Airline review: An upgrade on this flight is a steal

The airline: Copa Airlines

• Route Washington (IAD) to Panama City, Panama (PTY), flight CM 444
• Frequency Daily
• Aircraft Boeing 737-800
• Class Premium Economy; seat 19C
• Flight time 5 hours (delayed 1 hour).

Copa Airlines is based in Panama.Credit: Getty Images

Checking in

Washington Dulles International Airport is in Virginia, a 45-60 minute drive from central DC. A new public transport option, the Metro Silver Line, opened in 2022, with direct service to the airport.

Inside the terminal, it’s a dream run, with no lines at the check-in counter, passport control or security scanning. It’s eerily quiet, more staff than passengers. Past security, I take the air-train to Terminal A for departure, with plenty of time to spare.

Baggage

It depends on the fare category booked, with different allowances for Economy Basic, Economy Classic and Economy Full passengers. I’m booked on an Economy Classic ticket, so the first checked bag up to 50 pounds (23 kilograms) is free. A second checked bag would cost $US55 ($83); additional bags cost a whopping $US150. Economy and Premium Economy passengers may take one item of carry-on luggage, weighing up to 10kg, plus one personal item into the cabin at no charge.

Loyalty scheme

ConnectMiles. Panama’s Copa is a StarAlliance member, so passengers can elect to earn points for this flight on participating member airlines. I enter my Thai Airways Royal Orchid membership number.

The seat

An upgrade from standard economy is surprisingly cheap.Credit:

I’m in seat 19C, a Premium Economy aisle seat, an upgrade for which I paid $US47 ($70). There are 24 Premium Economy seats in a 3-3, one-aisle configuration (144 Economy seats in total). Seats are 17 inches (43cm) wide with 34-inch (86.4cm) pitch.

Premium Economy offers extra legroom (three extra inches or eight centimetres), a valuable asset on this five-hour flight. I’m able to stretch out, work and not spill hot tea in my lap. Definitely worth paying for the upgrade. There’s a seatback touchscreen TV, with USB charger and headphone jack.

Entertainment + tech

Seatback touchscreens display a limited selection of complimentary movies (no new releases, not many released in the past 10 years), TV programs and kids’ content. There are a few Spanish-language films. Also, flight info and a customer survey. No Wi-FI. An inflight magazine, Panorama, showcases destination and lifestyle content in Spanish and English.

Service

Nothing to complain about, but nothing to write home about either. The crew serve the meal, dim the lights, then make themselves scarce for the remainder of the flight. Dressed in classic navy and white uniforms, they present a professional image. Passengers are addressed first in Spanish, then English.

Food

A hot meal is served: rice with chicken or mashed potato with beef. I choose the rice dish, which is a starchy hunger-buster, though not particularly tasty. Plastic-wrapped chocolate brownie for dessert, plus tea or coffee. Juice and soft drink is served in cups so tiny that I ask for seconds and wonder if it’s impolite to ask for thirds.

Carbon emissions

0.567 tonnes for one Economy passenger flying from Washington DC to Panama City. The airline’s addition of new-generation aircraft, including the Boeing 737 MAX, will improve the fleet’s efficiency and reduce overall CO2 emissions.

One more thing

Pre-flight email communications from Copa are in Spanish. In-flight, the captain and crew make announcements first in Spanish, then English.

The price

From $US787 one-way*.

The verdict

The upgrade to Premium Economy makes this five-hour flight a relaxed and comfortable journey. At a cost of $US47, it’s a steal.

Our rating out of five

★★★★

The writer travelled to Panama as a guest of NCL. See copaair.com

*Fares are based on those available for travel three months from the time of publication and subject to change.

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