Mexicana files for bankruptcy protection; Mexico downgraded by FAA
 

It hasn't been a good week for airlines in Mexico, or for some travelers. Mexicana sought, yesterday, protection from creditors - in both USA and Mexican courts. Some service cutbacks have already taken place and more can be expected. Buyer beware.

On another front, the US FAA downgraded Mexico's air travel safety rating which may affect code sharing/booking arrangements for some of us and will restrict further expansion of some new service between Mexico and the USA, until the matter is resolved.

You can use your favorite internet search engine to learn more of these developments.

An edit:

Click on this link to see the extent of the service changes, as of 8/3/10:

http://tinyurl.com/2ayvcku

Mexicana ceases ticket sales
 

At 6 p.m. Wednesday, Mexicana ceased selling tickets. If you've already paid for tickets for a trip using Mexicana, check with the airline or your travel agent to see if your flight has been cancelled or for a refund.

Not good, but for once I am glad I missed the recent fare sale to Cancun.

If MX survives there will certainly be another fare sale; if not I will end up paying more but won't have to fight with the CC company for a refund on a MX ticket.

I have a One way ticket from SJC to GDL I bought last month through Mexicana for November 8th. Luckily I bought my ticket home through Volaris.

I just got off the phone with their customer support and they assured me online sales would be back to normal on Monday of next week for US/Mexican flights. In any case he said my reservation is confirmed and there should be no problems. I just hope everything turns out alright. The ticket was only 111$. Worse comes to worst I'll just buy my departing flight through Volaris and hopefully Mexicana's travel insurance will cover any cancellation do to the bankruptcy.

I don't know about US law, but under UK law, if you bought an airline ticket with a cc (not debit) you can get a refund on the card if the airline goes bankrupt.

Unfortunately I used Debit Card.

Mexicana suspended service today (8-9-10) to/from Chicago, Montreal, London, a couple of spots in South America and some additional points in the USA.

Multiple media sources are reporting that Mexicana Airlines will shut-down, cease operations effective 12 Noon, Saturday, August 28, 2010. If this in fact occurs, and you are holding a paid-for ticket, make your refund requests from Mexicana or your credit card issuer ASAP.