Copa is an fascinating airline to get to know. Based mostly on the junction of two continents, the Panamanian service discovered its area of interest connecting the Americas from north to south. It operates a single-type fleet of round 100 Boeing 737s. However in contrast with different all-737 airways that comply with a low-cost service mannequin, Copa is a special beast. It’s a full-service airline with premium cabins and among the lengthiest 737 routes on the market.
As with a lot of the world’s 737-based airways, Copa went in massive on the MAX, and it was closely affected by the previous few years’ MAX drama. On the brilliant aspect, the airline put its greatest foot ahead with the MAX, debuting a brand-new premium cabin branded as “Desires” enterprise class. The Desires seat was designed for Copa’s medium-haul providers, the four- to seven-hour flights the place high quality sleep is a giant deal.
We bought an opportunity to attempt Copa and their new MAX seats on a latest journey. We additionally bought to discover the comparatively new terminal on the airline’s Panama Metropolis hub. The journey hit a snafu halfway by way of, which we’ll get to later. However in the long run we nonetheless bought really feel for the airline, its new seat design, and the freshest updates to its residence airport.
Learn on for extra on our time flying with Copa and exploring the airport in Panama Metropolis.
Pre-Flight in Santiago
We flew Copa on an award reserving from Santiago to Washington DC by way of Panama Metropolis. For anybody contemplating a flight out of Santiago on Copa, right here’s a fast take a look at the stable Primeclass Pacifico lounge for Copa’s premium cabin passengers.
The Desires Enterprise Class Seat
We couldn’t wait to get onboard to fulfill the seat. It was a middle-of-the-night departure and we had been relying on some sleep.
Copa’s MAX plane have both 12 or 16 lie-flat Desires seats up entrance, in a 2-2-across configuration.
The seat’s single greatest power — and the explanation it’s known as “Desires” — is that it goes totally flat for a greater sleep expertise. Many airways provide this type of seat on widebody plane as a long-haul enterprise class. And you’ll typically discover the sort of seat on different airways’ 737s, 757s, and A320s. However lie-flat seats are extra the exception than the rule for these single-aisle planes. So so far as 737 enterprise lessons go, Desires is dreamy.
Under are extra appears at among the seats’ finishes and options. There’s a small divider between the seats however don’t anticipate a ton of privateness out of your neighbor.
The Desires branding was sturdy and the seat finishes had been recent.
Flight attendants got here by with some pre-departure juice and water.
Boarding wrapped up on time and we bought going. It was an evening departure and there wasn’t a complete lot to see out of the home windows as we left.
Staying Entertained
Every Desires seat has a 16-inch display, and a distant beside every seat with a small display of its personal.
The library of flicks and TV was effective for passing a pair short- to medium-haul flights’ price of time.
The pillow and blanket had been fairly good. Which made sense, for a sleep-centered product.
Issues Had been Going Effectively, Till …
We had been about to go to sleep when the primary officer made an announcement that our plane was turning round and heading again for Santiago. Apparently a member of the flight crew in the direction of the rear of the airplane felt a vibration that didn’t really feel regular. This flight was a pair months in the past, nearer to the Alaska Airways door plug incident and the next MAX grounding. We couldn’t assist however marvel if even the crew had been a bit extra antsy in regards to the MAX so near that complete state of affairs.
Upkeep crew got here onboard as quickly because the airplane returned to the gate. After fifteen minutes of inspection they gave the airplane a clear invoice of well being. We hit the skies once more, three hours not on time this time. Had been we irritated? Positive. Would we ever fault a crew for prioritizing security? By no means.
The hilarious factor is, the exact same day as our flight, Copa proudly introduced its recognition as Central America’s most punctual airline for 2023, per the dependable supply Cirium. And to be honest, over the previous few months since our flight, the operational report of the Santiago-Panama route has been spotless.
The universe certain does have a bizarre humorousness.
We did find yourself getting some sleep on the flight, waking up in time for breakfast earlier than descent. Nothing too fancy, however it tasted effective.
We bought to Panama Metropolis very late. However in a single piece. Which, in the long run, is what issues most.
Hanging Out on the Hub of the Americas
Because of the Case Of The Mysterious Vibrating Aircraft, we missed our connection. And so we had further time to discover Panama Metropolis’s Tocumen Worldwide Airport.
With Copa’s development in recent times, the airport’s main passenger terminal had been bursting on the seams. So the airport constructed a shiny new Terminal 2, which opened in 2022. On the airport map under you may see the brand new terminal on the left, with the outdated Terminal 1 on the best.
It’s a fairly slick-looking constructing.
Copa has massive lounges in each terminals. As you would possibly anticipate, the one within the new terminal appears brisker.
The decor was eye-catching, the WiFi was moderately quick, and there was loads of seating. Regardless of its measurement, the lounge nonetheless did get a bit crowded at instances, largely as a result of it’s additionally a Precedence Cross lounge. As one other draw back, Copa’s lounges will not be identified for his or her meals, and this location was no completely different.
One massive win is that the T2 lounge gives some nice views of the ramp.
We waited out a couple of hours right here then boarded our rebooked flight to DC, half a day later than deliberate. Not less than we bought to see a beautiful sundown as our flight left Panama Metropolis.
The Verdict
Ultimately, our journey on Copa’s Desires biz class got here with some drama. Nonetheless, we bought the firsthand expertise with the airline and its new PTY terminal that we had been in search of. Total we had been impressed with each.
Professionals:
– The fully-flat Desires seat is a greater enterprise class seat seat than you’ll get on most airways’ single-aisle planes.
– Not less than from our flight searches, Copa usually gives pretty aggressive fares in premium cabins. Its regional competitor Avianca typically undercuts it, however their single-aisle planes have a fundamental Euro-style enterprise class with a blocked center financial system seat, so it’s not an apples-to-apples comparability. Copa’s fares in financial system are usually aggressive with these supplied by the foremost US airways.
– Tocumen’s new Terminal 2 is good and new.
– You may e-book an prolonged stopover in Panama Metropolis on Copa itineraries. The town is a fairly good one to cowl in a day or two.
– Setting apart our loopy expertise, Copa does earn its fame as a comparatively on-time service.
Cons:
– Copa is a hub-and-spoke airline, so except your vacation spot is Panama Metropolis you’ve a assured stopover.
– Copa’s pre-MAX 737s (two-thirds of its fleet) don’t have the Desires seat, and as an alternative provide recliner seats in biz. For those who’re relying on a lie-flat seat be sure that to e-book a MAX flight, and even then there’s all the time the potential for a last-minute tools change.
– Half of the airline’s site visitors nonetheless operates by way of Tocumen’s outdated and cramped Terminal 1 as an alternative of the newer Terminal 2.
– Don’t anticipate a lot out of the Copa Golf equipment’ meals or different facilities, although they’re in any other case a comfortable place to kill a while.
The airline not too long ago launched service to Austin and Raleigh-Durham, making it an much more related possibility for US-based flyers headed south.
For those who’ve flown with Copa we’d love to listen to about your expertise. Share your ideas within the feedback part under.
