Cancun Airport question for recent travelers

[ami]

I'll be arriving at the Cancun airport around 2:20pm on Tuesday. Has anyone recently arrived around that time that can tell me about how busy it is.....ie, are there alot of flights landing around the same time that create a very long immigration/customs line? I'm just wondering because I'd like to try and make the 3:00pm Riviera Bus if I can get out of there on time. Any afternoon airport info would be helpful. Thanks!

We arrived around noon, and our flight was the only one (in that terminal; there are 2 terminals)...we were outta there with luggage within about a half hour. And hubby even got a red light. They only searched his carryon and sent us on our merry way.

[MWC]

Your schedule will work or it won't, and don't let that start your vacation off on the wrong foot. 2:20 landing may not give you enough time to get from baggage, through customs & immigration. Plus the walk to the bus is a good 5-plus minutes from immigration. Whatever! Either catch the next bus, or walk back to the taxi stand and pay a little more.

I landed about 1:30pm in March...I didn't make it out in 40 minutes and I had a green light. Might be pushing it a little, but it can be done all depends on luck.

[JAH]

We landed in Terminal 1 yesterday at 11:30am and were out in 20 minutes. May is a lot different than March. Buy your bus ticket at the first booth you see, and if it's close to the time for the bus to leave, they'll probably radio ahead for it to wait plus help you tote you luggage. There are also agents in red shirts for the bus all up and down the sidewalk in front of Terminal 2. They will also help you. Don't forget to give a generous tip!!

[Life_N_Cancun]

I have never once made it out of the airport in less than an hour. The wait for bags has always been 20 minutes or so before the luggage carousel even starts to move. When I get the red light…(and I say “when” because I have not once had a green light!) I spend 10-15 minutes allowing my bags to be plundered and my paperwork to be checked. Then of’ course you add in the time waiting in line so it always works out to over a hour.

Originally Posted by JAH

There are also agents in red shirts for the bus all up and down the sidewalk in front of Terminal 2. They will also help you. Don't forget to give a generous tip!!

Personal note to self. Wear red shirt and stand outside airport for "generous tip".

[SarahB]

Unless times have changed in the last couple of weeks, the bus leaves the airport almost every hour at 45 minutes after. You won't make the 2:45 most likely (especially if you have checked luggage). If you do not land in the main terminal, you have to take a shuttle over to catch the bus. The shuttles come every 10 minutes, so this may add to your time also. The bus is $7 which is much less than a cab, so it just depends on what's more important...your time or your money.

[SarahB]

Originally Posted by JAH

...There are also agents in red shirts for the bus all up and down the sidewalk in front of Terminal 2. They will also help you. Don't forget to give a generous tip!!

What?! I've never even thought to give a tip to the bus people! I've never needed their assistance other than buying a ticket from the guy next to the bus. Do you really tip them?

[JAH]

Only if they assist with the luggage from the exit to the bus station. If I'm running behind, it's a wonderful service. So, yes, absolutely, a tip is in order under those circumstances.

And Life N Cancun, the bus reps also wear official badges. Plus I've been through that airport at least 3 dozen times in the past 8 years and have only had a red light twice. You must look suspicious, or you are very unlucky!

[Life_N_Cancun]

Originally Posted by JAH

I've been through that airport at least 3 dozen times in the past 8 years and have only had a red light twice. You must look suspicious, or you are very unlucky!

Yeah...we had a topic a while back where we decided that there must by a button that triggers a red light when they want to search someone. On the few times I have been pulled over in the States the police they ALWAYS want to search my car and wait for the nationwide search to come back before they let me go on my way. When I went through Miami airport last year I had to have my finger prints scanned and sit in the holding area for almost 30 minutes while the computers did their thing. I guess I am just one of those people who look like they are up to something. Someone told me once that I am TOO polite and TOO cooperative, and that’s what makes the officials suspicious. So I have decided next time I get pulled aside I will tell them to F###OFF!!!.....and we'll see how that goes.

[Ginger]

Originally Posted by Life_N_Cancun

Someone told me once that I am TOO polite and TOO cooperative, and that’s what makes the officials suspicious. So I have decided next time I get pulled aside I will tell them to F###OFF!!!.....and we'll see how that goes.

That's the funniest thing I've heard/read all day.


It worked for me..well, I didn't get THAT technical in my english, but when we were pulled over by the military somewhere on a highway in Tabasco or Veracruz at 3am while driving home, I was none-too-plussed. They started to search our whole vehicle, the kids were asleep in the back, and then they asked ME to get out (John was already out). I got a little irate, and let them know in my best spanish NO, I'm not getting out of the vehicle, and to buzz off as my kids were sleeping in the back, go find someone else to hassle. John was horrified, but it worked and they backed off immediately and told us to go ahead.

[SarahB]

Originally Posted by JAH

Only if they assist with the luggage from the exit to the bus station. If I'm running behind, it's a wonderful service. So, yes, absolutely, a tip is in order under those circumstances...

Oh, of course! Those guys can really come in handy if you have a ton of stuff!

[JAH]

Since I usually stay for 2-3 weeks plus tote stuff for the house and gifts for friends and hired help, I often have more luggage than most.

[ami]

Thanks you guys, for all your posts. I knew I could count on you! This is a very different trip for me as I'm going it alone; much of the whole trip is a bit unexpected so I'm just trying to deal with the cards right now to make sure it still happens OK.

Long and short of it is that I was going to be in Cancun with a friend 5/17-20 on a business trip, and we were going to take a side trip to Playa since she'd never seen it; I'd be the perfect tour guide since I've been there about 20x over the last 10 years. Turns out her father has terminal cancer (which I knew about 6 months before) but now suddenly he's in the hospital on a vent, with the family standing vigil, so our plans are moot.

I hope anyone who reads this puts all of their positive energy towards this family in Chicago to help get them through this. I believe in it. Thanks. A