Copa Airlines has earned its nickname as the “hub of the Americas” from its Panama City base. This Star Alliance carrier connects dozens of cities across North and Central America with the Caribbean and South America, often with shorter travel times and lower prices than competitors.
The trade-off? You’ll fly narrowbody planes, sometimes for as long as seven hours. But Copa still delivers full-service airline amenities, making it worth considering for north-to-south trips (or vice-versa).
Copa Airlines: The hub of the Americas advantage
Panama sits halfway between North and South America, giving Copa’s hub a geographic advantage that translates to efficient connections. You’ll experience relatively little backtracking when connecting through Panama City, unlike routing through northern hubs. Copa’s narrowbody-only fleet makes the airline nimble enough to serve niche markets other carriers can’t reach as easily.
With Copa, you can fly between a lot of destinations with just one quick stop in Panama City. It’s an itinerary no other airline can offer with the same efficiency since there’s very little backtracking. Think of it as a geographically logical straight shot you can get.
Copa serves 82 destinations across 32 countries, with a big footprint in the United States—16 cities to be exact. From there, travelers can easily connect across the Caribbean and South America. In many spots (like Mendoza, Argentina or Florianopolis, Brazil), Copa is the only airline offering non-stop service from Central America via Panama, giving it a serious edge for North American connectivity to these destinations.
Copa Airlines business class experience
Copa’s business class experience varies dramatically by aircraft. Only the newest Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes feature fully lie-flat beds in a 2-2 configuration. Don’t assume all 2-2 layouts offer the same experience.
Copa operates some of the longest 737 sectors on the planet, which means comfort gets sacrificed on older aircraft even in business class. That’s why travellers paying top dollar should specifically search for MAX 9-operated routes.
With a lot of planes still sporting the older layout, it can be tough to know what you’re getting unless you dig into the aircraft type when booking. The lie-flat Dreams Business Class remains exclusive to the MAX 9 fleet, while Boeing 737-800 aircraft retain their standard recliner seats. I’ve flown it, and trust me, it’s a world of difference from the old recliner seats on those seven-hour flights.
No matter which plane you’re on, the inflight service is consistent. The meals aren’t elaborate, but they’re tasty enough. Copa typically serves hot meals on longer flights. When the crew serves it, it arrives on a single tray without much ceremony.
For me, dining on a plane is a form of entertainment, a way to pass the time. So, Copa’s meals might feel a bit underwhelming if you’re used to more impressive service on other long-haul carriers. That’s likely because of the limited galley space on its smaller planes.
One personal pet peeve: On some flights, Copa delays the main meal service by several hours. This means they might wake everyone up just when you’ve finally drifted off. My advice? Ask the crew about the meal service timing so you’re not caught off guard.
Economy class is a tight squeeze
The one flight I took on Copa in economy was one of its longest from Santiago to Panama City. With an all Boeing 737 fleet, the 3-3 configuration and only two lavatories in the back of the plane can be a tight squeeze. I recommend paying for an exit row or one of the Economy Extra seats at the front of the plane for more space.
Copa offers hot meals in economy on longer flights and light snacks on shorter ones, which is a nice touch that sets it apart from low-cost carriers.
Onboard entertainment and amenities
Depending on the aircraft, your entertainment options will vary wildly. Some of the older Boeing 737-700s have no entertainment at all, while the newest Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes have individual touch screens at every seat. Both the Boeing MAX 8 and 9 models have “Showpass,” a digital entertainment system you can access on your own phone, tablet, or laptop.
The standard Boeing 737-800 planes have drop-down overhead screens, meaning everyone watches the same movie simultaneously. I find great value in researching the aircraft type in advance to determine the best seat and entertainment offering.
That said, it’s hard to avoid certain planes since that may be the only option flying to your destination.
Copa Airlines fleet and aircraft types
Copa flies an all-Boeing 737 fleet, including its original -700 and -800 models plus the newer, longer-range 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 planes. This all-American-made fleet gives the carrier an impressive reach for a non-U.S. airline. But with some flights lasting five hours or more, it really pays to know which cabin you’ll be in.
There are real benefits to flying an airline with just one type of aircraft. If there’s a mechanical issue, a plane can easily be swapped out. Crews are also proficient across the entire fleet, making delays or cancellations less likely. Plus, smaller planes like the B737 can land at airports with shorter runways than the widebody jets of other airlines.
An impressive new hub airport terminal
For years, the airline operated out of an overflowing, overcrowded terminal that could not handle the crowds that would converge on it for two hours and then disappear. Since Copa operates as a hub-and-spoke airline, dozens of flights are timed to arrive and depart at the same time to allow for maximum connectivity between cities. This meant the airport would be packed for a couple of hours and then suddenly empty.
The new terminal is a game-changer. It’s all curving lines, soaring ceilings and tons of glass with a modern look. I love it. With the new terminal comes an expanded Copa Club, the airline’s lounge. You can get in for free with a business class ticket or the right elite status from a Star Alliance partner program.
It’s a beautiful space with great views of the tarmac, but don’t arrive hungry. I always wonder why the airline skimps on the food. It’s mostly complimentary snacks and light bites, but at least the bar with alcoholic beverages keeps everyone happy.
ConnectMiles and the Star Alliance program benefits
The airline’s frequent flier program is very popular with travellers in Central America as well as its other destinations. It offers the chance to earn or redeem miles on Copa or any other Star Alliance member. This flexibility makes it popular with travellers across Central America and beyond.
The program’s similarities to United’s MileagePlus aren’t coincidental. Continental Airlines acquired a large share of Copa decades ago and partnered with the carrier for years. That’s why the livery, onboard product and loyalty program mirror Continental (which later merged with United).
Like U.S. programs, ConnectMiles offers complimentary upgrades to elite members when space is available. Imagine getting a free upgrade on a seven-hour flight to Buenos Aires. The program also offers free upgrades on award tickets and lets you upgrade a travelling companion, which are nice perks.
Members can also use miles to fly up front. But even if you’re not in the ConnectMiles program, there are other ways to snag a better seat. The airline has a bidding system where economy passengers can bid on an upgrade before departure.
Another great benefit I appreciate is using my United MileagePlus status, a partner carrier, to upgrade on Copa. I can use miles or points from my United account to move to business class, which is typically how I fly up front and a great value for my loyalty.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
