Panama PTY detains 100's of passengers daily! I was one of them this week
Mar 24, 2019, 11:51 am
#31
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: IAH
Programs: UA
Posts: 605
Given the corroborating account posted by pmarrsouth above, I'm buying the facts of the OP's story, namely that he was detained and deported from transiting Panama based on a trivial US criminal matter. We can all debate the reasons. Panama has had more than a few international scoundrels and scandals, I can understand them being a little more selective (just not this selective).
Question to OP: did you get refunded for your leg PTY-POS? Were you forced to purchase your return PTY-BOG or does the airline eat the cost?
Question to OP: did you get refunded for your leg PTY-POS? Were you forced to purchase your return PTY-BOG or does the airline eat the cost?
Mar 24, 2019, 10:34 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: Landry's President's Club, Marriott Silver, Awesomeness EXPLT
Posts: 20,417
I have just been released from a harrowing and extremely unpleasant 30 hours detention at panama PTY airport for no valid reason!
No food, water, phone call, information or english speakers meant I just had to sit in a windowless empty room for 30 hours not knowing what I had done, or if I would ever be released.
Eventually they led me up to a gate and put me on a flight back to my origin, with no explaination given.
As a british citizen i usually travel freely without visa to most countries and when i checked my flight to Trinidad via PTY Panama I wasn't concerned about needing a visa. However when I landed there were officers checking people off the plane and I got grabbed along with a few others (who I have not seen before or since.)
I was led to a room with a couple of guys wearing US immigration tags and who seemed to be checking people with an intention of heading north to the US.
I have no interest or reason to go to the US and dont need a visa for that anyway, so have no idea why I was hauled in. They wanted to know the reason for my travel and confiscated my phone & laptop, then said I had to wait for 'enquiries'
This turned into 30 hours of extreme worry and inhuman treatment without any legal oversight or care for human rights (no food, water, communications, or access to consular advice)
I post this thread as a warning and am also reporting to UK foreign office, to warn all travellers not to connect via PTY - unless you dont mind facing the same treatment that happened to me.
I am a white, middle aged, married businessman, smartly dressed, no criminal or other history that would explain the situation I was put into. (aside from a speeding ticket in the US several years ago) Now I am wondering is the US controlling Panama and so forcing them to filter every single passenger according to US whim of who is 'acceptable' to enter south America region. It seems this is actually happening!
While I was detained there were literally over 100 people in the same situation as me, mainly from S America regional countries, but also chinese and middle eastern origin nationals. No one knew why they were detained and the staff made absolutely no effort to process us quickly.
They simply left us to wait for as long as they legally could (i found out later that they immigration has 24 hours to make a decision) before finally bothering to call the airline to send people home.
warning to all - avoid PANAMA at any cost. its an unsafe airport to pass through and there should be a warning to all travellers before booking tickets
No food, water, phone call, information or english speakers meant I just had to sit in a windowless empty room for 30 hours not knowing what I had done, or if I would ever be released.
Eventually they led me up to a gate and put me on a flight back to my origin, with no explaination given.
As a british citizen i usually travel freely without visa to most countries and when i checked my flight to Trinidad via PTY Panama I wasn't concerned about needing a visa. However when I landed there were officers checking people off the plane and I got grabbed along with a few others (who I have not seen before or since.)
I was led to a room with a couple of guys wearing US immigration tags and who seemed to be checking people with an intention of heading north to the US.
I have no interest or reason to go to the US and dont need a visa for that anyway, so have no idea why I was hauled in. They wanted to know the reason for my travel and confiscated my phone & laptop, then said I had to wait for 'enquiries'
This turned into 30 hours of extreme worry and inhuman treatment without any legal oversight or care for human rights (no food, water, communications, or access to consular advice)
I post this thread as a warning and am also reporting to UK foreign office, to warn all travellers not to connect via PTY - unless you dont mind facing the same treatment that happened to me.
I am a white, middle aged, married businessman, smartly dressed, no criminal or other history that would explain the situation I was put into. (aside from a speeding ticket in the US several years ago) Now I am wondering is the US controlling Panama and so forcing them to filter every single passenger according to US whim of who is 'acceptable' to enter south America region. It seems this is actually happening!
While I was detained there were literally over 100 people in the same situation as me, mainly from S America regional countries, but also chinese and middle eastern origin nationals. No one knew why they were detained and the staff made absolutely no effort to process us quickly.
They simply left us to wait for as long as they legally could (i found out later that they immigration has 24 hours to make a decision) before finally bothering to call the airline to send people home.
warning to all - avoid PANAMA at any cost. its an unsafe airport to pass through and there should be a warning to all travellers before booking tickets
Mar 26, 2019, 12:28 am
#33
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,884
How fast were you going on your speeding ticket? Did you fail to appear in court? What state did the speeding ticket occur in? Panama isn't going to boot you over a normal speeding ticket, but if you didn't appear in court or were driving recklessly that could get flagged as a previous offence.
OP, a quick search showed: Travelers should be aware that Panamanian immigration law provides for the denial of entry or transit to any person who has a criminal conviction. I don't know the status of your court case but in your shoes I would ask the lawyer you contacted how to manage your travel going forward.
Mar 26, 2019, 8:14 pm
#34
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: AA GLD, AC
Posts: 4,220
Yeah, me neither. I'm betting I have a speeding or parking ticket out there somewhere and have been to PTY twice in the last year. Countries do share criminal data, and I'm guessing Panama is one of the countries that doesn't allow bad elements into the country freely. But I'm not sure that they'd stop a transfer (maybe) and certainly not just for a speeding ticket in another country.
Not saying it absolutely couldn't have happened, but it just sounds extremely strange.
Edit: uanj's point about this maybe being something rather more than a speeding ticket could explain why it would rise to the attention of federal authorities.
Mar 29, 2019, 3:03 pm
#35
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Heraklion, Greece
Posts: 7,565
Citing from OP's Post #17:
Business trips (banking!) in these countries + Colombia and Panama without speaking/understanding Spanish? 
funnily enough im travelling to other latam countries, without any other problems! (brazil, argentina, chile, ecuador etc)
I travel a lot for my business (banking) and am used to visa free access to most countries with no hassles so I was extremely surprised at what happened in Panama.
I travel a lot for my business (banking) and am used to visa free access to most countries with no hassles so I was extremely surprised at what happened in Panama.
My phone was confiscated and I was unable to communicate with anyone in spanish.
Apr 9, 2019, 12:07 pm
#39
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
As much as I'd hate to be seen defending this indefensible thread, it wouldn't surprise me if banking officials in Panama City flawless English. It's become an international banking hub over the last few years. Besides, he was just transiting Panama. But your point may be valid for Colombia and other destinations in Central/South America.
May 23, 2019, 8:38 am
#40
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 305
The OP sounds like a troll.
In fact, judging by the OP's writing style, it reminds me of this thread: AMERICAN AIRLINES in decay!! Mispresenting your TRUE destination
In fact, judging by the OP's writing style, it reminds me of this thread: AMERICAN AIRLINES in decay!! Mispresenting your TRUE destination
May 30, 2019, 9:27 pm
#42
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: UA
Posts: 324
IIRC, Panama has the "Canadian" rule where the they treat certain offenses harsher than in their home country.
For example, if you have ever been charged with DWI in the states, even if the charge is processed down, Canada regards that as a felony conviction and will use that to bar you entry into Canada. And the US and the UK give them the information.
What likely happened in this case is that the speeding ticket was seen by Panama as a criminal conviction. The OP should take care before attempting to enter Canada, Panama, or Australia, all of whom have this rule.
For example, if you have ever been charged with DWI in the states, even if the charge is processed down, Canada regards that as a felony conviction and will use that to bar you entry into Canada. And the US and the UK give them the information.
What likely happened in this case is that the speeding ticket was seen by Panama as a criminal conviction. The OP should take care before attempting to enter Canada, Panama, or Australia, all of whom have this rule.
Jun 5, 2019, 2:15 pm
#43
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: AA GLD, AC
Posts: 4,220
The OP sounds like a troll.
In fact, judging by the OP's writing style, it reminds me of this thread: AMERICAN AIRLINES in decay!! Mispresenting your TRUE destination
In fact, judging by the OP's writing style, it reminds me of this thread: AMERICAN AIRLINES in decay!! Mispresenting your TRUE destination
Jun 16, 2019, 8:21 am
#44
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 305
I know I should not really care, but the tone and the capitalization of key words like "AMERICAN AIRLINES" in that other thread and "GUANTANAMO" (see below quote) are what really irritates me. The tone of both passages seems to suggest to me they are big gossipers who are adept to spread false rumors and innuendo.
If I had to put the OP through the troll sniff test, I would venture that there must be some thread on 4chan, 8chan, or other troll board tracking this thread in which the OP is tracking the reactions of the OP's alleged misfortunes.
I recently got turned down for a job offer on GTMO as a contractor. I'm a bit sad by it, but I can go elsewhere for such positions when they come up.
If I had to put the OP through the troll sniff test, I would venture that there must be some thread on 4chan, 8chan, or other troll board tracking this thread in which the OP is tracking the reactions of the OP's alleged misfortunes.
Yeah, me neither. I'm betting I have a speeding or parking ticket out there somewhere and have been to PTY twice in the last year. Countries do share criminal data, and I'm guessing Panama is one of the countries that doesn't allow bad elements into the country freely. But I'm not sure that they'd stop a transfer (maybe) and certainly not just for a speeding ticket in another country.
Either there's more to this story than a speeding ticket, or there's a whole lot less to this story. Based on some of the opinions in the follow up post, I'm starting to wonder if it's the latter.
"This is a truly worry over extension of US power into foreign territories who are compliant to its overbearing stance on 'border protection' (i.e. same as GUANTANAMO). In reality I presented zero risk to panama, but they willingly detain and deport anyone with any criminal history of ANY kind (no matter how small) due to US pressure to do so."
"My travel thru panama should not automatically trigger a criminal record check against US databases. the US should confine its criminal sanctioning to its own territories and not enforce it further afield - especially when it results in the 3rd country actually taking such a hard line to enforce these policies in the hope of gaining favour from the US agents working within its immigration department."
"Beware of travelling there, or you may be caught in the US sponsored net next time!"
Either there's more to this story than a speeding ticket, or there's a whole lot less to this story. Based on some of the opinions in the follow up post, I'm starting to wonder if it's the latter.
"This is a truly worry over extension of US power into foreign territories who are compliant to its overbearing stance on 'border protection' (i.e. same as GUANTANAMO). In reality I presented zero risk to panama, but they willingly detain and deport anyone with any criminal history of ANY kind (no matter how small) due to US pressure to do so."
"My travel thru panama should not automatically trigger a criminal record check against US databases. the US should confine its criminal sanctioning to its own territories and not enforce it further afield - especially when it results in the 3rd country actually taking such a hard line to enforce these policies in the hope of gaining favour from the US agents working within its immigration department."
"Beware of travelling there, or you may be caught in the US sponsored net next time!"
Jun 16, 2019, 9:36 am
#45
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: IAH
Programs: UA
Posts: 605
Just another data point: I got off a UIO-PTY flight last week. Just like the OP states, a couple of non-uniformed, lanyard-ed dudes were checking everyone's passports coming off the plane. A very quick glance at mine and I was through, but they were definitely looking for someone.