I used to have many choices traveling from PTY to MIA in the past. The cost used to be half what it is now. Maybe American and Copa have cut back? It seems like Avianca and other Latin Airlines are taking the first positions on serach engines like Priceline, Travelocity, etc. Things have changed?
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You go through customs leaving David but not entering. Customs in David is in the Airport. And, you go through another baggage search before leaving on your airline departing Panama City. This is the norm in every country. And it has nothing to do with prices rising or falling------unless traffic increase. If traffic increases they might have to hire more screeners. I also heard that Copa and Air Panama might cancel it's David/San Jose flights. Don't know why.
I have been paying a small fortune for my wife and I to travel from Mimai to David via Panama City every two-three months for the past couple of years. I recently tried to book a flight from Miami to SCR and then onto David (about a third of the price) but was told I had to fly to Panama City from SCR and then to David due to customs. I was also recently told Panama was considering establishing Customs in David. Any info would be appreciated.
David always had Customs with Air Panama flights from SJO.... things suddenly change?
There is a customs house next to the airport... very strange...
Just a thought from a very old lady who used to live in Boquete. I was only there for 5 years, yet I heard from others who had been there for more than 5 years, how much Boquete had changed ........ I am talking prices, expectations, demands, environment, crime etc. , and I just wonder if the powers that be, are beginning to want to slow the invasion of their country down ............ it is possible that there is more going on than meets the eye or that the rest of us will ever become aware of.
Global Conspiracy? Maybe you should check out Panama's tourism campaign and ask Varela how many Expats have been deported just because. Panama is wide open and encourages new "RESIDENTS". People that can afford to live here usually don't have too many problems. Those that decide to leave usually do so on health issues or they did not investigate the culture and people before moving here permenantly. Most of the "permenant expats" did try this out for 6 months or more. Selling everything and moving here just on Advertising is not a good idea. And some just want to go back home after a long period of time away from family. It is not a losing situation for Panama. Their economy is not based on "new residents" but the do welcome them. One thing Varela has said and honest people in this country understand this; "Play By The Rules". And every country has the right to change the rules overnight or over time.
When you make new "rules" concerning tourism and immigration to protect a country from "permanent tourists" who are in the country not to sightsee but to do clandestine work, you can't just make a "double standard" by having one set of rules for retired North American tourists and another set of rules for young working-age Latin American tourists.
I think that the tightening of the rules is simply to control the influx of "tourists" who affect the local economy by stealing jobs from the citizens.
Also, if someone still doesn't know whether (s)he wants to stay in a country permanently after 6 months, (s)he should go home for a few months to re-think their position and not just make a revolving-door trip of 3-days...
I doubt the "new permanent tourist rules" will do anything to stem the influx of clandestine workers. They will just enter once and forget about border hopping. The new rules are probably more political than for anything practical.
I wish we could know why it is cheaper to fly out of San Jose and Bogota than PTY... something is going on... Copa pushing American Airlines out of the market? Tax increases for Tocumen expansion? MIA being more restrictive ? Too much of an increase to ignore.
Lynne: Interesting....Varela ran as a Nationalist in the last election .... "Panama por Panameneos"... your idea could make sense... Martinelli opened the doors wide when he was in office. Varela although honest and progressive is not so encouraging to immigrants or tourism. Yes it could be intentional.
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