Flying from Panama City to Los Angeles: what you need to know
There are a couple of main airports you can take off from in Panama City. Check out your options leaving from Panama City Tocumen International Airport (PTY) or Balboa Airport (BLB) when searching for a flight from Panama City to Los Angeles.
Touch down in Los Angeles at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY).
The average duration of a direct Panama City to Los Angeles flight is 6 hours 55 minutes.
The timezone in Los Angeles is UTC-8, which is three hours behind Panama City.
Panama City Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the most traveled route between these two cities. There are 21 weekly departures to choose from. If you prefer starting your day later, the last flight from Panama City to Los Angeles is with Copa Airlines at 18:42. Go for the first PTY to LAX departure with Copa Airlines at 07:21 to make the most of your arrival in Los Angeles.
To ensure you catch your Panama City to Los Angeles flight, leave enough time to check in and drop off your luggage. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
During popular months such as July, it's best to get to the airport even earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for an international flight when you travel during a peak period in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Panama City to Los Angeles
Score cheap Panama City to Los Angeles flights by booking six months ahead. According to our research, that's the ideal time for finding a bargain.
November is the best month for nabbing an amazing deal on a plane ticket from Panama City to Los Angeles. If you need to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for every month.
You don't need to check back in every day to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll notify you as soon as a better deal is available on cheap flights from Panama City to Los Angeles.
Save on your Panama City to Los Angeles flight with the help of our filters. Choose your ideal departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Panama City
Panama City Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
You can get a direct flight from Panama City to Los Angeles jetting off from Panama City Tocumen International Airport (PTY). Start your trip at PTY and arrive at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Copa Airlines is a popular carrier that offers direct Panama City to Los Angeles plane tickets from PTY.
Consider adding a stopover to potentially find a cheaper Panama City to Los Angeles flight. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Panama City Tocumen International Airport. Break up the journey at one of these popular options:
Houston George Bush Intercntl. Airport (IAH)
San Salvador Airport (SAL)
Guatemala City Airport (GUA)
PTY is around 18 kilometres from central Panama City. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a taxi from the centre, it'll take 35 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the travel time to be around 50 minutes.
Want a convenient hotel near Panama City Tocumen International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Panama City to Los Angeles, these stays will put you nice and close to your departure gate:
88% of flights departing from Panama City Tocumen International Airport arrive at their destination according to schedule. Given its dependable on-time performance, you're unlikely to face delays when flying out of PTY.
Balboa Airport (BLB)
Think about adding a stop at San Jose Juan Santamaria Airport (SJO). It's a major stopover on a Panama City to Los Angeles flight departing Balboa Airport. Use a longer layover to explore the city, or take advantage of a short break to grab a coffee at an airport cafe.
You can get to BLB from the centre of Panama City in about 10 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The ride on public transport takes roughly 20 minutes to travel the 5 kilometres or so.
You're going on holiday, so why not enjoy an extra night away from home? Consider staying at one of these hotels near Balboa Airport the day before your flight from Panama City to Los Angeles:
Most flights that depart Balboa Airport get to their destination as expected. It achieves a consistent on-time performance rate of 88%.
Arriving in Los Angeles
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is approximately 19 kilometres from central Los Angeles. If you're catching a taxi or a ride-share, the drive takes roughly 35 minutes.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 1 hour.
The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Panama City to Los Angeles. Check in to one of these accommodation options near LAX instead:
Say yes to new adventures by picking up a Los Angeles International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Dollar, Thrifty or Hertz and explore beyond Los Angeles's main sights.
Lock in the best possible rate by booking your vehicle from Los Angeles International Airport around one week ahead of your trip.
LAX is situated at One World Way.
Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY)
The centre of Los Angeles is approximately 27 kilometres from Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport (VNY). As soon as your flight from Panama City to Los Angeles has touched down and you've made your way through the terminal, expect a drive of about 35 minutes.
You can expect the trip to take roughly 1 hour 15 minutes on public transport.
Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and rest at a hotel close to VNY. Here are a few options where you can take a load off after your flight from Panama City to Los Angeles:
Budget, Dollar and Hertz make picking up a Los Angeles Van Nuys Airport rental car easy and quick. These reliable suppliers are located around or in the terminal and will have you on the road before long.
Lock in the vehicle you want, not just what's left, by securing your ride from VNY ahead of time. You'll also avoid paying extra, especially when demand is high.
Best time to go to Los Angeles
July is the busiest month for flights from Panama City to Los Angeles. To avoid the crowds, visit Los Angeles in March.
The warmest month in Los Angeles is August, with temperatures ranging between 16ºC (61ºF) and 32ºC (90ºF). Book your Panama City to Los Angeles ticket then if you enjoy this type of weather.
February has average temperatures of between 6ºC (43ºF) and 26ºC (79ºF). Search for cheap flights from Panama City to Los Angeles around that time if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about Los Angeles
Start your Los Angeles trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Panama City to Los Angeles, check out our range of accommodation options including:
Hollywood Sign and Universal Studios Hollywood are just the start of the popular attractions to add to your Los Angeles must-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to Hollywood Bowl.
Explore more of the United States
You've seen Los Angeles, now it's time to explore other corners of the United States. Travel around 177 kilometres southeast to San Diego to check off its must-visit sights. From San Diego Zoo to Balboa Park and USS Midway Museum, your itinerary will be busy.
Around 499 kilometres northwest of Los Angeles, San Jose is another essential stop in the United States. Get a taste of what this destination has to offer at Winchester Mystery House, The Tech Interactive and Santa Clara Valley.