The upgrade on this flight is a good deal

this seat; special seat; seat

I was seated in seat 19C, an aisle seat in premium economy, for which I paid a $47 ($70) upgrade fee. There are 24 seats in premium economy, in a 3-3, single aisle configuration (144 economy seats total). The seats are 17 inches (43 cm) wide and have a 34-inch (86.4 cm) pitch.

Premium economy offers extra legroom (an extra three inches or eight centimeters), which is a valuable asset on a five-hour flight. I was able to stretch out, work, and not spill hot tea on my lap. The upgrade is definitely worth the money. The seatbacks have touchscreen TVs with USB chargers and headphone jacks.

Entertainment + Technology

Seatback touch screens display limited free movies (no new releases, not many released in the past 10 years), TV shows, and kids content. There are a few Spanish-language movies. Also, flight information and customer surveys. No Wi-Fi. In-flight magazines, panoramicshowcasing destination and lifestyle content in Spanish and English.

Serve

Nothing to complain about, but nothing to write home about either. The crew served the meal, dimmed the lights, and disappeared for the rest of the flight. They presented a professional image in their classic navy and white uniforms. They addressed the passengers first in Spanish, then in English.

food

A hot meal arrived: chicken with rice or beef with mashed potatoes. I chose rice, which wasn’t particularly tasty but was starchy enough to fill my stomach. Dessert was a plastic-wrapped chocolate brownie, plus tea or coffee. The juice and soft drink cups were so small that I asked for another, wondering if it would be rude.

carbon emission

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Each economy class passenger flying from Washington, D.C. to Panama City emits 0.567 tonnes of carbon. The airline’s addition of new generation aircraft, including the Boeing 737 MAX, will increase fleet efficiency and reduce overall CO2 emissions.

And one more thing

Copa Airlines’ pre-flight email communications are sent in Spanish. During the flight, the captain and crew make announcements first in Spanish and then in English.

price

Prices start at $787* one way.

judgment

This five-hour flight was made easy and comfortable with an upgrade to Premium Economy, which was a steal at just $47.

Our rating is five points