Mexico - Connection time at MEX for UA-Mexicana

Any experience on how long it takes to make an intl connection at MEX, I'm coming in on UA, connecting to Mexicana?

Same question also for the reverse, domestic flight on Mexicana transferring to UA Intl.

My reserved itin has a very long connection (3 hours) coming into Mexico and a tight connectin (1 hr 20 mins) leaving.

I have a 1:10 connection from UA/Mexicana (domestic) in Mex as well. Is it enough time?

I just did this in Feb.

There are two separate customs/immigrations areas. One is for flights arriving from N. America (and Europe I think), the other is for flights arriving from Central/South America. HOWEVER if you are connecting to a domestic flight, you have to use the Central/South America area. This is an easy mistake to make at MEX. If you go through the other area, you will have to reclear security to enter the domestic terminal which could take a LOT of time.

When I was last there, the customs line was very long due to a flight arriving from South America, however they pulled all U.S. and Canadian citizens into a separate line and we were through within 15 minutes.
Once you clear customs, there is a very quick checkpoint (5-10 mins) to get to the domestic terminal and then you're good to go.

If you're a U.S. or Canadian passport holder, I would say 60-70 minutes is tight but should be enough time. If you're a European or other passport holder, you may need more time.

Going reverse Domestic --> International is very easy - 60 minutes is plenty of time.

I have been in a real hurry and connected from US flight to Mx domestic flight without clearing customs or immigration in MEX.

I had a carry on bag, and just walked airside along the gates until I reached the domestic gates. Right before the domestic gates there was half a glass partician with a Mexican official on a stool. People were walking back and forth, I did the same.

I had carry on luggage and just walked through like I knew what I was doing. No problem.

I have been in a real hurry and connected from US flight to Mx domestic flight without clearing customs or immigration in MEX.

I had a carry on bag, and just walked airside along the gates until I reached the domestic gates. Right before the domestic gates there was half a glass partician with a Mexican official on a stool. People were walking back and forth, I did the same.

I had carry on luggage and just walked through like I knew what I was doing. No problem.

:eek:

So, did you clear customs & immigration in your final destination then?

:eek:

So, did you clear customs & immigration in your final destination then?
Yeah, right :D

I once was stand-by on an international flight in MEX, and didn't make it. So I had to walk back to the check-in counters, and went straight past immigration to one side of the counters, and just walked through the customs area and out into the arrivals hall without anybody ever questioning me... :D

LOL!!

Now that you mention it, I did remark last time I was there that the set up looked a little....um....porous. :D

:eek:

So, did you clear customs & immigration in your final destination then?

I do not remember. I seem to think that you are suppose to clear immigration in DF and customs at your final destination. But by then you are on a domestic flight, so how would they know the difference between international and domestic passengers. May be the baggage tags for checked luggage. Did not apply to me, since I did not check luggage.

I was really in a hurry and took a risk. I had 20 minute connection on the last flight out because the inbound was delayed. There was a long line at immigration, so I back tracked and stayed airside because I had remembered connecting through DF the other way, and not experiencing any formidable barrier airside between domestic and international.

Worst case scenario I could play stupid and then call a friend of mine who is really high up in customs at the DF airport. IE My risk of jail time is none and any way, I still have a Mexican passport, so about the only real infraction would have been skipping customs. But all I had was some personal clothes, so no illegal importation of any contraband.

If anything, I was expecting the guy on the stool to stop me, and I would explain to him that yes I got off an international flight, I though I cleared at the final destination, and I was going to miss my connection. I bet he would have let me go. I think that if you are a tourist, they are instructed to handle you with kindly. Unlike the US.

There is nothing stopping you from bypassing customs.

That being said getting out of Mexico may be an issue if you are flying direct from a Mexican city to an International destination and don't have your visa card to hand in to the airline before departing. $45 replacement fee if you lose it.

I just did this in Feb.

There are two separate customs/immigrations areas. One is for flights arriving from N. America (and Europe I think), the other is for flights arriving from Central/South America. HOWEVER if you are connecting to a domestic flight, you have to use the Central/South America area. This is an easy mistake to make at MEX. If you go through the other area, you will have to reclear security to enter the domestic terminal which could take a LOT of time.

When I was last there, the customs line was very long due to a flight arriving from South America, however they pulled all U.S. and Canadian citizens into a separate line and we were through within 15 minutes.
Once you clear customs, there is a very quick checkpoint (5-10 mins) to get to the domestic terminal and then you're good to go.

If you're a U.S. or Canadian passport holder, I would say 60-70 minutes is tight but should be enough time. If you're a European or other passport holder, you may need more time.

Going reverse Domestic --> International is very easy - 60 minutes is plenty of time.

Hey, g_leyser. When you were traveling on a combo UA/MX itinerary, were you able to access the *A lounge at MEX when transferring from UA to MX? Also, were you able to acess the *A lounge at your Mexican origin before connecting to your UA flight? TIA.

LAX

Hey, g_leyser. When you were traveling on a combo UA/MX itinerary, were you able to access the *A lounge at MEX when transferring from UA to MX? Also, were you able to acess the *A lounge at your Mexican origin before connecting to your UA flight? TIA.

LAX

Well they did let me into the RCC lounge at MEX, although they told me I wasn't supposed to be allowed in. It was empty and I was friendly, so they just let it slide. YMMV.

I was flying out of PVR, so there were no lounges there.
In fact, I don't think there are any *A lounges in Mexico other than the RCC in MEX.

Very interesting thread..

Got a tough question for those having done the tight connection through MEX lately..

I arrive this friday on UA 971 at 5:44 AM and have purchased a one way ticket through Aeromexico to CME for the 6:30 AM flight. I will not have any bags checked and I have a paper ticket from Aeromexico.

Is this doable?

Reading the other posts makes it sound like I should try bypassing customs alltogether.. not sure if that is a good idea.

any thoughts? Rookie mistake, i know..


JJ

Very interesting thread..

Got a tough question for those having done the tight connection through MEX lately..

I arrive this friday on UA 971 at 5:44 AM and have purchased a one way ticket through Aeromexico to CME for the 6:30 AM flight. I will not have any bags checked and I have a paper ticket from Aeromexico.

Is this doable?

Reading the other posts makes it sound like I should try bypassing customs alltogether.. not sure if that is a good idea.

any thoughts? Rookie mistake, i know..

JJ

If you get put at a remote gate you don't stand a chance of making that connection. MEX only has a small number of gates with jetway's. The rest of the planes are parked in the infield and you need to wait for a shuttle bus that loads up the entire plane then brings you over to the terminal.

Tranlsation - 45 min connection time may be tight - especially if you have to clear customs also.

Well they did let me into the RCC lounge at MEX, although they told me I wasn't supposed to be allowed in. It was empty and I was friendly, so they just let it slide. YMMV.

I was flying out of PVR, so there were no lounges there.
In fact, I don't think there are any *A lounges in Mexico other than the RCC in MEX.

Thanks for the info. With both UA & US flying there, they don't even have at least a contracted lounge for *Gs at PVR?

LAX

PVR is a pretty small airport so that's probably why there is no Star Alliance lounge there.

MEX does have a Red Carpet lounge.

My biggest problem with MEX is you arrive, but have to wait for 30-45 min before they get you off a plane (in either a moon buggy or a gate).

Well, thanks to all the input on this thread I made my 45 minute connection in MEX :) ^

Here's what I did:
UA flight arrived from LAX 15 min early (5:30 am) but then we had to wait for the moon buggy to come and unload the entire plan before heading to the terminal. When I got to the terminal, I went to the immigration booth that was for flights arriving from South and Central America. After immigration, I went to the left and behind me and went under a sign which i believe said "Connecting Flights". Went through a mini security check point and then I was suddenly in the National Terminal. No customs, no nada. I proceeded to my gate, hopped on a bus and made my 6:30 flight to CME.


Somehow I made it through without ever going through customs.. I held on to my customs form for the return trip but realized that no one was going to ask for it :)

what a wierd airport MEX is..

JJ