To kick off my two journeys to the Southern Hemisphere, I first flew Copa Airways from Miami to Panama Metropolis. Copa is one in every of solely two Star Alliance airways I had by no means flown earlier than (with the opposite being Shenzhen Airways), so I used to be trying ahead to this flight. Whereas Copa is a nifty airline by way of its route community (it’s just like the Icelandair of Latin America), sadly the expertise left a bit to be desired.
How I booked my Copa enterprise class ticket
Copa Airways makes fairly a little bit of award house out there, so I ended up reserving the next itinerary in enterprise class for 50,000 Air Canada Aeroplan factors plus $49.40 in taxes & charges (and I took benefit of a switch bonus from Amex, so I wanted even fewer Amex factors than that):
9/15 CM227 Miami to Panama Metropolis departing 5:59PM arriving 8:10PM
9/16 CM493 Panama Metropolis to Lima departing 3:43PM arriving 7:17PM
Initially my first flight was imagined to be operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 9, that includes Copa’s flat mattress enterprise class, whereas the second flight was scheduled to be operated by a Boeing 737-800. Sadly there was a airplane swap on the final minute, so each flights ended up being operated by a Boeing 737-800. That’s a danger to pay attention to for those who e-book Copa.
Copa enterprise class check-in, lounge, and boarding
I bought to Miami Airport round 2.5 hours earlier than departure, at 3:30PM. Copa Airways simply had a seventy fifth anniversary celebration on the airport a few days prior, so there have been nonetheless some balloons and signage on the check-in counter.
The enterprise class line moved actually slowly, as every individual appeared to take a very very long time. The man in entrance of me turned to me and commented about how lengthy it was taking, and the way everybody gave the impression to be having points. Go determine when it was his flip he appeared to have forgotten his vaccination card, and he was touring to a vacation spot that required testing or vaccination, in order that changed into a giant challenge (I’m undecided if he ended up making his flight or not).
By 4PM or so I used to be issued my boarding move to Panama, and headed for safety. The safety line was shockingly brief, as I typically discover this space of the terminal can have the worst safety strains within the afternoons.
Copa Airways makes use of the Turkish Lounge at Miami Airport (Turkish truly has two lounges on the airport).
The lounge appears to be used as a contract lounge by an infinite variety of airways, and can be open to Precedence Cross members, so it was a zoo. I ended up getting into the lounge and leaving straight away, as I discovered the terminal to be a way more snug place to take a seat.
My flight was scheduled to board from gate J10 at 4:59PM, a full hour earlier than departure. Whereas this space of the terminal was slightly calm, it was extremely busy additional down within the concourse, as a number of vast our bodies have been boarding directly at adjoining gates.
Boarding ended up beginning at 5:10PM, with these needing additional time being invited to board first, adopted by enterprise class passengers.
Copa 737 enterprise class cabin & seats
Copa has not less than 4 totally different sorts of enterprise class merchandise, and my flight was operated by a Boeing 737-800 with the densest cabin, although not less than it was refreshed. Enterprise class consisted of a complete of 16 seats, unfold throughout 4 rows in a 2-2 configuration.
Seats had 38″ of pitch, so have been consistent with what you’d discover in home top quality in the USA.
I assigned myself seat 3F, the window seat on the precise facet within the third row. Needless to say Copa Airways was once largely owned by Continental Airways, and on the time the airline ordered planes with the identical interiors. So whereas the interiors have been up to date, the “bones” stay the identical.
The distinction is that in contrast to Continental (now United), Copa hasn’t performed something to replace the know-how of its cabins. This airplane didn’t function energy retailers, Wi-Fi, or private televisions. There was a middle console the place you could possibly place drinks, and likewise an additional heart tray that may very well be prolonged. The one inflight leisure was some audio channels (I assume), as there have been channel selectors and headphone jacks.
The tray desk prolonged from the facet armrest, and may be folded over in half.
To Copa’s credit score, the airline has not less than performed a pleasant job with its cabin finishes, as I fairly just like the stitched sample the airline makes use of for its seats.
The overhead console had a person air nozzle and studying mild, consistent with Boeing’s up to date plane interiors.
The cabin additionally had some drop-down displays, which throughout boarding confirmed movies about a few of the locations that Copa serves.
Copa enterprise class facilities
As soon as settled in, every enterprise class passenger was supplied their alternative of a pre-departure orange juice or water, served in a plastic cup.
There have been no pillows in enterprise class, although blankets have been supplied on demand. They have been fairly skinny and scratchy, much like what you’d usually discover in home top quality in the USA (although even there you don’t persistently get that anymore).
Copa 737 departure from Miami
Boarding was completed by 5:45PM, with the airplane kind of full (together with each seat in enterprise class being occupied — Copa has a beneficiant complimentary improve system, like US airways).
Round this time, the captain made his welcome aboard announcement, informing us of our flight time of 2hr30min. Flying with Copa feels oh-so-much like flying with a US airline, all the way down to the captain reminding us that flight attendants are there primarily for our security.
A second later the security video was screened on overhead displays. Copa has a fairly cool vacation spot themed security video, which I loved.
At 5:50PM we started our pushback, with an Avianca Airbus A320 to our proper.
As we pushed again, I bought an important view of an Emirates Boeing 777 and a rainbow — fairly!
We began our taxi at 6PM, and there was some fairly cool site visitors close to this portion of the terminal, together with an Aerolineas Argentinas Airbus A330 and ITA Airways Airbus A330 — these are two planes I actually wish to fly!
There was additionally a LATAM Boeing 777 and Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787.
MIA is my house airport, and one in every of my favourite issues about it’s the fascinating number of site visitors you gained’t discover at different airports. For instance, bonus factors to anybody who can establish the planes within the under two photos, and guess the place they’re headed.
At round 6:10PM the captain introduced that we have been quantity 10 for takeoff, and that it might take round 20-25 minutes till we have been airborne.
As we taxied out, I observed the Copa Boeing 737 MAX 9 that left simply half-hour earlier than us was taxiing again to the terminal and was surrounded by fireplace vehicles. That flight ended up being delayed by over 4 hours, so I suppose I lucked out with that final minute airplane swap (the sooner flight ended up getting the MAX jet that we have been imagined to have).
We have been lastly cleared for takeoff on runway 8R at 6:30PM.
Whereas it wasn’t a very good night at first, the views bought higher and higher, particularly because the solar started to set. Views from the sky by no means get outdated, particularly round sundown.
The seatbelt signal was turned off round 10 minutes after takeoff.
Copa enterprise class leisure & Wi-Fi
It’s extremely underwhelming that Copa up to date the interiors of some Boeing 737s, however these planes don’t have energy ports, don’t have Wi-Fi, don’t have private leisure screens, and don’t even have streaming leisure. So that you’ll must deliver your personal (properly charged) leisure. The one leisure was a present streaming on the overhead displays.
After all this isn’t an enormous deal on a 2.5 hour flight, nevertheless it’s necessary to notice that Copa operates these planes on longer routes. Moreover, a overwhelming majority of Copa passengers are connecting, so you could possibly very properly find yourself on two back-to-back flights with out these facilities.
Copa enterprise class meal service
The meal service was surprisingly respectable, not less than in comparison with the remainder of the expertise. In the course of the boarding course of the enterprise class flight attendant, Michelle, launched herself to every passenger by title, and took meal and drink orders.
The dinner choices have been described as hen with greens and potatoes, or beef with jasmine rice and greens. I chosen the previous.
After takeoff, service was a bit sluggish to get began, not that there was actually a rush, or a complete lot to do. I used to be served my first drink round 40 minutes after takeoff. I ordered a glass of sauvignon blanc, which I loved. The drink was served with a tasty lukewarm snack combine that had a kick to it.
I used to be even supplied refills (of each the snack combine and wine) after ending my first spherical.
The dinner was served on one tray, at roughly the midway level of the flight, round 75 minutes after takeoff. Dinner included a salad, a essential course, packaged sourdough flatbread, and dessert.
The salad was… uninspiring, to place it mildly. It consisted of some iceberg lettuce and two cherry tomatoes.
The primary course, alternatively, was fairly tasty. It consisted of sliced hen breast with veggies, potato wedges, and a flavorful sauce.
I then loved dessert, which was a chocolate cake with cream. I ordered a cup of espresso to accompany this — there was no milk or cream, however slightly only a powdered prompt creamer.
Copa 737 enterprise class bathroom
There was a bathroom positioned on the entrance of the cabin. It was fairly no frills, and had no particular facilities. For that matter, it wasn’t notably clear both. There was good enforcement to be sure that this bathroom was solely utilized by enterprise class passengers, although.
Copa enterprise class service
The enterprise class flight attendant, Michelle, did a strong job. She was pleasant and personable, and supplied frequent refills throughout the service. Round quarter-hour earlier than touchdown, she even got here by way of the cabin to thank every enterprise class passenger for flying with Copa.
The service wasn’t notably quick, on condition that there was just one flight attendant for 16 passengers, however I didn’t have a difficulty with that.
Copa 737 arrival in Panama
At 7:30PM Panama time (one hour behind Miami) the captain introduced that we’d be descending shortly, and can be touchdown in round half-hour. The seatbelt signal was turned on instantly, which appeared mighty early, particularly as we had a clean descent.
There wasn’t a lot in the way in which of views on strategy, on condition that it was darkish. We ended up touching down in Panama simply a few minutes after 8PM, and from there had a 5 minute taxi to our arrival stand, the place we parked close to a Turkish Airways Boeing 787 (sorry for the blurry image because of the humidity).
From there I headed straight by way of immigration, which took no time. I then took the shuttle to the Crowne Plaza Panama Airport, the place I’d be spending the evening.
Backside line
I used to be joyful to fly Copa Airways for the primary time, although was dissatisfied that my flight was swapped on the final minute, from a 737 MAX 9 to a 737-800.
On the plus facet, the Copa enterprise class tender product was fairly good for a 2.5 hour flight, with pleasant service and a (principally) tasty meal.
That being mentioned, I can’t assist however be underwhelmed by Copa’s general product, on condition that even these up to date 737s don’t have energy ports, Wi-Fi, streaming leisure, and so forth. Worst of all, these planes are flown on some considerably longer routes than this, and on high of that many individuals are connecting in Panama, that means they’ll have back-to-back flights with these restricted facilities.
I’d fly Copa once more if the airline supplied one of the best schedule for the place I wanted to go, nevertheless it’s not an airline I’m in any other case seeking to fly once more, not less than on the 737-800.
In the event you’ve flown Copa’s 737 enterprise class, what was your expertise like?
