Copa Airlines

Lima to Los Angeles via Panama. This was our second flight with Copa Airlines, the first was in August, a flight from Guatemala to Ecuador. We nearly didn't book with Copa because of the awful reviews but they have either stepped their game up, or people are being fussy. Both flights we had with Copa were brilliant. The were friendly throughout both flights, the flights were either on time or slightly delayed but never stressful. We had a forty minute changeover in Panama for the final flight and that was absolutely fine. Copa is a budge airline but the service is about average, and the food actually pretty decent! We had no problems with luggage being lost or broken into. If you're on a budget and looking for value for money Copa has it all. Everything was cheerful, professional and glitch free.

I flew United to Panama City, Panama, and then United offered a direct return flight to my home airport - however, the flight was operated by Copa. I chose this flight not knowing what an awful time I would have. Got to the Panama airport and checked my luggage with no problem. Proceeded through security and went to my gate. That is where everything changed. If you fly an USA-based airline from USA to a Spanish speaking country, the airline always has staff who speak both English and Spanish. Not Copa. No Copa staff at the gate or on the airplane spoke English. I was required to show my passport three separate times from the time I arrived at the gate till I got on the plane. When I got to my seat, there was a strong smell of urine. All announcements were made in Spanish. No English. I was horrified. I had no clue what the pilots or airline attendants were announcing. When they handed out the US customs forms, they gave me one in Spanish. I handed it back indicating I needed an English form. The attendant could not understand. Between having to endure the strong odor of urine on a four hour flight, and not being able to understand any announcements or get any assistance, I was totally frustrated and upset. Arriving home in the USA, I swore never ever to fly Copa again.

Toronto to Quito via Panama with Copa Airlines. Best flight I've taken in a long time. The staff were all helpful friendly. I enjoyed the fact that everything extra is provided at no charge and the fares were good. Would highly recommend them.

I am beyond disgusted, upset, and disappointed with COPA Airlines. In particular, the office in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. My brother, from Brazil, purchased tickets for me and my husband to fly from New Orleans to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The same day, I called Copa Airlines to add my infant son to our reservation. After choosing the option for English and not receiving anyone that spoke the language several times I finally got someone I could somewhat understand. I was told it would cost 10% of the regular ticket and I could pay at the airport. I asked several times if I could pay in advance and was told I could not, I had to pay at the airport. I tried calling back a few weeks later and got the same answer. 24 hours before my flight I checked in online and printed boarding passes for myself and my husband. The morning of 10/19/15, at 5:00am I arrived at the airport with my family for our flight at 7:05am. Because I checked in online we were moved through the "fast line". I asked to pay the fee for my son and was told it was no problem. The lady with COPA Airlines took all 3 of our passports and $142.00 in cash and walked away to the back office. In all we waited at the counter for over 2 hours! Most of that time we were completely alone. All other passengers had boarded the plane and all Copa Airline representatives were behind closed doors without telling us what was going on. When someone finally came out at almost 7:00 she took my husband with her through security leaving me and my 1 year old son behind with a very unpleasant and unhelpful man from Copa Airlines who claimed to be the manager. The only explanation we ever received was that their systems were frozen. About 20 minutes later the man made me run through the airport while holding my son to catch the flight. I never received a boarding pass for my son nor did I ever receive a receipt for the fee I paid. I was then yelled at by security because the "manager" at Copa Airlines was rushing me through the wrong security line while he still had my passport in his hand. Finally we board the plane and are on our way to Brazil. We land in Panama where no one speaks English and the food at the airport cost triple the average price and we wait for 5 hours with a restless 1 year old. When it is time to board the plane to Brazil the Copa Airlines representative tells us we will have to wait so they can check the system for a boarding pass for my son. Of course, there is no way to check it from the desk we are at so again we are left alone by Copa Airlines. The lady with Copa Airlines returns with a smile to say we can not board this plane without a visa. I ask her to explain and she proceeds to laugh and tell me that we do not have a visa so we can not board the plane to Brazil. We are stuck in Panama for now. I call my brother in Brazil and a manager and Copa Airlines said there is nothing they can do. I ask why Copa Airlines sent us out of the country without the proper documents and they said the Copa Airlines desk in New Orleans made a huge mistake. After another hour or so wait we are told they can send us back home to New Orleans. We wait another 2 hours and take the flight home. When we arrived in New Orleans we had to wait at the gate until the entire plane unloaded to get our stroller. This wait put us at the back of the line for customs, which took forever! We finally get to baggage claim only to find that they have lost my sons car seat!

I've flown several times with Copa and every time is different - from old airplanes and bad food to nice airplanes and good service. This last flight was from Guatemala to Sao Paulo via Panama, I flew on a Embraer 190 from Guatemala to Panama, it was a really comfortable and short flight (one and a half hour), but the flight from Panama to Brasil, the Boeing 737-800 is a nightmare, too tight, turbulence can get nasty, the plane had a somewhat nice entertainment system but not something that would keep you busy on the 7 hours flight. Food is bad on Copa Airlines, flight attendants not always polite, 50% of the time they will not provide a blanket, they do give headphones every time. Overall is a decent airline but I'd rather fly another airline the next time.

Flew Copa Airlines from Miami to Rio de Janeiro via Panama City on October 6th, late afternoon departure from MIA via Panama City. The 2.5 hr flight from Miami to PTY was less than half full, which helps. We were offered a chicken empanada or a cheeseburger for dinner. Not bad. Early arrival in Panama. The flight from Panama to Rio de Janeiro (a 7-hour trip) departed Panama 40 minutes late but arrived in Brazil only 5 minutes late. For this long-haul, Copa uses a brand-new Boeing 737-800 with Sky Interior and AVOD with limited selection. Even though the Boeing 737 is a small aircraft, with this flight also being less than half full, it took the reasonably friendly cabin crew 90 minutes to finish dinner service. You did have complimentary full-bar service with dinner. For breakfast (3.5 hours later) I only got a Quaker bar with coffee. A light breakfast would be more appropriate, especially since dinner is so light. Boeing 737 is not appropriate for such long trips, since space is very limited and turbulence is strongly felt throught the flight. All is all, Panama City is a reasonably simple hub to connect and Copa offers acceptable service. Since I got my tickets for half the cost of what I normally pay it was good value for money. If the fare is similar however, I rather fly Delta on my next trip.

San Jose to Miami via Panama with Copa Airlines, and they are the best airline for connections in Central America. All these flights on time, the Panama transfer connection was just one hour, and did not have to rush. Panama Tocumen Airport was easy and convenient. FA's onboard flights were really nice, and good service on board, even for 1 hour flights.

Copa Airlines is a nice airline. Fast and easy check in online, securty priority line, nice lounge at JFK, boarding on time, comfortable seating on Boeing 737, lots of legroom. On the way to Panama there was no IFE, on the way back a new aircraft with new seats, great. FA very attentive. Downside is that the food service not up to business class standards. More like economy meal. All flights on time.

Flew SJO to PTY on CM 145 and PTY to TPA, both on 26 August. Both flights were punctual and pleasant. In fact, we pushed back 15 minutes early from San Jose and 10 minutes early from Panama. I had the emergency exit row to myself on both segments - even business class couldn't have been more comfortable. I was particularly impressed with the detailed instructions given to passengers seated in these rows. Service onboard was quick, efficient, and cheerful. The meals, while not exotic or gourmet, were more than adequate. In sum, an entirely positive experience.

Because of my job I'm a regular flyer on many airlines and I tend to prefer non-American airlines as, in my experience, they tend to provide better in-cabin service. However, on my recent flight from Panama to Washington DC on August 4th in the evening I had the most unpleasant experience with the business class flight attendant who was rude and condescending. If on top of offering older type of planes, with mediocre entertainment, COPA cannot offer top service as their competition such as Avianca or LAN Chile do. They should really pay more attention to their customer service and choose personnel who are inclined to provide proper services.