PTY Airport Terminal Navigation: How to Access Lounges Before Your David Flight

To access the Copa lounge at PTY Airport before your David flight: do NOT go through immigration in T1, walk to T2 first while still in the secure zone, visit the lounge, then go through immigration near gates 207-209. Once you exit through customs, you cannot re-enter the terminal area. Here's how to navigate Tocumen Airport correctly.

The Common Mistake: Going Through Immigration Too Early

Here's what typically happens: You arrive on an international flight into Terminal 1 (T1). The Copa lounge staff in T1 kindly suggests you visit the larger, nicer lounge in Terminal 2 (T2), mentioning it's closer to the David gate. Sounds great, right?

The problem comes when you go through customs and immigration in T1, then try to go back upstairs to access T2. At that point, you're stuck. Security won't let you back into the terminal area because you've already exited the secure zone. You'll end up at a small coffee shop near the domestic gates with no lounge access and expensive airport prices.

How PTY Airport Actually Works

The key thing to understand is that Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are connected on the secure side (before immigration). Once you're through security and in the departure gate area, it's just a long walk between terminals. There's no door, no checkpoint, just a big sign indicating which terminal you're entering.

However, once you exit through customs and immigration, you're on the "land side" and cannot re-enter the secure terminal area without an international boarding pass.

The Correct Procedure for Lounge Access

1. Arrive at PTY on your international flight (typically into T1)
2. Do NOT go through immigration yet
3. Walk along the concourse from T1 to T2 (it's a somewhat long walk but straightforward)
4. Visit the Copa lounge in T2 (show your business class boarding pass or Priority Pass)
5. About 90 minutes before your David flight, go through immigration (around gate 207-209)
6. Proceed through baggage area and security scanner
7. Exit and take the escalator up to domestic gates

Important Details to Remember

Business Class Lounge Access

If you have a business class ticket for the PTY to David leg, you can access the Copa lounge by showing your boarding pass before going through immigration. The lounge staff will let you in based on your same-day business class ticket.

Priority Pass Option

If you're using Priority Pass, the Royal Saloon in Terminal 1 is accessible on the land side, meaning you can visit it even after going through immigration. This is a good backup option if you've already made the mistake of exiting too early.

The David Gate Location

Flights to David typically depart from around gate 207-209 in T2. After going through immigration in T2, you'll go through the baggage area, pass the hand-carry scanner, exit, and take the escalator up to find domestic gates to your right.

Why This Matters for Boquete Travelers

Most expats and travelers heading to Boquete fly into PTY and connect to David on Copa Airlines. If you have a long layover (and international flights often arrive with 2-4 hours before the David connection), lounge access can make a huge difference in comfort.

The T2 lounge is notably larger and nicer than the T1 lounge, and it's positioned conveniently close to where you'll eventually need to be for your domestic flight. But you have to access it before immigration, not after.

Quick Tips

• Stay airside: Don't exit through immigration until you're ready to go to your gate
• T1 and T2 are connected: Just walk along the concourse before immigration
• Time it right: Head through immigration about 90 minutes before your David flight
• Gate numbers: David flights typically use gates 207-209
• Backup plan: If you exit early, the Royal Saloon in T1 is accessible on the land side with Priority Pass
• Domestic side limitations: Once through immigration, you won't have access to T2 shops or restaurants, only the small concession area near domestic gates

The Bottom Line

PTY Airport's layout is logical once you understand it, but it's different from many airports where terminals are completely separate. The terminals are connected inside the secure zone, making lounge-hopping possible, but only before you go through immigration. Plan accordingly, and you'll have a much more comfortable layover before your flight to David and the beautiful highlands of Boquete.

Related Panama Travel Guides

• Explore Boquete - Your David area destination
• Panama City Guide - Before your flight
• First Time in Panama City - What to expect

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