Originally Posted by
JayhawkCO
Thanks for responding. I'm transferring from T3 (United) to T2 (Copa). I Google Mapped it and it's only an 8 minute walk, so if we don't feel like waiting for the shuttle, it won't be too bad. Also, thankfully both of us will just have carry-on, so there won't be a need to re-check. I was just worried that:
Immigration + ~10 Minutes to Switch Terminals + Re-Checking In with Copa (if only to turn in our forms) would eat up a lot of that layover. I've read some of the horror stories of 2-hour waits in the immigration line. But, it sounds like immigration isn't too bad right now, and I have a hunch that the Copa check-in line won't be nearly as bad as any of the U.S.-based airlines. There are two flights leaving to Panama City right around the same time, but I did look at the seat maps (not a good indicator of load, I know), and both are only about 25% full at most right now.
Oh gosh, I saw you now have an even longer layover. And, you're doing carry-on only. You should have a ton of time to get to T2, eat lunch, shop & repeat all that !!
The last few trips they've been much better at staffing the Immigration booths, so they've made it faster than it used to be (for us, at least). We're there pretty much every April & Dec, sometimes August too.
I think in all of our many arrivals into T3 we've
probably never waited longer than 45 minutes in the Immigration line. And, those longer waits would likely have been for our Xmas-time trips where there are more travelers around.
Oh, and I've read stories to make sure you get the official terminal shuttle bus. People have been scammed by non-official shuttle people who charge you an arm & a leg for the short transfer.