SkyTeam partners Air France and KLM are selling cheap tickets to Panama City for all those who are willing to depart from one of the Italian airports that they fly to. Prices start at only €356. Luggage, however, is only included for SkyTeam Elite status holders. All others would have to pay €80 to take a piece of luggage on their trip.
A big upside of this deal: If you book the flights for before March 31, they’ll be fully refundable!
All Air France and KLM tickets issued for flights until March 31, 2022, are fully refundable. You’d receive a voucher which can be refunded to your bank account. You can read more about this here. Flights starting after March 31, 2022, are not refundable.
Worldwide travel restrictions are in place to slow the spread of Covid-19. We strongly recommend gathering detailed information about the travel and quarantine restrictions that apply to your desired origin and destination.
A good start is the International Air Transport Association (IATA) website. It provides current updates on a country’s immigration policies. Even better, the Covid-19 Travel Regulations Map is one of the most useful tools you can find.
Our calendar shows all available dates for trips of up to 28 days. Once you’ve selected your preferred route and dates, you’ll be redirected to KLM’s booking site.
You can fly from the following Italian airports:
You would usually fly from Italy to Paris, from where Air France would fly you to Panama City on one of their Boeing 787-Dreamliners. Air France has personal screens in its economy class, as well as power sockets so that you can charge your devices. You can also purchase internet access, should you wish to stay connected during your flight. In some cases, you can also fly with KLM via Amsterdam.
Search & Book
This deal expires on December 5, 2021. The two restrictions are that the trip needs to be at least 6 days long (or a Sunday), and they need to take place before December 17 (very low availability) or from January 6 until May 31 (high availability).
You can check out the exact availability on Google Flights. You can also use our own calendar above, which will redirect you to KLM’s booking site with the routing and date that you select.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Mileage
The flights between Italy and Amsterdam/Paris are issued in booking class L, while the long-haul flights are issued in booking class X. You can expect the following mileage when flying from Rome via Paris with Air France:
- 3,652 Miles on CSA OK Plus
- 3,374 Miles on MEA Cedar Miles
- 3,374 RDM + 744 MQD on Delta SkyMiles
- 2,836 Miles on Aerolíneas Argentinas AerolíneasPlus
- 2,836 Miles on Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles
- 2,836 Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- 2,836 Miles on Korean Air Skypass
- 2,836 Award Miles on Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- 2,494 Award Miles on Etihad Guest
- 1,000 Miles on Aeromexico Club Premier
- 1,000 Miles on Saudia Alfursan
- 972 Award Miles + 34 XP on Flying Blue
- 684 Award Miles + 20 Tier Points on Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- 684 Miles on Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles
- 684 Miles on GOL Aéreos Smiles
- 684 Miles on Air Europa Suma
Feel free to calculate the miles you’d get for your own routing and program:
Information & Tips for Panama
Panama is the safest and most developed country in Central America. Thanks to the construction of the Panama Canal, the country experienced a strong economic boom and is now considered an important trade destination. Tourists also get their money’s worth thanks to the numerous natural sights and the capital Panama City.
Best Time to Visit
Winter between December and March is the best time for a trip to Panama. This is the dry season where temperatures are moderate and humidity relatively low. However, you should be aware that prices are significantly higher at this time of year. On the Caribbean (East) coast the weather is always a bit rainy and warmer than on the Pacific (West) coast of the country. From May to November there can be strong tropical storms with high wind speeds and massive amounts of precipitation.
Immigration & Visa Requirements
Most EU citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 180 days and can enter with a passport. Please note that in some cases a return flight ticket or a certificate of onward travel is required on entry. Consult with your country’s state department or ministry of foreign affairs for the exact regulations.
Currency
The national currency of Panama is the Balboa (PAB). It is anchored 1:1 to the US Dollar exchange rate (USD), i.e. one Balboa is always equal to one US Dollar. Many credit cards may charge a foreign currency fee of up to 2% for payment in Balboa or Dollars. Credit cards are accepted relatively widely, and the US Dollar is virtually as widespread as the Balboa.
→ All Dealz for Panama
Cover Picture: Photo by Alejandro Carvallo on Unsplash