flying through panama - cheap tickets

jorgegdiaz says on Jun 30, 2008, 13:12:

Panama city has a small airport, you won´t find any trouble connecting there, an´you´ll you skip customs and DAS in Bogota.
Last time we checked, flying through PAN was expensive as hell, ... well, which flights are not expensive thesedays...

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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silviat says on Jun 30, 2008, 14:01:

Thanks Jorge!

Do you know if I would have to get my luggage and check it again when I fly through Panama? I was told that was the case when flying to from Col to the US through Mexico.

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Gator says on Jun 30, 2008, 16:06:

We fly COPA through PTY 95% of the time. No problems with luggage transfers. They code share with Aero República so you would likely fly Aero República to Bucaramanga.

I would suggest you call COPA and ghe their pricing and go from there.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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lampltr says on Jul 1, 2008, 01:03:

Gator is right on...you have a quick stopover in Panama then continuing onwards? Tocumen is a pretty nice airport with a few duty free shops, grab some liquor before continuing onwards will make nice gifts (If you have time).

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roloenNJ says on Jul 1, 2008, 03:30:

I didnt like how rude people were, especially the cops.

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sloopskipper says on Jul 1, 2008, 05:29:

I live in Panama City, and use Tocumen. Never had a problem with policia, or any other people there.

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ingles says on Jul 1, 2008, 08:08:

I sometimes find flights through Panama with a connection time of 45 minutes - is this a realistic connection with code share airlines? Has anyone had to do this? Is there assistance to speed up the transfer of flights?

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sloopskipper says on Jul 1, 2008, 10:08:

To me, 45 minutes is a bit short, even if both flights are with the same airline.

But if you are talking Areo República & Copa they don't simply code share. Copa owns AR and I am sure they use the same gates, baggage handling, etc.

You can also get direct Copa flights from several Colombian cities to Panamá, and onward to the U.S.

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Gator says on Jul 1, 2008, 12:15:

Sloopskipper, we would echo your observation-however, you show your ass it might be a be a different matter.

Only one problem, unless things have changed recently, there is only one little cafe type restaurant.

Codeshare-we have cut it closer than that and had no problems.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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sloopskipper says on Jul 1, 2008, 17:01:

I always try to have an hour, even in the same terminal.

Yeah, Gator, of course. A bit of Gringo attitude doesn't usually get you very far, and trust me, I do my share of tounge biting in some places.

The food outside of security is pretty pitiful, but I have never checked out those inside, since Tocumen is only 20 minutes from home.

For some reason when I flew to Cartagena I tried the that cafe, and it was rather expensive, with few choices, and not very good. However, I made the mistake of ordering Sancocho, which has a veggie in it that I don't care for.


As far as The Panmanian National Police are concerned, after living here more than two years I have yet to have the first problem. But, they are not quite as friendly and helpful as the Cartagena Tourist Policeman in my avitar.

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