Via The Flight Deal, you can fly to Liberia or San Jose, Costa Rica, from 10 US Cities on United Airlines for as little as ~$335 round-trip in coach!
Travel dates vary by destination, but most fares are for travel from fall until early spring.
You can search for this fare using ITA Matrix or Google Flights, then book it on the United Airlines website.
I don’t know how long this fare will last!
How to Book It
Link: ITA Matrix
Link: Google Flights
You can fly to Liberia, Costa Rica, for a beach vacation from the following cities with a 3-day advance purchase requirement.
- Baltimore
- Boston
- Charlotte
- Dallas
- Miami
- New York
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- St. Louis
Note: Flights from Boston, Baltimore, and New York are slightly more expensive. And those fares require you to book at least 21 days prior to departure.
Here’s how to use Google Flights to find sale dates.
I found a round-trip flight between Dallas and Liberia, Costa Rica, in January for just ~$336.
And you can fly from Baltimore and Los Angeles to San Jose, Costa Rica, for a similar price. There’s also a 21 day advance purchase requirement.
Note: You can cancel a United Airlines reservation within 24 hours of booking and get a full refund.
And if you book a ticket with an online travel agency like Orbitz or Expedia, you may be eligible for a refund within a short time of booking your ticket. Check out my post on cancellation policies for airlines and online travel agencies for more details!
What About Southwest?
Southwest also flies to Costa Rica! I checked the same dates from Dallas to Liberia to compare prices, and Southwest is slightly more expensive.
But keep in mind, on Southwest everyone gets 2 free checked bags! And your designated partner flies for nearly free when you have the Companion Pass.
United Airlines passengers to Costa Rica pay $25 for the 1st checked bag, and $40 for the 2nd. So Southwest is a better deal in this case!
Be sure to compare prices before you book!
What If You’re Not in 1 of These Cities?
Southwest – If you need more Southwest points, Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Southwest. Plus, if you have the Southwest Companion Pass, a friend can fly with you for (almost) free!
British Airways – If you’re a short flight away from an included city, you can save miles by using British Airways Avios points to book an award flight on American Airlines.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points , American Express Membership Rewards points, and Starwood Preferred Guest points transfer to British Airways.
Which Card to Use?
Remember to use a card that will earn you bonus points:
| Card Name | What It Earns |
|---|---|
The Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN | - Earn 3X American Express Membership Rewards points on airfare purchased directly from airlines when you choose this as your 3X category (otherwise earn 2X points) - Here's my review of the card - Terms apply |
Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express | - Earn 3X American Express Membership Rewards points for airfare purchased directly from airlines - $100 Airline fee credit. Up to $100 a year for incidental fees with your selected airline - Here's my review of the card - Terms apply |
SimplyCash® Plus Business Credit Card from American Express | - 3% cash back on airfare purchased directly from airlines on the first $50,000 when you choose this as your 3% cash back category - Here's my review of the card - Terms apply |
The Platinum Card® from American Express | - Earn 5X American Express Membership Rewards points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel - $200 Airline Fee Credit. Up to $200 a year in baggage fees and more at 1 airline - Here's my review of the card - Terms apply |
| Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard | - Earn 2 miles per $1 on all purchases - Use miles for travel statement credits (minimum 10,000 miles for $100) - Here's my review of the card |
Chase Sapphire Reserve | - Earn 3 miles per $1 on travel and dining - $300 statement credit for travel purchases per calendar year (including hotels, airfare, etc.) - Here's my review of the card |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | - Earn 2X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel, including airfare - Here's my review of the card |
| Citi Prestige® Card | - Earn 3X ThankYou points for airfare & hotels - $250 statement credit for airfare & baggage fees each calendar year |
Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card | - Earn 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on the first $150,000 spent on travel, including airfare each year - Here's my review of the card |
Citi ThankYou® Premier Card | - Earn 3X ThankYou points for travel, including airfare |
| Or pay with an airline credit card for specific perks! |
Get Free Hotel Nights With These Cards
Link: Hot Deals – Hotel Credit Cards
If you book a cheap flight, remember there are lots of ways to get cheap or free hotel rooms with points from credit card bonuses and spending!
To find hotels that can be booked with points, I like using Hotel Hustle (which even shows you if rooms are actually available!) or AwardMapper.
Remember, you can transfer flexible points like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards to different hotel programs.
Check out my posts on all the ways to earn Hilton and Hyatt points!
Note: Folks who want to book paid stays could check out discount sites like Orbitz, Expedia, or TravelPony for deals. But remember you won’t get stay credits or points (and might not have your elite status recognized).
And if you’re feeling adventurous or prefer a neighborhood feel, Airbnb is a great way to save money on accommodations, especially for longer stays.
Read my tips on how to negotiate a better price on Airbnb!
Bottom Line
You can fly to Liberia or San Jose, Costa Rica, on United Airlines from 10 US cities starting at ~$335 round-trip in coach.
Travel dates vary, but most include dates in the from fall to early spring. For most destinations, there’s a 21-day advance purchase requirement.
Cheap fares like this won’t last! This is a terrific opportunity if you’re planning a cheap fall or winter getaway. But check fares on Southwest because they may be a better deal.
Let me know if you book a ticket!
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