CENTRAL AMERICA'S SECRET AIRLINE WEAPON: Copa Airlines Business AND Economy Class 737 Max/737-800

Central America has a secret weapon. That weapon comes in the form of Copa Airlines, a Panama-based airline that has expanded a huge amount in the last 10 years all throughout North, Central, and South America. This makes it super easy to connect to just about most places that you could need to travel in the Western Hemisphere.
They have updated 737s with a normal layout in economy, but the 737 Max aircraft have LIE FLAT BUSINESS CLASS SEATS! ON A 737! I tried to experience this, but was forced into their -800 product due to an equipment swap. Do not worry, I will be back to try that out eventually.
Copa Airlines also has some of the best fares between North and South America through their hub of Tocumen Airport in Panama City, Panama, which has a BEAUTIFUL Terminal 2 (although an outdated Terminal 1).
COPA UPGRADE PROGRAM: They also do upgrades in an interesting way, where you BID for your upgrade and they let you know the strength of your bid. I purchased this entire flight for $510 in economy and then bid for a Business Class upgrade for the leg to Buenos Aires. I placed a bid at $350, which it labelled as strong, and then about 48 hours before departure, I received an email that I had been awarded my upgrade.
Anywho... I hope you enjoy the video, and I hope you look forward to some of the other upcoming videos from my time in South America flying on a number of different airlines (6 to be exact!)
Thanks for Watching!
Tailwinds,
Patrick
0:00 SFO Int'l Term
4:00 Boarding
4:42 Economy vs Economy Plus
6:00 Takeoff SFO
8:15 In-Flight Entertainment
8:58 Snack Service
11:18 Arrival PTY
13:24 PTY Term 2
14:52 T2 Copa Club
16:35 PTY Term 1
17:45 T1 Copa Club
20:05 Plane Change :(
20:49 Boarding
21:29 Ameneties
22:40 Pushback/Takeoff
25:22 Hmmmm
25:58 Business Class Seat
27:45 Copa Paint Scheme
28:19 In-Flight Entertainment
29:37 Dinner Service
33:16 Arrival EZE
35:20 EZE Term A/Immigration

Пікірлер: 54

  • @meltingtomato
    @meltingtomato10 күн бұрын

    Man, vintage Patrick Shea videos are so wild. Not bad mind you, I enjoyed watching it and getting a peek at Copa Airlines (I've wanted to fly to Chile and Uruguay for a while now). That said, your production quality has gone up a lot in the ensuing year and change, without losing that chill vibe. 👍👍

  • @dpitters
    @dpitters Жыл бұрын

    I love how detailed this video is

  • @atthemoment14
    @atthemoment14 Жыл бұрын

    I might be flying on Copa in February so thanks for this vid!

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    Жыл бұрын

    In Economy Plus, it was definitely enjoyable flight. I am not sure about the normal Economy seats, especially for a red eye, but if you're flying that, be sure to let me know how it is

  • @xyzfantasyqueen12
    @xyzfantasyqueen12 Жыл бұрын

    This was a helpful video. I was hesitant of COPA because I did not recognize the airline but it looks safe and normal enough to me. Thanks!

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    Жыл бұрын

    Totally safe! I had a great time. If you care about inflight entertainment screens you may want to pay for economy plus seats if you’re in the 737 max since the others don’t have TVs. Enjoy your flight!

  • @davidcole333
    @davidcole333 Жыл бұрын

    You're right about that outdoor terrace at SFO, it is amazing....also the lounge in Panama...that was eye opening. Wow.

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    Жыл бұрын

    Apparently the terminal 2 Copa lounge is brand new. It was amazing compared to the older one in terminal 1!

  • @stevensmith2078
    @stevensmith2078 Жыл бұрын

    I follow a few other flight reviews blogs. Great video. I really want to know what those lava-looking lines are. Will check back!

  • @carloshs7390
    @carloshs7390 Жыл бұрын

    Just a tip for your next flight in COPA, if your touchscreen stopped working you can call the flight attendant and he will restart it.

  • @josiasleira
    @josiasleira Жыл бұрын

    For the second flight to Argentina, that flight was operated by a colombian crew, they shoud do the cockpit door procedure and well, panamenian crew are required to speak advanced english, not sure about the colombian crew so, these are some comments that would make you understand some things 🤷🏻‍♂️

  • @josiasleira

    @josiasleira

    Жыл бұрын

    If you noticed, your San Francisco flight was a CM flight, and your Argentina flight was a P5 500

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    Жыл бұрын

    Great notes! Thank you

  • @Bacchusmbt
    @Bacchusmbt Жыл бұрын

    I ❤️ COPA!!

  • @madtownbbbear
    @madtownbbbear11 ай бұрын

    Excellent video quality, information & narration (thank you for not recording that during your flight); Good non distracting background music. Nice job once again as one of the better travel vloggers out there. And I have to thank you again for not making this video about you unlike so many others (Josh Cahill's videos are all about him rather than airline spending up to 75% of the time of the video directly in front of the camera. Plus constantly whines and complains when they don't fall all over him). My final score for your video: 8.50 (out of 10).

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    11 ай бұрын

    Thank you! I’m glad you liked the content!

  • @thomasmoore9421
    @thomasmoore9421 Жыл бұрын

    I've travelled to san Francisco a couple times over the past couple years. Love the city and airport. I've toyed with the idea of travelling to south America and going by way of copa seems like the best way.

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    Жыл бұрын

    I did enjoy Copa, now I gotta try their lie flat products

  • @danielclooney6248
    @danielclooney6248 Жыл бұрын

    Very good narration.

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @beartutor3377
    @beartutor33779 ай бұрын

    Copa offers a very regional service. Their crew and food are from all over Latin America

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    9 ай бұрын

    They are a good representation of especially Central America, even if their flag is specifically Panama

  • @user-ex6ox4hi4l
    @user-ex6ox4hi4l2 ай бұрын

    hey , thanks hope that Orbitz info on 7373max vs 800 is correct on this flights , 7 hr on a lie flat bed is quite different than a business class brraniff type

  • @rxchamberlain
    @rxchamberlain11 ай бұрын

    Where was your final destination? Uruguay or Chile? Copa is pretty good they are normally on time and the change in PTY is fairly painless. Hard to get a drink from them but the service is good and the price is reasonable.

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    11 ай бұрын

    I went from San Francisco to Buenos Aires via Panama City. I do agree that the airport was great, especially the new terminal.

  • @marttinaalbert5009
    @marttinaalbert5009 Жыл бұрын

    ❤LOVE COPA

  • @nnamuenmada
    @nnamuenmada Жыл бұрын

    bummer about the plane change. any footage about the business class on Max 9? worth the extra $$ for long haul?

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    Жыл бұрын

    The lie flat seats I walked past on my first flight looked super comfortable in a 2-2 configuration. I’m hoping to try that out soon. Because their upgrade is a bid system, you could always try although some flights sell out before upgrades are available (like my first flight from SFO)

  • @gunvaldsandhaland7757
    @gunvaldsandhaland7757 Жыл бұрын

    Anoder Airlines i dont have flew whit.Great work

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    Жыл бұрын

    Its a great opportunity to save some $$ if you find yourself needing to travel within the Americas!

  • @gunvaldsandhaland7757

    @gunvaldsandhaland7757

    Жыл бұрын

    @@PatrickSheaAviation thanks for info

  • @josephschmeggins6311
    @josephschmeggins6311 Жыл бұрын

    Flying SFO-PTY Monday and it’s listed as a sub-6hr flight. Return leg is over 7. Odd.

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    Жыл бұрын

    Headwinds can be a killer even if the flight is just slightly westbound. That’d be my thought at least

  • @jollyfox
    @jollyfox Жыл бұрын

    Is Copa Airlines a dry airline?

  • @talex6619
    @talex6619 Жыл бұрын

    Did u figure out what it was

  • @kbussche
    @kbussche10 ай бұрын

    You said Economy Plus, but I only see basic and classic on COPA's site. Did they change the name?

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    10 ай бұрын

    Hmm odd. Are you able to see them when you select your seat? I haven’t flown them in a while so I’m not totally sure unfortunately

  • @kbussche

    @kbussche

    10 ай бұрын

    "Economy Extra" is what they are calling the good seats now. @@PatrickSheaAviation

  • @wtcneverforget8163
    @wtcneverforget816311 ай бұрын

    How were you able to book economy for the first leg and the second as business? Copa wouldn't let do that,

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    11 ай бұрын

    I upgraded after the fact. Tried to upgrade for the whole journey but SFO-PTY was sold out

  • @spark_6710
    @spark_67107 ай бұрын

    I didn't know that 737-800 is Max also !? 💜🥁🐉🎤🎶✈️💞

  • @abiyah3176
    @abiyah3176 Жыл бұрын

    Panama has THE BEST coffee ❤

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    Жыл бұрын

    I used to agree until my recent trip to Colombia, now I personally like that coffee a bit more

  • @digitizedhuman
    @digitizedhuman4 ай бұрын

    Fact: @copaair is not your regular Mozambique airlines. Copa Airlines is the best carrier in Central and South America. TRY IT.

  • @Anyone553
    @Anyone553 Жыл бұрын

    Copa is much better than Avianca

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    Жыл бұрын

    I am hoping to try their low flats too. That’ll be a better comparison to my Avianca flight!

  • @expatchris

    @expatchris

    8 ай бұрын

    Hands down!

  • @ChaSaint-ek8ln
    @ChaSaint-ek8ln Жыл бұрын

    The flight attendant should know to speak english especially in case of emergency

  • @darcygrant7733
    @darcygrant7733 Жыл бұрын

    cake and coke - now that's business class

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    Жыл бұрын

    Only the best luxury for me!

  • @fredricgrethel1717
    @fredricgrethel17178 ай бұрын

    I flew Copa PTY to LIM RT in business. Older configuration. Really not at all competitive. Poor everything: lounge, inflight team, ground staff, in air hard product. It is like a less safe version of a domestic US carrier. I really like your content, but in this particular case I do not see this airline as good at all. Actually it is terrible.

  • @PatrickSheaAviation

    @PatrickSheaAviation

    8 ай бұрын

    Fair enough. Their max’s with the lie flat seats are at least a bit better

  • @fredricgrethel1717

    @fredricgrethel1717

    8 ай бұрын

    @@PatrickSheaAviation I have not tried the new planes. Would like to. I am a big fan of Panama. Very cool place. Thanks for the work that you are doing! I am so impressed with your unique perspective as personified by the Fifth Freedom series. You are a true, passionate AV Geek. I love it! Off to Hong Kong next week. Flying JAL. Watched your videos. Super helpful and fun to get me ready. It’s been some years since I flew them. Looking forward to the trip. Appreciate you!