Quick Copa Update: PTY-SCL-PTY
 

I took a quick trip down to SCL recently, flying to Panama then connecting to Santiago, Chile on Copa.

The flights I took were the 7pm departure out of PTY, arriving at SCL at 3am. The return left SCL at 4am, arriving at PTY around 9:40am. Flight time was announced as 5h45 out and 6h40 back.

I was upgraded in advance on both flights as a Silver. The outbound flight had 6/12 seats filled and the return had 8/12. The seat next to me was empty on both flights.

I was given access to the PC in IAH even though I was in coach on the IAH-PTY flight. The PC in PTY is as nice as ever, with a good liquor selection (Chivas seemed to be popular) and champagne.

No preflight drinks were offered. Instead, a bottle of water was at each Clase Ejecutiva seat. Menus were passed out, then picked up as orders were taken. The dinner meal was nuts & drinks, soup, a salad, a pork or chicken entree, and ice cream or pear tart for dessert. A hot snack was offered before arrival, but I did not try it. Amenity kits containing socks, eyemask, toothbrush & toothpaste and earplugs were distributed on both flights. Newspapers and magazines were also offered (Spanish-language only).

At checkin for the return I was given an invite to the Lan Chile lounge. I was surprised that a lounge was available at 3am. I think everyone in the lounge was on our flight.

The return offered a hot snack (quiche or a wrap) at the beginning of the flight and breakfast (eggs or French toast) prior to landing.

The service was good on both flights. It seems Copa is trying to provide good service and amenities, even though the equipment (737-700) and seats (normal domestic F) are somewhat lacking for a 6+ hour flight.

Overall, I would fly this routing again. It's nice to have a good chance of an upgrade and good service versus flying Delta through ATL in coach. I will admit that the 1:30am wakeup call I had for my return flight was killer. Luckily, I had gone to bed early and was able to sleep some on the flight.

One caveat. The seats on this flight are standard F seats, like those on a regular domestic flight. They do not recline to a nearly flat level and do not have leg rests, so comfort may be an issue on the 6 hours each way. Granted the F seats sure beat coach, but they are not what one thinks of as F or J seats on a 767 or 777 to South America. The advantage is that EUA's apply to these flights, so you do not have to burn miles for an upgrade.

I agree with the rest of the comments.

Anyone working with COPA have any speculation as to their pending SkyTeam membership?

Looks like a 13-14k mile MR may be on call for me in the next few weeks so I can do sliver in the next month....That's only 2x of something west coast bouncing through IAH.....

What days of the week were these flights?