In January and March, I visited my homeland of Brazil. It was a beautiful and soul-cleansing trip. I hadn’t realized how much I desperately needed to see my family and my friends and to just breathe the air of my hometown, Rio de Janeiro. It was also tiring; I don’t think I’ve ever taken so many planes in such a small amount of time. From Bradley to Miami, Miami to Panama City, Panama City to Rio de Janeiro, then that all over again on my way back. However, it would have been even more exhausting if I hadn’t flown Copa Airlines. Here’s why.
Copa Airlines is the main Panamanian airline with over 60 destinations around the Caribbean and Central and South America. Its flights often include a short stopover in its hub, Tocumen International Airport in Panama City. My family and I chose Copa for both our trips to Brazil this year because it was just so cheap. However, we discovered so many more amazing things about the airline that will lead to us choosing it over and over again.
First, the customer service is impeccable. Everyone is extremely friendly and helpful even with the smallest things. They’re always giving you updated information and checking in that you have all you need for your flight, ensuring your trip is a stress-free experience. Our first time flying with them, we didn’t know we needed a physical boarding pass until it was already time to board. Of course, we were terrified we were going to miss the flight, so my mother told me to “guard the doors” and make sure they didn’t close until we were in. As I was doing just that, a Copa employee noticed me just standing there and asked me if I needed anything. I explained to her the situation, and the whole time my mom was getting our tickets printed, she reassured me that they would not close the doors until we were in, trying to calm me down. So sweet!
Second, the in-flight service is awesome. Our leg from Miami to Panama City was only three hours long and they served actual meals, complete with a salad, bread and butter, entree, and dessert. On a three-hour flight! How many times have you seen actual good quality meals that aren’t pretzels on such a short flight? The food tasted really great too — I chose the meat with mashed potatoes option and just writing about it is making my mouth water. On the Panama-Brazil leg, I chose spaghetti with meat sauce and cheese on top. The cheese was so perfectly melted I almost forgot I wasn’t at a restaurant. And that’s not where it ends; the whole time, flight attendants were walking around offering us refreshments so we were never thirsty. This is the best I’ve ever seen, or tasted! The entertainment options are also very diverse, including popular movies such as Yesterday and Insurgent, ensuring you’re never bored.
Last but not least, the plane itself is comfortable. All my flights were completely full but I never had to worry about overhead baggage space. Even though I am not the tallest person around, I am 70% leg, so I often worry about my leg room on planes. Flying Copa Airlines, I had no issues with leg room, and at one point I was sitting in the middle! One thing I will say was worth complaining about was how the start of every flight was very warm; it takes some time for the plane’s temperature to level off, and you’re a bit uncomfortable until then. Additionally, the longer night flights don’t include a little pillow and blanket, different from other airlines. Make sure to bring your own!
Overall, I am highly satisfied with my experiences at Copa Airlines, and I will gladly continue flying with them. I hope you give them a chance as well; smaller, lesser-known airlines still deserve love, since they so often have spectacular service. As I mentioned before, Copa has over 60 destinations all over the Americas. All you have to do now is pick one.
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