I don't know if they're lying. CO does fly to SA, as does COPA. From IAH to PTY it's CO metal, as it is from EWR to PTY. But it's COPA metal from LAX and JFK to PTY. And all are cross-code-shared.

Delta does go there - I think they fly non-stop to Santiago - but from Atlanta, not the most direct route from the West Coast. I'd saqy great, if you want to parlay it into a mileage run, but since you'll be on an award ticket. . .