One map, pinned from each airport’s published coordinates.
Category scores
Overall is the published weighted sum. A highlighted score is ahead; a tie stays plain.
Ease of use
25% · Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
BLB7.2+0.4
PTY6.8
Comfort & amenities
20% · Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
BLB5.8
PTY6.8+1.0
Food & retail
Best for
BLB
Wingo Colombia / Havana low-cost banksTravelers willing to trade Tocumen lounge product for a simpler west-side plantPanama Pacifico / west-bank origins
Watch out for
BLB
No Priority Pass lounge on research day — PTY holds Panama’s PP productsNot Copa’s Tocumen hub — connections usually mean a ground transfer to PTYBridge of the Americas traffic can pad city transfers
Amenities and tips
BLB
Wingo commercial hubTaxi / Uber via Bridge of the AmericasNo Priority Pass lounge
Clear scheduled Wingo pax
Wingo sells BLB–Bogotá, BLB–Havana and other Colombia banks as scheduled low-cost product.
BLB · Panama City’s west-side low-cost pin (former Howard AFB) and **Wingo** commercial hub with scheduled passenger banks to Colombia and Havana — compact single terminal **without Priority Pass lounge** on research day; taxi / Uber across the Bridge of the Americas into the capital.
PTY · Copa Hub of the Americas across T1 and T2: solid Priority Pass coverage and fixed-fare official taxis, but evening Copa Club closes, one-hour free Wi-Fi, and a landside-only Royal Saloon punish careless plans.
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
BLB5.4
PTY6.2+0.8
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
BLB6.8
PTY7.6+0.8
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
BLB6.6
PTY7.0+0.4
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
BLB2.0
PTY7.2+5.2
PTY
Copa / Star Alliance bank connections when your gate terminal matches the loungePriority Pass night lays via The Lounge (GLN) 24h roomsFixed-fare official taxi into Panama CityMetro Line 2 via free landside shuttle
No published MCT
PTY
Wrong terminal for the lounge you wanted (T1 vs T2 Copa Clubs differ on showers and PP guest caps)Copa Club evening close vs GLN 24h — night banks need The LoungeTocumen Royal Saloon is landside onlyFree Wi-Fi capped at 1 hour (official)Nationality-dependent transit visas — hub ≠ visa-free for everyoneTraveler reports of second gate screening / liquids on US-bound flights
No Priority Pass lounge
BLB has no PP lounge on research day; Tocumen (PTY) holds Panama’s PP network.
Compact single terminal
Former Howard AFB commercial conversion — short walks, limited F&B.
PTY
Copa Club (T1 & T2)The Lounge by GLN (T1 & T2)Airside T1↔T2 shuttleMetro Aeropuerto (Line 2)Free Wi-Fi (1 hour)Official fixed-fare taxi
Know T1 vs T2 before you chase a lounge
Copa Club and GLN lounges exist in both terminals with different shower flags and guest rules on Priority Pass.
Copa Clubs close evening; GLN claims 24h
Priority Pass lists Copa Club T1/T2 05:30–22:15; The Lounge (GLN) in both terminals 00:00–23:59.
Royal Saloon is landside — useless airside
Tocumen Royal Saloon sits pre-security on T1’s 3rd level. Sterile-area connections should ignore it.
