Before I begin my next major trip report, I have a couple of random reviews to catch up on. Last month I did a mileage run to Panama City, where I spent a night. American publishes some great business class fares to Panama, and nowadays American offers double elite qualifying miles for paid business class…
Continue reading: Review: Copa Club Panama City Airport
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
The priority pass lounge in SJO(Costa Rica) is probably the worst lounge I have been to in terms of offering. They charged for sodas... I flew around Mexico, south and central America a lot last year and didn't really find a nice lounge. There was one in Bogota that was fairly reasonable. Mexico City's lounges are poor.
There is also another lounge at the airport and it's also a Priority Pass lounge:
http://www.tocumenroyalsaloon.com/index-en.html
How is Ford accumulating/paying for all these flights now, esp as all of your trip reports say WE - he must love this new lifestyle
Looks pretty much the same as I remember it from my visit several years ago (December 2012). FYI, I'm pretty sure there is another lounge at PTY, or at least there was at that time. The elevator to the Copa lounge was out of service, and my dad couldn't make it up the stairs, so the desk attendant arranged for him and mom to have access to a different lounge at ground level. I don't recall which airline the lounge was associated with, though.
@global traveller
Who doesn't love a free ride?
Sometimes it feels like these trip reports are just an excuse to pimp out CC referrals...
If you spent some time in the Copa lounge in the afternoon or evening you might have had some additional impressions. It gets really crowded and as a result dirty / nasty. Still a lounge is probably better than not at PTY. Now the Copa lounge in Guatemala city, at least as of a few years ago, was excellent all around.
Lounges in S. America are terrible, as are many of the airports. Throw in the chaos, noise, and dirtiness, and many are just like the cities they serve.
Good to know that I didn't miss much. I transited through there in early December and the Priority Pass directory had not been updated, so I didn't know that I had access. But it would have been nicer than paying nearly $8 for 3 chicken tenders and a medium fries at Carls Jr in the food court that looks like a 90's shopping mall.
The restrooms in that airport were the worst with graffiti and no tp in the stalls!
The Tocumen Royal lounge is pre-security, so I didn't attempt to access. LoungeBuddy pictures show that it's very basic. I noticed that there were no pictures of the lounge on their website, probably because there isn't much to brag about.
This place is an absolute zoo in the afternoon. It has some serious overcrowding issues during their main banks.
Believe it or not, this airport has come such a long ways since I first coming to Panama in 2005. It had 1 (ONE) really crappy restaurant and no A/C. It was a disaster. They have done a good job, but honestly, they have a long ways to go. Panama is often compared to Dubai/Singapore, and although I have hope, its a long ways off!
I Have an overnight connection in PTY in my flight from BOG to SXM in business class, do you know what time does the copa club close at night and what time does it open in the morning? I'm a bit concerned about spending the night at the airport but also have just 6 hours between the two flights. Any advice?
Thanks!
I am currently in the Copa club lounge and would like to report on the Monday evening buffet. Carrot and celery sticks, 1 ounce packages of Gouda, packaged oatmeal cookies. Pitiful. Soft drinks must be ordered from the bartender who has a tip jar in plain view. I have a photo if I can figure out how to post it!