Arriving and departing TIJ on AA: procedures?
Feb 28, 2024, 8:05 am
#1
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Arriving and departing TIJ on AA: procedures?
Is it possible to do back-to-back flights on separate tickets at TIJ, coming from and returning to the USA?
AA 4841 PHX-TIJ arr 1142
AA 4841 TIJ-PHX dep 1233
The plane is the same plane, and the turnaround time is 45 mins on the ground. Would you have to enter Mexico and then go back out between the flights or could you just stay in the gate area and reboard the plane immediately?
AA 4841 PHX-TIJ arr 1142
AA 4841 TIJ-PHX dep 1233
The plane is the same plane, and the turnaround time is 45 mins on the ground. Would you have to enter Mexico and then go back out between the flights or could you just stay in the gate area and reboard the plane immediately?
Feb 28, 2024, 8:50 am
#2
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Is it possible to do back-to-back flights on separate tickets at TIJ, coming from and returning to the USA?
AA 4841 PHX-TIJ arr 1142
AA 4841 TIJ-PHX dep 1233
The plane is the same plane, and the turnaround time is 45 mins on the ground. Would you have to enter Mexico and then go back out between the flights or could you just stay in the gate area and reboard the plane immediately?
AA 4841 PHX-TIJ arr 1142
AA 4841 TIJ-PHX dep 1233
The plane is the same plane, and the turnaround time is 45 mins on the ground. Would you have to enter Mexico and then go back out between the flights or could you just stay in the gate area and reboard the plane immediately?
Feb 28, 2024, 10:00 am
#3
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Feb 28, 2024, 10:04 am
#4
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Feb 28, 2024, 10:42 am
#5
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Feb 28, 2024, 10:54 am
#6
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The crew literally stays within the confines of the plane - save for the pilot who can do a walk around. Observe any out-and-back AA trip to the Caribbean or to some of the small Mexican cities.
Feb 28, 2024, 2:09 pm
#7
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I was watching day and life of Miami International Airport on the TV. I think it was Volaris flight, which does quick turnaround back to Mexico at MIA. But the U.S. customs and immigration rule requires crew members to go through customs and immigration at MIA. Both pilots and FAs had to grab their belonging, rush through custom and immigration and get back to the gate. A gate agent was following the crew through customs and immigration, radioing the gate regarding the progress of crew. The pilot said they have to do this only at the U.S. airports.
Feb 28, 2024, 2:29 pm
#8
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Theoretically if TIJ had international-to-international transit, wouldn’t it be possible for a passenger to transit back to the return flight to the USA without clearing Mexican immigration and leaving again?
You can do this in SOF on BA and just get back on the same plane you arrived on. There’s actually a whole thread about doing this at BA destinations:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1964325-back-back-b2b-immediate-turnarounds-ba-destinations-45.html
You can do this in SOF on BA and just get back on the same plane you arrived on. There’s actually a whole thread about doing this at BA destinations:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1964325-back-back-b2b-immediate-turnarounds-ba-destinations-45.html
Feb 28, 2024, 2:31 pm
#9
Formerly known as tireman77
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The question should be: Does TIJ Airport have an INT-INT Transit Hall (Like MEX does... and most larger International airports outside of the US)?
If it does, then there would be a dedicated immigration line that does a cursory document check and redirect passengers to the Airside. Even this is tight on a 45 minute turn.
Given the size of the airport and the number of international flights, I'd be surprised if it did, thus you would need to clear Immigrations, customs, walk to departures, Immigration again (assumed from frequent flights to CUN) Security and then board your flight. That would need closer to 2 hours.
If it does, then there would be a dedicated immigration line that does a cursory document check and redirect passengers to the Airside. Even this is tight on a 45 minute turn.
Given the size of the airport and the number of international flights, I'd be surprised if it did, thus you would need to clear Immigrations, customs, walk to departures, Immigration again (assumed from frequent flights to CUN) Security and then board your flight. That would need closer to 2 hours.
Feb 28, 2024, 2:46 pm
#10
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Has this changed?
Feb 28, 2024, 2:57 pm
#11
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MEX has INTL transit? Granted, it has been a few years now, but in early 2020, I traveled down to GRU via MEX on AM (and back). At T2, all pax had to clear immigration, even transiting. Once cleared, you can head back to departure level upon security clearance.
Has this changed?
Has this changed?
From the sites: Upon arrival at the airport, passengers disembark the aircraft and hand their travel documents to National Immigration Service staff, who will direct them to the transit hall. Travelers will remain here until boarding their onward flight.
https://aeromexico.com/en-ca/transit...transit%20zone.
https://www.touristcardmx.com/news/h...nward%20flight.
Perhaps MX pushed for this to get more INT-INT Traffic? I had read before COVID that well over 50% of AC passengers are not O/D in Canada. They are benefiting from the US practice of requiring visas for 100% of transiting passengers so South America <--> Europe/Asia is almost impossible for millions of people. AC picks up a lot of that traffic. Plus even if you're Visa free, transiting in the US requires Immigration, Customs, picking up liggage (they won't even check through..) dropping bags, walking to departures. etc. etc. etc. Connecting in the US is a PITA
Feb 28, 2024, 3:15 pm
#12
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Everyone has to clear immigration at the first landing point in Mexico. The rules are just as in the US.
However, unlike in the US, if you require a Mexican visa but don't have one, you're allowed onboard if you have an intl-to-intl connection.
The "transit hall" is an uncomfortable space, policed by soldiers, where individuals non admissible to Mexico can wait if they end up on an intl-to-intl connection. You can't choose to go here if you are admissible in Mexico - you're escorted there by Immigration agents upon debarkation.
However, unlike in the US, if you require a Mexican visa but don't have one, you're allowed onboard if you have an intl-to-intl connection.
The "transit hall" is an uncomfortable space, policed by soldiers, where individuals non admissible to Mexico can wait if they end up on an intl-to-intl connection. You can't choose to go here if you are admissible in Mexico - you're escorted there by Immigration agents upon debarkation.
Feb 28, 2024, 3:21 pm
#13
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Moving to the Mexico forum, as this question pertains to Mexican immigration/customs regulations, not AA policy. Thanks. /JY1024, AAdvantage forum moderator
Feb 28, 2024, 3:22 pm
#14
Formerly known as tireman77
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 5,530
Everyone has to clear immigration at the first landing point in Mexico. The rules are just as in the US.
However, unlike in the US, if you require a Mexican visa but don't have one, you're allowed onboard if you have an intl-to-intl connection.
The "transit hall" is an uncomfortable space, policed by soldiers, where individuals non admissible to Mexico can wait if they end up on an intl-to-intl connection. You can't choose to go here if you are admissible in Mexico - you're escorted there by Immigration agents upon debarkation.
However, unlike in the US, if you require a Mexican visa but don't have one, you're allowed onboard if you have an intl-to-intl connection.
The "transit hall" is an uncomfortable space, policed by soldiers, where individuals non admissible to Mexico can wait if they end up on an intl-to-intl connection. You can't choose to go here if you are admissible in Mexico - you're escorted there by Immigration agents upon debarkation.
Feb 29, 2024, 9:18 am
#15
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So does anyone think I'd be able to make it out and back if I had managed to checkin online for the TIJ-PHX-xxx legs, and had a mobile or a pre-printed boarding pass for the outbound leg from TIJ?
Is there perhaps some sort of "express connection" service where they might let me through accompanied by an airline employee? I know that when people arrive in the USA with tight connections AA or other airlines sometimes provide an escort through immigration and security with a special "tight connection" folder.
Is there perhaps some sort of "express connection" service where they might let me through accompanied by an airline employee? I know that when people arrive in the USA with tight connections AA or other airlines sometimes provide an escort through immigration and security with a special "tight connection" folder.