1. How does the option to purchase upgrades to Business Class work?
Copa Airlines offers the opportunity to be upgraded to Business Class and provide the best in-flight experience! To be able to participate in this program:
- The passenger must have purchased a valid ticket.
- The passenger must have an available email in the reservation.
- The flight must have seats available in Business Class after all MileagePlus® and Business Class passengers have been accommodated.
- Fare class previously approved.
If these requirements are met, the eligible passengers on the selected flights will receive an email to the address provided in the reservation inviting them to participate for the submission of a possible purchasing price for an upgrade to Business Class.
Copa Airlines invites you to enjoy the benefits of flying with us in Business Class.
2. Who is eligible?
- Passengers who have a valid ticket.
- Passengers who have a paid ticket and traveling in economy class.
- MileagePlus passengers not eligible for upgrade.
- Passengers who have a valid email address in their reservation.
3. How does it work?
If there is a possibility that the flight will have empty seats in Business Class, the passenger will receive an email seven days before departure with an invitation to participate. If the passenger accepts, he will be redirected to the page for purchasing upgrades. Then, the passenger will decide how much he/she is ready to pay for this upgrade, in the path or segment of the specific flight. The passenger will receive an email confirmation that his offer was received.
Taking into consideration the MileagePlus upgrades, 23 hours before the departure of the flight, the passenger who made the offer will receive an email indicating whether he obtained the upgrade or not. The passenger who obtained the upgrade will be charged what he/she offered, plus applicable taxes. The passenger who did not obtain the upgrade will not be charged anything and will travel with his/her original reservation.
4. Are all my flights eligible?
All flights with Business Class are eligible, depending on availability of each one. The passenger will receive, via email, the flight information or flight path available for an upgrade.
For example, if you fly from Bogota to Miami, with a stop in Panama, it may happen that only one segment of the flight will be available for this program or it could be both. It all depends on the availability of each segment.
5. Can I offer a different amount for each flight segment?
You have the freedom to offer the amount you choose for each segment of the flight, where availability permits it.
6. What happens if I participate and don't obtain the upgrade?
If you don't obtain the upgrade, you will receive an email 12 hours before your flight's departure indicating your failure to obtain the upgrade; there will not be a charge and you will travel according to your original reservation.
7. I received an email indicating I did not receive the upgrade; can I make a new offer?
Once the passenger receives this email, he will not be able to make an offer for this segment.
8. Can I offer a higher or lower amount than I already offered?
You have the freedom to offer the amount you choose for each segment of the flight, where availability permits it.
9. I accidentally canceled my offer, but I want to participate again. How can I do this?
Refer to the original email you were originally sent as an invitation to the program and enter again.
10. Will I earn miles as a MileagePlus passenger?
Only if your original ticket allows you to accumulate and will only accumulate the miles determined in your original ticket, but not as a passenger in Business Class.
11. Do I have the benefit of free baggage allowance for Business Class?
You keep the baggage allowance you had in the air ticket you originally purchased. You will have the same baggage allowance as your original ticket. For more information, visit our baggage policy.
12. What are the benefits of flying Business Class?
Copa Airlines passengers in Business Class will enjoy the following benefits:
- Special check-in lines at airport counters and boarding gates.
- Privacy and personal attention in the 10 passengers cabin (Embraer 190), 12 passengers cabin (Boeing 737-700) and 16 passengers cabin (Boeing 737-800) with leather seats.
- Fine dining with exquisite offerings from our chef, along with the best wines and spirits.
- Access to Copa Clubs, United Clubs and VIP lounges available all over the world, in the cities that offer them.
For more information visit our Business Class section.
13. I received an email to obtain an upgrade to Business Class, but I prefer to use my miles for an upgrade. What should I do?
In this case, you should contact United Airlines Service Center.
14. When I obtain an upgrade, will I be able to choose my seat?
When you receive confirmation of your Business Class upgrade, you will be able to choose your seat when you use Web Check-In, depending on seat availability.
15. Can I offer a single amount for all the different segments of my flight?
You should make an offer for each segment separately.
16. Which documents should I present at the Copa Airlines counter at the airport to get my boarding pass?
You must have a valid passport and the email which confirms that you have obtained the upgrade.
17. Could I also do Web Check-In?
You can do your Web Check-In from the moment you receive the email with the confirmation of the upgrade obtained up to 2 hours before the departure of your flight.
18. Who should I contact in case I have any questions/complaints/recommendations?
For any questions/complaints/recommendations regarding this program, please send your email to customerserviceupgrades@copaair.com.
19. What do the color bars mean?
- Red bar – poor offer: very unlikely to be upgraded
- Yellow bars – offer below past successful offers: unlikely to be upgraded
- Green bars – offer is in the range of past successful offers- moderate chances!
- Dark green bars – good offer: high chance to be upgraded – no guarantee
20. What are the criteria for determining an upgrade to Business Class?
Upgrades to Business Class are not guaranteed. They will first depend on the seats availability after all courtesy upgrades of Premier Members have been given. And, afterwards, on the offers that are received.
21. Do I have to pay any additional charges for using this program?
Participation in the upgrade program does not cost anything. It's only when you receive the upgrade that you will be charge the amount offered for such upgrade. In addition, you will also be charge for the taxes applicable to such transaction.
22. I know someone else who is flying on the same flight I'm taking, and he/she received an invitation, but I did not. Why not?
There can be several reasons for this. The main reason could be that we do not have your email address, but other conditions apply. The categories mentioned below will not receive an email:
- Bookings using promotional fares
- Business Rewards®
- Redemption ticket
- Free tickets (Non-Revenue, Buddy Passes, among others)
- Bookings already upgraded using miles
- Traveling with infants
- Passengers with tickets purchased within 24 hours or less of your flight
23. Do the rules that apply to my original ticket apply to the upgrade?
The same rules that apply to your original ticket also apply once the upgrade is obtained. The rules of your original ticket regarding minimum or maximum stay, changes, cancellation, penalties, refunds, baggage allowance and others, stay the same once you have obtained the upgrade.
24. What happens if I received the upgrade and I canceled my trip for personal reasons?
If you cancel your trip, your upgrade to Business Class is also canceled and the amount you paid for the upgrade is not refundable. Regarding the amount you paid for the original ticket, all the rules of such ticket apply in relation to refunds due to voluntary cancellations.
25. Will I receive a text message to my cellular phone (SMS) to tell me whether or not I obtained my upgrade?
You will only receive an email to inform you whether or not you obtained your upgrade.
26. I have been notified I obtained an upgrade to Business Class. However, I do not see the email with my new seat number.
You can Web Check-In or go to one of our agents in the Business Class line for your new seat assignment.
27. I received my confirmation for an upgrade. Will the special meal I requested in economy class be served in Business Class?
We are committed into providing the best service, which is why we will attempt to satisfy all meal requests for upgraded passengers.
28. What will happen if the flight to which I obtained an upgrade has been canceled?
In the event that your flight is canceled, we will try to accommodate you in a future flight with your upgrade, but if we do not have availability in that flight, we will provide you with travel certificate that will be handed to you at the airport. And, you will travel to your destination with your original booking.
29. I have several people under my booking, but I only want some of them to have an upgrade, is it possible to do this?
The offer for the upgrade is based only on the reservation, this includes all passengers within the reservation.
30. When will the credit card be charged?
Once you have received an e-mail confirmation for your upgrade, you may verify with your bank you’re your card has been charged with the amount you offered. Your card will not be charged if you do not receive the confirmation of your Business Class upgrade.