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Panama City

$94+ Cheap flights from San José (SJO) to Panama City (PTY)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 9/2. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SJO — PTY
Aug 3 — Aug 101
Sun 8/3
Sun 8/10
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Panama City Tocumen Intl are usually found in November or May, booked 81 days in advance, depart on a Thursday or Wednesday and return on a Wednesday

Cheap flight deals from San José to Panama City

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from San José (SJO) to Panama City (PTY). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated July 29, 2025.

Round-trip from

$188
(Avianca)

One-way from

$94
(Avianca)

Popular in

April

Cheapest in

November

Average price

$208

Good round-trip deal

$210 or less

Good one-way deal

$135 or less
From San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Panama City Tocumen Intl
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One-way flight from San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Panama City Tocumen Intl
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 0% potential increase in price ($2 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 1% potential price decrease ($2 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in July 2025
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Price to beat on a round-trip flight from San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Panama City Tocumen Intl.
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Price to beat on a one-way flight from San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Panama City Tocumen Intl.
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Find flight deals from San José to Panama City

Cheapest flights from San José to Panama City
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San José to Panama City. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on July 29, 2025.

This Avianca deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/29. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Avianca is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 9/1210:15 amSJO - PTY
Nonstop1h 20mAvianca
Fri 9/191:30 pmPTY - SJO
Nonstop1h 15mAvianca
Deal found 7/29$188
This Copa Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/29. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Copa Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 12/265:50 pmSJO - PTY
Nonstop1h 25mCopa Airlines
Mon 1/58:40 amPTY - SJO
Nonstop1h 26mCopa Airlines
Deal found 7/29$209

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from San José to Panama City that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated July 29, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San José to Panama City that are best for you.

Fly from

San José

Fly to

Panama City

Route

Depart

Return

Price

San JoséPanama City

SJO - PTY

SJOPTY

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Fri 9/12

10:15 am-12:35 pm

Nonstop1h 20m

Panama City Tocumen Intl

Fri 9/19

1:30 pm-1:45 pm

Nonstop1h 15m

$188

San JoséPanama City

SJO - PTY

SJOPTY

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Sat 8/2

8:49 am-11:09 am

Nonstop1h 20m

Panama City Tocumen Intl

Mon 8/4

8:40 am-9:04 am

Nonstop1h 24m

$209

San JoséPanama City

SJO - PTY

SJOPTY

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Tue 9/2

10:15 am-12:35 pm

Nonstop1h 20m

$94

San JoséPanama City

SJO - PTY

SJOPTY

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Sat 8/23

8:11 am-10:32 am

Nonstop1h 21m

$95

San JoséPanama City

SJO - PTY

SJOPTY

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Wed 9/10

12:23 pm-12:45 am

2 stops11h 22m

$232

San JoséPanama City

SJO - PTY

SJOPTY

San José Juan Santamaria Intl

Mon 9/15

1:30 pm-6:37 pm

1 stop28h 07m

$1,094

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 7/29

The best insider tips for San José to Panama City flights

Snippets provided in this section are AI-generated based on a summarization of Cheapflights-commissioned articles. The articles are presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the articles are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
Cheapflights partnered with top experts to bring you the best recommendations for your San José to Panama City trip
Airports
SJO

Leave for SJO with sufficient time to clear security. Arrive at least 3 hours before your flight for a smooth departure.

Read more about SJOby Marisa Garcia
PTY

For a quick city transfer, Uber is the fastest and often cheaper than taxis from PTY.

Read more about PTYby Taryn White
Our travel experts
Taryn White

Taryn White

Expert on PTY

Taryn White

Taryn White

Taryn White is a freelance travel writer, digital creator, and travel advisor who has visited nearly 100 countries and all 50 states. She’s familiar with many airports and enjoys beach hopping, boutique hotels, spa experiences, and exploring local culture. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, AFAR, and more.

Read more
Marisa Garcia

Marisa Garcia

Expert on SJO

Marisa Garcia

Marisa Garcia

Marisa knows planes inside and out, spending 16 years working on aircraft in hangars at airports around the world. She is an aviation industry expert, specialized in airline interiors and regulations. Ten years ago, she pivoted to journalism. She shares her insights in leading aviation, travel, and business publications and on her site FlightChic.

Read more

Best time to book a flight from San José to Panama City

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Panama City from San José with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from San José to Panama City

How far ahead should I book a flight from San José, San José Province to Panama City?

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from San José to Panama City. Price data was last updated on July 25, 2025.

Booking 81 days in advance of your planned departure date is, on average, the best time to get cheap flights from San José, San José Province to Panama City. The general trend is that the closer you book to the departure date, the more expensive your flight will be.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from San José, San José Province to Panama City?

Currently, October is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San José, San José Province to Panama City (average of $478). Flying from San José, San José Province to Panama City in December is currently the most expensive (average of $634). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from SJO to PTY?

Find hourly flight availability from San José to Panama City. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated July 29, 2025.

One of the essential ways to save on airfare from San José, San José Province to Panama City is to remain as flexible as possible. Flights that are at noon tend to be the most expensive. A flight in the evening could potentially save you up to 34% on airfare.

What is the cheapest day to fly from San José, San José Province to Panama City?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from San José to Panama City. Price data was last updated on July 27, 2025.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their San José, San José Province to Panama City flight should consider departing on Tuesday evenings when fares are most often at their lowest. Saturday at noon flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Weekly flight availability from San José, San José Province to Panama City

Explore weekly flight availability from San José to Panama City. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated July 29, 2025.

The most flights from SJO to PTY are scheduled on a Tuesday (26 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Sunday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (3 on average).

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from San José, San José Province to Panama City?

Reviews of airlines servicing Panama City

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Panama City. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Panama City. Reviews last updated July 29, 2025.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Copa Airlines, United Airlines, and Avianca from San José to Panama City. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Copa Airlines
7.5
Good
1,493 reviews

Crew

8.1

Overall

7.5

Food

6.8

Comfort

7.4

Entertainment

6.8

Boarding

7.8

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,May 2025

LIM - PTY

This was my first tome flying with this airline and needless to say, I was not impressed! The seats were not comfortable at all. You could feel the metal digging into your skin. Also, there was a kid behind me that kept putting his knees up on the seat and usually this doesn’t bother me, but I was able to feel his knees dig into my back every single time. The food was mediocore at best. There were no phone chargers on an almost 5 hour flight! Horrible experience. Will never fly with Copa airlines again!
Copa Airlines
7.5
Good
1,493 reviews
Copa Airlines
7.5
Good
1,493 reviews

Crew

8.1

Overall

7.5

Food

6.8

Comfort

7.4

Entertainment

6.8

Boarding

7.8

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,May 2025

LIM - PTY

This was my first tome flying with this airline and needless to say, I was not impressed! The seats were not comfortable at all. You could feel the metal digging into your skin. Also, there was a kid behind me that kept putting his knees up on the seat and usually this doesn’t bother me, but I was able to feel his knees dig into my back every single time. The food was mediocore at best. There were no phone chargers on an almost 5 hour flight! Horrible experience. Will never fly with Copa airlines again!
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,896 reviews
Copa Airlines
7.5
Good
1,493 reviews

Crew

8.1

Overall

7.5

Food

6.8

Comfort

7.4

Entertainment

6.8

Boarding

7.8

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,May 2025

LIM - PTY

This was my first tome flying with this airline and needless to say, I was not impressed! The seats were not comfortable at all. You could feel the metal digging into your skin. Also, there was a kid behind me that kept putting his knees up on the seat and usually this doesn’t bother me, but I was able to feel his knees dig into my back every single time. The food was mediocore at best. There were no phone chargers on an almost 5 hour flight! Horrible experience. Will never fly with Copa airlines again!
Avianca
6.7
Okay
2,387 reviews
Copa Airlines
7.5
Good
1,493 reviews

Crew

8.1

Overall

7.5

Food

6.8

Comfort

7.4

Entertainment

6.8

Boarding

7.8

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,May 2025

LIM - PTY

This was my first tome flying with this airline and needless to say, I was not impressed! The seats were not comfortable at all. You could feel the metal digging into your skin. Also, there was a kid behind me that kept putting his knees up on the seat and usually this doesn’t bother me, but I was able to feel his knees dig into my back every single time. The food was mediocore at best. There were no phone chargers on an almost 5 hour flight! Horrible experience. Will never fly with Copa airlines again!

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from San José to Panama City. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What airports do I use to fly from San José to Panama City?

    Panama City Tocumen Intl is the airport most travelers will use when flying to Panama City from San José Juan Santamaria Intl. Booking flights from Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) to Tocumen Intl (PTY) should be relatively easy as there are 13 daily flights to Panama City from 3 different airlines. 1h 20m is how long a flight from San José to Panama City Tocumen Intl will take if you book a nonstop flight.

  • How popular is this San José, San José Province to Panama City flight route?

    This flight path from San José Juan Santamaria Intl to Panama City Tocumen Intl was viewed by 65 users in the past month. Keep an eye out for changes in search interest prior to high and low season.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from San José, San José Province to Panama City round-trip?

    Avianca, at $188, was found to be the cheapest airline from San José, San José Province to Panama City. An alternate airline flying to your destination would be Copa Airlines. Users have found that Avianca is 6% cheaper than the other options available to this destination.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from San José, San José Province to Panama City one-way?

    To fly one-way, consider booking your trip with Avianca, which is currently one of the cheapest options available, starting at $94. Copa Airlines flights start at $95 while deals on United Airlines start at $1,094 one-way.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from San José, San José Province to Panama City?

    The top 3 most reliable airlines when flying from San José, San José Province to Panama City are Avianca (95%), Avianca Costa Rica (95%) and Iberia (94%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from San José, San José Province to Panama City?

    Looking for the cheapest flight from San José, San José Province to Panama City? While on average our users pay $334, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $90. The most popular route (San José Juan Santamaria Intl - Panama City Tocumen Intl), is priced around $203.

  • Can I find deals for flights from San José to Panama City that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on San José to Panama City flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from San José to Panama City?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from San José to Panama City.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from San José to Panama City?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San José to Panama City by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from San José, San José Province to Panama City?

    Currently, October is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San José, San José Province to Panama City (average of $478). Flying from San José, San José Province to Panama City in December is currently the most expensive (average of $634). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

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Top 3 airlines flying from San José to Panama City

Discover the top 3 airlines that operate flights from San José to Panama City. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated July 29, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
WingoCheapest$78Average$155FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time83%
AviancaCheapest$135Average$201FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
Copa AirlinesCheapest$140Average$209FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time70%

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