Overbooked in Panama City

Turns out Copa Airlines is a Panamanian airline which ensures all coach class passengers must be either ardent yoga practicioners or have a Latin spark for human intimacy in order to fit in microscopic seating arrangements. The resulting cramped limbs were a factor in my lack of sleep that night, even though I had my brother's 200 lbs to snuzzle up against.

OVERBOOKING VOLUNTEER
My slight delirium and occasional wafts of humid air in the Panama City airport led me to a questionable decision. As we were about to board our connection to Sao Paulo, the stewardess announced the flight was overbooked and they were giving US$300 for passengers voluntarily waiting until the next flight. In retrospect, I should have just stayed for a week or two in the Intercontinental Hotel suite that Copa sponsored; and live a dirty tourist existence between picturesque la Vieja Ciudad and my lounge; with my daily allowance of $10 per meal I could have done just fine.

I briefly considered being a professional overbooking volunteer, selecting flights that were sure to be full and getting paid cash to sit tight. However there familial obligations awaiting me in Brazil. So I went with my bandwagon of pissed-off "voluntarios", a Colombian, a Guatemalan, and two other Brazilians, and hopped on the next sardine-packed tin flight to the Atlantic seaboard.