Copa Airlines

✅ Verified Review | Flew from San Jose to Panama City. Here we go again with the Copa Airlines merry go round of misery. In a circus, a clown is a man of merriment, at Copa Airlines HQ, the clown is in charge. Yesterday they delayed my flight by 6.5 hours with no apology or any reason why. Today, I checked the status of my flight before heading to the airport. Everything was fine, so with my flight departing at 5.45, I got to the airport at 3.30 feeling things were fine. Well they were not. Behind the scenes, Copa Airlines were brewing up another delay. It came at about 4.30 saying the departure time had moved forward to 6.30pm. 45 minutes I could live with. Then 6.30pm came and went and, as usual, nothing happened. No announcements, nothing. So I checked online and lo-and-behold, there was a further delay to 8.09pm. I have flown with over 70 different airlines but I will never fly with Copa again and I would advise anyone else to avoid them too. They are shameful.

✅ Verified Review | Managua to San Jose. When things go well, everything is fine and everyone's happy. It's when things go wrong that airlines reveal their true colours. For a five-hour delay in Europe, you are entitled to compensation, meal and drink vouchers and constant updates. Not so in Central America. With Copa you get nothing apart from surly Copa Airlines employees who go out of their way to avoid dealing with queries and complaints. The lack of news or updates was a big problem. No one knew what was going on. But to let thier passengers down by not even offering a meal voucher or a drink is extremely poor customer service. Copa Airlines should be ashamed of themselves.

✅ Verified Review | I frequently fly New York JFK to Medellin via Panama City on Copa and on this last flight much was as usual: Departures right on time, efficient connections, their relatively new C class seat on the JFK to PTY leg (it's like a first generation international business class seat, not ideal but better than what the competition offers into the region), barely edible food, decent wines (both served with a smile) and the overcrowded, undercatered lounge in PTY. What was different was the connecting service on their short haul Embraer: Where once was a comfortable (and industry standard) 2x1 configuration, there is now 2x2 coach seating with a few inches extra legroom (a recent change, the flight attendant said apologetically, and "many passengers complain"). Well, this passenger was really disappointed, inconvenienced (you can't work on coach trays) and quite angry: We are used to penny pinching in coach, but densifying premium cabins is pinching one penny too many. It's also misleading advertising: A C cabin with coach seating is not a C cabin and shouldn't be sold as such. I hope the airline will have a rethink before rolling this out across the fleet. I will still fly Copa on this route because they have the best schedule, but now I will keep my eyes open for an alternative.

✅ Verified Review | Lima to Montreal via Panama. I flew Copa Airlines on Boeing 737-800. First at check in I have been told that there is no Lounge access for Business Class Passenger on International flight from Lima. What? Then you seat on Copa Airlines B737-800 and you almost want to cry. Flying with Copa Airlines on Boeing 737-800 is like make a big jump in the past and flying in 90s. No entertainment, no leg rest on the seat. The lounge in Panama city is at the image of the business class cabin, no juice, no food except fruits and one type of wrapped cupcake. I will not use Copa for any business travel to South America, I will connect elsewhere.

✅ Verified Review | San Jose to New York via Panama. I flew with my 6 months and I bought him a ticket to fly more comfortable and use his car seat, so he was able to sleep. Leaving Costa Rica I didn't have any problems, but on the fly from Panama to New York, 3 different flight attendants asked me why I was putting my baby's car seat on the airplane seat, I told them because I bought a seat for my baby, because we needed to both be comfortable on the flight. They saw me putting the baby on the seat and they make me take him out because they needed to check if the car seat was approved (note: it was our fourth flight and we were coming back home, and just leaving from NYC they check the seat, and of course it was approved). After that another flight attendant asked me again why I was putting the baby on that seat, I told him again because I bought it, I was not going to put a baby on a seat that I didn't buy, well he didn't believe me and ask me to give him the tickets to make sure I was not lying (the flight was full and probably overbooked). After that they stop asking me, but before taking off another woman asked me the same question again and to show her the tickets. We wait an extra hour because of connections. Also the flight attendants were rude, never offer any help to carry bags or car seat even when they saw me struggling with all the things I had with me. Really bad experience, never choosing Copa Airlines again.

✅ Verified Review | Guatemala to Panama City. I arrived early to be on time. I sat on the gate indicated and wait for the flight. First, the flight was delayed 30 min. Then, Copa airlines staff announced that the aircraft was not in good conditions and the delayed will be 8 hours. Copa Airlines offered lunch and dinner for the clients affected. However, I asked to leave the ariport because of the long layover. The first answer was that it was not possible because of inmigration issues, but later they let us leave the airport. As Copa Airlines request, I came back at 1 pm to take the flight at 3pm. Now, the worst nightmare began because they announced again that the airplane didn't work and they need to ask for a rescue airplane and maybe the airplane will arrive at 7pm. It is important to mention that Copa didn't announce on webpage or send us an email with the delayed information. Otherwise, we have to be in the counter and insist to the staff for information. The staff didn't provide a clear information and the supervisor was absent. I stayed at the airport waiting for the "rescue airplane". It was 7pm and the airplane haven't arrived. Copa Airlines staff brought some snacks and beverage to calm down the people. Then I decided to take the next day flight because there were many problems. Therefore, I asked for transportation, hotel and next day flight. The soonest available flight was next day at 2pm. I agree with that so I asked for my suitcase but my suitcase was sent to Panama! I stayed one more day and without my belongings. I have flown with Copa Airlines many times before but my last experience was horrible and disappointing. If you can avoid to use this airline, do it. The bad thing is that we don't have many option to choose in Latin america. Hope that the service can improve.

Rio de Janeiro to San Francisco via Panama City. Copa Airlines prices were far below the US carriers for getting back from the Olympics in Rio. I'd read horror stories about Copa's economy class; when I spotted a deal on Business Class, I grabbed it! I'm very glad I did! The seats were wide and comfortable, with footrests. Basically, it was the back of First class; seats were identical but possibly the meals were different. (I know we didn't get all the alcohol the people in first class got, though we were offered some.). IFE was great with at least 2 different movies that each member of my family enjoyed as we all have different tastes.

✅ Verified Review | Panama City to San Francisco. Terribly upset with Copa Airlines. Bought our tickets at full price 6 months ago. Arrived at Panama City airport early but the lady at the counter put us on standby. When I asked why, she said we were not on standby and that the standby tag was normal procedure. We could not understand and when we asked again what was happening she would not talk to us. At the gate we were assigned seats but not together. When we arrived our bags were not on the plane. The staff is rude and inconsiderate.

✅ Verified Review | Took the flight from Panama City to Buenos Aires which goes for a bit more than 7 hours. The ticket was booked on business class and it was a night flight arriving a 1:15 in the morning. Compared to the competition the tickets was about 1000US$ more expensive. I hoped this would relect in a better service and a nice product. Copa make this flights in Boeing 737-800 one aisle aircraft where the business class allocates about 16 seats. Those seat might be wider than the economy ones, and maybe only two per side instead of the usual 3, but thats all. They do not recline enough to allow you any sleep, and the added comfort expected at the price of a transatlantic flight lets you down. The entertainment system was broken again. The temperature was extremely low, so we asked for blankets. it turns out they did not have blankets on board, nor did they have pillows. 7 hrs flight, in the middle of the night, no entertainment, no pillows no blankets, no reclining seat, no sleep. Then the menu came with some options to be taken. All of them were rapidly reduced to only one because they did not load more - we asked for the wine, only one because the other was not loaded. The flight attendants were not friendly, not caring - if the entertainment is down, read a book I was told. I will only take this airline again when I am forced by my company.

✅ Verified Review | San Jose to Tampa via Panama City. Copa Airlines is almost always a good choice for flying to Central and South America. This flight was no exception. Check-in at the priority lane at SJO was immediate and efficient. Boarding was quick. I had the emergency exit row to myself on the SJO-PTY segment, so that was eminently comfortable. There was a sandwich snack but no alcohol on this short, early-morning flight. There was a more elaborate meal and a full free beverage service on the flight to TPA. The flight attendants were personable, outgoing, and willing to engage in conversation. As I have commented here before, I am particularly impressed with the detailed instructions that are given to all passengers in the exit rows. Both flights departed and arrived ahead of schedule, and the connection at PTY was quick and easy. As an added bonus, the mileage for this Star Alliance partner flight was properly credited to my United Mileage Plus account within two days.