Copa is an interesting airline to get to know. Based at the junction of two continents, the Panamanian carrier found its niche connecting the Americas from north to south. It operates a single-type fleet of around 100 Boeing 737s. But compared with other all-737 airlines that follow a low-cost carrier model, Copa is a different beast. It’s a full-service airline with premium cabins and some of the lengthiest 737 routes out there.

As with most of the world’s 737-based airlines, Copa went in big on the MAX, and it was heavily affected by the past few years’ MAX drama. On the bright side, the airline put its best foot forward with the MAX, debuting a brand-new premium cabin branded as “Dreams” business class. The Dreams seat was designed for Copa’s medium-haul services, the four- to seven-hour flights where quality sleep is a big deal.

We got a chance to try Copa and their new MAX seats on a recent trip. We also got to explore the relatively new terminal at the airline’s Panama City hub. The trip hit a snafu midway through, which we’ll get to later. But in the end we still got a good feel for the airline, its new seat design, and the freshest updates to its home airport.

Read on for more on our time flying with Copa and exploring the airport in Panama City.