PTY - SJO

$119 Find Cheap Flights from Panama City to San José

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Panama City to San José departing on 11/5. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to San José

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Panama City to San José, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Panama City to San José, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Panama City to San José (PTY-SJO)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Panama City to San José that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Panama City to San José

Thu, Dec 4 - Tue, Dec 9
Avianca Logo
11:25 am - 11:45 amPTY-SJO
1h 20mnonstop
Avianca Logo
12:40 pm - 2:55 pmSJO-PTY
1h 15mnonstop
$194Avianca
Find Deal
Mon, Nov 10 - Mon, Nov 17
Avianca Logo
11:25 am - 11:45 amPTY-SJO
1h 20mnonstop
Avianca Logo
12:40 pm - 2:55 pmSJO-PTY
1h 15mnonstop
$195Avianca
Find Deal
Fri, Nov 28 - Sun, Nov 30
Avianca Logo
11:25 am - 11:45 amPTY-SJO
1h 20mnonstop
Avianca Logo
12:40 pm - 2:55 pmSJO-PTY
1h 15mnonstop
$205Avianca
Find Deal
Thu, Jan 15 - Sun, Jan 18
Avianca Logo
11:25 am - 11:45 amPTY-SJO
1h 20mnonstop
Avianca Logo
12:40 pm - 2:55 pmSJO-PTY
1h 15mnonstop
$208Avianca
Find Deal
Thu, Dec 18 - Mon, Dec 22
Avianca Logo
11:25 am - 11:45 amPTY-SJO
1h 20mnonstop
Avianca Logo
12:40 pm - 2:55 pmSJO-PTY
1h 15mnonstop
$210Avianca
Find Deal
Tue, Dec 2 - Mon, Dec 8
Copa Airlines Logo
6:46 am - 7:10 amPTY-SJO
1h 24mnonstop
Copa Airlines Logo
4:08 am - 6:33 amSJO-PTY
1h 25mnonstop
$215Copa Airlines
Find Deal
Fri, Nov 28 - Fri, Dec 5
Copa Airlines Logo
7:31 am - 4:50 pmPTY-SJO
10h 19m2 stops
Copa Airlines Logo
5:53 pm - 8:18 pmSJO-PTY
1h 25mnonstop
$220Copa Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, Jan 29 - Mon, Feb 2
Copa Airlines Logo
12:23 pm - 4:46 pmPTY-SJO
5h 23m1 stop
Copa Airlines Logo
9:17 am - 7:51 pmSJO-PTY
9h 34m2 stops
$225Copa Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, Dec 4 - Sat, Dec 6
Avianca Logo
9:45 am - 3:20 pmPTY-SJO
6h 35m1 stop
Avianca Logo
12:40 pm - 2:55 pmSJO-PTY
1h 15mnonstop
$227Avianca
Find Deal
Mon, Nov 10 - Sun, Nov 16
Avianca Logo
11:25 am - 11:45 amPTY-SJO
1h 20mnonstop
Avianca Logo
1:45 am - 8:50 amSJO-PTY
6h 05m1 stop
$228Avianca
Find Deal

Everything you should know

Our travelers' advice
AI-generated summary based on content written by travel experts
Avianca's Classic fare includes a carry-on and checked bag.
Copa's Showpass offers digital entertainment onboard.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Top airlines
Avianca
Cheapest • from $194 (round-trip)
Copa Airlines
Best reviews • 7.6 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Video guide: How to find cheap flights to San José
Watch video
Watch video
Watch video
Watch video
When to book
5 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 5 weeks in advance save around 7% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
May
Cheapest • 9% price drop
November
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Cheapest round-trip
$194
Typical prices: $190-$251
Avianca
Thu 12/4Tue 12/9
PTY - SJO • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$119
Typical prices: $119-$237
Avianca
Wed 11/5
PTY - SJO • Non-stop
Start a new search
KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to San José!
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Panama City to San José flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Panama City to San José to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

Find cheap flights to San José
Find cheap flights to San José

Planning a trip from Panama City to San José? KAYAK’s data-powered insights will help you find cheap flights. Learn the best time to fly, how early to book your ticket, and other tips to secure great prices.

How much is a round-trip flight from Panama City to San José?

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Panama City to San José departing in December.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Panama City to San José?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Panama City to San José clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

If you are looking for a flight deal from Panama City to San José, look for departures on Thursdays and avoid leaving on a Monday, as it's usually the priciest day. When flying back from San José, Thursday is the cheapest day to fly and Sunday is the most expensive.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Panama City to San José?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Panama City to San José, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Panama City to San José is May, where tickets cost $200 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are February and January, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $232 and $231 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Panama City to San José?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

Yes, flying with a layover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 1 stop layover the cheapest option at $200 on average.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Panama City to San José?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Panama City to San José, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Panama City to San José, you should book around 5 weeks before departure, which saves you about 7% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 12 weeks before departure.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Panama City to San José

 
Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarization of KAYAK-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Airlines
Copa Airlines

Copa's B737 fleet ensures fewer delays with easy aircraft swaps for mechanical issues.


Copa's Showpass offers digital entertainment on personal devices for a more enjoyable flight.

Avianca

Avianca's Classic fare includes a carry-on, checked bag, and seat selection.


Avianca's LifeMiles program offers attractive redemption options with Star Alliance partners.

Airports
PTY

For departures from PTY, check your terminal in advance. Copa Airlines uses both terminals, but check-in is only in Terminal 2.

Read more about PTYby Mark Chesnut
SJO

Upon arrival at SJO, taxis are available outside customs. Pre-booking with Coopetranstura or Taxis Unidos ensures a smooth ride.

Read more about SJOby Mark Chesnut
Our travel experts
Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on Copa Airlines

Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

An avid traveler and aviation expert who has visited 173 countries, all 50 states and seven continents, Ramsey Qubein flies nearly 400,000 miles a year. As a North Carolina-based freelance journalist for publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, USA Today and Bloomberg among others, he explores the latest trends in aviation, hospitality, cruises and business.

Read more
Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut

Expert on Avianca, PTY and SJO

Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut is a travel writer and public speaker with more than 30 years of experience. The 2019 winner of the NLGJA Excellence in Travel Writing Award, Mark is the author of the book “Prepare for Departure” and has covered air travel for multiple top consumer and trade media outlets.

Read more

Good to know

Low seasonMay
Cheapest flight$119
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 10% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 5% lower on average.
Flight from Panama City to San José

When to book flights from Panama City to San José

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Panama City to San José based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from Panama City to San José

  • What are the protocols established by major airlines regarding the transportation of animals from Panama City to San José?

    Leading airlines such as Avianca, Copa Airlines, and Aeromexico have implemented pet-friendly policies for flights between Panama City and San José. As long as the weight of an individual animal does not exceed 40 lbs, these airlines allow passengers to fly with small domesticated animals in the cabin.

  • Which flight route option from Panama City to San José is the most cost effective?

    To access more cost-effective ticket options, customers are advised to consider choosing connecting flights instead of nonstop flights when booking their flights from Panama City to San José. Customers can explore indirect flight options offered by airlines such as Aeromexico, which have layovers in Mexico City, or Avianca Airlines, which have layovers in El Salvador or Colombia.

  • Which airline operates the flights between Panama City and San José with the best luggage policies?

    If you intend to travel with multiple bags on your flight from Panama City to San José, it is advisable to select an airline that offers a more lenient policy regarding carry-on luggage. Copa Airlines, Avianca, and Volaris Costa Rica are among the carriers operating on this route that have the most accommodating rules when it comes to carry-on baggage restrictions.

  • How do I travel from the downtown Panama City to the PTY Airport?

    You can take the Metro Bus or Metro train to reach the area near the airport and then transfer to a local bus or taxi for the final leg of the journey. You can also use taxis, which are readily available throughout downtown Panama City. It's advisable to use registered taxis with official identification.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Panama City to San José?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Panama City to San José was $119 for a one-way ticket and $194 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Panama City and San José?

    Yes

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Panama City to San José?

    Panama City and San José are both served by 1 main airport. You will leave Panama City from Panama City Tocumen Intl and will be arriving at San José Juan Santamaria Intl.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Panama City to San José?

    Iberia, Copa Airlines, and Air France offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the Panama City to San José flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Panama City to San José?

    The Boeing 737-800 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Panama City to San José flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Panama City to San José?

    Star Alliance is the only airline alliance operating flights between Panama City and San José.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Panama City to San José?

    There are nonstop flights from Panama City to San José on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Panama City to San José, Copa Airlines or Avianca?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Panama City to San José are Copa Airlines and Avianca. With an average price for the route of $230 and an overall rating of 7.6, Copa Airlines is the most popular choice. Avianca is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $225 and an overall rating of 6.6.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Panama City to San José?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Panama City to San José.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Panama City to San José?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to San José from Panama City is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Panama City to San José?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to San José with an airline and back to Panama City with another airline. Booking your flights between Panama City and SJO can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Panama City to San José?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to San José from Panama City up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Panama City to San José

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $139 or less one-way and $211 or less round-trip.
  • The majority of travelers flying from Panama City to San José choose to arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) instead of other nearby airports. This preference is primarily due to the fact that San José, being the capital city of Costa Rica, is home to a considerable number of the country's major companies’ headquarters.
  • By picking Avianca or Aeromexico, parents taking kids on a flight from Panama City to San José can improve their flight experience. These airlines provide free Wi-Fi access throughout the aircraft. Kids can listen to their favorite music, watch TV shows, or even enjoy cartoon networks if they have access to internet services during the flight.
  • Copa Airlines offers passengers flying from Panama City to San José the opportunity to upgrade to the first-class cabin at a discounted rate, regardless of whether they are traveling in business or economy class. Passengers can submit a bid specifying the price they are willing to pay for the upgrade. However, it's important to note that to be eligible for an upgrade, passengers must first pay for any changes to their itinerary.
  • When traveling from Panama City to San José, the majority of travelers choose to depart from Tocumen International Airport (PTY). This preference is primarily driven by the fact that PTY Airport serves as a major hub for numerous airlines, including Copa Airlines and Avianca, which operate flights between PTY and SJO. Due to the competitive pricing among airlines operating on this route, there is a higher likelihood of finding affordable tickets for this journey.
  • Upon arrival at SJO Airport, you have the freedom to select your preferred mode of transportation to explore the neighboring cities of San José, including Calle Blancos, Alajuelita, and San Juan. You have several options available to travel from SJO airport to these locations, including taking a bus or tax or renting a car.

Prefer to fly direct from Panama City to San José?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Panama City Tocumen Intl to San José Juan Santamaria Intl.
Find which airlines fly direct from Panama City Tocumen Intl Airport to San José Juan Santamaria Intl Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Panama City Tocumen Intl to San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Monday

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Tuesday

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Wednesday

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Thursday

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Friday

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Saturday

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Sunday

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Avianca, Copa Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Panama City Tocumen Intl

Monday

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Tuesday

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Wednesday

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Thursday

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Friday

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Saturday

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Sunday

Avianca, Copa Airlines

Avianca, Copa Airlines

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top airlines flying from Panama City to San José

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Panama City to San José. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Panama City to San José? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.6
Copa AirlinesOverall score based on 1560 reviews
8.1Crew
6.8Entertainment
6.8Food
7.8Boarding
7.4Comfort
Airline reviews

As always, Copa Airlines is great to fly on. The flights are always on time, the staff are pleasant and helpful and it's always a wonderful flying experience.

10.0 ExcellentNeil, Aug 2025PTY - BGI
Read more Copa Airlines reviews

As always, Copa Airlines is great to fly on. The flights are always on time, the staff are pleasant and helpful and it's always a wonderful flying experience.

Cops Airlines is fantastic! The level of care and professionalism provided by the entire crew was top rate.

We had a great flight just wished they had a tv so we can see a movie that would of made my trip excellent.

horrible service, food was an embarrassment, no charging for cellphones, stay away

Great experience with a crew always thinking in the passenger

Did upgrade, travel in business it was great (more room I could sleep)

Had to go through security at the gate again. Had to take off shoes and go through the whole thing again even though we have global entry. They asked us to check in items bought at duty free during our layover and since we checked our luggage at the original departure airport, they forced us to check in a small backpack. None of this ever happened with other airlines. In addition, no vegetarian food option and no snacks during a 7 hr flight. Luggage limits are unusually small. This is unacceptable. Will NEVER fly Copa again and will tell friends and family to avoid this airline.

We paid extra with copa for seats near one another The plane was changed and we lost our seats We were all Separated. We have not received a refund for our seats despite emailing and calling.

It was ok. However, the food was quite poor since I don't eat pasta.

Tell people to remain in their seats during the meal/beverage distribution. Enforce boarding by group numbers. No one was checking. Tell people to turn their electronics speakers off. Bigger cups for drinks.

Usb plugs for charging your phone does not work in every flight. uncomfortable chairs even in higher categories.

The usb plugs for charging your phone didn’t work, the seats were coarse and hard. Not very comfortable. No inflight WiFi

Very uncomfortable planes , poor service on the plane , take your own water so you don’t dehydrate , in a 6 hs flight they sold one time food and beverage . 1 plane was delayed 6 hs , I lost a connecting flight . Then in the way back they announce a delay of 2 hs so I had to take a different flight to arrive on time for my connecting flight . Avoid this airline .

Not what it used to be. The sale of food makes them look greedy!

Avianca is not what it used to be. So disappointing

why did we have to go through security mid flight

Late departure. When the flight arrived in Medellin the plane sat at the gate for 20 minutes waiting for a bus for us to get off the plane.

i think the flight was late because they were so strict about measuring everyone's personal items to try and charge them $119. It was really petty and made us late.

A few years ago long flights 6 hours or so used to have video screens and they offered ear phones. The food cart used to come and drinks. Now absolutely nothing. Avianca is as bad as Spirit Airlines. Avianca will now be my last choice when booking my next flight.

Terrible, We had to stay in Bogota for two days due to weather but the airline did not provide for the same day flight. Only two days later

Everything you need to know for your flight from Panama City to San José

Information on your arrival and departure airports

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