Other North & South America Frequent Flyer Programs - COPA installing AVOD (it looks great!)

I recently flew Copa airlines JFK-PTY-LIM and as a UA MileagePlus Silver I was even upgraded on 2/4 flights. I was not upgraded on either JFK-PTY leg, but on the initial JFK-->PTY leg I could tell from jetway that I was going to be on a SkyInterior aircraft, and upon walking through I noticed there were PTVs with AVOD (Panasonic, the kind UA is installing on the 764's, not sure the model)!!! I did not even know they were considering this. Does anyone know anything about it? I have a picture but since this is my first thread I'm not sure the protocol (there are a few people that can be seen in the photo) on posting.

Also, the new Copa Club in PTY isn't too great, but not too shabby. PTY is mediocre: the middle part is very nice but the two "ends" (roundish areas of the terminal on either end) are abysmal (stench, bugs etc).

Overall, I enjoyed my experience with Copa.

Essentially, I am asking if Copa is installing this fleetwide? Any other developments? I assume they are b/c it seems illogical to put it on only 1 aircraft..

That's a surprise to me! Are you sure you weren't on Avianca? :D

I checked the COPA website, and there is no mention of it, even in the articles about the new planes.

I'm flying IAD-MDE tomorrow, but the A/C is scheduled to be a 737-700, so it's an older one. But, I will ask the FA's and if there is any update, I will post it.

Note: There is a lot more conversation about COPA on the United Airlines forum, since the two companies have such a close partnership. Posts about COPA are always welcome there.

I actually just saw a few pics on their facebook page (search: copa airlines) -- it seems only 1 a/c has this thus far, but I am still curious as to weather or not they will be installing this fleetwide.

"I'm flying IAD-MDE tomorrow, but the A/C is scheduled to be a 737-700, so it's an older one. But, I will ask the FA's and if there is any update, I will post it."

-- excellent thanks! :)

Here is a link to a facebook photo of the AVOD. It is a passenger photo that they tagged to COPA, not an official COPA photo.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151098931960487&set=o.135155299865681&type=3&theater

I did ask an FA and COPA club rep yesterday. They both were aware of the aircraft, but could not tell me if it would be rolled out across the fleet.

There was a page in Panorama that described the "state of the art" entertainment system, but what was described was only the standard system with shared screens and a few channels. No mention of future upgrades. I ran a Google search on COPA and AVOD and came up dry.

FWIW - My plane was an old-style 737-800 with the standard stuff.

I was on that aircraft some 2 months ago, on a PTY-MEX. Mindblowingly delicious interiors!!

I had forgotten about this thread...

I ended up on this plane MIA-PTY in either May or June. Another difference is a much larger seat pitch in ejecutiva, but no room to put your stuff under the seat in front.

But, all-in-all a nice experience. I have yet to see anything from COPA promoting this, so I assume they don't yet have any confirmed plans to adopt this system-wide. If they did, I think it would get a lot of people flying USA to Brazil/Argentina to switch from United and American. Possibly European fliers who transit through the USA too.

I had the pleasure of flying Copa recently EZE-PTY-HAV roundtrip and I am pleased to report that their new business class product is a HUGE improvement over what was in use on this route previously. The new seat has significantly increased legroom and the seat itself reclines significantly more and has a leg and footrest that makes sleep much easier to come by. There is also an AVOD system that was pretty good and included a USB and standard AC plug to charge your own personal electronics. The food, unfortunately, is still mediocre and in relatively small portions.

I too had the pleasure of flying on one of the new COPA 737-800 planes in business class. Wonderful comfy seat, great meal service and attentive and pleasant attendants. We flew ORD-PTY-GIG and return.
Having flown business on all four legs, but only one on the new plane, can definitely say the updated plane is quite an improvement over the regular 737-700 (although the service is business was excellent). The entertainment system featured a choice of 4 recent releases, 4 new classics (finally was able to see the end of The Descendants), games, a USB port and a charger. Yes, the entertainment system takes up leg room and is somewhat bulky (reminds me of the old inseat entertainment units that United used to have), but the extra legroom and huge overhead bins makes the decreased under-the-seat room not at all painful.

Hav>MDE, got upgraded

Would have not even known about AVOD til another passenger pulled it out of their armrest

Great to see them getting with the times!

Experienced the new Copa Clase Ejecutiva service last week, MEX-PTY, and yes, the AVOD was a very nice improvement!

Am hoping the upgrades will be rolled out to their older 737-700 jets, and the Embraer 190s (which have no video options at all).

The AVOD, along with the new and improved seats, have given a big boost to Copa's business class product.

Shhhhh!!!!

Or they will increase prices! :)

As far as I know, no way to tell if you are going to be flying in an upgraded plane or not. Anyone?

Not really.

In June I flew an evening flight PTY-MEX with nightstop in MEX. On an a/c with the new interiors.

Exactly a week ago I flew the morning flight from MEX but that was the old version of 738.

Instead I had the pleasure of flying the new version on a Sunday morning flight from PTY to CUN.

I'm not even sure of how many new versions Copa have in their fleet?

My guess is the 738 long haul routes will consistently have the new business class product and AVOD in all classes. PTY-EZE, for example, has the new product all the time.

Have been on a few 737-800s in the past three months (all on MEX-PTY route), but only last week did I fly one of the newly configured models with the upgraded seats and AVOD. Some of the other flights were on the new planes with the Sky Interior, but they still had the old drop-down TV monitors and lesser quality seats.

The latest issue of Copa's inflight mag Panorama already shows the new Clase Ejecutiva look, with the notation "Available on select flights aboard NG 737-800 aircraft".

Anybody flown the LAX-PTY recently? Have one scheduled in about three weeks and was wondering if they have this up and going on that 737-800.

Volando en Clase Ejecutiva. Flight leaves at 2am and already found out there's no (late) dinner, just breakfast!

Have my first experience with CM a few weeks ago and was rather disappointing overall, in fact, I still prefer TA or AV at this point.

Flew MEX-PTY-MGA-GUA-PTY-MTY on a combination of E90s, 737-700s and 737-800s and the only entertainment was on the the older 737-800 and it was a drop-down awful movie.

The PTY-MTY flight was over 4 hours with nothing on board to keep you entertained except for the overweight dude snoring a few rows away, again not a run ride or perhaps I am just spoiled with ACs E90s.

While the GUA and PTY check-in went very well, the MEX check-in staff are unprofessional and clueless about Star Alliance anything, perhaps its their station manager or lack of training but not a great way to start the trip.

I used a stopover in PTY to check out the city and my first impression of Panama Immigration was not good, in fact, recently only Istanbul and Algiers have had slower immigration lines. :td:

I will give them a second try in the next few weeks, and will make up my mind after that trip I guess.

I have mixed experiences in PTY immigration. I have cleared it within everything from 5 mins to almost an hour.

Tip:
Do remember that there are two immigration stations. If you come to a station and you find it packed with people, go back upstairs, and find the other one, located in the other end of the airport. They both lead to the luggage belts, so no need to worry about that.

My guess is the 738 long haul routes will consistently have the new business class product and AVOD in all classes. PTY-EZE, for example, has the new product all the time.

This route stilll hit or miss. Flew a few weeks ago. First segment, new a/c. Return on old interiors.

Wish I'd had this a few weeks ago. I flew PTY-ORD on a 737-700 and for five hours we were shown one movie on the drop down monitors :(

I just flew JFK-LIM via PTY on Copa in J on United award, and it was absolutely nothing to write home about. Had to change from Taca at the last minute, because the first leg was delayed and I would've missed my connection in BOG. Grrrrr...

Any idea of the plane number?

Any updates on this? I see that they have made GRU and EZE AVOD-only routes-I'm planning to fly down to SCL to ski this summer and wasn't sure if either JFK or the SCL flight would have it-are they installing it on other planes or just the new ones that are arriving? What are my shots at a CPU on either leg? last time (JFK-LIM) I was upgraded 2/4 times. What about my travel companion?

Should I take Avianca instead? Maybe do a daytrip into BOG---do they offer hotel rooms for long layovers?

thanks!

I just flew 8 legs on COPA, LAX-PTY-GRU and return and I loved it.

COPA long haul is a hidden gem that puts UA/AA/DL international J to shame.
All flights were 738s with AVOD. Excellent food and excellent service.
I was given a complimentary upgrade on 6 out of 8 legs and used a GPU for the last 2 flights to confirm a J seat.

All 738s with serial # HP-1821 and up have the new interiors.
I believe that all 738s with serial # HP-1726 and above have the new interior.
For Economy travel, Row 18 (the 2nd exit row) has a seat that reclines and has an extra 60cm leg room. Row 5 (bulkhead) has a cut out in the wall allowing you to stretch your legs. All Y seats have seat back AVOD.
The flights were all on time, and check in agents in GRU were very helpful and pleasant. PTY was pleasant and the lounge was decent enough for the 60 minute ground time I had each way. They will make you throw away any liquids before you board the US bound flight in PTY. Not sure how they deal with duty free purchased in GRU/GIG/SCL/EZE. I will find out next time....

Enjoy your COPA flights. I will definitely fly them again.

Did LAX-PTY-SCL and return last week on CM. Three of the four flights were the renovated cabin with AVOD.

A bit OT, but if you're not a good sleeper (like me), so lie flat isn't vital, then the seats in the new interior in J are terrific. I'm 6 feet and my legs couldn't reach the seat in front of me. My employer purchased M, and then I spent $400 of my own to u/g to D, and thus the J cabin. On UA, if you were out of GPUs as I always seem to be, the analogous transaction would cost twice as much due to the $400-500 one way UA copay for u/g's, you may or may not get the u/g, and you'd end up in a very large cabin with UA's renowned medicore soft product in J. The CM cabin service in this intimate J cabin was at least friendly; the food about the same as UA. I didn't care for the Copa Club in PTY (too crowded, little food), but if you're only there for a short layover, so what. (WiFi was fine). CM AVOD perhaps not quite as extensive as UA, but still quite OK.

I'd take this route again simply to get the very quick boarding (only 16 J pax), very quiet cabin, friendly service, and most of all, an assured J seat, as opposed to the incredible upgrade drama on COdbaUA. And you get 150% M+ miles and 150% PQM for the COPA J fares, including D. UA flyers are always surprised to learn that M+ is CM's native FF program, not simply a partner.

As a previous poster said, there is much gate anguish on PTY-US departures as they confiscate all liquids not duty free from PTY (or divert them to checked baggage), so those purchasing duty free from a downline point and connecting at PTY are unexpectedly SOL. Almost a fist fight over this at my gate.

Flew them last year. SO much better than UA! Only problem is that with US Air leaving the *A, No more flying COPA for me starting next year )-:

If it's an upgraded J seat or not?
Flying the day after tomorrow IAH-PTY-SCL on CM (the second leg). Got an instant UG to J. The A/C is 737-800, and the only way I could tell the difference is by looking at the Y cabin. row 11 - older version - no row 11 - new version. does it necessary mean it will be the new Sky Interior with new J seats (leg rests) or does it not mean anything...? curious...
Thanks!

Shhhhh!!!!

Or they will increase prices! :)

As far as I know, no way to tell if you are going to be flying in an upgraded plane or not. Anyone?

Copa is always expensive so i dont think they could increase more prices, sometimes the prices are ridiculous expensive.

Copa is always expensive so i dont think they could increase more prices, sometimes the prices are ridiculous expensive.

Compared to who??? My experiance is that their pricing is VERY competitive (especially in Business)!!!

Compared to who??? My experiance is that their pricing is VERY competitive (especially in Business)!!!

I think it depends on route and class of service. IME, where I book economy from Colombia to the USA or Mexico, they don't always have the best price, and they are always more expensive intra-Colombia.

They are almost always more expensive, but their service is superb! I fly them as much as possible and am upgraded a great deal as a UA Silver.^

Only real complaint I have is that quite often I have to chase mileage credit and even lost 1 segment as they kept delaying for 4 months and I just gave up.:confused::td: