Panama Tocumen Airport

✅ Trip Verified | I'm really disappointed in this international hub. There are very few amenities other than Duty Free (which inexplicably and aggressively pushes Kylie Jenner products) and the beer selections are abysmal. Panama's local beers make me long for a Budweiser, which is a beer I normally eschew. I paid for 24-hours of wi-fi service in the terminal (my flight was delayed and it was pouring rain so I didnt know how long id be there) and only got 1 hour. With one notable exception, the staff was woefully under-prepared for international travelers. I did not understand what the person at the bag scanner was telling me, to the point where I had to literally say "I genuinely do not understand what you want me to do." I'm very comfortable traveling; I know the routine. My belt, shoes, and carry-on were carefully placed in appropriate bins. Even after she waved me through the scanner I was unclear on what she wanted me to do (I still don't know, and she must not have either because she just stopped trying to communicate). I strongly suggest avoiding Panama City as a stopover if you can.

Not Verified | Airport is awful. Bathrooms are dirty. Toilet seats were crumbling. There's a billion overpriced duty free stores but very few food options. The food court is hidden in the center of the airport with one escalator up. You can miss it entirely as there is no signage. There is no down escalator. Only an elevator. Do not buy water bottles or drinks. It doesn't even make sense that they're allowed to sell them. You'll get to your gate and be forced to dump out any liquid you have and there won't be an option to purchase water after the secondary security (because that makes sense). Wi-Fi is only free for an hour.

Not Verified | The worst airport ever. Employees are super rude. Security check point when having connection flights is ridiculous. Although we are all aware that we cannot take liquids in plane. They do not advice you that they will check bags again and tell you that no liquid from that point is allowed. No way you would know this because they literally check when you are at the gate for actual departure. They do let you known you cannot go to the restroom or move from that space once they check you. We bought a water before boarding cause would think you're safe to do so. Meanwhile they through away my water cause I wasn't allowed to being it in plane. They need to be a little more organized and should communicate they will check again prior to boarding. And/or shouldn't be selling liquids when they know they won't be allowed. Super ridiculous and they let you buy all kinds of stuff before so they can just tell you, that you can't being it inside or throw it away after all. Never flying to this airport again needless to say I'd visit panama ever. Gives you a horrible impression.

✅ Trip Verified | 2 checkpoints in less than 5 minutes and in the second I also had the “fortune” of having my belongings searched as if I were a criminal. So what is the purpose of the first checkpoint? They removed a medication that they had already let me pass before and a manicure tool that I brought from the USA and now that I'm back I can't take it, that doesn't make sense. There is a lot of work left in the customer service area, we are on foot. And I'm Panamanian, they are getting more and more annoying with their protocols, in the USA they don't bother me as much but to enter or leave. And they ask me what I'm going to do in Panama, I'm Panamanian, that is, I don't have to ask for permission to be in my country as long as I want. 2 puestos de revisión en menos de 5 minutos y en el segundo también tuve la “fortuna” de que me revisaran mis pertenencias como si fuera una delincuente. Entonces cuál es el propósito del primer punto de revisión?, que quitaron un medicamento que ya antes me han dejado pasar y una herramienta de manicure que traje de USA y ahora que me regreso no me la puedo llevar, eso no tiene lógica. Falta mucho trabajo en el area de servicio al cliente, andamos a pie. Y eso que soy panameña, cada vez dan mas lata con sus protocolos, en USA no me ponen tanto pero para entrar o salir. Y me preguntan que voy hacer a Panamá, soy Panamena, es decir no tengo que pedir permiso para estar en mi país el tiempo que me dé la gana.

✅ Trip Verified | Landing was scary, pilot had to maneuver back up in the air after we almost land with another plane that was still on the runway. For departure, they make you go through security twice and if you buy any liquids inside the secured area, including water, soda or anything in the duty free, they will make you get rid of it before getting in the airplane. Its crazy but true, I wonder what is the purpose of that! The Wi-Fi is not free and the employees are not friendly. Lastly, there are few informational boards and if you are traveling overnight, be prepared to walk from one terminal to another to get food, which is very pricy too!

✅ Trip Verified | My review is about my arrival at the airport. I am accustomed to occasionally having to wait on an airbridge when departing from an airport but staff at PTY made us wait on one which was stiflingly hot and backed up right up to the plane when we arrived. It was a serious case of lèse-majesté and shameful on the Panamanian’s part. The airport organisation is an utter disaster: you arrive in terminal one but then need to traipse for over 20 minutes to terminal two – but only if you flew with a certain airline (Copa). None of the instructions are clear and many people were wandering around puzzled as to where to go. The signage was also confusing: Immigration always comes before baggage reclaim – why were the signs sending people to baggage reclaim instead of immigration? Baggage reclaim: there were two traditional toilets for males amongst the area of baggage reclaim. At least 10 men were queuing to use these toilets and the baggage-reclamation hall was not full. Staff were using the disabled toilet facilities and I waited for what seemed like ages for the staff member to vacate the toilet. Based on the toilet flushing, mobile phone bleeps and so on, it was abundantly clear the staff member was shirking. Customs: Panamanian authorities assume that every traveller is potentially guilty of committing a crime as every passenger’s belongings are scanned. Main arrival area (after customs/immigration) facilities – Terminal 2: there are none whatsoever. There are no information kiosks nor tourist information desks. Nothing whatsoever. You need to rely on non-English speaking officials to direct you for simple things like getting into the city. Public transport: following direction as indicated in, I waited for over 1 hour for the public bus (METRO) at the designated point but the bus failed to arrive. Presumably, authorities would prefer passenger to pay inflated taxi fares rather than the more economic/environmentally friendly alternative. Teething problems with the Terminal 2 should have been resolved long before now. To be frank, it is a bit of a national embarrassment and the flag-carrier (Copa) should distance itself from this disaster of an airport.

✅ Trip Verified | Worst airport ever. Most of the people working here isn’t friendly. No clear giving instructions. in case they know some people is the first time ever doing a stop here and giving instructions to the people will be great. They start putting people on line to do their 2 security checks, passport and luggage. I get the luggage process but passport? if i’m in transit why do you think my passport isn’t valid? how do you think i get inside Panama on my fly? For real? Your associates are careless for people traveling and clueless to give good directions. all of them just sitting there and not intentions to do a good job. When u do the line for ur luggage get check the girl verify your info match, why u have to do other like for someone else check it? isn’t like u guys do nothing systematically, I will get in if a person is missing boarding pass. Better organization and associates that care to give instructions to people would be great

Not Verified |   Worst airport experience ever. Flew into this airport for a connection to Miami. Absolutely no instructions or directions from airport personnel. They did make everyone line up and go through a second makeshift security at the gate, took all liquids from us and then made us sit; would not let us get water to drink; couldn't go to the restroom without going back through security. Rude security personnel who would deliberately hide their badges and then pretend they don't speak English. No announcements regarding flights, they walk around holding up fingers to indicate which group is boarding. Restaurants have insane prices, even for airports! Will never, ever fly here again. They have the audacity to advertise Stopovers here, Copa should really address this!

Not Verified | Make sure you eat and drink before you enter the airport, the prices inside are completely crazy. Last but not least, you'll only have 30 mins of free slow WiFi, after that well, that's a rip-off as well...

Not Verified | Worst airport I've been to. Disorganized, Copa service center unattended for various hours, staff are unprofessional and rude, absolutely no focus on customer service and no willingness to assist passengers that lose their connection, even the brand new terminal 2 is dirty and has loads of parts under maintenance, distances between gates are extremely long, let's not even start about Copa airlines on their lack of customer service. Avoid at all costs.