Originally Posted by DenverDean

Well I had an unexpected experience today trying to unsuccessfully check in at Mexicana flight 851 DEN->MEX, I arrived 95 minutes before departure and was at the end of a huge line of travelers. Two American ticket counter folks came over to help check folks in (poor American, they took over the ground operations at Denver International Airport for Mexicana). At 55 minutes before departure the sole Mexicana gate agent comes out and makes an announcement in spanish. Naturally, in the good old US of A, I figured they would repeat the announcement in English. Nope, folks started leaving, some went up to the ticket counter. It soon became apparent that they were not checking anyone else in.

Well the ticket counter agent just walks away to take care of the departure, doesn’t say if he will be back, doesn’t offer to rebook, doesn’t offer denied boarding compensation, just leaves.

I walked over to one of the American reps working the flight, and he very politely told me that Mexicana closed the flight at the 1 hour limit for customs, I ask if I could carry on and still make the flight and he said that couldn’t happen (20 more minutes had passed)….. I mentioned that I’m a million mile gold member, and ask if there were any other options to get on the flight and he apologized but indicated that their weren’t. So basically, I am on a United flight in the morning…..

This is the second time this has happened with this airline….. The time (about 7 years ago) I arrived at 85 minutes, as they noted when I arrived, and I was told that denied boarding as I arrived late, and they were obviously oversold. Well so much for second chances…