SANSAPrivate CharterComparisonCosta Rica
SANSA and AeroRide serve the same airports and many of the same travelers. The choice between them depends on group size, flexibility needs and what you’re willing to pay for convenience. Here’s the honest breakdown.
Price: when private charter wins
SANSA: ~$80–120 per person one-way SJO→XQP. For a party of 5, that’s $400–600 one way. AeroRide SJO→XQP: $500–650 for the whole aircraft — comparable or cheaper per person for groups of 4+. The math shifts even more dramatically for multi-stop itineraries: SANSA charges per leg, AeroRide charges per hour of total flight time.
Schedule: private wins decisively
SANSA operates 1–3 flights daily per route, usually morning departures. If you miss your flight, the next departure may be tomorrow. AeroRide departs whenever you’re ready — 6am or 6pm, no fixed schedule.
When SANSA clearly wins
SANSA is the right choice for solo travelers and couples on a budget, travelers with flexible schedules, backpackers comfortable with the baggage limits and anyone for whom the $80 ticket price is materially important. SANSA has also operated Costa Rica’s domestic network for decades and knows these routes intimately.
When private charter clearly wins
Groups of 4+, travelers with equipment (dive gear, surfboards, luggage), business travelers with fixed meeting times, any itinerary combining more than one regional destination, and anyone who has ever missed a SANSA connection and lost a day of their trip.