10 Day Roatan trip means flying TACA. Would you / Have you ??

[CajunDiva]

Would worry a little about only 1.5 hours connecting in Houston from Roatan.

I would seriously worry about that tight a connection AT THIS TIME. They seem to be trying to prove a point about our Federal budget cuts at the international arrivals terminal in Houston. Upon return from our recent trip to Cayman Brac, they had 8 LANES OPEN, but only 1 LANE was being used for arriving U.S. Citizens...the other 7 lanes were used for international arrivals, which was much smaller in quantity than the U.S. Citizens trying to reach their connecting flights in time. It was VERY obvious to us that they were using us to try and make a point...

 

[VicScubaVentures]

United have a Wednesday flight from Roatan to Houston....at least they do on May 22 because we're on it.

Now that's something I didn't know .... although it looks to be a United (operated by) TACA flight. Maybe I'll just bite the bullet and accept the challenge of flying home via San Salvador en route to San Francisco and home. I'm worried about my camera gear (strobes, housing) in the Pelican case going missing in South America - maybe that's foolish ... I don't worry about it going through Houston / Atlanta / Dallas where I suppose it is more likely to go missing.

C.

---------- Post added May 11th, 2013 at 06:21 PM ----------

... they had 8 LANES OPEN, but only 1 LANE was being used for arriving U.S. Citizens...the other 7 lanes were used for international arrivals, which was much smaller in quantity than the U.S. Citizens trying to reach their connecting flights in time.

Good thing I'm a CANADIAN citizen then, isn't it eh?

C.

 

[Damselfish]

I would seriously worry about that tight a connection AT THIS TIME. They seem to be trying to prove a point about our Federal budget cuts at the international arrivals terminal in Houston. Upon return from our recent trip to Cayman Brac, they had 8 LANES OPEN, but only 1 LANE was being used for arriving U.S. Citizens...the other 7 lanes were used for international arrivals, which was much smaller in quantity than the U.S. Citizens trying to reach their connecting flights in time. It was VERY obvious to us that they were using us to try and make a point...

I'd worry about a 1.5 connection too, which I think will almost always be a crapshoot at a major international airport. When we came back from Roatan through IAH last weekend though, we were through luggage/immigration/customs in like 30 min, even with a big crowd at immigration. (Naturally, we had planned to stay the night, figuring it would be too tight.) They had lots of US lines open, and were also ushering people over to the other side of immigration which happened to have no line at the time, making a real effort to move people through.

You might consider getting the trusted traveler thing. I've been meaning to but haven't yet. Had to go through the long line in Houston in view of the special line with almost no one going through it. The whole while listening to my husband (who got his) reminding me of this.

 

[VicScubaVentures]

Turned a 7-10 day trip into a 14 day trip. Flying on American Airlines both ways (their baggage policy looks pretty good) without going though South America.
Reef House gave me a smokin' hot deal for a 2 week single diver stay. Couldn't say no.
Airfare was $1000 CDN round trip.
Have to start a March 2014 Who's Going to Roatan thread now!

C.

 

[jlevine]

I took TACA for years until Continental/United started going there. I thought TACA was great. I never lost a bag. The only thing I would suggest to you is that you only use TACA *international* (between countries) and not TACA *regional* (within Honduras). If you are flying nonstop from San Salvador to Roatan, you are fine. If you fly TACA to San Pedro Sula and then onto La Ceiba and Roatan, you will be switched to TACA *regional*. Those domestic flights are sometimes weight restricted and your bag may get delayed and you will probably need to go back to the Roatan airport to get it.

 

[t4e]

Turned a 7-10 day trip into a 14 day trip. Flying on American Airlines both ways (their baggage policy looks pretty good) without going though South America.
Reef House gave me a smokin' hot deal for a 2 week single diver stay. Couldn't say no.
Airfare was $1000 CDN round trip.
Have to start a March 2014 Who's Going to Roatan thread now!

C.

you're all booked almost a year in advance? lol

 

[VicScubaVentures]

you're all booked almost a year in advance? lol

You're just jealous!!

I have a very tight window of potential vacation time. Once something fits, and the deals were really good (!!), I just lock it in. Waiting for the last minute doesn't suit my work or family life very well.

C.

 

[t4e]

You're just jealous!!

I have a very tight window of potential vacation time. Once something fits, and the deals were really good (!!), I just lock it in. Waiting for the last minute doesn't suit my work or family life very well.

C.

not at all, we've been going every couple of months so i never get to plan that long in advance...now tell me that doesn't make YOU jealous

have fun, you'll love it, hopefully the bugs don't love you as much as they did me lol

 

[USdiver1]

I've flown TACA so many times I no longer believe its acronym (Take A Coffin Along). Seriously, if you fly into and out of Central American cities wouldn't you rather be on airlines whose crew has been flying in and out of the same airports every day of their commercial careers? While Roatan, San Pedro Sula and San Salvador are big flat areas, it takes a very skilled pilot to land at Tegucigalpa. However, in an emergency, Tegus' Toncontin might be the closest available landing strip. From your potential itinerary I see that the flight is operated by Aviateca. Aviateca is Guatemala's airline, they too are very familiar with Central American airspace.

As far as safety concerns at El Salvador's Comalapa airport during a layover, stop watching those old Oliver Stone movies, and stay away from college courses on Latin American history. MS-13 is not out to get you (at least not at Comalapa......LAX, on the other hand.........Good thing you're going via San Francisco).

 

[Panman]

I have flown Taca multiple times from lax to San Salvador to Belize city. All have been international flights. I have nothing but good things to say about Taca and the San Salvador airport. However since Taca is no longer a partner with Americaqn Airlines, we have stopped flying with them. We are headed to Roatan in July leave on a Saturday and return on Wednesday all flights on American Airlines Lax to Miami to Roatan and return the same. Look at AA for a direct flight on Wednesdays RTB to MIA.