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-   -   COPA Question//Connecting at PTY (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/copa-connectmiles/1656586-copa-question-connecting-pty.html)

nw6338 Feb 20, 2015 9:09 am
COPA Question//Connecting at PTY
 
Forgive me if this is the wrong forum to ask this. If it is, please move accordingly.

I am scheduled to fly LAX-PTY-CTG (Cartagena) with a 1 hour 27 minute layover in Panama City outbound and a mere 57 minutes inbound. Is this long enough? I have never connected in Panama City and have no idea how far the gates are from each other. Honestly I also don't know if Copa is generally an on time airline.

I don't have to clear customs, right?


Thanks in advance.

rebech34 Feb 20, 2015 9:14 am
Hello there!
No, no clearing customs in PTY. It's a very friendly airport to connect in. It is if you have deplaned in any domestic airport - you go off the plane to the next gate. I've done 35 min in the past - no problem!

Originally Posted by nw6338 (Post 24384693)
Forgive me if this is the wrong forum to ask this. If it is, please move accordingly.

I am scheduled to fly LAX-PTY-CTG (Cartagena) with a 1 hour 27 minute layover in Panama City outbound and a mere 57 minutes inbound. Is this long enough? I have never connected in Panama City and have no idea how far the gates are from each other. Honestly I also don't know if Copa is generally an on time airline.

I don't have to clear customs, right?




Thanks in advance.

TWA Guy Feb 20, 2015 9:19 am
I was in PTY yesterday and by far one of the easiest airports to connect in. I wouldn't hesitate to schedule either connection. The gates couldn't be more than a 15 minute walk from each other and there usually is a security check at the gate for flights to the U.S. but really no big deal.

DarrenChannel Feb 20, 2015 11:37 am
Agree with rebech34 and TWA Guy -- connections at PTY are a breeze. And even with the new wing to the terminal, as I recall it still only took me 10-12 minutes to walk from one end to the other.

Also, it's worth mentioning that Copa has an excellent on-time record. Flightstats ranks them #1 in Latin America.

Pookie1794 Feb 20, 2015 11:50 am
No worries!
 
I fly CM at least once a month and almost always through PTY. Connecting there is a breeze with no security or immigration to deal with. If you stop by the Copa Lounge the agents will tell you exactly when boarding will begin as opposed to what is printed.

ricktoronto Feb 20, 2015 12:33 pm
Tear out the map from the inflight magazine. Signage in PTY is terrible or missing. Use the paper map and get your bearings.

Copa is good on time and they start boarding one hour before departure most of the time and they are serious about it. So on the return leg just go to the gate.

Don't worry about luggage. I connected with 15 minutes once and the luggage arrived.

nw6338 Feb 20, 2015 12:47 pm
perfect! thank you all for this reassurance. I would be hesitant to book a <1 hour layover anywhere but it sounds like this is the time and the place to make an exception.

coolcoil Feb 21, 2015 4:10 am
Originally Posted by nw6338 (Post 24386204)
perfect! thank you all for this reassurance. I would be hesitant to book a <1 hour layover anywhere but it sounds like this is the time and the place to make an exception.
Agreed, a connection in PTY on CM is one of the few places that I will risk a < 1 hour connection. Over the last seven years, I've probably connected through PTY close to 200 times and only ever missed a connection once.

ricktoronto Feb 26, 2015 5:20 pm
Originally Posted by coolcoil (Post 24389322)
Agreed, a connection in PTY on CM is one of the few places that I will risk a < 1 hour connection. Over the last seven years, I've probably connected through PTY close to 200 times and only ever missed a connection once.
SAL you can risk a sub 30 minute connection. It's half the size of PTY (and it is only one hallway) and TACA shades their schedules so much you always arrive early, to boot.


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