COPA and bumps
 

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has any experience/heard offers from COPA in event of an oversold flight. I'm hoping around C. America next week on some full flights, and would be interested in a bump if possible.

If they offer vouchers, any idea of what they normally offer?

I have volunteered to be bumped by Copa on a number of occasions, successfully three times. In each, I was offered a $400 voucher, lodging overnight in Panama City, and the usual perks (meals, transportation). Twice I was invited to a free tour of the Miraflores Locks, which allows ships into the Panama Canal.

For me, an extra day added onto my vacation with some money for the my next vacation flight was a no-brainer.

I would think carefully, however, about how difficullt it will be to redeem your voucher. As of a year ago, it had to be redeemed in person with Copa at the airport (or at one of their ticketing offices). I live about 3.5 hours from LAX, so making a trip to save $400 was not worth it.

I did happen to have a flight through LAX which matched up with the Copa counter's hours the last time I redeemed one.

Also, while traveling out of the US, I tried to use my voucher at an office in Montevideo, but the taxes that were added for buying my ticket there were rediculous. I waited until I arrived back at LAX to redeem.

All in all, I would probably do it again. Who am I kidding? Of course I would! I live for this sort of thing.

At Copa they're kinda famous for bumping people and making them stay in Panama City until the next flight. Of the times I've been on Copa, 50% of the flights were oversold, but I've taken none of their dirty vouchers... As thescandalousvato said, they're difficult to redeem and "taxes" on copa may be half of your total ticket, so not really that much of a deal.
That being said, I'm not a fan of Copa.. I find their seating uncomfortable, so I don't fly them unless is absolutely necessary.
You're flying on Christmas week, so if you need to be somewhere by christmas, don'tjust hope the last flight before will have a seat for you.. People in Panama said you'll have less of a priority to board on another full flight if you were bumped once.

Like someone else said, Copa is pretty much always offering $400 vouchers for bumps. I haven't been bumped for about a year now but the last time I was bumped was on the LAX-PTY flight (which when it was 1 flight/day was oversold everytime I flew it) and they put me up at an airport hotel, gave me meal vouchers and a $400 voucher. They also put me on AA in Business class from LAX-MIA-GYE the next morning so I only arrived about 8 hours later than I was scheduled to arrive and got to fly Business Class.

As for the Copa voucher, they kind of stink compared to other airlines vouchers. For one, they are paper vouchers (or were a year ago) and they need to be redeemed at a ticket counter at an airport (which isn't convienent when the nearest Copa ticket counter is a 3 hr flight from me!). Another issue with the voucher is that it doesn't cover Taxes! It also is only redeemable at the ticket counter which makes web only fares impossible to book. I was pretty disappointed with the vouchers but everytime I took a bump on Copa I was taken care of very well. I asked for Business class everytime and they did it for me (maybe because I was a Plat at the time). Even when they booked me on other airlines they would give me my original routing credit, so I got miles for not even flying them....and also miles from the other airline I flew with 50% bonus for fare class. Personally, I think that a $400 voucher for a 1 day delay and a 7 hour flight is weak but if you are a smart traveler, you will have them book you in Business Class and get you where you are going as fast as possible.

ALSO: Just a note that MODS should consider moving this to the Continental OnePass forum because Copa uses COs OnePass program and this may get a better response there!

Thanks for the info all - very useful. Seems like most likely it wont be worth it for $400 then..

Are these vouchers transferable?

Please post this thread where you see fit - but I prefer it in this forum as it is for just these reasons (Other N American airlines) - if not, then all Copa threads should go under CO.

The vouchers are 100% transferable which is nice

Cool thanks.... I ended up getting bumped by CO (which I wanted to avoid the temptation of getting bumped on CM). Maybe next time!