SkyTeam members Air France & KLM brings us today a deal in premium economy from Italy to Panama & Costa Rica starting at just €855. This fare does not include checked luggage, but you are allowed to bring two carry-ons and one personal item, and you also get SkyPriority. If you need checked luggage, you can add 2 x 23 kg of checked luggage for around €180 for the return trip. Departures are available between August 2024 and July 2025 from Panama, and from August to December and May to June 2025 for Costa Rica.
These are the airports where you can take advantage of this deal
To Panama:
- Barcelona at €855
- Venice at €881
- Madrid at €886
- Bologna at €887
- Rome at €887
- Valencia at €887
- Milan at €888
- Turin at €892
- Bilbao at €911
- Malaga at €930
To San José, Costa Rica:
Our availability calendar highlights all possible flight dates at the lowest price for trips up to 28 days without overnight layovers. It will forward you to KLM with your selected flight dates.
Depending on your dates, you will either fly Air France or KLM. First, you will take your feeder flight to Amsterdam or Paris. KLM flights are operated with Boeing 787s while Air France are operated with Airbus A350 both with 2-3-2 premium economy configuration, but if the price is similar, we recommend booking with KLM since they offer a better product in premium economy, making it worthwhile to spend some extra money.
KLM has recently added a small premium economy cabin to most of its Boeing long-haul planes. The seats are among the best on the market, the service is good, and you also get SkyPriority services at the airport. However, there is a big downside to flying with KLM: Except on US flights, KLM’s premium economy includes no free luggage.
Air France has two different types of premium economy seats. The seats in Airbus A350 planes are better and are closer to the competition. Air France’s premium economy, however, has a major downside that has nothing to do with the seats: The service and catering are often disappointing.
Search & Book
This deal will expire on August 31, 2024. A minimum stay of seven days, and a maximum stay of three months applies. Departures are available between August 2024 and July 2025 from Panama, and from August to December and May to June 2025 for Costa Rica.
You can find suitable dates using our calendar above or with the help of Google Flights, Keep in mind that the prices shown on the website during your check may display up to €200 higher due to a glitch compared to the prices on KLM. We recommend booking directly on Air France’s website or KLM’s website, but you can find cheaper prices with Skyscanner. However, booking on OTAs has its downsides.
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.
Miles & Points
This ticket is issued in booking class Y for the feeder flight and booking class A for the premium economy leg of the trip. Here are the miles and points you can earn from this deal from Bologna to Panama:
- 17,964 RDM + 2,984 MQD on Delta SkyMiles
- 13,276 Miles on MEA Cedar Miles
- 13,276 Miles on GOL Aéreos Smiles
- 12,952 Miles on Aeromexico Club Premier
- 12,180 Miles on Aerolíneas Argentinas AerolíneasPlus
- 12,180 Miles on Saudia Alfursan
- 12,180 Miles on Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles
- 12,180 Miles on Korean Air Skypass
- 12,180 Miles on Garuda Indonesia GarudaMiles
- 12,180 Miles on Air Europa Suma
- 12,180 Award Miles on Etihad Guest
- 12,180 Award Miles on Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
- 12,180 Miles on ITA Volare
- 12,180 Points on SAS EuroBonus
- 11,566 Award Miles + 120 Tier Points on Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- 6,704 Points on Malaysia Airlines Enrich
- 3,480 Award Miles + 58 XP on Flying Blue
- Customize Calculation
Destination
Information & Tips for Costa Rica
→ All Dealz for Costa Rica
Information & Tips for Panama
Panama City blends modern skyscrapers with colonial history, most notably in the Casco Viejo district with its plazas and churches. The famous Panama Canal is the city’s top attraction, with visitors often stopping at the Miraflores Locks. The official currency is the Balboa, though U.S. dollars are used interchangeably and are the main form of cash payment. Prices are moderate compared to North America—cheaper local eateries and transport exist, but touristy areas can feel pricey. The climate is hot and humid year-round, with a distinct rainy season from May to November.
→ All Dealz for Panama
Cover Picture: Photo by Aljoscha Laschgari on Unsplash