[How reliable is] COPA Airlines?
 

Can someone advise on the reliability of Copa Air. We intend to book from MIA to Rio de janiero in Dec. There are 12 business class seats on Boeing 737-700.

Please follow this thread in the FT Other North and South America Programs.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

COPA Air
 

COPA is a fairly good airline with relatively new planes. I fly them regularly back and forth to Panama from countries in Central America and I've done the trip to Rio with them, which beats the heck out of returning to the USA to catch a flight to Rio. Service is typically good, although a 737 is a bit small for the overnight flight. COPA is partially owned by Continental Airlines, thus the similar logos, color schemes and code sharing--if that's of any comfort. Enjoy Rio
MatrixB

CO no longer holds any ownership stake in CM. They used to but sold it all off over the years in order to continue funding their pension funds and otherwise generate cash flow. That being said, they share the OnePass program with CO and are a very reliable carrier IME.

Other than the slightly stranger timing on the flights - daytime with the connection in PTY rather than the overnight redeye - and the fact that it is a domestic F seat rather than an international config the flights are fine.

Copa is definitely one of the better airlines in the region. I can't advise on their 737's, as fate only puts me on their E190's, but IME, their staff is friendly, planes are spotlessly clean, and PTY is a decent hub. Watch out though, as the only bar in the transit area tends to fill up. If you have time during your connection, pay the $5 for a tourist card, and take a cab to the Costa del Este area for food and drink, or hit up the Miraflores Locks. (or even go to Multiplaza Mall and eat there)

I just flew COPA a week ago or so. Washington to Santiago de Chile and back. All the flights were ontime, no issues, service was OK. I got my upgrade on 3 out of the 4 flights (I didn't get upgraded on the Panama to Dulles flight).

The flights from Panama to Santiago were really light, no more than 20 people total, so that helped. It was a 737-700 all the way through from IAD-SCL-IAD. The service onboard has gone down a tad bit, a bit inconsistent when it comes to amenities and service. The food was not the best, but edible.

I actually took pics of all the meals they served us... Airline Meal Set hehe

BUMP for current info
 

One of my few options for an central america trip is Copa with the most service through PTY and TACA with limited service.
Anyone have any RECENT experience as to reliability and service recovery for missed connects?
Thanks

And the best part of it all, COPA may become a STAR Alliance partner next year.

Copa is a very reliable and efficient airine with many IN/OUT of their hub in PTY. In the very rare case you would miss a connection in PTY, you would be well covered. Most cases you only need about 20 minutes to connect to your next flight in PTY.

Is there really a possibility otherwise? lol

They will be * next year, and as AdamSouthFL said, they have an incredibly efficient hub at PTY, plus you get a 25% mqm bonus booking on thier website!

I've been taking advantage of the 25% bonus until recently. However, for some reason, Orbitz has been selling the same COPA flights I always use (IAD-MDE) for up to $100 less than COPA.com. That's like paying $0.08 per bonus EQM. Not worth it for me, anyway, since I'll hit 1K with or without it.

I don't know if there is a difference for other routes. I've booked my last two COPA flights on Orbitz and received the same upgrades, ability to select ELR seats on COPA.com, etc.

We are considering Copa IAD-PTY-AUA next year. The fare is good and the Panama overnight adds a new dimension to the trip.

We have never been to Panama before. My research shows no visa needed and no special vaccinations.

We would arrive in Panama Friday afternoon and fly to Aruba the next morning. Our hope is to visit the canal and some brief sight seeing.

And thoughts either way?

The Miraflores Locks are the once closest to Panama City. There is an observation deck and a museum that explains the history of the Canal.

Depending on what you like, you could go afterwards to the restored downtown (Casco Viejo) or the modern Multiplaza shopping center.

For dining you could consider the restaurants on the end of the Causeway, or the Las Terrazas area in Multiplaza.

Taxis fares are reasonable and it's the easiest way of moving around. Accomodation is a bit expensive though.

If you have never been to the canal, try Miraflores with a small visitor centre, shop etc. There is a restaurant, we did the adequate buffet for about $20 each. I use the Marriott, if you have some points maybe worth using some for the 1 nighter?

Oddly enough, I'm going there this afternoon on Copa, and they are decent enough.

Enjoy

Thanks for the suggestion on Orbitz! A great $ saver! I love Copa (their service, on-time perf., and upgrades) and fly them whenever possible. ^

COPA's J seats are identical to CO's domestic F seats. They are ok, but not very comfortable for long flights (e.g., EZE).

How does COPA handle seat assignment?
 

We are looking at flying CM next summer for vacation.

I can't find anything on their website on how seat assignments are handled. Can you get seats pre-assigned? Or do you have to do the 23:59 check-in online?

We booked online IAD-AUA for July 2012 and selected seats online.

You can pre-select your seats even if you book on another site that does not allow you to select seats. Once you have your 6-character record locator (e.g. EETWDN) in hand, go to copaair.com and select the "my trips" tab. Once there, you enter the record locator and your last name, and the reservation will come up with a link to the seat selection.

You can do this within minutes of making the reservation on the other site.

once yo make your selection, make sure you hit the "save" button on the bottom and wait patiently until the screen returns to the original reservations screen, or your selections will be lost. The site is slow, and that can take up to a minute.

You can even pre-select seats on domestic flights in Colombia on Copa affiliate Aero Republica. And I found last week that most of the seats (IAD-PTY-BOG-CTG-PTY-IAD) were NOT pre-selected, so even if you book late, there could very well be plenty of seats together.

I just booked a COPA flight (IAD-PTY-IAD) for early February 2012. I know I'm eligible for a complimentary upgrade as a Platinum on CO but is there a way to tell when upgrades (using miles or CR-1s) is available? Do they use the R/RN bucket like CO?

My parents are flying Copa today (from MCO to Panama City and on to Brazil). They booked seats when booking their flights originally--waited for confirmation and printed confirmation with seat assignments. A few weeks ago they went into their reservation (after someone told them of their selected seats disappearing) and the seat assignments were gone. They called and were told "someone else wanted those seats so they took them." The agent then put them in exit row seats--asking the required questions. They checked in online, again being asked exit row requirement questions. This morning they checked in at the counter at MCO to show passports and check one bag and proceeded to the gate. At the gate they were told that they were removed from their exit row seats because they aren't fluent in Spanish---that "the flight attendant's policy is that everyone in those seats must be fluent in Spanish" (they do not have to be able to speak English). They were never asked about speaking Spanish until they arrived at the gate (not by the agent who assigned the exit row seats on the phone, not during online check-in, etc.). They are Star Alliance Silver and are now in bad seats for their 3+ hour flight.

COPA does not show anything but C or D for Clase Ejecutiva. In my experience you can call Continental immediately to have your Regional or SWU processed.

For COPA purposes, Regional UG's and SWU's are the same, so use up your regionals here.

That's disappointing to hear. As I've noted before, I fly COPA a lot, and generally like them. The two areas in which I find them deficient are:

1) Seat assignments on the web not always sticking (I now call them in).

2) Not enough staff fluent in English such that English speakers will be comfortable. Lots of gate and airport announcements are only in Spanish. Not a problem for me now that I can get by in Spanish, but I did not like it before then.

I've not heard of non-Spanish speakers not being allowed in the exit row, but on the other hand, I've seen my non-English speaking MIL kicked out of the exit row on Continental for the same reason.

NOTE: Star A Silver does not apply here, as COPA will not be a member until mid year.

Copa is great! On time performance, upgrades and service.

However they fly 737 (except some routes in and to Colombia).

Flying a 737 is a PITA for traveling from PTY to SCL or EZE. Well, anything over 3 hours on a 737 is not good, but 7 hours is pathetic.

Even in Business Class, it's not worth it unless you have no 767 option for the same flight lenght (ie BUE-SAL, BUE-GUA, BUE-SAL, etc).

FWIW - COPA flies the E-190 on a lot of routes other than into Colombia. Travellers should be aware that the 190's flying outside Colombia all have nice business class seats (better than the 737). However, some of the COPA Colombia 190's are configured as all economy. So, SOME of the flights into Colombia have no business class and all flights on 190's within the country are all economy. That said, the COPA 190's economy class is more comfortable than most other airlines, even in non-premium seats.

I agree that 7 hours is a long time on a 737, even in clase ejecutiva. On the other hand, the price difference that I always seems to run into drives me back to COPA.

Not happy to hear this. Just booked COPA for the first time a few months ago for an upcoming trip to Aruba. We are in exit row seats and do not speak Spanish. It was not a requirement. I wonder if we should expect this same problem??????

It depends on the Flight Attendant. If the FA's preference is to have a spanish speaker in the exit row during an emergency, then they have the right to reseat you. If the FA doesn't care, you should have no problem.

Depends on how comfortable the FAs are in English, and, as stated above, also their general preferences.

OK---fingers crossed!

Back in the days when I did not speak much Spanish (and I am far from fluent now), I would just nod my head and play along like I understood everything when the flight attendant came to speak to those of us in the exit row. I never got kicked out. :cool:

Flew Copa 3x last year LAX-PTY-PEI. Speak un poco espanol living in SoCal. Never had a problem on the LAX-PTY-LAX route sitting in the exit rows (a lot more english speakers this route). But flying PTY-PEI on 190 i learned my lesson. Never had a problem since, I just don't sit exit on that leg of the trip.

Booked on COPA ticket on D operated by United routing PTY-EWR .I tried to do online seat selection and COPA website pulled up the seat map for United. But it gives me seat options only in Economy Plus and even in regular Economy. Is the D class in COPA means Economy Plus in United? or Business CLass in United is First CLass in COPA?If that is the case, I should queue on Economy class lane at United check in at PTY even though Im holding COPA business class ticket? I don't want to be embarrassed and got booted at United Business CLass CHeck in :)

Did you try pulling up your record on the United website? Depending on how it was booked it might show up the booking class on United's side.

thanks for the tips., I did pulled up my record on UA and alas it showed up. It shows booking class A on United and not D. I was able to choose seat 2A. Thanks for your valuable help.

Does anyone know how to check upgrade availability using RPU's (f/k/a CR1s) on COPA?

Thanks

It's really hard to tell. COPA does not have the R/RN buckets like UA. I am sure that if they are showing D you can use an RPU and probably even with only C class.

I responded to your other post in the UA forum. That has a link to instructions on how to use an RPU on COPA. You have to book on COPA and then call the 1K line. It's a pain in the neck, but it's worked the two times that I did it.

Thanks again for the advice, I ended up booking a Q fare and followed your advice

Upgrades draw from I
 

Finishing an itinerary on Copa. I was told upgrades draw from the same I bucket as Saver C class awards.

You can see the upgrade list by clicking on the Flight Information tab, entering the flight you want to check, and selecting the upgrade list tab on the flight status page that comes up.

No, they are pulled from Z. You cannot view Z anywhere, including Expertflyer. You have to call Copa. Z is used for all classes of upgrades including the instant upgrades for Y,B,M. I don't think they open up anything before the flight, including at the "windows" for elites. So if Z=0 at booking then you wait until day of flight.

You have to call to get the Z information. But if you see I then you will definitely get the upgrade.

UA codeshares show CDZ (and another class). UA codeshare will show 0 for all these business classes buckets unless D>0 booked as Copa flight. I don't know if the Z class you see from UA has any relation to the Copa Z bucket. I think not based on my brief research because then D (Copa) would indicate upgrade availability; my flight was D>0 and I didn't get my instant upgrade.