So, the xfer is from a CM flight to a UA flight. The exact itinerary would be helpful.

But UA has 3 flights to IAH and 1 daily to EWR, right? So the OP is either catching a 9:30-ish flight to EWR or IAH, or a later (12:41, 15:30) flight to IAH. Only the morning flights present any sort of rush at all. The afternoon UA flights are smooth as silk. Unless it's a very early flight on CM into PTY, I think the 2 hour layover is no problem whatsoever, even if the pax has to schlep the luggage out of customs, upstairs to the UA counter, and back through security. Of course it would be better if CM checks it all the way through.

UA will close up shop at the check-in counters upstairs at T-60, so your trip may go haywire if the CM inbound is late.

I have seen plenty of UA-CM bags (and vice versa) on the carousels. I would be fairly confident that CM will through-check your bags, even on separate tickets, although I have never done it myself. I would trust the counter agents vs. a phone agent.

I reversed this in my now-corrected comment above. Booking a Copa flight to connect to United in PTY is kind of interesting, since PTY-IAH (or PTY-IAH-XXX) and PTY-EWR (or PTY-EWR-XXX) tend to be much more expensive on United than similar routes from, e.g., Costa Rica. I'm curious about the exact itinerary here.

Guys I need to get to David. My incoming CM flight from LAX (10pm departure) arrives at 6:32 am. (J Class)

Id like to get on CM17 to David that departs at 7:31 am, is it doable? What is the process? Any tips?

I'd like to avoid if possible the 4pm flight cause that would be a 9+ hour wait.

the PTY-DAV tickets haven't been purchased yet, and I know it seems that MCT in PTY is longer than 59min, since I cant pull up these flights together on GDS.

Wow, DAV is getting popular. The CM website will sell that itinerary, but CM 17 is shown at 7:37 in my dummy booking. I'd say the only way it's doable is without checked luggage and to have on-line check-in for the DAV flight before leaving LAX.

Otherwise, you might need to taxi to PAC for Air Panama.

Look for the previous post in this thread for details on the international-domestic procedure.

As Yadi said, I don't like your chances on that one. If the incoming flight is early, you might be able to make it if you don't have checked bags.

So doing a Galapagos cruise in Dec and am looking to book flights to avoid red eyes and flying business class. I'm 1K on United so was looking at GYE-SFO for our return. Times are GYE 3:05 pm to PTY 5:14 pm. PTY 6:11 pm to SFO 11;08 pm so connection is 57 minutes. Not sure if we clear customs in PTY and if that is enough time to transit. I don't normally like such close connection times. And how is business class on Copa? Thanks

No need to clear customs. Just make sure that your bag is checked all the way through. 57 minutes should be fine. There will be another security check at the gate for your SFO flight, so don’t delay getting to it. As a J passenger you can skip the line

Hopefully the MAX will be back by then!!

Thanks for the feedback. That makes my decision so much easier!

Terminal Map
 

Here's the famous map from the seat-back magazine that other readers have correctly pointed out is nowhere to be found on the Copa or Tocumen websites.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a2b821cbc6.jpg

No experience flying COPA here. Looking at a return flight MDE-PTY-DEN with a 1-hour layover in PTY. From what I read they have extra screening for US-bound flights at the gate. Is a 1-hour connection enought time for a flight to the US? We would be in J, so I think that allows us to go to the front of the security queue at the gate. Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks so much.

~35 minutes too much connection time ;)

Ask on the MDE flight what your gate for DEN flight is. It’s near imposible to miss the DEN flight if you are waiting in the line to be screened at the gate security checkpoint (I have never seen them leave with people still in this line, as it’s on them to process everyone). Obv if your flight from MDE is quite delayed, then that’s a different story

We had a 55 minute connection in November GYE-PTY-SFO and made it even stopping for a quick bathroom break. Yes there was extra screening for the US flight and we had to dump our water. PTY is a very easy airport to transit through.

I'm travelling BOG-PTY-GUA tomorrow with c. 50min before boarding of my flight to GUA starts. Will this be enough time to maybe also stop by the lounge for some time?

Yes

Not sure if it belongs here but my question is small and i dont want to create new thread

Booked Copa Airline flight using UA miles, from South America to US
Does it come with one free checked bag?

I think it does, but wanted to confirm
it is Economy (X) for Copa legs and Economy (XN) for United leg

Thank you