What Its Like Flying Copa Airlines for The First Time (With a Panama Layover)
Flight Specs
- Price : $825
- Trip: Washington (IAD) to Rio de Janeiro (GIG)
- Ticket type: Round-trip
- Class: Economy Classic
- Seat: 23D
- Airline: Copa Airlines
- Aircraft type: Boeing 737 MAX 9
- Total flight time: 12 hours 15 mins (each way)
Boarding
Copa Airlines’ tagline is the most punctual airline in Latin America, and I have to agree! Copa made boarding a breeze by providing clear instructions on which groups were going first, hostess aiding people to their seats, and taking off at a timely manner. Compared to my other international experiences, Copa did a great job of ensuring all luggage was stowed and passengers seated. This should be the standard for every airline.
In-flight Dining
I had high hopes for the meals with Copa. I love Latin American food and presumed the flight on board would be a similar variation. Unfortunately, my hopes were set too high because the food was very bland and unimpressive.
For the first leg of my flight I selected the chicken with noodles and cake. Surprisingly, the chicken was very bland. I attempted to boost the flavor with the salt and pepper packets, but the taste didn’t improve. Despite this disappointing meal, I enjoyed the guava pineapple juice that was offered!
On the final leg I opted for the vegetable pasta, still traumatized by the previous meat option. Thankfully, this meal was slightly better but nothing to rave about. Looking back on this experience the best economy meals I’ve had to date was with Qatar Airways.
Entertainment
Copa Airlines did not equip this aircraft with in-flight monitors, thankfully I came prepared with downloaded movies to stream. There was internet connection but it only allowed you to stream movies offered by the Copa airlines entertainment website.
I struggled to find a balance between watching movies for hours or conserving my phone battery. This aircraft only had USB type A, but the new iPhones require a lighting port for charging. The lack of universal charging ports surprised me since other flights I’ve taken offer the three-socket charger and a USB port. I found this lack of charging options extremely disappointing since the total flight time was 12 hours long. To prepare, make sure you bring a power bank or USB type A charger.
Air host Service
The airhostess were pleasant throughout all legs of my trip. They were all at least bilingual, seamlessly switching between Spanish and English when addressing passengers.
Stopover in Panama
Copa airlines allows passengers to book extended layovers in Panama City for up to 7 days without paying an additional airfare. Despite this tempting offer I could only spare 6.5 hours during a long layover to explore the country. Luckily immigration was a breeze! The immigration officer asked why I was visiting Panama, gave me my stamps and sent me on my way to Panama City.
While 6.5 hours might seem like a long time, it was important that I timed everything perfectly. Instead of opting for an organized tour I opted to get dinner in Old Panama. There I got to explore the colorful buildings and taste delicious Panamanian food!
Note there is traffic in the city center so reserve at least 1-2 hours to return to the airport and bypass security. Find more information on Copa Airlines stopover program HERE.
Final Highlights
The Good
- Great leg room (I’m 5’11 ft / 180cm)
- Helpful air hostess
- Fast boarding and deplaning
- Easy access to Panama during long layover
The Bad
- Limited charging port compatibility
- Outdated plane model
- No seat-back screens for entertainment
- Below average food options
