Carl Fletcher put Palace ahead after 19 minutes and Shefki Kuqi added a second with a weak header seven minutes later.
Leon Cort's simple headed finish made it three after 28 minutes and Jobi McAnuff increased the lead in similar fashion six minutes before half-time.
Leon McKenzie and Kevin Kyle scored for Coventry either side of the interval, but Palace eased to victory.
Crystal Palace boss Peter Taylor:
"The beauty of the play-offs is that it gives you a chance for a long time to get promotion. We have certainly got that chance and we are certainly up for it. "Unlike earlier in the season, the players are now playing with confidence and if you look at the talent we have in the dressing room it should be no surprise we are winning games now.
"I think our first-half performance was the best away from home that we have produced all season."
Coventry: Steele, Whing, Page, Virgo (Birchall 46), Hall, Tabb, Osbourne, Hughes, McKenzie (Mifsud 71), Kyle, John.
Subs Not Used: Lee-Barrett, Adebola, Turner.
Booked: Page.
Goals: McKenzie 45, Kyle 57.
Crystal Palace: Flinders, Hudson, Cort, Ward, Lawrence, Green (Soares 75), Fletcher, Kennedy, McAnuff, Freedman (Ifill 66), Kuqi.
Subs Not Used: Wilkinson, Morrison, Butterfield.
Goals: Fletcher 19, Kuqi 27, Cort 28, McAnuff 39.
Att: 16,582
Ref: G Laws (Tyne & Wear).
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