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18 Best Ways to Earn Copa Airlines ConnectMiles [2024]

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Panama is famous as being an offshore tax haven, but it’s also famous for its tactically shrewd location. Advantageous for facilitating world trade to/from the Western Hemisphere, you can bet Panama’s flag carrier Copa Airlines has a deep regional route network.

Copa Airlines was founded in 1947, and its expansion has pushed it to become a strong, strategic member of Star Alliance. The airline, interestingly, started as a domestic-only airline, flying to 3 destinations within Panama. This strategy failed, and it moved towards international flights since 1980.

Interestingly, Copa Airlines doesn’t operate any wide-body aircraft. Instead, its fleet comprises entirely of Boeing 737 and Embraer 190 planes. Copa Airlines’ loyalty program is dubbed ConnectMiles, and it shares many characteristics with United MileagePlus.

Although Copa Airlines offers a lackluster business class product consisting of recliner seats, à la U.S. domestic first class, there are many other fantastic ways to redeem ConnectMiles for maximum value.

However, you’ll need to learn how to earn ConnectMiles before redeeming them. Let’s talk about how you can stockpile this valuable currency.

Sign Up for a ConnectMiles Account

Copa Airlines ConnectMiles
To earn ConnectMiles, you’ll first want to create an account with Copa Airlines. Image Credit: ConnectMiles

The first thing you’ll want to do is to register for a ConnectMiles account. Without a ConnectMiles loyalty account, you won’t be able to accrue miles with Copa Airlines.

Follow these steps to register with ConnectMiles:

  1. Visit the Join ConnectMiles page.
  2. Enter your full name, date of birth, and other personal information.
  3. Enter your email address, password, and create a 4-digit pin (used for redemptions).
  4. Populate the remaining forms, and click Enroll.
  5. You’ll need to confirm your email to activate your account.
    • An added benefit of confirming your ConnectMiles account is that you’ll get better access to award space when you activate your ConnectMiles account.

Now that your ConnectMiles account has been created, the next step is to enter your ConnectMiles number into all of your eligible airfare reservations, as well as any activity with ConnectMiles partners. This is crucial as you won’t be able to earn ConnectMiles otherwise.

Earn ConnectMiles With Credit Cards

Copa Airlines ConnectMiles does not have any 1:1 transfer partners. ConnectMiles are more difficult to earn compared to Aeroplan or Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles, but there’s still a solid number of ways to earn them.

Marriott Credit Cards

The single easiest way for U.S. residents to earn ConnectMiles is to transfer from Marriott Bonvoy. You can transfer Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio to ConnectMiles. Additionally, you’ll receive a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred to ConnectMiles. This would bring your total up from 20,000 miles to 25,000 miles overall.

Also, Marriott Bonvoy processes Copa Airlines transfers in around 3 business days, so you won’t be waiting around too long.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)
A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Earn 60,000 Bonus Points plus 1 Free Night Award after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Free Night valued at 50,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees.
60,000 points + 1 Free Night Award
$770
$0
20.99% - 27.99% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card

Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.

The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
  • 2x points at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services
  • 5 Elite Night Credits each year
Cons
  • Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
  • Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier
Card Highlights
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 
Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)
Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.
Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.
125,000 points
$875
$95
20.99% - 27.99% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Earn big when you use your card at thousands of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
  • Earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
  • Automatic Silver Elite Status
Cons
  • $95 annual fee
  • Marriott Silver Elite Status is the lowest status tier
Card Highlights
  • Earn 125,000 bonus points after qualifying purchases - our best points offer!
  • Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
  • Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
  • 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
  • Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
  • Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
  • Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.
Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you spend $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
85,000 points
$595
$250
20.24%-29.24% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
  • 4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2x points)
  • 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
Cons
  • $250 annual fee (rates & fees)
  • Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit
Card Highlights
  • Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
  • Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card.
  • Marriott Bonvoy 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
  • With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit, available for Qualifying Rates.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
  • Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.
Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
95,000 points
$665
$650
20.24%-29.24% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
  • 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
  • 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
Cons
Card Highlights
  • Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
  • With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
  • Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
  • Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
  • Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
  • $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
  • Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
  • With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
  • $650 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Refer a Friend for Bonus Miles

Both Chase and American Express offer Marriott credit cards. Best of all, there are referral programs in place that you can use to earn bonus miles.

American Express allows you to earn bonus Marriott points by referring your Marriott card to someone else. Note that you will receive a referral bonus in Marriott points regardless of which card your referee is approved for. Simply put, your friend can apply for any card and you’ll earn a referral bonus denominated in Marriott points.

For Chase, you must refer from an eligible card, and your friend must apply for and be approved for the same card. You can learn more about Chase’s offerings when you read through our guide on the best Chase Marriott credit cards.

Non-U.S. Based Credit Cards

Because Copa Airlines is based in Central America, its co-branded credit card offerings remain in that region. As you will see, however, different Central American countries have varying levels of access to co-branded credit cards.

For example, Panamanian residents get access to 11 out of the 14 co-branded credit cards, while Guatemalan residents only get access to 5 out of the 14 cards currently available. See the following chart below to get to know ConnectMiles’ co-branded credit cards.

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ConnectMiles Co-Branded Credit Cards

Eligible Countries

ConnectMiles Co-Branded Credit Cards

Eligible Countries

BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles Black American Express®

Panama

BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles Visa Platinum

Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica

BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles Corporate American Express®

Panama

Banco General ConnectMiles Visa Corporate

Panama

BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles Gold American Express®

Panama

Banco General ConnectMiles Visa Platinum

Panama

BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles Platinum American Express®

Panama

Banco General ConnectMiles Visa Signature

Panama

BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles Visa Corporate

Panama

Banco Promerica ConnectMiles Visa Gold

Guatemala, Costa Rica

BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles Visa Gold

Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica

Banco Promerica ConnectMiles Visa Infinite

Guatemala, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica

BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles Visa Infinite

Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica

Banco Promerica ConnectMiles Visa Platinum

Guatemala, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica

If you happen to be a resident or would otherwise have the means to acquire foreign ConnectMiles credit cards, you’ll find some opportunities to top up your mileage balance very quickly.

Other Financial Partners

In addition to co-branded credit cards issued by foreign banks, you can also earn ConnectMiles by transferring points from foreign financial partners to ConnectMiles. Many of these financial partners possess their own rewards system, similar to American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Here are ConnectMiles’ financial partners:

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ConnectMiles Foreign Transfer Partners (minimum transfer = 1,000 points)

Banbif

1.5:1

Davivienda

1:1

Banco Panama

2:1

Ficohsa Guatemala

1:1

Banesco

1:1

Ficohsa Nicaragua

1:1

BCT Bank International Panama

1.2:1

Ficohsa Panama

1:1

BCT Costa Rica

1.2:1

Inbursa

1:1

Cooperative Profesionales

1.3:1

Lafise Panama

1:1

Credicorp Bank

1:1

Metrobank

1.7:1

Points transfers from these partners will be processed within 10 business days.

Earn Miles Through Shopping

Chase Price and Purchase Protection
An easy way to earn lots of miles is with your regular spending habits, like shopping! Image Credit: EpicStockMedia via Shutterstock

One of the best ways to earn ConnectMiles is to use existing, ordinary spending with select shopping partners to extract more value for your transactions.

ConnectMiles Shopping Partners

ConnectMiles doesn’t have as diverse of a shopping partner list as some other mainstream airlines. Specifically, there aren’t many ways for non-Panamanian travelers to earn miles on shopping activities. Nonetheless, the following list shows all of ConnectMiles’ shopping partners.

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ConnectMiles Partner

Earning Structure

ConnectMiles Partner

Earning Structure

AltaPlaza Mall

Earn 2 miles per $1 spent every Tuesday and Thursday of Shopping Days

Mail Boxes Etc.

1 mile per $1 spent (minimum $10 excluding taxes and surcharges)

American Trade Hotel

Earn 1 mile per $2 spent during low season (June, July, September, November)

Earn 1 mile per $3 spent during high season (all other months)

Earn 15,000 miles for spending at least $25,000

Multimax

1 mile per $1

Appetito24

Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all orders at participating locations

Petrodelta

1 mile per $1 spent when paying with your MAXI flota card from Delta in Panama gas stations

Attenza Duty Free

Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on products reserved at Attenza’s online website and paid for at international airports in Panama, Bogota, and Quito

Puntos Gordos

Transfer at a rate of 1,000:500

Magic Dreams Productions

Varies (usually 1 mile per $1 spent on the ticket price excluding service charges, taxes, or other special fees)

 

 

All of these partners are subject to the terms and conditions of ConnectMiles, which can be found here. ConnectMiles outlines the exact terms and conditions for each partner individually, including mileage accrual rates, mileage earning exceptions, and even mileage crediting times. Lastly, the terms and conditions outline what steps you need to take to earn miles with the particular shopping partner.

Earn Miles Through Travel

Best Daypack For Travel
Earning miles through travel you’re already doing is one of the best ways to earn tons of extra miles. Image Credit: Pexels via Pixabay

If you’re looking to get rewarded on your travel plans and earn ConnectMiles at the same time, you’ll want to pay close attention to this section. Let’s first talk about how you can get rewarded for the most logical type of travel: earning ConnectMiles on Copa Airlines flights.

Airfare and Airline Purchases

When you fly on Copa Airlines, the minimum number of miles you’ll earn on eligible fare classes is 500 miles. Keep in mind that some fare classes do not earn miles at all. Typically, these fare classes are award or deeply discounted tickets (equivalent to basic economy).

The mileage accrual structure is based on a percentage multiplier of the actual flight distance.

Here’s the breakdown of mileage accrual structures for Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia flights:

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ConnectMiles Accrual Chart for Copa Airlines or Copa Airlines Colombia-Operated Flights

Fare Group

Fare Class

Accrual Rate

Qualifying Miles (elite status only)

Qualifying Segments (elite status only)

Ineligible Fares

G, I, N, P, X, Y, Z

0%

0

0

Economy Promo

L, A, T, E

50%

50%

0.5

Economy Classic

H, Q, K, V, U, S, O, W

100%

100%

1

Economy Full

Y, B, M

125%

125%

2

Business Promo

D, R

150%

150%

2

Business Full

C, J

200%

200%

2

Let’s do some example exercises on calculating how many miles you’d accrue for a specific flight. Let’s say you flew from Chicago (ORD) to Panama City (PTY) on a one-way ticket in E class. This flight’s approximate distance is 2,324 miles, which means you’d earn 50% of 2,324 miles or 1,162 miles. Additionally, you’d earn 1,16 qualifying miles and 0.5 qualifying segments towards ConnectMiles elite status.

If you flew on a round-trip ticket between Panama City (PTY) and Buenos Aires (EZE) with the outbound ticket in D class and the inbound flight in C class, you’d earn based on an approximate one-way flight distance of 3,313 miles. Therefore, your outbound ticket would earn 150% of 3,313 miles. Your inbound ticket would earn 200% of 3,313 miles.

In total, this entire ticket would net you 11,596 miles, 11,596 qualifying miles, and 4 qualifying segments.

Crediting Star Alliance Airlines to ConnectMiles

Copa Airlines is in Star Alliance, which has tons of partner airlines. One of the best parts of Star Alliance is that you can earn ConnectMiles on flights with airline partners like Air Canada, United Airlines, and more.

There are individual award charts that dictate how many miles you’ll earn on certain fare classes with specific airlines.

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Star Alliance Partner

Maximum Accrual Rate

Star Alliance Partner

Maximum Accrual Rate

Aegean Airlines

 

Up to 150%

EVA Air

Up to 125%

Air Canada

Up to 150%

LOT Polish

Up to 150%

Air China

Up to 200%

Lufthansa

Up to 300%

Air India

Up to 150%

SAS

Up to 150%

Air New Zealand

Up to 150%

Shenzhen Airlines

Up to 150%

ANA

Up to 150%

Singapore Airlines

Up to 150%

Asiana Airlines

Up to 150%

South African Airways

Up to 125%

Austrian Airlines

Up to 125%

Swiss International Air Lines

 

Up to 300%

 
Avianca

Up to 125%

TAP Air Portugal

Up to 200%

Brussels Airlines

Up to 150%

Thai Airways

Up to 150%

Croatia Airlines

Up to 150%

Up to 150%

Egyptair

 

Up to 125%

Up to 100%

Ethiopian Airlines

Up to 175%

 

 

To learn about the exact mileage accrual structure, go here.

Crediting Non-Alliance Partner Airlines to ConnectMiles

Copa Airlines ConnectMiles happens to be partners with a handful of airlines that are not in Star Alliance. Specifically, these are:

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Star Alliance Partner

Maximum Accrual Rate

Star Alliance Partner

Maximum Accrual Rate

Aeromexico

Up to 150%

Emirates

Up to 150%

Azul

Up to 150%

KLM

Up to 175%

GOL

Up to 150%

 

 

To learn more about these airlines, click this link.

Boost Your Miles with Elite Status

If you are gunning for elite status with Copa Airlines, you can get a bonus of up to 100%. Their elite status is called PreferMember, and you can earn bonus miles based on your existing elite status.

  • PreferMember Silver — 25%
  • PreferMember Gold — 50%
  • PreferMember Platinum — 75%
  • PreferMember Presidential — 100%

Note that this bonus structure is only applicable to flights on Copa Airlines or its subsidiaries. You will not earn bonus miles on partner flights if you have PreferMember elite status.

Car Rental Partners

When it comes to car rentals with ConnectMiles, the earning structure is relatively lackluster. You’ll earn a maximum of 100 miles per day, which isn’t much at all. Here are all of ConnectMiles’ car rental partners.

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ConnectMiles Partner

Mileage Accrual Structure

ConnectMiles Partner

Mileage Accrual Structure

Alamo

50 miles per day

Budget

100 miles per day, plus up to 25% off Budget base rates

Avis

100 miles per day, plus up to 25% off Avis base rates

National Car Rental

50 miles per day

To learn more about these car rental partners, visit this page.

Cruise Partners

ConnectMiles has partnered with Grand Tours, a company that offers miles on cruise bookings with select companies. To earn miles, you must book your cruise via Grand Tours Panama. You’ll earn 1 mile per $1 spent on cruises with Azamara Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International.

If you’d like to look into the exact details of booking a cruise and earning ConnectMiles, visit this link.

Hotel Partners

Airlines and hotels often have close partnerships, designed to maximize revenue across the board.

Copa Airlines is partners with these hotel chains:

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ConnectMiles Partner

Mileage Accrual Structure

ConnectMiles Partner

Mileage Accrual Structure

Barceló Hotel Group

1 mile per $1 spent

Marriott Bonvoy

Up to 2 miles per $1 spent

IHG

Up to 2 miles per $1 spent

 

 

In the case of Barceló, you can stay in one of its properties across 10 countries and territories in Lain America. If you don’t get the miles credited to your account, you’ll want to email connectmiles@barcelo.com.

With IHG, you’ll earn 1-2 miles per $1 spent, depending on the hotel brand. Here is the email address you can contact if the miles don’t get credited: IHGrewardsclubmemberservices@ihg.com.

Lastly, Marriott properties earn 1-2 miles per $1 spent. You’ll earn 2 miles per $1 spent on the following brands:

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Marriott Brands that Earn 2 ConnectMiles per $1 Spent

Autograph Collection® Hotels

Renaissance® Hotels

Delta Hotels by Marriott™

Sheraton®

Design Hotels ™

St. Regis®

EDITION®

The Luxury Collection®

Gaylord Hotels ®

The Ritz-Carlton®

JW Marriott®

Tribute Portfolio

Le Meridien

W Hotels®

Marriott Vacation Club®

Westin®

Marriott® Hotels and Resorts

 

You’ll earn 1 ConnectMile per $1 spent at the following Marriott brands:

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Marriott Brands that Earn 1 ConnectMile per $1 Spent

AC Hotels Marriott®

Marriott Executive Apartments®

Aloft® Hotels

MOXY Hotels®

Courtyard by Marriott®

Protea Hotels by Marriott®

Element® Hotels

Residence Inn by Marriott®

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott®

SpringHill Suites® by Marriott

Four Points® Hotels & Resorts

TownePlace Suites by Marriott®

You’ll notice that in general, the more budget-friendly Marriott properties earn 1 mile per $1 spent, while the more luxurious picks earn 2 miles per $1 spent.

The last note is that you can book Marriott Bonvoy events, earning 1 ConnectMile per $1 spent, up to a maximum of 20,000 ConnectMiles earned per event. Qualifying events must have at least 10 rooms with at least 1 night at the property.

If you’ve completed your stays at Marriott Bonvoy and you still haven’t received your miles, reach out to marriott.bonvoy.partners@marriott.com to inquire about crediting the miles to your account.

Hotel Booking Portals

Hotel booking portals are yet another excellent way to earn ConnectMiles. Instead of pledging loyalty to a specific chain of hotels, you can stay at any available property, thanks to hotel booking portals like Booking.com.

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ConnectMiles Partner

Mileage Accrual Structure

ConnectMiles Partner

Mileage Accrual Structure

Booking.com

4 miles per $1 spent

Rocketmiles

500-10,000 miles per night

The mileage accrual structures are very attractive when using hotel booking portals, especially when using Booking.com. Booking.com usually has the rates that are very similar to the cheapest available rate, which means that you’ll earn an easy 4 miles per $1 spent with no opportunity cost of paying a higher rate!

4 miles per $1 spent, depending on how you redeem ConnectMiles, can be equivalent to a return on spend of 4-12%, which is stellar.

Rocketmiles, with potentially impressive earnings of up to 10,000 miles per night, is somewhat deceiving. Rocketmiles usually has significantly higher rates than the cheapest available rate, so you’ll have to decide whether the extra miles are worth paying a higher nightly rate.

Specialty Earnings for Copa Airlines

Now that we’ve talked about all the major avenues to earn ConnectMiles, let’s talk about some of the more niche/minor ways to do so! As expected, these ways won’t be applicable for most people but are still absolutely worth a discussion.

Copa Courier

Copa Courier is a logistics service that transports documents and packages. When you send 4 shipments, you’ll earn 200 miles.

Exchange Currency at Travelex

Travelex is one of the world’s largest foreign currency exchange companies. Located at almost all major airports in the world, you have the opportunity to earn ConnectMiles when buying currency at Panama City’s Tocumen Airport.

Here’s what the structure looks like:

  • Earn 75 ConnectMiles for buying currency totaling $95-$149.99
  • Earn 150 ConnectMiles for buying currency totaling $150-$299.99
  • Earn 375 ConnectMiles for buying currency totaling $300-$499.99
  • Earn 750 ConnectMiles for buying currency greater than $500

Keep in mind that the official currency in Panama is directly pegged to the U.S. dollar at a 1:1 ratio. In other words, 1 Panamanian Balboa is equivalent to 1 U.S. dollar, which is also legal tender. No Balboa bills are in circulation, only coins.

As a reminder, you must provide your ConnectMiles number when you’re purchasing the currency.

Your mileage should be credited within 14 days of the transaction. However, if it’s not, reach out to connectmiles@travelex.com to initiate the retroactive claim process, which can be done up to 6 months after the purchase was made.

Make Restaurant Reservations With Degusta

Degusta is Panama’s fusion of Yelp, the popular food review app, and OpenTable, the restaurant reservation platform. You can earn ConnectMiles when you book a Degusta reservation. You’ll earn 50 miles per reservation of at least 2 people, plus 25 miles for each guest.

If you book a reservation for 7 people, for example, you’ll earn 50 miles plus 175 miles, for a total of 225 miles. Miles may take up to 15 days to deposit after the reservation is completed. If it hasn’t deposited, you can contact soporte@degustapanama.com to resolve the issue.

Buy Copa Airlines ConnectMiles

Have you ever thought of buying airline miles? Most of the time, it’s a terrible idea to buy miles since the cost is greater than the value you’d achieve. However, in some situations, it makes a ton of sense, such as if you’re short a small number of miles needed for a major award redemption.

You can buy ConnectMiles as a last resort at a purchase price of $30 per 1,000 miles. You can purchase up to 2,000,000 miles per year, and there has been a bonus of 50% in the past, bringing down the cost to $15 per 1,000 miles.

Subscribe to ConnectMiles Plans

ConnectMiles Plans is the moniker of Copa Airlines’ monthly subscription program.

There are a few components to each ConnectMiles Plan:

  • Monthly award miles
  • Welcome bonus (one-time)
  • Quarterly bonus

Currently, there are 5 plans available as follows:

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Plan Name

Monthly Award Miles

Welcome Bonus

Quarterly Bonus

Total Miles Earned In 12 Months

Monthly Price

12K

1,000

500

750

15,500

$26/month (2.01 cents per mile)

18K

1,500

1,000

1,500

25,000

$41/month (1.97 cents per mile)

24K

2,000

2,000

2,000

34,000

$52/month (1.84 cents per mile)

54K

4,500

3,000

4,500

75,000

$109/month (1.74 cents per mile)

90K

7,500

4,000

7,500

124,000

$179/month (1.73 cents per mile)

A monthly subscription of Copa Airlines ConnectMiles is significantly better than buying miles outright, especially when you think about the price of 3 cents per mile for ordinary mileage purchases. With a monthly subscription, you can bring down the cost by up to 43%.

Final Thoughts

What a unique mileage program! Copa Airlines ConnectMiles has a rich loyalty structure. Whether it’s the laundry list of foreign credit cards, the transfer partnership with Marriott Bonvoy, or the numerous airline partnerships, there’s plenty of ways to start earning ConnectMiles.

Just be sure you refer to the ConnectMiles terms and conditions for instructions on how to ensure you get the miles you deserve. Before you know it, you’ll have a healthy number of ConnectMiles in your frequent flyer account!

The information regarding the BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles American Express Black, BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles American Express Corporate, BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles American Express Gold, BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles American Express Platinum, BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles Visa Corporate, BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles Visa Gold, BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles Visa Gold, BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles Visa Platinum, Banco General ConnectMiles Visa Corporate, Banco General ConnectMiles Visa Platinum, Banco General ConnectMiles Visa Signature, Banco Promerica ConnectMiles Visa Gold, Banco Promerica ConnectMiles Visa Infinite, Banco Promerica ConnectMiles Visa Platinum, and BAC Credomatic ConnectMiles Visa Infinite was independently collected by Upgraded Points and was not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Copa Airlines ConnectMiles?

Copa Airlines is the flag carrier of Panama with its headquarters in Panama City (PTY). Its loyalty program is known as ConnectMiles. You can earn and redeem ConnectMiles on its partners, such as United MileagePlus.

Which credit cards earn Copa Airlines ConnectMiles?

Copa Airlines does not have any U.S. co-branded credit card through which you can earn miles directly. Copa Airlines ConnectMiles is transfer partners with Marriott Bonvoy. You can transfer Marriott points at a 3:1 ratio plus a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred to ConnectMiles.

There are a number of foreign banks that offer co-branded credit cards as well as other transfer partnerships to earn ConnectMiles.

What are Copa Airlines ConnectMiles worth?

ConnectMiles are worth anywhere from 1-10 cents per mile, depending on the exact redemption you’re planning. If you’re looking for economy tickets, your mileage price will be cheaper, but the value achieved will be less than premium cabin redemptions.

How do I transfer Copa Airlines ConnectMiles to a spouse?

You must have a minimum of 2,000 ConnectMiles to transfer them to someone else. Once you have sufficient ConnectMiles, visit this link and you can pay a fee of $15/1,000 miles to transfer ConnectMiles to someone else.

Who are Copa Airlines' partners?

Copa Airline’s partners are:

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Copa Airlines’ Airline Partners
Aegean AirlinesEthiopian Airlines
AeromexicoEVA Air
Air CanadaGOL
Air ChinaKLM
Air IndiaLOT Polish Airlines
Air New ZealandLufthansa
All Nippon AirwaysScandinavian Airlines
Asiana AirlinesShenzhen Airlines
Austrian AirlinesSingapore Airlines
AviancaSouth African Airways
AzulSwiss International Air Lines
Brussels AirlinesTAP Air Portugal
Croatia AirlinesTHAI Airways
EgyptairTurkish Airlines
EmiratesUnited Airlines
When do Copa Airlines ConnectMiles post in your account?

When you fly on Copa Airlines metal, you’ll get your miles and segments posted in your account around 3-5 business days after travel is completed.

If you’re flying on airline partners, it’ll take up to 8 business days for miles to post.

If you’re earning miles through non-airline activity, expect the mileage posting time to be from 4-6 weeks.

You can request missing miles here.

Are Copa Airlines ConnectMiles refundable?

Yes. Your elite status, as well as your cancellation time relative to the departure date, will dictate the amount you’ll pay in cancellation fees. This can vary from $0 to $150.

When do Copa Airlines ConnectMiles expire?

ConnectMiles are valid for 2 years, and the expiration timer is reset after any qualifying activity, whether it’s earning or redeeming ConnectMiles.

What alliance is Copa Airlines in?

Copa Airlines is in the Star Alliance.

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About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

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