Copa is an interesting airline to get to know. Based at the junction of two continents, the Panamanian carrier found its niche connecting the Americas from north to south. It operates a single-type fleet of around 100 Boeing 737s. But compared with other all-737 airlines that follow a low-cost carrier model, Copa is a different beast. It’s a full-service airline with premium cabins and some of the lengthiest 737 routes out there.
As with most of the world’s 737-based airlines, Copa went in big on the MAX, and it was heavily affected by the past few years’ MAX drama. On the bright side, the airline put its best foot forward with the MAX, debuting a brand-new premium cabin branded as “Dreams” business class. The Dreams seat was designed for Copa’s medium-haul services, the four- to seven-hour flights where quality sleep is a big deal.
We got a chance to try Copa and their new MAX seats on a recent trip. We also got to explore the relatively new terminal at the airline’s Panama City hub. The trip hit a snafu midway through, which we’ll get to later. But in the end we still got a good feel for the airline, its new seat design, and the freshest updates to its home airport.
Read on for more on our time flying with Copa and exploring the airport in Panama City.
Pre-Flight in Santiago
We flew Copa on an award booking from Santiago to Washington DC via Panama City. For anyone considering a flight out of Santiago on Copa, here’s a quick look at the solid Primeclass Pacifico lounge for Copa’s premium cabin passengers.
The Dreams Business Class Seat
We couldn’t wait to get onboard to meet the seat. It was a middle-of-the-night departure and we were counting on some sleep.
Copa’s MAX aircraft have either 12 or 16 lie-flat Dreams seats up front, in a 2-2-across configuration.
The seat’s single biggest strength — and the reason it’s called “Dreams” — is that it goes fully flat for a better sleep experience. Many airlines offer this kind of seat on widebody aircraft as a long-haul business class. And you can sometimes find this type of seat on other airlines’ 737s, 757s, and A320s. But lie-flat seats are more the exception than the rule for those single-aisle planes. So as far as 737 business classes go, Dreams is dreamy.
Below are more looks at some of the seats’ finishes and features. There’s a small divider between the seats but don’t expect a ton of privacy from your neighbor.
The Dreams branding was strong and the seat finishes were fresh.
Flight attendants came by with some pre-departure juice and water.
Boarding wrapped up on time and we got going. It was a night departure and there wasn’t a whole lot to see out of the windows as we left.
Staying Entertained
Each Dreams seat has a 16-inch screen, and a remote beside each seat with a small screen of its own.
The library of movies and TV was fine for passing a couple short- to medium-haul flights’ worth of time.
The pillow and blanket were pretty good. Which made sense, for a sleep-centered product.
Things Were Going Well, Until …
We were about to fall asleep when the first officer made an announcement that our aircraft was turning around and heading back for Santiago. Apparently a member of the flight crew towards the rear of the plane felt a vibration that didn’t feel normal. This flight was a couple months ago, closer to the Alaska Airlines door plug incident and the subsequent MAX grounding. We couldn’t help but wonder if even the crew were a bit more antsy about the MAX so close to that whole situation.
Maintenance crew came onboard as soon as the plane returned to the gate. After fifteen minutes of inspection they gave the plane a clean bill of health. We hit the skies again, three hours behind schedule this time. Were we annoyed? Sure. Would we ever fault a crew for prioritizing safety? Never.
The hilarious thing is, the very same day as our flight, Copa proudly announced its recognition as Central America’s most punctual airline for 2023, per the reliable source Cirium. And to be fair, over the past few months since our flight, the operational record of the Santiago-Panama route has been spotless.
The universe sure does have a weird sense of humor.
We did end up getting some sleep on the flight, waking up in time for breakfast before descent. Nothing too fancy, but it tasted fine.
We got to Panama City very late. But in one piece. Which, in the end, is what matters most.
Hanging Out at the Hub of the Americas
Thanks to the Case Of The Mysterious Vibrating Plane, we missed our connection. And so we had extra time to explore Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport.
With Copa’s growth in recent years, the airport’s primary passenger terminal had been bursting at the seams. So the airport built a shiny new Terminal 2, which opened in 2022. On the airport map below you can see the new terminal on the left, with the old Terminal 1 on the right.
It’s a pretty slick-looking building.
Copa has large lounges in both terminals. As you might expect, the one in the new terminal looks fresher.
The decor was eye-catching, the WiFi was reasonably fast, and there was plenty of seating. Despite its size, the lounge still did get a bit crowded at times, in large part because it’s also a Priority Pass lounge. As another downside, Copa’s lounges are not known for their food, and this location was no different.
One big win is that the T2 lounge offers some great views of the ramp.
We waited out a few hours here then boarded our rebooked flight to DC, half a day later than planned. At least we got to see a gorgeous sunset as our flight left Panama City.
The Verdict
In the end, our trip on Copa’s Dreams biz class came with some drama. Still, we got the firsthand experience with the airline and its new PTY terminal that we were looking for. Overall we were impressed with both.
Pros:
– The fully-flat Dreams seat is a better business class seat seat than you’ll get on most airlines’ single-aisle planes.
– At least from our flight searches, Copa often offers fairly competitive fares in premium cabins. Its regional competitor Avianca sometimes undercuts it, but their single-aisle planes have a basic Euro-style business class with a blocked middle economy seat, so it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison. Copa’s fares in economy are generally competitive with those offered by the major US airlines.
– Tocumen’s new Terminal 2 is nice and new.
– You can book an extended stopover in Panama City on Copa itineraries. The city is a pretty good one to cover in a day or two.
– Setting aside our crazy experience, Copa does earn its reputation as a relatively on-time carrier.
Cons:
– Copa is a hub-and-spoke airline, so unless your destination is Panama City you have a guaranteed stopover.
– Copa’s pre-MAX 737s (two-thirds of its fleet) don’t have the Dreams seat, and instead offer recliner seats in biz. If you’re counting on a lie-flat seat make sure to book a MAX flight, and even then there’s always the possibility of a last-minute equipment change.
– Half of the airline’s traffic still operates through Tocumen’s old and cramped Terminal 1 instead of the newer Terminal 2.
– Don’t expect much out of the Copa Clubs’ food or other amenities, though they’re otherwise a comfy place to kill some time.
The airline recently launched service to Austin and Raleigh-Durham, making it an even more relevant option for US-based flyers headed south.
If you’ve flown with Copa we’d love to hear about your experience. Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
