SFO - PTY

$331 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Panama City - Compare and Save

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from San Francisco to Panama City departing on 9/21. 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

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$500
Typical prices: $573-$786
Multiple Airlines
Fri 9/11Fri 9/18
SFO - PTY • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$776
Typical prices: $674-$791
Copa Airlines
Sun 9/20Mon 9/28
SFO - PTY • Non-stop
Advice from real travelers
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
United Wi-Fi includes free messaging; T-Mobile users get free streaming onboard.
Copa Showpass streams entertainment on personal devices on MAX 8 and 9 flights.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $776 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.8 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with Copa Airlines. Average duration is 7h 14m
Direct flights
Direct flights
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Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Avoid delays
Most punctual • 94% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
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Insights
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $674 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 8h 53m (one-way)
Insights
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Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 5 weeks in advance save around 12% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
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Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 16% price drop
Most popular
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Panama City (SFO-PTY)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Panama City 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 San Francisco to Panama City

Fri, Sep 11 - Fri, Sep 18
Multiple Airlines Logo
5:16 pm - 6:17 am
SFO
-
PTY
11h 01m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:55 pm - 11:12 pm
PTY
-
SFO
11h 17m
1 stop
$500Multiple Airlines
Mon, Sep 14 - Mon, Sep 21
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:31 pm - 6:17 am
SFO
-
PTY
11h 46m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
1:54 pm - 9:42 pm
PTY
-
SFO
9h 48m
1 stop
$718Multiple Airlines
Sun, Sep 20 - Mon, Sep 28
Copa Airlines Logo
8:21 pm - 5:35 am
SFO
-
PTY
7h 14mnonstop
Copa Airlines Logo
6:08 pm - 11:40 pm
PTY
-
SFO
7h 32mnonstop
$776Copa Airlines
Sun, Oct 11 - Mon, Oct 26
Copa Airlines Logo
1:12 am - 10:27 am
SFO
-
PTY
7h 15mnonstop
Copa Airlines Logo
6:08 pm - 11:40 pm
PTY
-
SFO
7h 32mnonstop
$776Copa Airlines
Thu, Sep 24 - Wed, Oct 14
United Airlines Logo
11:59 pm - 6:37 pm
SFO
-
PTY
16h 38m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
10:00 am - 11:47 pm
PTY
-
SFO
15h 47m
1 stop
$791United Airlines
Wed, Dec 2 - Mon, Dec 7
United Airlines Logo
12:45 am - 2:45 pm
SFO
-
PTY
11h 00m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
8:55 am - 6:47 pm
PTY
-
SFO
12h 52m
1 stop
$791United Airlines
Thu, Dec 10 - Mon, Dec 14
Delta Logo
9:55 pm - 2:05 pm
SFO
-
PTY
13h 10m
1 stop
Delta Logo
3:30 pm - 11:51 pm
PTY
-
SFO
11h 21m
1 stop
$791Delta
Sat, Oct 17 - Sun, Oct 25
Delta Logo
10:30 pm - 12:59 pm
SFO
-
PTY
12h 29m
1 stop
Delta Logo
2:24 pm - 11:56 pm
PTY
-
SFO
11h 32m
1 stop
$791Delta
Thu, Oct 22 - Mon, Oct 26
American Airlines Logo
5:27 pm - 12:52 pm
SFO
-
PTY
17h 25m
2 stops
American Airlines Logo
1:52 pm - 11:59 pm
PTY
-
SFO
12h 07m
1 stop
$795American Airlines
Sun, Sep 20 - Mon, Sep 28
American Airlines Logo
5:08 pm - 12:16 pm
SFO
-
PTY
17h 08m
2 stops
American Airlines Logo
1:16 pm - 8:56 am
PTY
-
SFO
21h 40m
2 stops
$795American Airlines
Booking Insights

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

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

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

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

Flight prices are below average for this route right now.

Flights to Panama City from San Francisco usually cost between $584 and $804 in September.
The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $500 on Multiple Airlines (Sep 11-Sep 18).

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

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

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

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Panama City, 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 San Francisco to Panama City is October, where tickets cost $600 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and July, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $901 and $816 respectively.

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

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 2 stops layover the cheapest option at $690 on average.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Panama City, 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 San Francisco to Panama City, you should book around 5 weeks before departure, which saves you about 12% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 22 weeks before departure.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from San Francisco to Panama City

 
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on Copa Airlines

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.

Stefanie Waldek

Stefanie Waldek

Expert on United Airlines

Stefanie Waldek is a freelance space, travel, and design writer based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her words have appeared in Space.com, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful, among other publications. An expert in aviation and expedition cruising, Stefanie is frequently up in the air or on the sea, likely en route to Antarctica or the Arctic.

Mark Chesnut

Mark Chesnut

Expert on PTY

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.

Blane Bachelor

Blane Bachelor

Expert on SFO

Blane Bachelor is a journalist and editor specializing in travel and aviation who writes regularly for top global outlets. Born and raised in Florida, Blane has worked and lived in four countries, including the Netherlands, where she’s currently based with her family. Her favorite way to get to know a new destination is by running or riding a bike around town – or hearing a spooky ghost story about local history. She will always choose the window seat.

Good to know

Low season

September

Cheapest flight

$331
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 2% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 26% increase in price.
Flight from San Francisco to Panama City

When to book flights from San Francisco to Panama City

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San Francisco to Panama City 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 San Francisco to Panama City

  • What services does United Airlines offer for economy class passengers on flights from San Francisco to Panama City?

    Passengers can book Basic Economy fares, which include services such as drinks, snacks, in-flight entertainment, and one personal item, such as a shoulder bag or backpack. Passengers have various seating options, including Economy Plus, Standard Economy seats, and Basic Economy seats.

  • What is the luggage allowance on American Airlines flights from San Francisco to Panama City?

    Passengers are allowed to check up to 5 bags and specific weight allowances depend on the cabin class with 50 lbs weight being the Main cabin weight allowance. In general, the maximum weight allowed for checked baggage on American Airlines is 50 lbs, and dimensions should not exceed 62 in. Passengers are allowed to carry one hand bag on board their flight and one personal item that must be able to fit under the seat.

  • How do I get from Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to the city center?

    The cheapest transportation option is to take a public bus offered by Metro Bus. Bus line E489 departs from Terminal 1 and goes to Bus Station ZP Metro Pedregal next to Pedregal Metro station Las Acacias. The journey time is around 30 minutes and the cost is low. Taking a taxi is another option and is a convenient way to get to the city center. It takes around 30 minutes to reach the downtown area from the airport. Taxis can be found outside of the airport terminal. You can ride Panama City Metro Line 2 to the city center from Metro Station Corredor Sur which takes around 45 minutes.

  • What seat options are available on Copa Airlines flights from San Francisco to Panama City?

    Copa Airlines offers various seat options to passengers, which may depend on factors such as the fare class, ticket type, and passenger status. Passengers can preselect their seats during the purchase of their ticket, and advanced seat assignment service is available for all flights operated by Copa Airlines. Passengers can select seats in the Economy Class cabin, which may come with certain restrictions or additional charges depending on the fare class or ticket type.

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

    In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Panama City was $331 for a one-way ticket and $500 for a round-trip.

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

    Yes, you'll most likely have to show a valid passport before boarding the plane in San Francisco and on arrival in Panama City.

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

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

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

    Delta, and JetBlue offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the San Francisco to Panama City flight route.

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

    The Boeing 737 MAX 9 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the San Francisco to Panama City flight route.

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

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

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

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

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

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San Francisco to Panama City are Delta and Copa Airlines. With an average price for the route of $875 and an overall rating of 7.8, Delta is the most popular choice. Copa Airlines is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $769 and an overall rating of 7.6.

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

    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 San Francisco to Panama City.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Panama City from San Francisco 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 San Francisco to Panama City?

    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 Panama City with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline. Booking your flights between San Francisco and PTY 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 San Francisco to Panama City?

    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 Panama City from San Francisco up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • Which airlines provide the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Panama City?

    In the past 5 days, the cheapest round-trip tickets from San Francisco to Panama City were found on Copa Airlines ($776) and United Airlines ($791).

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

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $360 or less one-way and $760 or less round-trip.
  • US citizens visiting Panama City do not require a visa if they are traveling for tourism or business purposes for less than 180 days. However, they do need to have a valid passport and follow any other entry requirements, such as providing evidence of onward travel.
  • Layovers for flights from San Francisco to Panama City differ depending on the airline. Some common layovers include Houston (IAH), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Charlotte (CLT), and Dallas (DTW).
  • San Francisco (SFO) is a hub for United Airlines and Alaska Airlines. United Airlines operates out of Terminal 3 and the International Terminal and uses SFO as its primary transpacific gateway. Alaska Airlines operates in Terminal 2 at SFO.
  • Tocumen International Airport (PTY) gives access to several nearby cities including Colon, San Miguelito, Boquete, Bocas del Toro, El Valle de Anton, and Arraijan.
  • Air Canada allows pets, including small cats and dogs, to travel on their flights from San Francisco to Panama City, subject to certain restrictions and conditions. Air Canada allows only one pet per adult passenger to travel in the cabin, and up to four pets in the cabin per flight.

Prefer to fly direct from San Francisco to Panama City?

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

Direct departures

San Francisco to Panama City Tocumen Intl

Monday

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines

Tuesday

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines

Wednesday

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines

Thursday

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines

Friday

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines

Saturday

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines

Sunday

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Panama City Tocumen Intl to San Francisco

Monday

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines

Tuesday

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines

Wednesday

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines

Thursday

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines

Friday

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines

Saturday

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines

Sunday

Copa Airlines

Copa Airlines

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from San Francisco to Panama City

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from San Francisco to Panama City. 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 San Francisco to Panama City? 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.
7.8
DeltaOverall score based on 8493 reviews
7.2Food
8.5Crew
8.1Boarding
7.8Comfort
7.8Entertainment
Airline reviews

My son’s suitcase was left behind at SFO and did not make the flight.

6.0 GoodJorge, Jul 2026
SFO - GDL
Read more Delta reviews

My son’s suitcase was left behind at SFO and did not make the flight.

Crew was absolutely fantastic and we’re so welcoming and friendly ❤️

Flight delayed four separate times. I’m now one hour hours late to landing.

The plane was an older model, so it wasn’t as comfortable as others. The flight attendants were not helpful during onboarding. It was a full flight so there was chaos finding space for baggage.

Awesome! On time flight, early arrival, and a complimentary upgrade!

Delta’s staff is unmatched. From the gate agents, to the pilots, to the flight attendants… all top of the industry.

Our flight from SFO to MSP was right on time on 11/15/2025. No delays. As we approached MSP at about 8 pm, we circled in the air until 8:40 pm so I don't call that efficient for MSP. I think the captain should announce the delay and why. (as if we all don't know that we are just circling around the area, slowing down, speeding up, slowing down.) Thank you. Marilyn Fischer

Excellent flight, the planes were newer, they did a nice job with boarding, great service overall.

Thank you for not flipping the plane on the run way. You guys get a 5 star rating for the flight!!!

Boarding is, as it always is… horrible. Gate lice. Slow moving zones. Too many people with carry ons

We where skipped for this flight will not head to Panama until tonight..

It would have been better if they don't separate families in seating. We were seated in the aile row in the middle of a family of four. It would have been better if they they seat the family of four together than separated.

It was good, plane is a bit older so seats are somewhat flat

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

Biggest issue was that they only had two restrooms in the back of the aircraft. Too many people for only two restrooms. The trash was overflowing and there was paper on the floor too. Long lines in the isle to use it. Food was also a bit meh. They don’t offer snacks with drinks, so you might want to buy a snack to hold you off on a longer trip, since the meals are very small.

Everything was smooth and crew was very polite and friendly.

I like that they served a mail, I’m not sure about the in-flight entertainment. I didn’t really check. staff helped me with my luggage. Smooth boarding smooth takeoff smooth flight

The seats had plenty of leg room and the staff were very nice.

Copa performed as expected for the amount of money I was willing to spend for the flight; it wasn’t exceptional but it was not bad in any way either. The crew was good; friendly and straightforward. The food was airplane food, so no expectations there and the entertainment was lacking but that was my fault for owning an IPhone with a charging port that’s not compatible with the rest of the world. I’d fly Copa again.

Left my bags in origin city on a business class ticket , spent about 2-3 days in the same clothes plus the flight .

The pilot was late so we didn’t take off til almost 2 hours late.

It was a short, comfortable flight. It did leave an hour late due to the pilot having to be replaced (family emergency) but that didn’t inconvenience myself & my friend. The situation was explained, eventually.

Excellent communication from the staff. We actually arrived early. Very friendly and professional staff.

No extra snacks were available. Meals quality is terrible. Crew was not friendly.

Didn't make the flight because the first leg of my flight was canceled and the next leg was already booked.

Same as last comment. Food sucks. Quality. Not surprising most people have no clue about nourishment Clearly

Crew was excellent. This was a relatively long flight though and had very little leg room, and no entertainment.

The food should improve! And The flight should leave on time and not make the traveler wait.

I completely missed my flight because the first leg was longer than planned. I had to sleep overnight in the airport because no accommodation was provided and then sent to Trinidad in the morning with an anticipated 7 hour layover before my flight to Georgetown which was now with Caribbean Airlines. I tried twice with customer service to see if they could put me on an earlier flight which had seats available but was told it wasn’t possible.

horrible website for checking in- no option just to write the passport number; ludicrous

Flight attendant made the flight very enjoyable. He was courteous and gave great care to the passengers

Not good. Flight crew, was not friendly and just shoved stuff at us. Not the way I like to travel.

Aside from the little delay, overall was flight good. Made it safely. Thanks!

Over the course of 7 months of travel, I can count on my hand the number of times the flight has departed on time. Majority of the instances have been related to non-weather reasons. Would not recommend flying this Airline

The food was okay and the space in business class was smaller than we had to Singapore.

The plane was spartan, the seats not that comfortable. It was like flying a super low budget airline. They charged for coffee!!! I have never, ever experienced that before.

I had no problems but the changing of planes that I was supposed to be on was confusing. Maybe it would be helpful to let people know your flight changed. Not everyone understands airports or how flying works.

Flight was delayed multiple times without giving any particular reason and the only thing that was communicated was that 'Aircraft is getting ready'. I was stuck at SFO airport for 15 hours and finally took Southwest Airlines flight back home to Dallas.

I was not clear if food was offered or not.

Agency very bad had to cancelled my booking too many changes in the flight changed my flight to 1 week

After boarding, there was a small issue with the aircraft which caused a delay of about 45 minutes. During boarding and while passengers were being seated, the plane was being refueled. There were also a lot of unusual noises during the flight, which was not very reassuring. In addition, there was no WiFi or entertainment available.

Staff are the rudest in the industry … awful customer service … will never fly Avianca again

Here we have another airline flying to Guatemala but doesn't have a plus or a less, just in the middle. Why? Well, first we don't have even free water Movie selection is poor Seats don't recline in some places Food selection is carb based Forgot to mention, customer service on the web is the worst. Good things; Very reliable on schedule Kind crew

I had to go to the boarding counter for them to enter my return flight as it’s not with Avianca. There was a long queue as there were lots of people being called to the counter.

Boarding, crew were excellent, food was ok and entertainment need to improve

There isn't much space in-between seats and even water needs to be paid for during the flight.

We were not aware carry-on bags cost extra until we arrived at the airport so, we were charged $240.00 for two small carry- on bags! There was a substantial fee for drinks and snacks. No wifi, or other entertainment was available. Waiting areas were crowded and uncomfortable.

Ok, but these people don’t give you nothing no snack no water

No water for a 5 hour flight entertainment not working seats with little room for knees when person in front of me reclined kept bumping my knees.

Wasn’t able to take the trip and no one could help me with a refund or rescheduling

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports