Hello!
This is the final installment of my trip to the USA: The flight between PTY and BOG.
The other flights on this trip were (all in Copa Airlines):
BOG-PTY
PTY-IAD
JFK-PTY
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So, after the awful flight from New York, it was one of the few times when all I really want is to get to Bogotá ASAP jump to my bed and sleep, I didn't care about spotting, or wandering around or shopping. I only wanted to sleep.
Since my JFK flight arrived to the gate next to the one for the BOG flight, I exited the plane, and crashed into one of the seats on the Gate to BOG. I made use of the nifty free WiFi and wrote to my mum and GF…and of course I bashed CM a bit with a friend who works there.
Soon we were called into the Junglejet, I boarded as soon as I could… upon entering to the plane I was greeted by a male FA, the plane was a former AeroRepública Embraer, delivered around 2008. These planes have an All-Y class configuration with 2x2 leather seats which I found as a welcome change from CM's hard seats.
These planes are almost perfect, seat pitch is really good
The only thing they miss is a nice PTV. I wouldn't care for IFE on Colombian domestic hops, but these guys are used on 3h long flights to Perú or between BOG and HAV. A bit too spartan IMO.
The view from the huge windows… a company 737-700 headed to Medellín (that flight was packed)
The plane slowly filled and I drowsed in the meanwhile. Soon it was time to go. Take off would be again from RWY 03L.
Pilots banked and allowed for nice views of PTY and the city behind
Soon there was nothing but clouds to see…but then I noticed something curious:
I had seen duct tape used inside the cabin, but never on the wing…I hope the guys at CM tech know what they're doing.
Since there was nothing to see, neither in or out…I dozed.
Then I was waken by the snack service:
Practically the same as the one between BOG and PTY, a croissant with several cheeses and ham. It was really good.
Cabin view in the meanwhile…
Some views down were possible before landing…but it was really cloudy
Crossing the Magdalena River
In Bogotá's Plateau
When you see San Andrés Golf Club, landing on the 13 runways is imminent.
We landed on RWY 13R…some pics while on the way to the International Concourse
A LAN A320 to somewhere in Colombia (LAN has replaced Copa as Colombia's #2 Airline)
A LAN 767 (probably to MIA) among AV's morning bank, a DL 737 (to ATL) and CM's flights to PTY are visible
AV's morning flight to MIA on the way…their A332s are so nice, it's a shame they're so dirty.
Then the final ordeal was due… I passed through passport check in no time, really quick, a pair of questions of where I came from and that was it. Then I bought a perfume on the arrival duty free ( tip: BOG's duty free is one of the cheapest I've been to) and on to the baggage claim…in less than 15 minutes from deboarding. But then I had to wait around 30 minutes for our bags to show up. The guys at BOG haven't had their act together with the baggage delivery, really lame.
Thanks for this FR.
You were brave to do one after your previous bad flight at an impossible hour.
Catering is at least good on this short sector.
I thought PTY was a much bigger airport than the one we see in your picture.
Yeap, it's not that big, but they're practically doubling capacity with the new terminal. The airport itself is rather big for Latin American standards.
Thanks for sharing this final leg of your trip! Looks like Copa was able to redeem itself with this flight. Then again, in my experience, no matter what airline it's been (JetBlue, US Airways, Delta, the defunct Midwest Airlines...) E-Jets always offer the best economy class experience in my opinion. The cabins and 2X2 config with large 19 seats always make for a comfortable flight, even if I don't particularly care for the operating airline.
Indeed, Junglejets are awesome machines to fly in. I take great pride on the fact that they're made in Latin America.