Copa Airlines is a Latin American carrier based in Panama City and a member of Star Alliance. Strategically located between the Northern and Southern hemispheres, the airline flies to 81 destinations in over 20 countries across North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. In fact, SkyTrax consistently names it the Best Airline in Central America and the Caribbean.
See our list of the best credit card bonuses here.
Copa Airlines formerly used United’s frequent flyer program, MileagePlus, but has since developed its own, known as ConnectMiles. Members from the United States can rack up on miles by flying with the carrier or any of its airline partners, using a cobranded credit card, or by doing business with a handful of ConnectMiles non-airline partners. Miles can be redeemed for award flights, upgrades and donations. In this guide, we’ll cover all the best ways to earn and burn ConnectMiles.
AMERICAN EXPRESS® GOLD CARD
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The American Express® Gold Card has a welcome bonus for 60,000 Membership Rewards Points when you spend $4,000 within 6 months.
Membership Rewards Points have great flexibility. We value each point to be worth up to an average 2 cents per point. At this value, 60k Membership Rewards Points can be worth up to $1,200.
The Amex Gold Card has plentiful perks. You’ll get:
- Choice between Gold or Rose Gold.
- 4X points at restaurants, including takeouts and deliveries in the U.S.
- 4X points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per year in purchases (1X thereafter)
- 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- Up to $120 in annual dining credits (get up to $10 monthly statement credits)
- No foreign transaction fees
The annual fee is $250. See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply.
| Airline Alliance | Star Alliance |
| Hubs | Panama City |
| U.S. Destinations | Boston, Chicago, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York City, Orlando, San Francisco, Tampa, Washington, D.C. |
| Transfer Partners | None |
| Redemption Options | Flights, upgrades, donations |
ConnectMiles Elite Status
When you join ConnectMiles, you automatically become a PreferMember of the PreferProgram (elite status program). Above that are four status tiers: Silver, Gold, Platinum and Presidential. To move up a tier, you need to fly a certain amount of Qualifying Miles or a certain number of Qualifying Segments in one calendar year.
| SILVER | GOLD | PLATINUM | PRESIDENTIAL | |
| Star Alliance Status | Silver | Gold | Gold | Gold |
| Qualifying Miles | 25,000 | 45,000 | 75,000 | 95,000 |
| Qualifying Segments | 20 | 40 | 70 | 90 |
| Minimum Segments | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Due to the impact of COVID-19, PreferProgram has adjusted its qualification requirements for the year 2021 as follows:
| SILVER | GOLD | PLATINUM | PRESIDENTIAL | |
| Qualifying Miles | 17,000 | 30,000 | 50,000 | 65,000 |
| Qualifying Segments | 15 | 30 | 50 | 65 |
| Minimum Segments | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Once you unlock a tier, you have that status until the end of the following calendar year, and you’ll enjoy the following benefits:
| SILVER | GOLD | PLATINUM | PRESIDENTIAL | |
| Miles bonus | 25% | 50% | 75% | 100% |
| Preferential check-in | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Premium seats & seat selection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Complimentary upgrade | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connect regional upgrade | – | – | 3 | 3 |
| Connect global upgrade | – | – | – | 6 |
| Free checked baggage allowance (Economy Basic) | 1 @ 50 lbs | 2 @ 50lbs | 2 @ 50lbs | 2 @ 50lbs |
| Free checked baggage allowance (Economy Classic/Economy Full) | 2 @ 50lbs | 3 @ 50lbs | 3 @ 50lbs | 3 @ 50lbs |
| Free checked baggage allowance (Business Promo/Business Full) | 2 @ 70lbs | 3 @ 70lbs | 3 @ 70lbs | 3 @ 70lbs |
| Preferred baggage handling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Preferential security screening | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lounge access | – | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Preferential boarding | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PreferMember Services priority | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Go to the PreferMember benefits page for more details.
Earning ConnectMiles
Compared to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Delta SkyMiles and other frequent flyer programs based in the United States, earning ConnectMiles is not an easy task for Americans. Here are all the ways you can stock up on ConnectMiles:
Flights
Earn ConnectMiles when you fly with Copa Airlines and the following airline partners:
- Azul Airlines
- Brussels Airlines
- Croatia Airlines
- EgyptAir
- Emirates
- Ethiopian Airlines
- EVA Air
- GOL
- KLM
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Scandinavian Airlines
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- Swiss International Airlines
- TAP Portugal
- Thai Airways
- United Airlines
Accrual rate depends on flight distance, as well as fare class and elite status. Use the Miles Calculator to easily determine how many award miles you’ll earn on your next trip.
Other Ways
Members can also earn ConnectMiles the following ways:
- Staying at a Marriott Bonvoy or IHG hotel.
- Booking accommodations via Booking.com or Rocketmiles.
- Renting a car through Avis or Budget.
- Purchasing ConnectMiles.
Redeeming ConnectMiles
Most members use their ConnectMiles for award flights with Copa and partner airlines. The program utilizes different region-based award charts for Copa, Star Alliance and non-alliance partner airlines. Have a look at ConnectMiles award charts in detail here.
You can also redeem your ConnectMiles for upgrades on Copa Airlines and Star Alliance airlines, as well as for charitable donations.
ConnectMiles Expiration
ConnectMiles expire after 24 months of inactivity. Simply earn or burn miles a little less than every two years to avoid losing them.
ConnectMiles Tips & Tricks
Avoid Copa’s online award booking engine. It’s got a reputation for being buggy. Instead, find your award space with a Star Alliance partner (like United, Avianca or Air Canada), then call ConnectMiles to book your award.
Notable award redemption rules:
- ConnectMiles allows for one stopover and two open jaws on roundtrip awards.
- Children under the age of two don’t require additional miles (but taxes and fees will apply).
- A close-in booking fee will be charged for awards booked within 21 days of departure.
No fuel surcharges. ConnectMiles does not add fuel or carrier-imposed surcharges to Copa and partner airline flights. Yes, that includes award flights with Emirates!
Avoid business class. Copa Airlines offers a business class product that leaves much to be desired, with recliner seats similar to that of U.S. domestic first class. There are plenty of better ways to redeem your ConnectMiles for maximum value.
Sweet spots. Below are smart ways to redeem your ConnectMiles:
| ITINERARY (one way) | AIRLINE | CLASS | MILES |
| Transcontinental North America | United | Business | 25,000 |
| U.S. to Peru (stopover in Panama City) | Copa | Economy | 15,000 |
| U.S. to Columbia | Avianca | Business | 35,000 |
| U.S. to Middle East/Africa/Asia/Australia/New Zealand (with 1 stopover and up to 2 open jaws) | Emirates | Business | 80,000 |
| U.S. to Maldives | Air India Austrian Emirates | Business | 80,000 |
Bottom Line
Copa Airlines ConnectMiles is a smart choice if you often fly to Central America, South America or the Caribbean. The program lacks transfer partners, but if you do manage to rack up enough ConnectMiles, you can take advantage of the carrier’s vast number of partners to take you almost anywhere around the world, as well as the program’s liberal routing rules and lack of surcharges.
Looking for a frequent flyer program with tons of transfer partners? Check out Avianca LifeMiles instead. The airline has hubs in Bogota, Lima and San Salvador, and you can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
READ MORE: SEE THE BEST BANK BONUSES HERE AND THE BEST INVESTING BONUSES HERE.
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