We first wrote about Copa Airways again in 2008, once I first flew right down to Panama for the MV Discovery Panama Yacht Cruise. I’ve since been again a number of instances and flew on Copa to there and likewise onward to Peru. Whereas the airline received’t blow you away just like the expertise of Emirates or Singapore Air would possibly, whenever you examine it to your different choices for getting right down to nations in Latin America, Copa is common on some counts, above the typical on others.
For a lot of Latin America, this airline is your most suitable option, particularly in the event you can’t purchase a enterprise class ticket or rating an improve on certainly one of its opponents. I used to say that in comparison with any U.S. airline flying to Latin America, Copa supplied a much better expertise in economic system, although Delta and United are higher now on some routes.
One massive benefit is which you can earn Star Alliance associate miles on your journey. (That alliance consists of United Airways within the USA and Air Canada as properly.)
Whereas Avianca went into chapter 11 throughout the pandemic instances, with a corresponding decline in service, and two Mexican airways disappeared fully, Copa has truly been in growth mode lately. They ordered 15 Boeing 737 MAX planes in 2023 and expanded their route community to incorporate Baltimore, Austin, and Manta, Ecuador on the coast. In 2022 their earnings had been increased than they had been in 2019.
Copa Airways on the Crossroads of the Americas
One of many massive benefits of flying on Copa is that they’re positioned in Panama Metropolis at Tocumen Worldwide Airport, a simple flight in itself but additionally a great place to stretch your legs on the best way to South America. Regardless of the place you’re coming from and going to in South America, Panama Metropolis isn’t very far out of the best way. When you’re going someplace in Central America, there’s not a lot backtracking concerned.
If you wish to do greater than stretch your legs, Copa Airways presents a stopover program, the one formal one I do know of that’s working in Latin America. It’s not one with any main perks thrown in, however you possibly can e-book a flight from A to B that means that you can get off the aircraft in Panama Metropolis, do some vacationer issues or care for enterprise, then get on the aircraft with out incurring further prices.
You possibly can e-book all this forward of time on their common web page or this devoted one only for stopovers. You possibly can keep for twenty-four hours or as much as 7 days earlier than persevering with onward.
As you possibly can see from the Copa route map under, it is a actually handy stopover on the best way to their different locations south of there. You may take a break in Panama after which proceed on to Colombia (11 areas!), Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, or Argentina. Copa is among the few airways that goes to Uruguay and Paraguay as properly. The Panama Metropolis luxurious inns are an excellent worth, so observe that hyperlink and see which one seems to be like the very best match.
What to Anticipate on a Copa Air Flight
I’ve flown Copa Air a number of instances in each enterprise class and economic system class and in the event you’ve been on United Airways flights, the expertise goes to really feel acquainted. At one level, Continental Airways owned greater than half of Copa however over time by varied adjustments and mergers, that holding dropped to 10% with United. Nonetheless, they’ve comparable logos, comparable cabin shows, and are each a part of Star Alliance.
Financial system class is a combined bag although relying on the route. On lengthy hauls it’s a step above what you often get on a United worldwide flight. On long-haul flights, they serve full meals and complimentary drinks, together with alcoholic drinks.
Shorter flights could serve snacks although, particularly the routes utilizing the 19 small Embraer planes, and on some routes they’ve stopped serving alcohol in any respect–even to buy. That was the case on my latest flight between Mexico Metropolis and Panama Metropolis, a flight of a number of hours.
Newer planes have seatback leisure and restricted TV and music choices. The 737-800 planes will often have charging plugs as properly. The route I used to be on apparently received one of many reject planes although and it was an actual step again in time. Keep in mind when TVs used to return down from the ceiling and also you plugged earbuds into your seat deal with to get audio in the proper language? That’s what I received on this flight.
Often you get actual meals along with your flight, although on mine it was restricted to 1 choice. In each case once I’ve flown there was a alternative of two dishes (corresponding to pancakes or an omelet for breakfast) and I noticed different passengers getting their kosher or vegetarian meal. Pillows and blankets are offered and there may be an in-flight journal in English and Spanish.
In economic system class, seat pitch is common at 31 inches and most seats are 17 inches broad. There’s additionally an Financial system Further stage that gives some separation and a location close to the entrance, however no more legroom in response to SeatGuru.
Enterprise Class is a combined bag, so test to see what you’re getting earlier than paying to improve. On some flights the Copa enterprise class seats solely have a pitch of 38 inches and so they’re simply three inches wider than an economic system seat. Like outdated United ones. On some brief flights the seats is probably not wider in any respect.
Different layouts present 49 inches, nevertheless, which lets you stretch out much more for an in a single day flight. In all circumstances they’re leather-based and also you’ll get an amenity package of some sort.
The latest Boeing 737 MAX 9 plane variations are most well worth the improve to enterprise class. Copa calls these “Desires” and so they truly recline to a fully-flat mattress, with 16 or 12 of them configured. They arrive with energy retailers and a 16-inch in-flight leisure display screen.
In any other case, enterprise class received’t wow you with leisure facilities, particularly because the older jets have these little pop-up screens for every seat that come out of the armrest, however the service and meals had been each glorious in my experiences.
You often solely have 5 to fifteen different folks competing for the flight attendant’s consideration and so they’ll serve you a a number of course meal (or two) with actual silverware and many to drink. You possibly can even attempt some Panamanian rum on the best way down.
Copa Flight Offers From North America
Copa flies from a number of cities in Canada, the USA, and Mexico, so you have to have them in your listing in the event you’re anyplace close to these locations. I’ve flown them from Florida and Mexico Metropolis. Right here’s a have a look at among the economic system class promotional fares they’re promoting as I write this:
Orlando to Panama – $529
Miami to Panama – $390
DC to Lima – $397
Toronto to Lima – $616
NYC to Guayaquil, Ecuador – $293
Austin to Buenos Aires – $498
However what about enterprise class? Are you able to discover a good worth on these? Nicely I did some spot checks on Copa’s website and located just a few attractive presents:
Miami to Santiago, Chile – $1,524
Montreal to Panama Metropolis – $1,543
Mexico Metropolis to Buenos Aires – $2,449
These are non-refundable at that worth, however an excellent deal in case your plans are stable contemplating that two of the three will not be even double the price of an economic system seat on the similar time. Don’t overlook: you probably have a enterprise class ticket you possibly can test two luggage in order for you and also you additionally get entry to the great Copa Membership lounge in Panama Metropolis, full with showers even.
There’s now a fair newer and nicer Copa lounge within the latest terminal in Panama Metropolis, pictured above. I used to be there very early within the morning however there was a decent meals choice and an array of issues to drink. The bar was already open and a few passengers who had misplaced observe of time had been indulging.
One more reason to get that biz class Copa ticket is you test in on the airport in a a lot shorter line, which brings us to the criticism you hear probably the most from different vacationers: the widely awful check-in or bag drop expertise.
The primary downside to Copa is the persistently lengthy traces to test in, although I received fortunate on that depend on my Mexico Metropolis check-in final time, solely ten minutes. Usually you need to get to the airport lots early in the event you’re in economic system class. This isn’t distinctive to them in fact, however I heard two frequent vacationers grumble that the identify must be “Cola Airways,” the joke being that “cola” is a phrase for tail or line in Spanish.
When you’ve received excessive sufficient elite standing on a Star Alliance associate or a ticket within the entrance of the aircraft, you possibly can leap this line and save an enormous period of time. Checking in on-line beforehand may also help in some airports as that places you in a distinct line that could be shorter. Or simply journey with a carry-on suitcase.
The precise check-in course of has at all times been easy and pleasant for all of my flight legs, nevertheless, and my checked baggage arrived intact on the opposite finish. The gate brokers are refreshingly useful in comparison with their legacy U.S. airline counterparts. The web site works properly and has some good versatile date capabilities. Use that first after which go to the United website to e-book if you wish to money in miles or be optimistic you’ll get the correct credit score promptly. I solely received credit score for certainly one of two legs on this final one and must undergo that entire lacking mileage course of now to get my scraps.
The flight attendants on my flights have largely been pleasant, bi-lingual, and attentive. They smiled, they communicated, and so they appeared apologetic concerning the restricted foods and drinks choices on this final route I used to be on.
The Panama Metropolis airport is getting steadily higher on a regular basis, with extra meals choices lastly becoming a member of the seemingly never-ending stream of duty-free outlets and a brand new terminal wanting flashy. It’s brighter, cleaner, and extra trendy every time I go to. The costs have gone up in accordance although, so assume you’ll be paying US costs, not Panamanian ones.
Total, Copa Airways is a stable, dependable airline that typically presents higher service for a greater worth than its opponents. Typically you will discover moderately priced enterprise class tickets for half what the U.S. massive 3 are charging.
So, when we now have a alternative, we’re reserving on Copa Airways, particularly if flying from one of many many U.S. markets they’re serving now. We like the general expertise, the monetary stability, and the truth that we will earn factors that go into the identical account as from our United flights. Verify your choices right here.
Evaluate charges with different airways with Skyscanner.