Job Discussion Forums

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

So... how do people making 1,000 USD or less a month afford to go home or anywhere else for that matter?

Know any good tricks for getting low airfare? I was able to find it on the cheap from SFO to MEX because it's a direct route... but I can't seem to get to Torreon for less than 550 USD from NorCal. :(

Hints from the gringos? Canucks?

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Just save the money, that's all. Cost-of-living here is low enough that if you want to save, you can.

Waiting for deals to come up is good too. I'll be flying up to NYC on Wednesday from DF...500 usd round trip, which is high-season expensive I think.

A whole trip package to Cuba from DF a year ago cost me just under 7000 pesos...comparable to what they would cost from Canada.

Not sure about Torreon but you could check with local Mexican carriers like Aviacsa or Azteca, or others. Maybe you can get it out of Houston?

MELEE · Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:12 pm Post subject:

I haven't been home in 4 years.

But back when I did go home once or twice a year, I one, saved money like Guy said, and do these two little tricks.
1) buy 6 month return tickets so I was always buying US originating round trip tickets. Like fly down in January, back to the US on my vacation in July, but a new round trip to return to Mexico in July and back to the US in Dec. This worked out cheaper, and I could by them online easier that way.
2) I often actually had two tickets for each trip. One Houston-Mexico City-Houston. And another, usually on Southwest, from Houston to my final destination. This sometimes created long layovers, but luckily, I have an Aunt living in Houston, so sometimes I'd actually stay over night and take the opportuntity to visit her.

thelmadatter · Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:38 pm Post subject: bus

Torreon isnt that far from the border. Have you looked into taking a bus to El Paso or San Antonio (dont know which is closer) and then flying?

scottmx81 · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 64 Location: Morelia, Mexico.

I always fly on one-way tickets, always from USA and NEVER from Canada, and find the best time to book is about 2-3 weeks ahead of departure. This requires, of course, a flexible schedule. I use Expedia.ca as my principal resource, except for the smaller airlines like Aviacsa or Southwest which aren't (always) listed on Expedia. The other travel websites all seem way to gimmicky for me. Expedia is the only Microsoft product I like.

Sometimes you can't get a cheap connecting flight in the USA. I have, on occaison, booked separate flights giving myself a 3 or so hour layover in the intermediate airport. I see no use in booking roundtrip tickets for travel USA to Mexico or vice-versa unless you need the security of being able to get back (for work) on a certain day.

Domestic flights in Mexico are not as cheap as in the United States. This is why the buses in Mexico are so nice -- even most of the upper middle class would take a 12 hour bus trip before taking a domestic flight, unless it was being paid for by their company.

As someone else mentioned, perhaps a cheap flight on Southwest to El Paso might be a better option. Public transportation goes right to the arrivals terminal, and takes you downtown only a 10 or 20 minute walk from the border. Cross the border, take a taxi to the bus station, and catch a bus to Chihuaha and on to Torreon.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

My trips to Torreon from here have been using Click and then the last time I flew home from Torreon was AreoCalifornia (a bus with wings as my boyfriend called it...but a it did fly!) Not sure if they have anything to the states though....

Buses are a great option...provided you have the time. And if so (and if it's available) take a night ride so you can hopefully sleep most of the time. But there is usually a continuous selection of movies and if you bring some books and music..it's not too bad. I do like the bus travel...it's just hard when you don't have the time to take 13+ hours to get there...and then back!

Another great resource...which my parents always use is skyauction.com. You bid on flights but if you time it right (and if you're flying from the states) you can get great deals!

Good luck! I'm finally getting my norteno novio to leave the dust for the pollution...and then the sand!!

corporatehuman · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 198 Location: Mexico City

I believe its a new airline company; Interjet. I just bought some airplane tickets from them, for Tuxtla to Toluca, and the price was about a 1000 pesos. Also I've discovered flying on the 24th or 25th domestically in Mexico, is significantly cheaper than normal.

Anyway Interjet has some cheap flights.

www.interjet.com.mx

- Chris

thelmadatter · Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 5:16 pm Post subject: flying

There is Interjet and Volaris. Both of which use Toluca as a hub. In the last few months Caminante, which had before only offered bus service from Toluca to the Mexico City airport, is now offering service to the Toluca airport from Terminal Poniente (I guess that's for the chilangos that are afraid of the "wild badlands" out here! Laughing

).

However, I believe both airlines offer only domestic service. I know Volaris is limited to GDL Cancun, MTY aqnd TJ