Connecting in Mexico City - thoughts/experiences?

[JudyBluEyes]

Originally Posted by Michael

Yes that could happen with the old configuration of Terminal 1. Impossible now I believe.

So how did you handle leaving the country without a visa stamped and authorized by Mexican immigration?

Or is than something easily done with an FM3? (not easy with a tourist visa because you would not have one).

Yeah, easily done with an fm3, you fill out new papers every time you leave. And they hadn't computerized it all yet I guess because I had no problem. Guess I'm gonna have to pay more attention if I ever connect through there with a tourist visa or they might not let me leave and that would be terrible!

[pennylane]

i flew from edmonton to cancun through mexico city on mexicana in october. i was nervous about losing my luggage so i took a large carry on with a few days clothing with me but had no trouble at all with the connection and my luggage arrived. upon arrival in mexico city i followed the crowd for what was quite a long walk to immigration. i went through immigration and came out by the baggage carousel. when my bag didn't appear i got nervous but a helpful employee asked me for my baggage tag and advised me my luggage was checked through to cancun and i would collect it there to go through customs with it. as a smoker i wanted to go outside for a few minutes and customs simply looked at my boarding pass for cancun and ushered me out after putting my carry on through the scanner. i held onto my customs card. i went back though security without a hitch and waited by the mexicana counter beyond security until the gate was announced for my flight to cancun. when i arrived in cancun i had collected my bag, pushed the button and was outside the airport 12 mins after stepping off the plane. the return was equally as simple. the service on mexicana was amazing. free meal, drinks, snacks, movie and most importantly free pillow and blanket! i would definitely fly mexicana though mexico city again.

[CalgaryDerek]

I agree with PennyLane that the walk to Immigration was VERY long. At the time, I lost the crowd, because the further we got, the worse Dad's legs got. However, the service on Mexicana WAS excellent, and I'd do it again. However, next time, if Dad's with me, I'm requesting a golf cart ride to Immigration!

[Michael]

Originally Posted by JudyBluEyes

Guess I'm gonna have to pay more attention if I ever connect through there with a tourist visa or they might not let me leave and that would be terrible!

They simply fine you and send you on your way.

And form my Feb trip I fly AeroMexico. The plane change at T2 in MEX is so convenient and easy. I never have to leave the shiny new terminal. No wondering around Terminal 1 trying to get through immigration.

[Slynky]

Customs is in Mexico City. Its wherever you land FIRST!
Penny and Pennylane have it right!
T-2 is domestic. NO customs to go through. And yes there is a light to push. And those orange tags are to push your luggage through to Cun as you do not collect your luggage in Mex city.
I do this all the time. Sober and drinking

[Michael]

Originally Posted by Slynky

Customs is in Mexico City. Its wherever you land FIRST!
Penny and Pennylane have it right!
T-2 is domestic. NO customs to go through. Sober and drinking

You are 100% flat out wrong. Not even close. I do this every month. You don't know what you are talking about.

[Slynky]

xxx

[Slynky]

I have done this at least 20 times.

[snappysammy]

this is quite bizarre

[Rissask]

I don't really understand the debate. If you are flying on the same airline, both legs, would your luggage not be checked through all the way for you, typically....therefore you would not collect your checked baggage until your end destination in CUN?

I have had both experiences, where the bags were checked through for me at the first airport in the country where we were travelling to, and we never went through Customs until the final destination airport- but I have also had to go through Immigration and then collect the checked bags and then go through a checkpoint there and then toss them on a carousel.

Come to think of it, we have only done that latter scenario on trips to Mexico when connecting through Houston and Minneapolis...so maybe it's because a third country is involved.


Hey January- are there no good deals on flights on Continental through Houston to CUN in May from YYC? That is what we flew last August and it was fairly cheao, I think about $550 each total.

[Rissask]

Here is a thread on Trip Advisor detailing what happens for Canadians in transit in DF.

Mexico City Airport Changes - Huatulco Forum - TripAdvisor


The most recent post said they cleared immigration but not Customs until the final airport. If you are on Mexicana the whole way, I would bet that is what happens. Immigraton only, no collecting of checked bags.

[penalipee]

Originally Posted by Slynky

Customs is in Mexico City. Its wherever you land FIRST!
Penny and Pennylane have it right!
T-2 is domestic. NO customs to go through. And yes there is a light to push. And those orange tags are to push your luggage through to Cun as you do not collect your luggage in Mex city.
I do this all the time. Sober and drinking

Thx. Me too. Apparently Michael does things different. To each his own. Just don't like being told I didn't do something when I really did. He doesn't have to believe us. He's just a figment of our imagination.

[playawannabe]

Originally Posted by Rissask

Hey January- are there no good deals on flights on Continental through Houston to CUN in May from YYC? That is what we flew last August and it was fairly cheao, I think about $550 each total.

It is about that plus taxes at the moment... I am hopeful it will come down a bit in the next few weeks or so. (Just over $700)

However customs and immigration ends up working I am sure in my silly, blonde, female way I will figure it out! As long I can avoid US customs... when I have made my connection in DFW I had to collect my lugguge, clear customs and then check in again and re-check bags for my flight to CUN.... 3.5 hrs was barely enough time to make my next flight! (and yes, that's really the way it happened....) I can't imagine it's any better these days...

I was more interested in feedback re: luggage getting lost (which I have heard horror stories about - not necessarily true, I realize....) and about it being a large, scary, hard to navigate airport (there are a few of them in the world) Glad to hear that this is not the case in MEX.

Thanks all!

[lolabella]

Originally Posted by playawannabe

It is about that plus taxes at the moment... I am hopeful it will come down a bit in the next few weeks or so. (Just over $700)

However customs and immigration ends up working I am sure in my silly, blonde, female way I will figure it out! As long I can avoid US customs... when I have made my connection in DFW I had to collect my lugguge, clear customs and then check in again and re-check bags for my flight to CUN.... 3.5 hrs was barely enough time to make my next flight! (and yes, that's really the way it happened....) I can't imagine it's any better these days...

I was more interested in feedback re: luggage getting lost (which I have heard horror stories about - not necessarily true, I realize....) and about it being a large, scary, hard to navigate airport (there are a few of them in the world) Glad to hear that this is not the case in MEX.

Thanks all!

FWIW, this was my experience flying Mexicana/AreoMexico. I flew from Chicago to Mexico City on Mexicana. We arrived at the International Terminal. I followed the signs to Immigration (the offical looking guy holding a book) with no problems. I then had to go through the luggage area, but I checked with the airlines ahead of time and they told me my luggage would be checked through. After I went through the luggage area, I was in the Main Terminal. I had to proceed to Hall B. Not a problem finding it. Had to go through security once again. I had problems figuring out where my AreoMexico flight was leaving from, so I went straight to their counter and asked.

When I arrive in Cancun...I came into Terminal 2. My luggage had orange tags on it, so that alerted customs to stop me with red/green light.

Not to frighten you, but I met a gal waiting for the bus to PDC. She was on the same flights as me and she got slightly lost at the Mexico City airport. She went up to an 'Official' who asked for her passport and flight information. He was really nice and walked her to where she needed to be. But he wouldn't give her back her passport until she gave him the 'departure tax'. She was scammed. Just don't hand your passport over to anyone.

[playawannabe]

Originally Posted by lolabella

FWIW, this was my experience flying Mexicana/AreoMexico. I flew from Chicago to Mexico City on Mexicana. We arrived at the International Terminal. I followed the signs to Immigration (the offical looking guy hold a book) with no problems. I then had to go through the luggage area, but I checked with the airlines ahead of time and they told me my luggage would be checked through. After I went through the luggage area, I was in the Main Terminal. I had to proceed to Hall B. Not a problem finding it. Had to go through security once again. I had problems figuring out where my AreoMexico flight was leaving from, so I went straight to their counter and asked.

When I arrive in Cancun...I came into Terminal 2. My luggage had orange tags on it, so that alerted customs to stop me with red/green light.

Not to frighten you, but I met a gal waiting for the but to PDC. She was on the same flights as me and she got slightly lost at the Mexico City airport. She went up to an 'Official' who asked for her passport and flight information. He was really nice and walked her to where she needed to be. But he wouldn't give her back her passport until she gave him the 'departure tax'. She was scammed. Just don't hand your passport over to anyone.

Thanks V! Exactly the kind of thing I was looking for...