PTY - SJO

$111 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 5/15. 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.
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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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Flights Deals

Cheap Flights from Panama City to San José

 
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.

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

KAYAK's recommended round-trip deals from the most popular airlines that fly from Panama City to San José.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.
Avianca Logo
1:30 pm - 1:45 pmPTY-SJO
1h 15mnonstop
Avianca Logo
10:15 am - 12:35 pmSJO-PTY
1h 20mnonstop
$198Avianca
Find Deal
Mon, May 19 - Thu, May 22
Avianca Logo
1:30 pm - 1:45 pmPTY-SJO
1h 15mnonstop
Avianca Logo
9:35 am - 2:45 pmSJO-PTY
4h 10m1 stop
$199Avianca
Find Deal
Tue, May 20 - Tue, May 27
Avianca Logo
5:25 pm - 11:30 pmPTY-SJO
7h 05m1 stop
Avianca Logo
10:10 am - 4:30 pmSJO-PTY
5h 20m1 stop
$201Avianca
Find Deal
Mon, Jul 21 - Wed, Aug 13
Avianca Logo
3:19 am - 9:20 amPTY-SJO
7h 01m1 stop
Avianca Logo
10:15 am - 4:30 pmSJO-PTY
5h 15m1 stop
$203Avianca
Find Deal
Mon, Oct 27 - Mon, Nov 10
Copa Airlines Logo
1:28 pm - 1:54 pmPTY-SJO
1h 26mnonstop
Copa Airlines Logo
10:57 am - 1:20 pmSJO-PTY
1h 23mnonstop
$204Copa Airlines
Find Deal
Fri, Jun 6 - Wed, Jun 11
Avianca Logo
1:30 pm - 1:45 pmPTY-SJO
1h 15mnonstop
Avianca Logo
1:40 am - 10:10 amSJO-PTY
7h 30m1 stop
$209Avianca
Find Deal
Thu, Aug 28 - Sun, Sep 14
Copa Airlines Logo
7:28 am - 4:47 pmPTY-SJO
10h 19m2 stops
Copa Airlines Logo
9:17 am - 7:49 pmSJO-PTY
9h 32m1 stop
$211Copa Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, May 12 - Thu, May 15
Copa Airlines Logo
7:28 am - 4:52 pmPTY-SJO
10h 24m2 stops
Copa Airlines Logo
9:17 am - 7:50 pmSJO-PTY
9h 33m2 stops
$214Copa Airlines
Find Deal
Fri, Aug 1 - Mon, Aug 4
Copa Airlines Logo
12:18 pm - 4:47 pmPTY-SJO
5h 29m1 stop
Copa Airlines Logo
9:17 am - 7:50 pmSJO-PTY
9h 33m2 stops
$230Copa Airlines
Find Deal
Thu, May 29 - Mon, Jun 2
 Logo
3:20 am - 9:20 amPTY-SJO
7h 00m1 stop
 Logo
2:37 pm - 10:25 amSJO-PTY
18h 48m2 stops
Sun, May 18 - Thu, May 22
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 a smooth departure from PTY, check which terminal your airline uses. Copa Airlines check-in is in Terminal 2, even if your flight departs from Terminal 1.

Read more about PTYby 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 and PTY

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
Useful Info

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.

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 Tuesdays and avoid leaving on a Thursday, as it's usually the priciest day. When flying back from San José, Wednesday 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 November, where tickets cost $190 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and July, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $256 and $238 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.

No, with an average price for the route of $288, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

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 7 weeks before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 18 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonMarch
High seasonNovember
Cheapest flight$111
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 1% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 17% 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 $111 for a one-way ticket and $198 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?

    Only Iberia offers 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?

    SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and oneworld are the airline alliances operating flights between Panama City and San José, with SkyTeam being the most commonly used for this route.

  • 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 $247 and an overall rating of 7.5, Copa Airlines is the most popular choice. Avianca is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $231 and an overall rating of 6.7.

  • 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 $117 or less one-way and $190 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?

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

Air Europa, Air France, Avianca, +3 more

Air Europa, Air France, +4 more

Tuesday

Air Europa, Air France, Avianca, +3 more

Air Europa, Air France, +4 more

Wednesday

Air Europa, Air France, Avianca, +3 more

Air Europa, Air France, +4 more

Thursday

Air Europa, Air France, Avianca, +3 more

Air Europa, Air France, +4 more

Friday

Air Europa, Air France, Avianca, +3 more

Air Europa, Air France, +4 more

Saturday

Air Europa, Air France, Avianca, +3 more

Air Europa, Air France, +4 more

Sunday

Air Europa, Air France, Avianca, +3 more

Air Europa, Air France, +4 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Panama City Tocumen Intl

Monday

Air Europa, Air France, Avianca, +3 more

Air Europa, Air France, +4 more

Tuesday

Air Europa, Air France, Avianca, +3 more

Air Europa, Air France, +4 more

Wednesday

Air Europa, Air France, Avianca, +3 more

Air Europa, Air France, +4 more

Thursday

Air Europa, Air France, Avianca, +3 more

Air Europa, Air France, +4 more

Friday

Air Europa, Air France, Avianca, +3 more

Air Europa, Air France, +4 more

Saturday

Air Europa, Air France, Avianca, +3 more

Air Europa, Air France, +4 more

Sunday

Air Europa, Air France, Avianca, +3 more

Air Europa, Air France, +4 more

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

Top 3 airlines serving 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.
7.5
Copa AirlinesOverall score based on 1414 reviews
7.8Boarding
6.8Entertainment
8.1Crew
7.4Comfort
6.8Food
Airline reviews

We were in transit from Lima (flight at 1.10am) and we were in stand by in our flight from Panama to Washington. We wait from 4.30 am to 18.30pm in the Airport. The company give us 2 x 15 dollars for eat during the day and a personnal travel voucher of 400 dollars each. Do they buy food one time something in the Airport ??? And one of us live in France so the voucher is not usable. More than 24 hours travel !! And our place were near the toilets, with 8 children around us. The boy behind my seat stamped his feet on my back all the flight. Really Wonder full ! So we are totally unhappy with our travel. Thanks Copa Airlines....

2.0 MediocreCec, Apr 2025PTY - IAD
Read more Copa Airlines reviews

We were in transit from Lima (flight at 1.10am) and we were in stand by in our flight from Panama to Washington. We wait from 4.30 am to 18.30pm in the Airport. The company give us 2 x 15 dollars for eat during the day and a personnal travel voucher of 400 dollars each. Do they buy food one time something in the Airport ??? And one of us live in France so the voucher is not usable. More than 24 hours travel !! And our place were near the toilets, with 8 children around us. The boy behind my seat stamped his feet on my back all the flight. Really Wonder full ! So we are totally unhappy with our travel. Thanks Copa Airlines....

I upgraded myself to Business Class at the last minute so I had a DREAMS window seat. Seeing as I've never flown Business before everything was novel and fun for me and it made the 7 hour flight much more enjoyable for sure.

Great from check in all the way to the end. Very happy with Copa

I loved my experience. Very safe, Very informative and very friendly.

Check in person said there would be lunch. We were first class passengers and lunch was chips.

Flight attendant -José? - was over the top friendly and professional. Beautiful new plane with lie flat seats in Business (worth it!)

Horrible food. No wine or any other alcohol is served on the flight. Water is not served often and they refused when I asked for water in two cups. On the other hand, both going and coming back flights were on time.

Seats are getting smaller and smaller...and as hard as a rock , mediocre entertainment

Very good flight and crew Food was a surprise on a short flight

The plane doesn’t have screens but you can use your decide for entertainment. Pack a snack too since they don’t offer any, and the meal is pretty small and you will get hungry

Delay at the airport was not clearly communicated. No announcements were made and since we are foreigners it was very hard to know what was happening at the Wingo gate.

That they were on tike but, They charge again for baggage while we already paid when we buy our tickets

Perfect for a very low cost flight. In time, safety perfect, and of course no service, just what you effectivement !

Delayed three hours and they knew it but didn’t say anything upon checking in

Cumple con su función, transportar, no incluye comida a menos que se pague un valor adicional y así mismo con los asientos y demás, brindan precios económicos pero tratan de compensarlo cobrando por todo lo demás, si desean un viaje económico y que no dure más de 3 horas el vuelo, recomendando

i was seated apart from my girlfriend even though I bought the tickets at the same time and the flight was half full. what are some of these airlines thinking when they assign seats?

Wingo changed departure time 3 times and kept us moving from one gate to a different one. A 1 one flight took me more than 8 hours. Don't fly wit Wingo, the worst experience ever

Nothing the vendor services and overall process was not an experience I would ever want to revisit again .

Pros: "Crew was great and friendly- good meals on long flights- best airline!"
Cons: "everything was great"

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.

Purchased a business class ticket and got a economy seat with center seat blocked they call it business. 3100usd ticket on a flight where economy costs 500usd The biggest scam insult have had on a regular airline. Avianca should be in the low cost category and kicked out of Star Alliance. I want the difference to be credited. Ets see what Avianca does. No reply so far. Avianca = low cost airline. Beware

Excellent flight and one of the smoothest landing I’ve ever experienced

The seats were very uncomfortable. I would have upgrade or got different flight if I knew. I usually sleep in the plane but I couldn’t sleep at all. Very uncomfortable. Also no food or drink everything was to purchase, and that’s u usual for international flight.

We did not know about the bag fees until check in. They are way too high. It’s insane. We also had a huge delay and everything costed extra which was very annoying.

Boarding was somewhat confusing in that the wrong messages were being displayed at the gate. It was somewhat annoying that I got off one flight and straight onto another (from the same gate), but in between they re-checked my hand luggage and made me get rid of my water (which they charge for on the plane). I was sitting in their 'Plus' seating, but the leg room was still too small to be able to sit square. The food options on the flights are pretty cheap quality (but not price). They got me from 'A' to 'B' on-time and for a relatively good price, but the experience itself was below average.

So so, you feel like you have to pay for everything each time

COP 7,000 for a cup of mediocre coffee. I thought I was on Spirit Airlines for a minute. Otherwise the flight was fine. Nothing exceptional to report.

please see previous response; it covers the whole travel trajectory.

I paid over $200 for seat selection for these flights and I was still stuck on long international flights in seats that do not recline and do not have the head support cushion. At this point basically all airlines have those for all seats, and this really took me by surprise and made me not ever want to travel on Avianca. The Kayak agent who called me for the seat selection (Donovan) was courteous, but it seems the system for this doesn't work. I was offered seat selection, for the $200+, but without being able to see what I was selecting, with no guarantee where I'd be...and then I still ended up in terrible seats. On my way to, and especially after, a very intense business trip, the seat situation really soured my experience.

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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