Booking and Travel Information: Panama

We manage travel so you don’t have to! 

AMIGOS manages all travel arrangements including flight bookings for all volunteers to ensure a safe and efficient travel experience for each of our participants. This section explains the booking process for the upcoming flight to Panama and provides you with important information about timelines and what to expect, so you stay informed throughout every step of the process. 

When do we start purchasing the tickets?

Flight ticket purchases typically begin around mid-March. At that time, our team starts booking  flights for participants, ensuring that each traveler has a confirmed seat well in advance of the program start date. Please note that group flights with United Airlines are already reserved prior to this period, so fares and seats for group travel are secured early.

Travel information

Connecting Flight 

AMIGOS coordinates a flight with United Airlines, which includes a layover in Houston (IAH). Participants will travel from their feeder city to Houston, where they will be met by AMIGOS staff and join the rest of the group to continue on to Panama City, Panamá.

AMIGOS staff will be available at the airport to assist with connections, answer questions, and provide on the ground support before the international departure.

Direct Flight 

In select cases, participants may fly directly to Panama City via Copa Airlines or United Airlines. This option is only available for families living in cities that offer nonstop flights, such as JFK, EWR, SFO, ORD, BOS, and among others.

Participants traveling on a direct flight will arrive before the group flight. Upon arrival in Panamá, they will be met at the airport by AMIGOS staff, then transported to the lodging site, where they will wait and connect with the rest of the group once the group flight arrives.

What’s the Difference Between a Group Flight and a Direct Flight?

The direct flight option involves less time in airports, and is often more affordable than a multi-leg flight with a layover in Houston. However, because participants travel directly from their home city, they may be traveling alone, unless another volunteer from their area chooses the same option. In contrast, the group flight offers participants the opportunity to travel from Houston to Panamá alongside fellow volunteers. 

Additional Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How does a volunteer indicate their preferred departure airport to AMIGOS for booking?

On the Passport & Travel Information Form completed on the volunteer AMIGOS Dashboard, volunteers will indicate their preferred departure and return airport codes. 

2. What is the estimated cost for a volunteer's flight?

The flight cost estimates are based on actual flight costs from the previous year. These averages are calculated nationwide, so departures from many different airports are taken into account. The estimates listed are averages and the actual cost of a volunteer’s flight may vary.  

3. Is checked baggage included in my reservation?

For flights to Panama, one checked bag is included in the ticket price, whether the ticket is purchased with Copa Airlines or United Airlines. 

4. Is a volunteer allowed to opt out of the AMIGOS flight booking?

On rare occasions, volunteers do choose to opt out of our AMIGOS flight booking.  We ask that families email admissions@amigosinternational.org if they are interested in arranging their own travel as it will need to meet all AMIGOS requirements and be approved by the Travel Team.  

5. Can families ask AMIGOS to use their miles to book their volunteer's flight?  

Unfortunately, AMIGOS cannot use a family's miles to book volunteers' flights. However, families can provide AMIGOS with their volunteer's frequent flyer number so that they earn miles for their volunteer's flight. 

6. When should families expect to receive their volunteer's flight itinerary?

Families should expect to receive their volunteer's flight itinerary two weeks ahead of their volunteer's project start date. The flight itinerary will be sent via email along with a travel memo outlining what to expect at the airport and who to contact if they need any support. A volunteer is eligible to receive their itinerary only once all volunteer paperwork and screening, and pre-departure training have been completed. If any of these items are outstanding, AMIGOS will hold the volunteer itinerary until completion. 

7. What if a volunteer would like to depart from and return to two different airports?

AMIGOS is happy to arrange travel that departs from one airport and returns to a different airport. In this event, a volunteer must fill out the Travel Deviation Request Form which is a Part 2 Paperwork item. You can find the Travel Deviation Request Form linked here. Please send the completed form to admissions@amigosinternational.org. Please note that for booking purposes, this form was due on April 15th. If you are requesting an alternate travel path after April 15th, there may be additional costs to changing your flight. 

8. What if a volunteer's family would like to meet the volunteer in-country at the end of their project and have the volunteer return with them at a later date?

In this event, a volunteer must fill out the Travel Deviation Request Form, which is a Part 2 Paperwork item. You can find the Travel Deviation Request Form linked here. Please send the completed form to admissions@amigosinternational.org. Please note that for booking purposes, this form was due on April 15th. If you are requesting an alternate travel path after April 15th, there may be additional costs to changing your flight. 

9. May a volunteer start the program late? Alternatively, may they leave their project early?

No. Our programs take place largely in remote areas, and we cannot accommodate travel dates other than those published for the project.