General Info

[Kazeu]

Vivaair has a special coupon flight pass sale where you can buy 5 or 8 flights at a fixed price. The 5 flight pass book costs 575 k which seems like a pretty good deal for flying domestically.

The downside is that you have to call their call center anytime you want to use one of the coupons for a flight.

What do you guys think? Anyone have any experience with these types of passes? Am I going to spend an hour on the phone each time I want to book a flight with a coupon?

https://vivapass.vivaair.com/en-co/v...s/select/domco

[LatinaLover#1]

I've flown Copa at least 100 times. It's just like if you are flying on Southwest or any other US airlines. Your bag is checked in to its final destination. No need to pick up your bags in Panama if you are just passing through. You land in Panama and before you land you are asked if you are staying in Panama or passing through. If you are passing through, you get out of the plane and go directly to the gate for your next flight WITHOUT going through immigration OR customs. Or / and you can co shopping. You find your connecting gate and move on; no need to go through immigration if you are NOT staying in Panama. It isn't Mexico, they do that stupid shit sometimes, but not in Panama.

I have filled up 3 passports with international stamps, one with added pages, they did that in the old days. I know how things worked antes COVID. I'm asking because, Panama has the 48 hour test rule. MORE restrictive than Colombias, and My novia flew Avianca last week from Bogota to Ctg to connect on American and onto Mia. AND they made her exit from the airport in Ctg. And go back into the airport to the American counter to be processed all over again. Before Covid, as a Colombian National, IN Colombia she would have gotten off the plane and walked over to the AA gate. She was already checked in for the Miami flight, She was not checking a bag and she had her boarding pass. Colombia does crazy shit like this and I'm just hoping Panama isn't doing the same shit SO I'll ask again Has anyone connected in Panama SINCE the reopening of international flights last month. Thanks.

[LatinaLover#1]

LOL, he should have booked a ticket on spirit, they fly nonstop to Colombia. He wouldn't have to worry about going to immigration in Panama which is nonsense.

I wouldn't fly Spirit with your money!

[BigButtDetecto]

JI,

I am just telling you what I read. If you test +, it is my understanding that you go into quarantine.

As for everyone else on the plane, "Two compelling case reports also suggest that masks can prevent transmission in high-risk scenarios, said Chin-Hong and Rutherford. In one case, a man flew from China to Toronto and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. He had a dry cough and wore a mask on the flight, and all 25 people closest to him on the flight tested negative for COVID-19. In another case, in late May, two hair stylists in Missouri had close contact with 140 clients while sick with COVID-19. Everyone wore a mask and none of the clients tested positive."

I think that you are assuming that one + passenger could contaminate a whole plane. That really has not happened. There have been a few cases of transmission on airplanes but it is very, very rare when people wear masks. Odds of catching the virus on a plane are between one in 5000 and 10,000, and I think that it is even lower than that.

And the hysteria has not been rolled back yet. I have a lot more experience with this virus than I have let on. If there is someone behind you in line at a supermarket, and you found out he tested + for Covid, and he was coughing near you, and you were both wearing masks, you would be terrified you would catch Covid right? That does not happen. I have been in the room with 10 Covid + people who have coughed in front of me, and we were both wearing masks and I have not gotten it, and neither have the people around me.

On the other hand, I had a son who had Covid bring his mother in, and he was not wearing a mask around her, and he was coughing all the time. So she had exposure to him quite frequently, and she did not feel well. I expected her to test + and she did.

Even people who get it are usually not that symptomatic, but they are sick in some way: fever, loss of taste or smell, body aches ETC. Asymptomatic transmission really does not happen. That is another myth that has not been corrected. Everyone I have seen who has Covid pretty much knows they are sick and who they have gotten the virus from.

I do not mean to blow it off though. You do see younger people who come in very short of breath, and in desperate need of oxygen. And one of the reasons this virus probably was made in a lab is you see blood clots in the lungs, legs, kidneys ETC that are seen with no other virus. The clotting and immune system response do lead to permanent damage. On top of that, the virus spreads by the air. Most cold viruses spread via fomites, objects that you leave the virus on like towels, clothes, surfaces. That is why masks were blown off at first and there was the emphasis on hand washing.

The only health care personnel I have seen who have gotten Covid have been doing 8 to 12 hours shifts with Covid only patients and one idiot doctor who would not wear his mask around Covid + patients who were coughing. It is not as contagious as you have been led to believe, and Colombian health authorities have seen enough of this virus now to realize what is really going on. When Colombia first shut down, they had very few cases. I am sure the Colombian health authorities were terrified at first like we all were, but they have a better grasp on what is really going on with it.

I agree with you. Masks are the best protection.

[Kulibali]

You are only funneled through immigration if you are staying in that particular country. If you are making an international connection then you are funneled to another area before you get to immigration and are not allowed to go outside. You will see a sign that says international connections before you get to immigration. You follow that sign.

You are not actually in a country until you have passed through immigration. And because you are not passing through immigration and entering the country then you do not need whatever they say you need for that country. Some countries do make you obtain a transit visa to pass through the country though. There is no such thing as only going through immigration and not going through customs too.

You are allowed to wander around the airport because most countries have it where immigration is after the arrival/departure area on the exit side and before the departure area on the entrance side, so there is no way to go outside without going through immigration on either end when you are in the international area.

LOL, he should have booked a ticket on spirit, they fly nonstop to Colombia. He wouldn't have to worry about going to immigration in Panama which is nonsense.

[Voyajer1]

I've flown Copa at least 100 times. It's just like if you are flying on Southwest or any other US airlines. Your bag is checked in to its final destination. No need to pick up your bags in Panama if you are just passing through. You land in Panama and before you land you are asked if you are staying in Panama or passing through. If you are passing through, you get out of the plane and go directly to the gate for your next flight WITHOUT going through immigration OR customs. Or / and you can co shopping. You find your connecting gate and move on; no need to go through immigration if you are NOT staying in Panama. It isn't Mexico, they do that stupid shit sometimes, but not in Panama.

But I'm not talking about customs, I'm talking about immigration. Anytime an international flight arrives in another country, you are not allowed to wander around the airport, usually you are funneled into immigration. As far as aduanas goes I think my checked bag will continue on if it's just a layover. Has anyone flown a connecting Copa flight yet, I would to know your experience post China virus.

[Mr Enternational]

But I'm not talking about customs, I'm talking about immigration. Anytime an international flight arrives in another country, you are not allowed to wander around the airport, usually you are funneled into immigration.

You are only funneled through immigration if you are staying in that particular country. If you are making an international connection then you are funneled to another area before you get to immigration and are not allowed to go outside. You will see a sign that says international connections before you get to immigration. You follow that sign.

You are not actually in a country until you have passed through immigration. And because you are not passing through immigration and entering the country then you do not need whatever they say you need for that country. Some countries do make you obtain a transit visa to pass through the country though. There is no such thing as only going through immigration and not going through customs too.

You are allowed to wander around the airport because most countries have it where immigration is after the arrival/departure area on the exit side and before the departure area on the entrance side, so there is no way to go outside without going through immigration on either end when you are in the international area.

[LatinaLover#1]

I don't understand why you would think that. With almost 40 trips through that airport, I have never gone through immigration. My upcoming trip has 59 minutes between arrival and departure in PTY. That is not enough time to go through immigration.

Have any of your trips been since the virus?

[LatinaLover#1]

You don't need to clear customs. If you are passing through, it is not necessary to clear customs. Panama is a hub and spoke terminal for Copa. If you are going elsewhere, I. E. Colombia, Brazil, etc. , you don't need to clear customs.

But I'm not talking about customs, I'm talking about immigration. Anytime an international flight arrives in another country, you are not allowed to wander around the airport, usually you are funneled into immigration. As far as aduanas goes I think my checked bag will continue on if it's just a layover. Has anyone flown a connecting Copa flight yet, I would to know your experience post China virus.

[Voyajer1]

You don't need to clear customs. If you are passing through, it is not necessary to clear customs. Panama is a hub and spoke terminal for Copa. If you are going elsewhere, I. E. Colombia, Brazil, etc. , you don't need to clear customs.

I read today that anyone entering Panama needs a 48 hour, keeps getting shorter and shorter time frame, PCR test. I'm flying Copa and connecting in Panama to and from Colombia. So here's the question. Does that include passengers on a short layover? I think I know the answer but I'm hoping I'm wrong. If true, this can be a cluster fuck getting the test here in the states now 4 days is too long so if true I will need a test within 2 days of travel from here and then another test in Colombia to travel from Bogota on my Panama layover back to the states. If so I may just bag the whole trip, too much aggravation. Or fly another airline.

[Mr Enternational]

I'm almost sure I will need to go through immigration on arrival in Panama, in that case I may need the test. I'll call Copa and try to get some clarification.

If you are in transit and not staying in Panama, why would you have to go through immigration?

[Fun Luvr]

I'm almost sure I will need to go through immigration on arrival in Panama, in that case I may need the test. I'll call Copa and try to get some clarification.

I don't understand why you would think that. With almost 40 trips through that airport, I have never gone through immigration. My upcoming trip has 59 minutes between arrival and departure in PTY. That is not enough time to go through immigration.

[LatinaLover#1]

I think when you see something about "entering Panama", it means outside the airport. I read something about that a few days ago, but can't find it right now. An example, when I read the article, foreigners were not allowed to enter Panama (except for the normal exceptions), but foreigners were allowed to transit through the airport with no overnight stays. On Copa's website, it states your temperature will be checked when arriving at PTY, but nothing about the PCR test.

Translation of first paragraph of attachment:

Panama September 24, 2020
The Government of Panama, through Executive Decree No. 1089 of September 23, 2020, establishes as sanitary measures that nationals, residents and foreigners who enter the Republic of Panama must comply, as of October 12, submit a Certificate of Swab Tests / PCR or negative antigen with a maximum of 48 hours, without the need to comply with mandatory isolation.

Notice that was issued on September 24.

I'm almost sure I will need to go through immigration on arrival in Panama, in that case I may need the test. I'll call Copa and try to get some clarification.

[Fun Luvr]

I read today that anyone entering Panama needs a 48 hour, keeps getting shorter and shorter time frame, PCR test. I'm flying Copa and connecting in Panama to and from Colombia. So here's the question. Does that include passengers on a short layover? I think I know the answer but I'm hoping I'm wrong. If true, this can be a cluster fuck getting the test here in the states now 4 days is too long so if true I will need a test within 2 days of travel from here and then another test in Colombia to travel from Bogota on my Panama layover back to the states. If so I may just bag the whole trip, too much aggravation. Or fly another airline.

I think when you see something about "entering Panama", it means outside the airport. I read something about that a few days ago, but can't find it right now. An example, when I read the article, foreigners were not allowed to enter Panama (except for the normal exceptions), but foreigners were allowed to transit through the airport with no overnight stays. On Copa's website, it states your temperature will be checked when arriving at PTY, but nothing about the PCR test.

Translation of first paragraph of attachment:

Panama September 24, 2020
The Government of Panama, through Executive Decree No. 1089 of September 23, 2020, establishes as sanitary measures that nationals, residents and foreigners who enter the Republic of Panama must comply, as of October 12, submit a Certificate of Swab Tests / PCR or negative antigen with a maximum of 48 hours, without the need to comply with mandatory isolation.

Notice that was issued on September 24.

[LatinaLover#1]

I read today that anyone entering Panama needs a 48 hour, keeps getting shorter and shorter time frame, PCR test. I'm flying Copa and connecting in Panama to and from Colombia. So here's the question. Does that include passengers on a short layover? I think I know the answer but I'm hoping I'm wrong. If true, this can be a cluster fuck getting the test here in the states now 4 days is too long so if true I will need a test within 2 days of travel from here and then another test in Colombia to travel from Bogota on my Panama layover back to the states. If so I may just bag the whole trip, too much aggravation. Or fly another airline.