photo: Priority Pass
There are four Priority Pass lounges at Panama Tocumen Int’l Airport (PTY), three at Terminal 1 and one at Terminal 2.
The three lounges at Terminal 1 are the Tocumen Royal Saloon (landside before security), the Copa Club (airside), and the Lounge Panama (airside). There is another Copa Club at Terminal 2 (airside).
We left for the airport early as there were many protests taking place throughout the country. It was a good thing we did that, as the highway from Panama City to the airport was blockaded and our Uber driver had to take local streets to the airport.
Since American Airlines flies out of Terminal 1, that is the terminal we went to. We did not go to the landside lounge, the Tocumen Saloon. (I kept thinking that they meant to name it Salon, not Saloon), After going through security, we went to the Copa Club. It is large and clean and bright with plenty of seating.
There is also a business area.
There is a bar and food area. Drinks are served by a bartender.
I’d been warned that the food offered at the Copa Club is sparse and indeed it was.
I had a glass of wine and a few snacks, and then decided to check out the second lounge, The Lounge, as we’d been told that they served hot food. The Lounge was literally steps away from the Copa Club.
Once inside, we regretted having gone there. The space was crowded and awkward and there were very few power outlets. The hot food wasn’t much and you had to order it from a server. I’ll say this – the soup was pretty good.
There were a few interesting rooms at The Lounge, but overall, we just wanted to return to the Copa Club.
We joyfully returned to the Copa Club! Lesson learned, notwithstanding the sparsity of food offerings at the Copa Club, it was the superior of the two airport lounges.
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
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I visited the PTY Copa Club about 7 years ago. I don’t know if they’ve remodeled or what, but I recall being cramped and needing to fight for a drink.
I also recall PTY having the saddest approach in memory, as you can see countless huts surrounding the city.
On the topic of PTY, there is a metro from the airport to the city (not sure if it helped during protests). It’s 2 train changes, about 15 stops total and a confusing change to get to Line 1 from Line 2 ..at least for me. It was great to try it with a carry on. It passes thru poor areas but it was fine and the trains are clean. Nonetheless I think I will get a ride on departure day and relax a bit.