Flights to PTY - upgrades?
 

I am a bit confused still as to CO's policy regarding upgrades.

I am flying on 11/17 from EWR and I am waitlisted for an upgrade to Business First. Are flights to Panama City eligible for EUA's? If yes, does being waitlisted hinder any chances for the EUA?

Thanks...

EWR-PTY & PTY-EWR are eligible for EUAs.
I was EUA'd on an H fare both ways back in August.

This is not a BusinessFirst flight. The equip is usually a 737-800 or 737-700 and the service is closer to transcon service.

Have fun in Panama, it is really a hidden treasure.

Not BF
 

Domestic 1st class seats, not BF seats. As far as the service, I detected no real difference in front cabin service to/from PTY than in any other 1st class domestic flight.

Ditto (I received EUA on my recent visit).

But what a great place! If you get the chance, ask a cab driver to take you on a tour of the city/canal...it will cost you about $30 for about 4 hours!

It appears that 12 of the 14 seats are still available. Can I get UAE'd if I am waitlisted?

You will get the upgrade
 

You will most likely get the upgrade. Are you going down for the Thanksgiving week? We're going down on 11-21 but using miles for coach so we can't upgrade. There are always seats that go empty up front in my experience.

Don't know if you've been there before but it is a GREAT place. Great restaurants, shopping and people and in an hour you can be on the Caribbean side, 1.5 hours you can be in El Valle (canopy zip lines) and in 30 minutes you can be at the Gamboa Resort, all of which I recommend.

Cheers

PTY is a treasure and an almost sure upgrade(if there is such a thing).

Have fun, it was blast to visit.

Dan

Which is an easier route for upgrades - EWR-PTY or IAH-PTY?

From my experience I have always received 5 day EUAs from both airports to PTY.

Dan

Anybody taken this route of late? How has the upgrade success been? I'm wondering if I have a shot as a NWA Elite....

While my last trip to PTY was some months ago, the upgrade for this Plat did not happen until shortly before departure. I noticed that the cabin appeared to be full of US business types (dress, un-foreign-accented English, powerpoint presentations, papers with company letterhead). I was told by my seatmate that many engineering and construction companies were sending employees to PTY regularly for work on the canal expansion. He said that he flew down there almost weekly as did his fellow and allied industry members. He said that many of their competitors and subcontrators were in the F cabin. He said that F was almost always full on these flights.

My guess is that the canal expansion may result in lower upgrade rates for Elites, especially Silvers and Golds, and especially on commuting days on this route.

I flew IAH-PTY-IAH last month and did not get an EUA as a Silver on an H fare, on a Friday and Sunday. The cabin seemed to be pretty full well in advance of the 5 day EUA. I agree on the flight being full of business types. Panama is booming.

Actually, I've gotten upgraded as a V fare passenger flying out of Panama as well as out of Guatemala to Houston. The Elite base is not very large so the probability is quite high in either country based on my experience. I find the seats extremely comfortable, no exaggeration, and their service is 200 times superior than TACA. When it is hot out, and i sit in a leather seat, the leather feels nice and cool! The food on CO/CM (Copa) is amazing! Great wines to go with it!

As a Plat. I was upgraded to PTY from IAH and EWR. Great service. Incredible country. ENJOY!

After reading these posts, I became intriqued with the idea of travelling to PTY, but just now checking CO.com on a number of random weekend dates between mid July through late Oct, the cheapest fare I get from EWR is $518 ?? What is considered their 'off season' ? I was looking at Fri or Sat departures with returns on the following Sun or Mon. I realize with so much business travel to the area, the fares would be higher--but I thought that would be during the week.