www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I am planning a trip from Chicago to Medellin next month and am close to booking my flight with Copa which will then be subcontracting flight to Aero Republic who will actually be the Carrier that I fly on. I believe Aero republic is a Colombian Airline that is owned by Copa which is partially or totally owned by United.

I was doing some google searches on Copa and they definitely seem to have more than their fair share of complaints and bad reviews in the world of flyers. Can't find too much on Aero Republic on the net just yet. I did a search on this site and found limited and mixed reviews of Copa.

More specific info on my flight would be leaving Chicago on a Tuesday morning to Panama City and then from PTY to Medellin arriving at about 5:30 PM

Return flight would be reverse route leaving on a Thursday afternoon and getting back to Chicago late in the evening. Some of the recent reviews I found online regarding Copa are horrendous and so am looking for some of the fellow travelers on this site to give it to meet straight regarding if they think I might be setting myself up for a bad trip by using Copa/Aero Republic.

Thanks in advance for any and all feedback, it's much appreciated.

I am a frequent traveler from Las Vegas to Latin America & have pretty much used Continental/United for the past 10 years but have flown Copa 3 times this year & loved them. Their fares have been = or better than United's, their schedule has worked better for me, their on-board service is superior, & they have more empty seats in 1st class-greatly improving my chances of an upgrade via my Mileageplus status.

Even in coach, on a long-haul flight from las -pty, all passengers received blankets & pillows, 2 meals were served-no charge, all beverages, inc. a basic supply of liquor-no charge. I just came back from sjo thru pty on Sunday night in business class & was served a 5-course meal, enjoyed the premium rum of the month, Botran 18 yrs., & napped, covered in a real blanket-quite comfy.

I have flown on Aero Republica in the past on connections from pty-mde, & also to ctg & found them to be as good. It's surprising to get a drink & a snack on a 1-hr flight but these airlines do it.

So.....all my experiences have been excellent, on-time with great service, they've made the drudgery of travel as good as it gets these days. For all my future trips to Latin America, I will look to Copa 1st, United 2nd!

_________________
"cuz I'm a back-door man" Jim Morrison-1969

I have been flying Chicago to Medellin via Copa Air since they started operation from Chicago to PTY (Panama City, Panama) in February, 2012. I find it difficult to fly anyone else after my experiences

I am not certain what you are reading about Aerorepulica, but I guarantee it is old information. Chicago to Panama and back uses a Boeing 737-800 branded Copa Air and Panama to Medellin and back uses either a 737-800 or EMB 190 branded Copa Colombia.

I have one experience with a plane problem leaving medellin and spent the day in Panama Cty due to the fact that there is only one daily flight from chicago to panama and back. This is out of approximately fifteen round trips using this route.

I find the times to be perfect, leave chicago at 8 or 9am, depending on DST, arrive in medellin at 5:18pm. Depart Medellin at 4:22 pm arrive home at 11:15pm or 12:15am (depending on DST).

Hope this helps.

I have flown COPA many times and it has been great, except once.

I did a United code share with COPA from LAX-SJO. It was about $60.00 less booking through United for the same flights. I got my boarding on-line prior to my arrival at LAX, and all seemed fine until I checked my bag at LAX. I had my confirmation number from United/COPA, but COPA said I was not manifested, even though they had my booking number, and it was United's fault. It took me about 45 minutes to get on the flight. This was even after calling United, who called COPA. Both agreed that I had paid and should have been on the flight, but COPA still said I was not manifested. One of those muy Tico moments.

For my return I was worried, but went to the COPA office in downtown SJ the day before departure, and was told by the COPA rep that all was well, and I was indeed on the flight. When I got to SJO I checked in and was on my way to the gate. One of the agents ran me down and said that there was a problem, and I was not on the manifest. I had to go into the bowels of the SJO airport to the United office. They could not understand the problem either. They eventually cancelled the ticket, and re-wrote the same ticket over, and COPA was fine with that. I would never again book with United on a COPA code share flight, all to save $60.00. I continue to book directly with COPA whenever I can.

Sh*t happens and I think that COPA is a very good carrier. One thing I do find interesting are the meal service for dinners. They give you a knife, fork, spoon, all metal. So now there are about 180 people on the flight that have a metal knife. So much for all the BS to go through checking at the airport at LAX prior to boarding.

I have a flight LAX/BKK on China Southern tomorrow night, that is another story............

Health & happiness to all

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It's not the size of the wand that put the rabbit in the hat, it's the magic in it!!!

Love COPA & Avianca. As a matter of fact I try to use them for my flights to the US and Latin America even if it means paying a little more. COPA still maintains legacy-style service. Aerorepublica is a separate subsidiary that has been operating under the COPA brand for the past 3 1/2 years.

Thanks to all. This is exactly the feedback I was looking and hoping for. I have my ticket scheduled, but on hold at the moment. With this info I will go ahead and complete purchase.

Here is the info/link that I came across in my google search that made me apprehensive about using Copa if anyone is interested:

http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/copa.htm

On the thread, 22/45 people with negative experience and would not recommend Copa on page 1 freaked me about the possibility of too many things "muy tico" occurring. I figured it might have had disproportionate amount of negative venting from bad experiences but wanted to do my due diligence and get the real scoop. Thanks again to everyone for using your time and providing your info.

I used Copa this Febuary for the 1st time. Now I know you can't base an opinion off one experience, but for now they are my new favorite airline.
Fist trip was to Medellin with a quick layover in PTY. Service was great, meal and free booze, no old bag flight attendants with bad attitudes. Flights on time.

2 weeks later I was going out of Medellin for Ecuador and at check in it was noticed I did not have enough months left on my passport to go there. The 2 girls at the check in counter spent an hour with me to book me a new flight. Decided in the end to just go to Cuba. They made me a visa and off I went.
(Cuba is a whole other experience, mostly good)
That flight, again thru PTY and the next were again excellent. Legacy service. Liberal luggage policy.

Next back to Colombia. Great flight experience. Stayed overnight and part of a day in Bogata for a quick tour.

Back to Medellin without incidence. Good service and even food and booze.

The last flights were about a week later to Chicago via PTY. Again, nothing but good things to say about them. And the prices were the cheapest at the time.

Now I know it was just one trip to base my opinion on but I will definitely be using them again until they prove otherwise. (and no, I don't work for or get paid by Copa)
Red

Is it true that COPA and AVIANCA have young attractive latino stewardess?

They are fairly attractive (no fatties) unlike the ones at any of of the US airlines.

They are fairly attractive (no fatties) unlike the ones at any of of the US airlines.[/quote]


+1

Red

I flew a United/COPA code share IAH-PTY-MDE to Medellin. In my opinion the COPA leg of the flight was equal to if not better than the United leg. We received a free warm sandwich and drink on the COPA leg of the trip.

Copa is the best dude...always use them for CA/SA flights.