Hey - I'm considering booking award tickets but I am worried about PTY connection process/time. The connection time is 2.5 hours at PTY but the incoming and outgoing flights are on two different tickets and we will have checked luggage.

Found award Biz class seats in J connecting through PTY but the two segments (JFK-PTY, and PTY-EZE) are not available via single partner so I have to book each segment with a different partner. The first flight arrives at 8PM and the second flight departs at 10:38PM.

Since both flights are with Copa, will they allow me to check my luggage through at JFK?
If not, is 2.5 hours enough to go through immigration, pick up bags, and re-check in?