Non lie-flat 737MAX
 

I often fly a CM route that does not get the MAX, which means we never get the lie-flats. To my surprise and delight, a 7M8 was scheduled on this morning's flight. I was so excited about the possibility of having a lie-flat on my main route, even if just as a one-time fluke.

Then I boarded.... and saw that Copa is now flying MAXs without lie-flat seats. I had no idea. I suppose eventually the 700s and 800s have to be replaced with something, but I must've missed any announcement about non lie-flat MAXs on Copa.

Just a heads up for anybody else scheduled to fly on a Copa MAX... your mileage may vary!

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e21e8bd37.jpeg

Looks like you lucked into the single Copa 737 MAX aircraft without lie-flats, a 737 MAX 8.

https://www.copaair.com/en-us/discov...n-board/fleet/

Fascinating. Well, I guess I can feel lucky about the uniqueness, then.

I also take it as a signal the 737MAX8 in this layout will be replacing the -800s and -700s with time.

Exactly! I've been trying to check it from my list. No luck yet.

I felt lucky when I once flew on one of those 737s that didn't have first class seats. I think they only had 2.

Just wanted to say that CM now has (at least) 2 MAX8 currently flying on their fleet, despite what the website says.

Thanks for the advice and don't give a surprise i was thinking that all new MAX will come with Dreams Business class.

Looks like AA MAX Business class seats that is too bad

Rode in J in a 737MAX9 (not 8, 9) last night... with these same non lie-flat seats! The seat map on the website and app even showed lie-flats.

Flightaware confirms it was a 737MAX9. I did not check the serial number, though.

So maybe now there is no way to really know in advance what the configuration will be.

That seems impossible, as all of their 7M9's were delivered with lay-flat seats.
It must have been a 7m8 or 738 NG.

What route?

I was also very (negatively) surprised.

CM291 PTY-ASU - here https://www.flightaware.com/live/fli...232Z/MPTO/SGAS

They are all listed as B39M for the last week or so. It was definitely not a lie flat.

Flightradar24 shows the following for that route on Apr 15...

15 Apr 2025 Panama City (PTY) Asuncion (ASU) B38M (HP-9801CMP)

So, it seems in this case Flightradar24 has more accurate data given your experience.

Fascinating. That makes more sense.

Both the Copa app and flightaware listed the flight as a B39M... and the Copa app had the lie-flat seat map.

First time I've observed such discrepancies.

In looking at Flightradar24 data and reading what others have written, Copa can swap out a plane at any time, maybe even after boarding starts. Flighetradar24 usually shows the B39M as schedule, but certainly no guarantee that will be the type of plane used.