PTY - SJO

C$ 190 Find Cheap Flights from Panama City to San José

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Panama City to San José departing on 21/9. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to San José

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Panama City to San José, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Panama City to San José, as well as popular online travel agencies
Travellers love KAYAK
41,299,237 searches in the past 7 days on KAYAK

Save 22% or moreCompare multiple travel sites with one search.

Track pricesNot ready to book? Create a price alert for when prices drop.

Free to useThere are no hidden charges or fees.

Filter your dealsChoose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Flights Deals
Expert advice
Booking Insights
Flights Deals

Cheap Flights from Panama City to San José (PTY-SJO)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Panama City to San José that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Panama City to San José

Sun, 24 Aug - Wed, 27 Aug
Avianca Logo
1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.PTY-SJO
1h 15mdirect
Avianca Logo
10:15 a.m. - 12:35 p.m.SJO-PTY
1h 20mdirect
C$ 310Avianca
Find Deal
Fri, 26 Dec - Wed, 31 Dec
Avianca Logo
1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.PTY-SJO
1h 15mdirect
Avianca Logo
10:15 a.m. - 12:35 p.m.SJO-PTY
1h 20mdirect
C$ 311Avianca
Find Deal
Thu, 25 Dec - Mon, 5 Jan
Avianca Logo
1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.PTY-SJO
1h 15mdirect
Avianca Logo
10:15 a.m. - 12:35 p.m.SJO-PTY
1h 20mdirect
C$ 323Avianca
Find Deal
Thu, 4 Dec - Tue, 9 Dec
Copa Airlines Logo
8:40 a.m. - 9:05 a.m.PTY-SJO
1h 25mdirect
Copa Airlines Logo
4:08 a.m. - 6:33 a.m.SJO-PTY
1h 25mdirect
C$ 340Copa Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, 28 Aug - Mon, 1 Sep
Copa Airlines Logo
8:40 a.m. - 9:04 a.m.PTY-SJO
1h 24mdirect
Copa Airlines Logo
9:17 a.m. - 7:50 p.m.SJO-PTY
9h 33m2 stops
C$ 347Copa Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, 11 Aug - Mon, 18 Aug
Copa Airlines Logo
7:28 a.m. - 4:52 p.m.PTY-SJO
10h 24m2 stops
Copa Airlines Logo
9:17 a.m. - 7:56 p.m.SJO-PTY
9h 39m1 stop
C$ 354Copa Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, 27 Nov - Mon, 1 Dec
Copa Airlines Logo
6:28 p.m. - 6:55 p.m.PTY-SJO
1h 27mdirect
Copa Airlines Logo
4:08 a.m. - 6:33 a.m.SJO-PTY
1h 25mdirect
C$ 358Copa Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, 2 Sep - Tue, 30 Sep
United Airlines Logo
3:30 p.m. - 7:37 p.m.PTY-SJO
29h 07m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
8:37 a.m. - 8:10 p.m.SJO-PTY
34h 33m1 stop
C$ 1,743United Airlines
Find Deal
Tue, 2 Sep - Sat, 27 Sep
United Airlines Logo
3:30 p.m. - 7:37 p.m.PTY-SJO
29h 07m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
8:37 a.m. - 8:10 p.m.SJO-PTY
34h 33m1 stop
C$ 1,780United Airlines
Find Deal
Fri, 12 Sep - Fri, 19 Sep
United Airlines Logo
3:35 p.m. - 7:15 a.m.PTY-SJO
16h 40m1 stop
United Airlines Logo
8:37 a.m. - 8:10 p.m.SJO-PTY
34h 33m1 stop
C$ 1,901United Airlines
Find Deal
Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Panama City to San José

 
Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarisation of KAYAK-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Airlines
Avianca

Avianca's Classic fare includes a carry-on, checked bag, and seat selection.


Avianca's LifeMiles program offers attractive redemption options with Star Alliance partners.

Read more about Aviancaby Mark Chesnut
Copa Airlines

Copa's B737 fleet ensures fewer delays with easy aircraft swaps for mechanical issues.


Copa's Showpass offers digital entertainment on personal devices for a more enjoyable flight.

Read more about Copa Airlinesby Ramsey Qubein
Airports
PTY

For departures from PTY, check your terminal in advance. Copa Airlines uses both terminals, but check-in is only in Terminal 2.

Read more about PTYby Mark Chesnut
SJO

Upon arrival at SJO, taxis are available outside customs. Pre-booking with Coopetranstura or Taxis Unidos ensures a smooth ride.

Read more about SJOby Mark Chesnut
Our travel experts
Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut

Expert on Avianca, PTY and SJO

Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut is a travel writer and public speaker with more than 30 years of experience. The 2019 winner of the NLGJA Excellence in Travel Writing Award, Mark is the author of the book “Prepare for Departure” and has covered air travel for multiple top consumer and trade media outlets.

Read more
Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on Copa Airlines

Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

An avid traveler and aviation expert who has visited 173 countries, all 50 states and seven continents, Ramsey Qubein flies nearly 400,000 miles a year. As a North Carolina-based freelance journalist for publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, USA Today and Bloomberg among others, he explores the latest trends in aviation, hospitality, cruises and business.

Read more
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Panama City to San José flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Panama City to San José to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

How much is a round-trip flight from Panama City to San José, San José Province?

What is the cheapest month to fly from Panama City to San José?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Panama City to San José, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Panama City to San José is November, where tickets cost C$ 261 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are January and July, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is C$ 318 and C$ 315 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Panama City to San José?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Panama City to San José, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Panama City to San José, you should book around 8 weeks before departure, which saves you about 21% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 18 weeks before departure.

Find deals

Good to know

Low seasonMay
Cheapest flightC$ 190
Best time to beat the crowds (9% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 13% lower on average.
Flight from Panama City to San José

When to book flights from Panama City to San José

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Panama City to San José based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from Panama City to San José

  • What are the protocols established by major airlines regarding the transportation of animals from Panama City to San José?

    Leading airlines such as Avianca, Copa Airlines, and Aeromexico have implemented pet-friendly policies for flights between Panama City and San José. As long as the weight of an individual animal does not exceed 40 lbs, these airlines allow passengers to fly with small domesticated animals in the cabin.

  • Which flight route option from Panama City to San José is the most cost effective?

    To access more cost-effective ticket options, customers are advised to consider choosing connecting flights instead of nonstop flights when booking their flights from Panama City to San José. Customers can explore indirect flight options offered by airlines such as Aeromexico, which have layovers in Mexico City, or Avianca Airlines, which have layovers in El Salvador or Colombia.

  • Which airline operates the flights between Panama City and San José with the best luggage policies?

    If you intend to travel with multiple bags on your flight from Panama City to San José, it is advisable to select an airline that offers a more lenient policy regarding carry-on luggage. Copa Airlines, Avianca, and Volaris Costa Rica are among the carriers operating on this route that have the most accommodating rules when it comes to carry-on baggage restrictions.

  • How do I travel from the downtown Panama City to the PTY Airport?

    You can take the Metro Bus or Metro train to reach the area near the airport and then transfer to a local bus or taxi for the final leg of the journey. You can also use taxis, which are readily available throughout downtown Panama City. It's advisable to use registered taxis with official identification.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Panama City to San José?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Panama City to San José was C$ 138 for a one-way ticket and C$ 225 for a round-trip.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Panama City to San José?

    When flying out of Panama City you will be using Panama City Tocumen Intl. You will be landing at San José, also known as San José Juan Santamaria Intl.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Panama City to San José?

    Iberia, American Airlines, and Air France offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Panama City to San José flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Panama City to San José?

    The Boeing 737-800 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Panama City to San José flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Panama City to San José?

    SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and oneworld are the airline alliances operating flights between Panama City and San José, with SkyTeam being the most commonly used for this route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Panama City to San José?

    There are direct flights from Panama City to San José on a daily basis.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Panama City to San José?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Panama City to San José.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Panama City to San José?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to San José from Panama City is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Panama City to San José?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to San José with an airline and back to Panama City with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Panama City to San José?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to San José from Panama City up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Panama City to San José

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for C$ 192 or less one-way.
  • The majority of travelers flying from Panama City to San José choose to arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) instead of other nearby airports. This preference is primarily due to the fact that San José, being the capital city of Costa Rica, is home to a considerable number of the country's major companies’ headquarters.
  • By picking Avianca or Aeromexico, parents taking kids on a flight from Panama City to San José can improve their flight experience. These airlines provide free Wi-Fi access throughout the aircraft. Kids can listen to their favorite music, watch TV shows, or even enjoy cartoon networks if they have access to internet services during the flight.
  • Copa Airlines offers passengers flying from Panama City to San José the opportunity to upgrade to the first-class cabin at a discounted rate, regardless of whether they are traveling in business or economy class. Passengers can submit a bid specifying the price they are willing to pay for the upgrade. However, it's important to note that to be eligible for an upgrade, passengers must first pay for any changes to their itinerary.
  • When traveling from Panama City to San José, the majority of travelers choose to depart from Tocumen International Airport (PTY). This preference is primarily driven by the fact that PTY Airport serves as a major hub for numerous airlines, including Copa Airlines and Avianca, which operate flights between PTY and SJO. Due to the competitive pricing among airlines operating on this route, there is a higher likelihood of finding affordable tickets for this journey.
  • Upon arrival at SJO Airport, you have the freedom to select your preferred mode of transportation to explore the neighboring cities of San José, including Calle Blancos, Alajuelita, and San Juan. You have several options available to travel from SJO airport to these locations, including taking a bus or tax or renting a car.

Prefer to fly direct from Panama City to San José?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Panama City Tocumen Intl to San José Juan Santamaria Intl.
Find which airlines fly direct from Panama City Tocumen Intl Airport to San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Panama City Tocumen Intl to San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Monday

Air Europa,Air France,Avianca, +4 more

Air Europa,Air France, +5 more

Tuesday

Air Europa,Air France,Avianca, +4 more

Air Europa,Air France, +5 more

Wednesday

Air Europa,Air France,Avianca, +4 more

Air Europa,Air France, +5 more

Thursday

Air Europa,Air France,Avianca, +4 more

Air Europa,Air France, +5 more

Friday

Air Europa,Air France,Avianca, +4 more

Air Europa,Air France, +5 more

Saturday

Air Europa,Air France,Copa Airlines, +4 more

Air Europa,Air France, +5 more

Sunday

Air Europa,Air France,Avianca, +4 more

Air Europa,Air France, +5 more

See more nonstop flights

Direct returns

San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Panama City Tocumen Intl

Monday

Air Europa,Air France,Avianca, +4 more

Air Europa,Air France, +5 more

Tuesday

Air Europa,Air France,Avianca, +4 more

Air Europa,Air France, +5 more

Wednesday

Air Europa,Air France,Avianca, +4 more

Air Europa,Air France, +5 more

Thursday

Air Europa,Air France,Avianca, +4 more

Air Europa,Air France, +5 more

Friday

Air Europa,Air France,Avianca, +4 more

Air Europa,Air France, +5 more

Saturday

Air Europa,Air France,Copa Airlines, +4 more

Air Europa,Air France, +5 more

Sunday

Air Europa,Air France,Avianca, +4 more

Air Europa,Air France, +5 more

See more nonstop flights

Reviews of the top airline flying from Panama City to San José

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Panama City to San José. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Panama City to San José? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.5
Copa AirlinesOverall score based on 1493 reviews
7.8Boarding
8.1Crew
6.8Food
7.4Comfort
6.8Entertainment
Airline reviews

horrible service, food was an embarrassment, no charging for cellphones, stay away

2.0 MediocreAnonymous, Jul 2025PTY - IAD
Read more Copa Airlines reviews

horrible service, food was an embarrassment, no charging for cellphones, stay away

Great experience with a crew always thinking in the passenger

Did upgrade, travel in business it was great (more room I could sleep)

Had to go through security at the gate again. Had to take off shoes and go through the whole thing again even though we have global entry. They asked us to check in items bought at duty free during our layover and since we checked our luggage at the original departure airport, they forced us to check in a small backpack. None of this ever happened with other airlines. In addition, no vegetarian food option and no snacks during a 7 hr flight. Luggage limits are unusually small. This is unacceptable. Will NEVER fly Copa again and will tell friends and family to avoid this airline.

We paid extra with copa for seats near one another The plane was changed and we lost our seats We were all Separated. We have not received a refund for our seats despite emailing and calling.

It was ok. However, the food was quite poor since I don't eat pasta.

Tell people to remain in their seats during the meal/beverage distribution. Enforce boarding by group numbers. No one was checking. Tell people to turn their electronics speakers off. Bigger cups for drinks.

Enforce the boarding process by group numbers. Tell people to stay seated during the meal/drink distribution. It took forever to get food and drinks because people would not stay out the isle and let the crew do their jobs. Everyone wanted to go to the bathroom forcing the crew to enter and leave the isle constantly so people can pass. Tell people to keep their electronics off speaker mode. No one wants to hear phone conversations and music playing.

The flight was delayed twice and I could not speak with anyone at the airport about checking in. The phone number to Copa - the customer service agents were polite. They are just limited at helping because they are not at the airport

We were in transit from Lima (flight at 1.10am) and we were in stand by in our flight from Panama to Washington. We wait from 4.30 am to 18.30pm in the Airport. The company give us 2 x 15 dollars for eat during the day and a personnal travel voucher of 400 dollars each. Do they buy food one time something in the Airport ??? And one of us live in France so the voucher is not usable. More than 24 hours travel !! And our place were near the toilets, with 8 children around us. The boy behind my seat stamped his feet on my back all the flight. Really Wonder full ! So we are totally unhappy with our travel. Thanks Copa Airlines....

Everything you need to know for your flight from Panama City to San José

Information on your arrival and departure airports

Panama City (PTY)
San José (SJO)

Not what you’re looking for? Find thousands of other hotels, flights, car rentals and package deals with KAYAK.