COPA Airline

[uop1497]

I am planning a trip to ST Maarten and this airline shows up in United website during my search.

If anyone has ever flew COPA airline from SFO to Carribean or within Carribean countries, please share your experience ( like and not like) about this airline.

Please advise and Thank you

 

[dioxide45]

We flew from Aruba to Panama and onward to Cancun. As well as from Curacao to Panama and on to Cancun. They were fine. They served breakfast on the early flights. Maybe a meal to Cancun too. They were fine. They utilize the United logo, frequent flyer program and reservation system. They are fine. We had a great experience and were actually upgraded to first/business on one of the four flights as my wife had Mileage Plus silver status from her MR Platinum.

 

[uop1497]

@ Dioxide45,

Thanks for your reply.

@ ALL,

I have another question, my flight home from Saint Maarteen ( SXM ==> MIA ==> SFO) has 2 hours connection at MIA airport , will it be enough time to go thru US immigration clearance at MIA with checked luggage . We have global entry card

If someone has go thru immigration clearance at MIA, please share how it works when you return from your carribean trip.

 

[Passepartout]

I have another question, my flight home from Saint Maarteen ( SXM ==> MIA ==> SFO) has 2 hours connection at MIA airport , will it be enough time to go thru US immigration clearance at MIA with checked luggage . We have global entry card

If someone has go thru immigration clearance at MIA, please share how it works when you return from your carribean trip.

You'll have plenty of time. You go through immigration first- just follow the Global Entry signs. Then you pick up your luggage very nearby and put it on a cart and turn in the customs declaration to the nice Customs person, and exit through a door and re-check your bags. Then head to security to go to your gate to continue on. (or restaurant on the way)

Jim

 

[dioxide45]

@ Dioxide45,

Thanks for your reply.

@ ALL,

I have another question, my flight home from Saint Maarteen ( SXM ==> MIA ==> SFO) has 2 hours connection at MIA airport , will it be enough time to go thru US immigration clearance at MIA with checked luggage . We have global entry card

If someone has go thru immigration clearance at MIA, please share how it works when you return from your carribean trip.

We just flew in to Miami from Barbados. Though we weren't connecting. We also have Nexus/Global Entry. There were a ton of kiosks and literally no line at the immigration counter. You won't have an issue making your connection baring any delays.

 

[dioxide45]

You'll have plenty of time. You go through immigration first- just follow the Global Entry signs. Then you pick up your luggage very nearby and put it on a cart and turn in the customs declaration to the nice Customs person, and exit through a door and re-check your bags. Then head to security to go to your gate to continue on. (or restaurant on the way)

Jim

There are no more customs declaration forms. Everything is done at the kiosk, at least in Miami and many other airports. The kiosk prints out a receipt. In Miami we only talked with one person, the immigration officer and he took the receipt. There was no separate customs check, but I am sure they could have pulled us aside after we grabbed our bags.

 

[uop1497]

Thanks again for addition clarification .

Does anyone know if any handicap wheelchair assistance for Arrival at Miami airport and Saint maarteen airport. My travel partner need wheel chair assistance from and to the gate. Do these airports provide this service . maybe at Miami since it is US airport, but I do not know it this service is available at Saint Maarteen or not. And if it is how can I made arrangement.

 

[dioxide45]

I don't know about St Maarten, but Miami is BAD for wheel chair assistance. We had requested assistance for DW coming back from Barbados. There was no one waiting at the gate. Walking along further there were lots of wheelchairs and a few workers, but we were pointed to go further ahead for American Airlines wheel chair assistance. There was nothing else further ahead. When getting to the baggage claim area, we were told to go get our bags first then come back to a waiting area. The problem was that our baggage carrousel was ALL THE WAY at the other end. Not a short walk. They would not let me push her in a wheel chair, we tried and when I stepped away to pull bags from the belt, they kicked her out of the chair and took it. It was miserable for DW. I wouldn't count on much help in Miami, unless perhaps you are willing to wait a long time for it.

 

[Passepartout]

Make the wheelchair arrangements through the airline. If you are using United and the COPA is a codeshare with them, your wheelchair request and baggage interline should be seamless. That said, sometimes at airports outside the US, assistance can be spotty. On one occasion in Frankfurt, We never did get wheelchair assistance, and never even saw a wheelchair I could use to push my wife myself in.

 

[am1]

Not sure at sxm but copa always have wheelchairs waiting it seems.

Thanks again for addition clarification .

Does anyone know if any handicap wheelchair assistance for Arrival at Miami airport and Saint maarteen airport. My travel partner need wheel chair assistance from and to the gate. Do these airports provide this service . maybe at Miami since it is US airport, but I do not know it this service is available at Saint Maarteen or not. And if it is how can I made arrangement.