Flying from Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): What you need to know
Panama City is home to a couple of airports where you can kick off your trip. Check out your options for reserving a flight from Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) taking off from Tocumen International Airport (PTY) or Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB).
Expect to be in the air for 7 hours. That's the average journey time for a direct Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport flight.
The timezone in Los Angeles is UTC-7, which is two hours behind Panama City. Los Angeles International Airport is located in Los Angeles.
The busiest route is from Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), with 21 direct weekly services. If you're ready to head out sooner, the earliest flight from PTY to LAX is the 7:21am Copa Airlines option. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the final departure is at 6:42pm with Copa Airlines.
Get to the airport on time so you don't miss your flight from Panama City to LAX. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to avoid any last-minute rush.
With more travellers during high season, it's wise to get to your terminal even earlier. Two hours for domestic flights and up to four for international trips will allow extra time for delays.
Airports in Panama City
Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) will have you travelling directly to your destination. Nonstop flights from Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) can be booked from this terminal.
When jetting out of PTY, you can catch a direct flight from Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport with Copa Airlines.
Most travellers prefer to book seats with Copa Airlines from PTY to LAX.
With an impressive 87.31% of services arriving as scheduled, Copa Airlines is the most punctual carrier operating on this route.
Consider adding a stopover to find cheap flights from Panama City to LAX. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Tocumen International Airport (PTY). Make a stop (and maybe make your fare cheaper) by passing through one of these airports:
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
El Salvador International Airport (SAL)
La Aurora International Airport (GUA)
Located around 21 kms (13 miles) from the centre of Panama City, PTY can be reached in about 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport takes roughly 1 hour 5 minutes.
Want a relaxed start to your travels? Stay near Tocumen International Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport or aren't a fan of being rushed, these hotels offer the perfect solution:
86.03% of flights departing from Tocumen International Airport land at their destination on schedule. With its reliable on-time performance, you're unlikely to be delayed when setting off from PTY.
Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport (PAC)
PAC is about 2 kms (1.00 mile) from central Panama City. It'll take you 5 minutes or so to get to the airport if you're driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 25 minutes.
Want to enjoy an extra night away before boarding your Panama City to LAX flight? Check in to a hotel near Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport before your adventure officially starts. These stays have a room with your name on it:
Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB)
You can reserve a plane ticket from Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) out of Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB) with a stopover. Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is a popular connection point.
If you're making your way to BLB from central Panama City, it'll take you around 20 minutes to arrive by car. The drive is roughly 16 kms (10 miles).
Take the uncertainty out of departure day — stay near Panama Pacifico Airport and know you'll be at your gate with time to spare. Get comfy at one of these hotels the day before if you have an early Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport flight:
BLB has an on-time performance rate of 86.75%. This means most of its flights touch down as expected and your plans stay right on track.
About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Consider booking a hotel near LAX if you're catching a late flight from Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport. Pick one of these accommodation options and get some sleep sooner:
Go wherever you want, whenever you want with a Los Angeles International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Dollar, Thrifty or Hertz and discover more of Los Angeles and beyond.
Get the best deal by reserving your vehicle around one week ahead of your Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport flight.
The address for LAX is One World Way.
Getting from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to central Los Angeles
Central Los Angeles is about 12 miles from Los Angeles International Airport. Travel times by cab or car hire will vary depending on time of day, so do some research before you go.
It'll take around 55 minutes to get there using public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport is £211. For a return flight on this route, the best price is £393. Depending on how early you book and the availability, these fares could change.
Lock in cheap flights from Panama City to LAX by booking six months ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for landing a bargain.
November is when you're most likely to find a fantastic deal on a Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport ticket. If you're looking to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices for every month.
Save time searching for cheap plane tickets from Panama City to LAX by creating a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification on the app when prices go down.
Tailor your trip using filters. Choose your arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport.
The best time to fly from Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Think about the kind of experience you want when deciding your trip dates. May is the quietest month to visit Los Angeles. July is when most people book flights from Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which may be ideal if you're chasing more excitement.
Before locking in your Panama City to LAX plane ticket, consider the type of weather you enjoy. August is the warmest month in Los Angeles, with temperatures ranging from 16ºC (61ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF).
Look for cheap tickets from Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport in February if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 6ºC (43ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF).
More about Los Angeles
After booking your flight from Panama City to Los Angeles International Airport, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these options your base for exploring Los Angeles:
Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory are just the start of the popular attractions to put on your Los Angeles travel itinerary. Continue your sightseeing adventures at Hollywood Bowl.
Explore more of the United States
Los Angeles is easy to fall in love with, but there are so many other parts of the United States you'll want to see. Around 177 kms (110 miles) south-east of Los Angeles, a visit to San Diego will fill your itinerary to the brim. Check out popular attractions like San Diego Zoo, San Diego Balboa Park and USS Midway Museum.
Around 161 kms (100 miles) north of Los Angeles, Bakersfield is another favourite stop in the United States. No visit is complete without checking out Kern County Museum, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park and BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir.
