COPA Question//Connecting at PTY
Feb 20, 2015 | 9:09 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: DL, UA
Posts: 432
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.
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.
Feb 20, 2015 | 9:14 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: UA 1MM Premier Gold, DL Silver Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriot Rewards Gold
Posts: 660
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!
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!
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.
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.
Feb 20, 2015 | 9:19 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K & 1MM/AA ExecPlat & 1MM/HH Diamond/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 3,069
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.
Feb 20, 2015 | 11:37 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: MEX
Programs: LATAMPASS, Copa ConnectMiles Gold
Posts: 266
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.
Also, it's worth mentioning that Copa has an excellent on-time record. Flightstats ranks them #1 in Latin America.
Feb 20, 2015 | 11:50 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EP/MM
Posts: 38
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.
Feb 20, 2015 | 12:33 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,617
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.
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.
Feb 21, 2015 | 4:10 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MDE
Programs: AA-PLT, HH-GLD, PP
Posts: 1,517
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.
Feb 26, 2015 | 5:20 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,617
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.