbon neutral engines, complete with eco-painted planes.
Costa Rica tourism companies are now pushing the eco-friendly destination as a family-friendly trip. With that said, NatureAir is offering a sweet deal for those with kids. Free flights for children through the end of August. Kids up to 11 years old can fly free on all NatureAir flights within Costa Rica. Unfortunately, the offer doesn’t apply to those with huge families – you only get one free child’s ticket for every two adult seats purchased. Regardless, anything free nowadays is a bonus.
The airline bills itself as the world’s first voluntary carbon neutral airline, has 74 flights daily between 17 different Costa Rican locations with some flights as low as $44US.
NatureAir’s carbon neutrality program ensures that every flight’s carbon emissions are compensated for with the protection and reforestation of the Osa Peninsula in Southern Costa Rica. The company also saves energy with the use of bio-diesel (cooking oils) to run its fleet of ground equipment and diesel vans, sponsors the Rainforest Alliance, World Heritage Alliance, Climate Neutral Network and The Ecotourism Society, and founded the NatureKids Foundation, which helps bring education to communities throughout Costa Rica.
Some important things to remember when taking commercial flights:
- Check-in is 45 minutes before your scheduled flight. Late-comers might not be permitted to board the plane.
- Maximum baggage allowance on both Sansa and Nature Air is 26 lbs (12kgs), including carry-on bags, per person. NOTE: Some flights they WILL weigh you before boarding.
- Excess baggage will be charged at about $1.00 a pound ($2.25 per kilo) on both airlines. If your flight is full, the airlines will PUT YOUR excess baggage on another flight. I can not tell you how many times we have taken off and seen our baggage on the tarmac. However, rest assure, they are very good at delivering your baggage to your hotel room, you just have to tell them that when arriving at your destination, or wait for the next flight, which may be several hours.
- Surfboards are treated as excess baggage.
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