Greetings from the Mexicana lounge Guadalajara, Mexico.

As usual, I continue to be impressed with Mexicana. There've been a few hiccups, like today's meals (a touch bland, melted and re-frozen ice cream,) and some of their equipment and lounges look a bit tired. But staff is still amazingly friendly and helpful, and every MX flight I've taken has departed essentially on time, and more importantly, arrived early.

When I inquired at check-in at ORD about carrying on my 22", lap-top, and satchel, I was happily given 3 "Distinguished Passenger" tags to eliminate any problems at security or the plane. Another impressive area is what can only be described as "swarms" of agents, crusing the terminal looking for people with that "now what?" look on their face. Several approached me at the same time, and directed me to the regular check-in line. When I asked for business class, one agent escorted me to the counter.

The lounge in GDL is small, tiny even, reminiscent of the Empress lounge in BKK, in years gone by. But for you beverage connoisseurs (or winos, as the case may be) there is a HUGE selection of hard liquor, beer, and wine, not to mention juices, pop, bottled water, and so on. There's also a good selection of snacks, including Empress Hotel high tea type sandwiches, great cookies (of which I'll most likely consume the lot of), nuts, chips, and all the usual stuff. And when I entered, the agent asked me if the Air Conditioning was OK, and switched the satellite TV to English stations. And you've probably noticed that I have Internet access, using my laptop.

Bypassing customs and/or immigration is a no go however. All international arrivals park on the tarmac and use a mobile lounge to get passengers to the terminal. You are then herded into a large closet that passes for a customs hall. Eventually, the pressure of the crowd will push you towards an immigration agent, much like the way water always flows out the bathtub drain.

The formalities, or lack thereof, took 5 seconds tops. He pulled the immigration card from my passport, without looking at the passport, stamped it twice, wrote in 30 (days) and sent me on my way. Likewise, customs pulled me out of the X-ray line, had me push the button, and I was done. Next time I might try the 50 minute connection at 1am, but it'll probably be close. There's a hotel right at the terminal if I miss my connection, so worst case, I'll grab a room.

Next stop, SFO.