Up, Up and Away

We arrived at the San Jose airport three hours early like we were told. Our flight was via Bogota and taking off at the same time as a direct flight to Lima. We asked if we could switch airplanes and go directly. Then three things happened in quick succession (and without any pushing on our part):

• The agent behind the counter quickly said "Yes, no extra charge"!! When have any of you last heard those words from an airline?
  
• One of our bags was 20 pounds overweight - "No charge"!!! Twice in one day, I was getting dizzy.
  
• Before we had time to think, out comes her cell phone, "Perhaps you would like to call someone in Lima and tell them of your change of plans"!!!!! Not very often you'll see me speechless but there I was.
  
  

So, if you are flying in Latin America, anywhere between Toronto and Buenos Aires then Olga and I can't say enough nice things about TACA. Not to mention that on international flights the food and drink are free. TACA is an example of how all Central America can benefit from more interconnectedness such as that which the free-trade agreement will bring. In the past there were separate, marginal airlines in each of these countries.

Now TACA, from El Salvador, has absorbed all of them and everyone has benefited by the quality and breadth of service.