Hey {{first name | reader}},

I landed back home in Córdoba about seven hours ago, so today's post is a bit of a special edition.

I just came back from a very quick four-day trip to Miami to watch Argentina play Cape Verde at the World Cup. And wow, that match was stressful.

But on the way back we flew Copa Airlines, and I feel like I need to share something important.

A while back, when Dan talked about Copa business class, I remember defending the airline. And I still stand by part of what I said. But after this trip, I also have an important warning to add. Read this if you are from the Americas, but also if you ever plan on visiting the continent, since you would most likely fly Copa to connect between countries.

Here's what's inside today's post:

Copa is a very useful airline. If you live in a secondary city in Latin America, or you need to connect between places that do not have easy nonstop options, Copa can be one of the best solutions available. Their hub in Panama is extremely convenient, and the airline connects to more than 100 destinations across the Americas.

For cities like Córdoba, Copa is a big deal. We do not have endless long-haul options. Copa gives us a one-stop connection to a huge part of the continent.

So yes, Copa is useful.

But after this flight, I also think there is an important warning: not every Copa business class flight is something I would spend a lot of points on.

This is why checking the aircraft matters so much.

Copa currently operates roughly 106 passenger aircraft, broken down like this:

Only 29 of those aircraft are the 737 MAX 9 with Copa's Dreams Business Class cabin. That means the “good” Copa business class is not the default experience. It is a minority of the fleet.

The 737-800s and 737-700s can still be useful, especially for shorter flights or cheap cash fares. But they are not the same experience. This is exactly why I would be careful before spending 70,000+ points on Copa business class without checking the aircraft type first.

Copa's best product is on select Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, in what the airline calls Dreams Business Class. That is the one you want.

It has proper premium seats, more comfort, personal entertainment, and an experience that feels much closer to what people expect when they hear business class, especially on a longer flight. Is it the best business class in the world? Not in a thousand years. But for a narrowbody airline connecting the Americas, it can be a perfectly good experience.

The problem is that Copa does not send this aircraft everywhere.

The 737 MAX 9 tends to appear more on major routes and capital cities. For secondary cities, the experience can be very different. And Copa flies between Córdoba and Panama multiple times per day, which is amazing for connectivity. But right now, none of those flights seem to be regularly scheduled with the Dreams business class cabin. They used to send it sometimes, but it has been months since I have seen it regularly on this route.

To be clear, I knew I was not getting Dreams business class on this trip. The itinerary from Fort Lauderdale to Córdoba via Panama was very convenient, the schedule worked well, and I got the ticket at a good price. For what I paid, I am not going to complain.

From FLL to PTY, I got the recliner I am used to, which I thought was bad, but I have to say it is very good compared to the 3rd-seat type I didn’t know existed.

But what surprised me was that Copa's business class on the flight from PTY to COR was much worse than the standard recliner I had tried before. That was the part that made me think carefully about points redemptions.

I know the seats don’t look that different, but this last seat had a very short recline, limited pitch, no entertainment, no footrest, and was very worn out. When you pay a cheap cash fare, your expectations can adjust. If the schedule is convenient and the price is right, a weaker seat is fine.

Points are different.

When you redeem points for business class, you are usually hoping for something special. You are giving up miles that could potentially be used for a much better seat on a better aircraft. That is why aircraft type matters so much.

For example, I am seeing Buenos Aires to Miami via Panama for 71,500 points plus $170 in business class via Flying Blue, with up to 4 seats available. That can be very useful.

But only if you choose carefully.

If you are redeeming that many points, I would absolutely try to select flights where at least the long segment is operated by the 737 MAX 9 with Dreams business class. That is what makes the redemption feel worthwhile.

If you are flying to or from a city like Córdoba, where the chances of getting the MAX 9 are currently very low, I would be much more hesitant. I would not rush to spend 70,000+ points knowing I was likely getting Copa's most basic business class seat for a large part of the trip.

Copa is still a very valuable airline for Latin America. For people in cities without many long-haul options, Copa connects you almost anywhere in the Americas with one stop. That is a real advantage.

But Copa business class is not one single experience. There is a meaningful difference between Dreams business class on the 737 MAX 9 and the older recliner product on other 737s. One can be a very reasonable points redemption. The other can feel like a letdown if you spent a lot of miles expecting a proper premium experience.

I would like to see Copa retrofit its aircraft, since they can do it without losing any seats in their aircraft.

So before redeeming points for Copa business class: check the aircraft. Look for the 737 MAX 9. Check the seat map. Make sure the route you are booking is likely to have the product you actually want.

Because nothing hurts more than spending hard-earned points on business class and realizing you did not get the seat you thought you were booking.

Copa can be a great tool. Just make sure you are using it the right way.

If you have any questions about airline products, don’t hesitate to ask! I will answer as best as I can.

Catch you in the clouds, 

Tomi from Points Master