Practical Travel Safety Issues - Connecting from Canada to Central America: go through MEX or a US airport?

Long time lurker looking for advice...

I'm heading to Costa Rica. Would you guys recommend travelling through the US or through Mexico?

US:
-possibility of fingerprinting + photographing at customs
-possibility of body scanner / invasive pat down at security

MEX:
-any safety issues?
-any customs issues? ie fingerprinting, photographing, arbitrary detention, demands for bribes? I don't need a visa.
-do they have body scanners and can you opt out? do they do invasive pat downs?

SJO (Costa Rica):
-any differences in customs coming into the country, or in screening while leaving the country, if you're flying from/to MEX compared to a US airport?

Any advice, especially from those who've been to MEX recently, is appreciated.

I'd advise connecting through the US (IAH has lots of Costa Rica flights). Had some friends recently connect through Mexico City and had delays both ways. As a matter of operational reliability I try to stick with US airports over Mex.

What is your nationality, makes a difference.

If you connect through the US, you'll go through US Immigration and Customs in Canada. So, you won't have to deal with TSA in the US, since at that point you're effectively on a domestic US flight. That said, I would avoid the hassle completely and either take Air Canada down or TACA or the Mexican airline you seem to be looking at. I don't think you'll need to go through immigration, customs and security at any of the Mexican and further south transfer points unless you're making a stopover. In general, I recommend that no one use the US as a transit point between two foreign countries, although with Canada, it's not as onerous as say flying in from Europe or Asia to connect to Latin America. That's all pain - Immigration, Customs, rechecking bags and going through TSA.

For out-bound to Costa Rica from Canada IAH would be a very good choice,a s others noted, you go through US CBP in Canada (normally).

Flying back to Canada IAH is one of the few airports with the fast track immigration lines. If you are not checking a bag there are dedicated lines and if you are checking a bag int'l to int'l on United you do NOT have to claim your bags and do Customs checks in Houston, just immigration.

Yes you would have to do the TSA Richard Waltz but that is dedicated also (not like at EWR where one goes back into the main terminal).

Good luck.

Copa yyz thru pty may be a better bet.

Thanks for everyone's replies so far.

Nationality is Canadian. I'd be checking one bag. The flights through Mexico involve an overnight stopover - so that's what worries me in terms of safety. I'd have to find a hotel for the night, near the airport, and find a safe legit taxi to take to the hotel. I'd also presumably have to go through customs for Mexico each way and I don't know what that involves - whether they pick Canadians at random for secondary inspections, fingerprinting, personal searches, etc.

I'm not so concerned with the length of line ups for customs/TSA as what happens when I get to the front of the line. In particular I want to avoid body scanners, fingerprinting, and other invasive searches.

Flight delays are a lesser concern - unless the delays are excessive.

I'd be checking one bag. The flights through Mexico involve an overnight stopover - so that's what worries me in terms of safety. I'd have to find a hotel for the night, near the airport, and find a safe legit taxi to take to the hotel.There's a Hilton inside the terminal.

I would look into the possibility of connecting in Panama if I were you. There are cheap flights through there, and the airport is a breeze - just walk straight to your next terminal. No immigration, no extra security. 3 minutes, tops.

Add another voice to the chorus for Copa. Really nice operation.

Thanks for everyone's replies so far.

Nationality is Canadian. I'd be checking one bag. The flights through Mexico involve an overnight stopover - so that's what worries me in terms of safety. I'd have to find a hotel for the night, near the airport, and find a safe legit taxi to take to the hotel.

As another poster notes there is an on-airport hotel, but if it is sold out, you should book a hotel that provides pre-arranged transportation, where the driver is easily identified as associated with the hotel and/or has a sign with your name, and greets you in the terminal (preferably) or just outside (if so, make sure you have the cell phone number of the driver). Generally, this is a must any time you visit a country for a first time, especially a third world country, where you don't know the ins and outs of how the place works. With such arrangements, you will be very safe, and you won't have to suffer the indignities of the Department of the Fatherland Security.

The flights through Mexico involve an overnight stopover - so that's what worries me in terms of safety. I'd have to find a hotel for the night, near the airport, and find a safe legit taxi to take to the hotel. I'd also presumably have to go through customs for Mexico each way and I don't know what that involves - whether they pick Canadians at random for secondary inspections, fingerprinting, personal searches, etc.

In particular I want to avoid body scanners, fingerprinting, and other invasive searches.
Omg, Mexico is NOT the USA (or Canada either). There is NO fingerprinting and NO general nastiness of immigration people. Customs checks are random.

Also, there are NO invasive security searches, you get to keep your shoes on, and your water is OK too. (Note: when flying to the US, there is an extra check at the gate to weed out the water... :rolleyes:)

There are PLENTY of legit taxis at MEX, and various legit, safe hotels in and near the airport (Hilton, NH, Camino Real, Holiday Inn...) There are no security concerns at the airport other than what you expect at any Canadian or US airport.

As a Canadian citizen you won't be subject to visa requirements from the US, or to fingerprinting. Just carry a Canadian passport.

The only Canadian citizens who are fingerprinted to enter the US are those who choose to participate in the NEXUS and/or GlobalEntry Customs fast-tracking programs. You pay money to do this, get interviewed, get fingerprinted, and save time going through Customs.

As a Canadian citizen you won't be subject to visa requirements from the US, or to fingerprinting. Just carry a Canadian passport.

The only Canadian citizens who are fingerprinted to enter the US are those who choose to participate in the NEXUS and/or GlobalEntry Customs fast-tracking programs. You pay money to do this, get interviewed, get fingerprinted, and save time going through Customs.

They can also pick people, for any reason, and fingerprint them. While it might not happen often, it's a risk I prefer to avoid.

Thanks Bob'sYourUncle and mre for the information. Do you guys go to Mexico often?

Thanks also for the suggestion of COPA, but I'll be departing from Western Canada, so it looks like it would not be financially feasible.

They can also pick people, for any reason, and fingerprint them. While it might not happen often, it's a risk I prefer to avoid.

That is pretty rare, and if they do it, they usually have a good reason-- it isn't random.

They can also pick people, for any reason, and fingerprint them. While it might not happen often, it's a risk I prefer to avoid.

Thanks Bob'sYourUncle and mre for the information. Do you guys go to Mexico often?

Thanks also for the suggestion of COPA, but I'll be departing from Western Canada, so it looks like it would not be financially feasible.

I was in Juarez four years ago and have also been to Cancun and Cozumel. I have been to several third world and dodgy countries in that period, and as I wrote, with prearranged transport organized or run by a reputable hotel or taxi/limo service you will be safe to overnight in Mexico and any other country with a functioning government. Stay off the streets at night unless accompanied by locals you know and trust. Hopefully you will have some time to a bit of sightseeing or experience enough of the city to feel like you've been there. Your justified concerns about dealing with Department of Fatherland Security are nudging you toward a bit of an adventure to a country that actually welcomes tourists so go for it.

Indeed, the last time I went to NYC, i had a prearranged taxi and that was vastly improved experience.

Omg, Mexico is NOT the USA (or Canada either). There is NO fingerprinting and NO general nastiness of immigration people. Customs checks are random.

Also, there are NO invasive security searches, you get to keep your shoes on, and your water is OK too. (Note: when flying to the US, there is an extra check at the gate to weed out the water... :rolleyes:)

If you travel with electronic devices, be aware that Mexico permits only one of the following, a laptop computer, a Kindle or an iPad, to brought into the country free of duty.

That's been an ongoing problem for travelers, including flight crew members on layovers.

Add another voice to the chorus for Copa. Really nice operation.

+1^^

MEX forces you to enter Mexico whether you're transiting or not, and the agents are very slow. Following the U.S. unfortunately. There's a hotel landside at T2 which is what AM uses. Not sure what there is at T1.

There is, or at least was, jetway liquids search (even duty-free).

I regularly fly in and out of MEX (international terminal only), and my experience is different from what people are reporting here. I have always found immigration and customs lines to move quickly (although I haven't encountered any long lines). Immigration rarely asks any questions at all. At most I have been asked how long I'm staying. A smile and a "Buenas tardes" go a long way.

The customs screening is truly random as you press a button when you exit. Green is go and Red is additional screening. Out of the last 10 recent entries, I have gotten red 3 times.

They will question you if they notice that you have more than one laptop or a laptop or an iPad, but I have never been asked to pay any duty.

Security at exit is efficient and the lines have never been long for me. Keep your shoes on, your liquids in your bag, and walk through the metal detector. From curbside to lounge is typically 15 - 20 minutes, in my experience. That includes the extremely long walk to the American lounge. ;)

You can get a safe taxi right from the airport. My recommendation: use the overnight (if required) to enjoy a bit of the city. Hilton, Marriott, and Starwood all have properties in the Reforma area, which is safe and very interesting.

Mexico City is a wonderful place with amazing food and hospitable people.