Job Discussion Forums

carolync · Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Phoenix, Az

I am flying to Oaxaca on the 18th and have a 2 hour lay over in DF. All of my friends who have traveled there are telling me that I should basically expect to get robbed at the airport. Got any tips for how I should dress, pack and carry my valuables to avoid this? Thanks!

MELEE · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:48 pm Post subject:

The very first thing you need to do is stop listening to what friends back home tell you about Mexico. Even after you have lived here for years, people back home will want to tell you what Mexico is like, regardless of whether or not they have ever been here.

You will be fine in the airport, dress comfortably and bring something to read. If you are really worried, you can even stay in the "ticketed passengers only" area during your layover--two hours isn't very long for a layover, by the time you are all deplaned, go to the bathroom and find your connecting gate you will probably only have 45 minutes to wait. Wink

jillford64 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Sin City

The airport in Mexico City is clean and nice, actually. I was there in June and February and it felt just as safe an any airport in the US or Europe I've been to. There were lots of police and security guards. I didn't see anyone loitering around at all. I suppose if you did something stupid you might get robbed, but that could happen anywhere.

samizinha · Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 174 Location: Vacalandia

Wear whatever you want. Have a beer. An airport is an airport.

carolync · Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Phoenix, Az

Thanks! It makes me happy and relieved to hear this from you guys!

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

It's about the same as any other major airport. I suppose the occasional person must have a bad experience, but if you keep your wits about you, as you should in any public place, you will be fine.

Gary Denness · Guest

The only possible thing I could mention is that if you change up a vast amount of dollars at one of the money changing desks, and they seem to be taking a long time about it....bad things might lie ahead.

But gee, you need to be changing up thousands and thousands to be worthwhile, and why would you do that?!

And I'm only mentioning this because I'm stretching my memory and imagination to think of something bad, just for something to say!

The airport is fine. So is the city. Most of it. Mostly... Twisted Evil

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

You can spend hours in the airport in the bookshops looking at all the fabby art books. Just don't get so sidetracked that you miss your plane! Wink

carolync · Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Phoenix, Az

That's probably what I'll do! I think I'm going to try to check most of my luggage.

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

Most of the bad news about security in DF is generated by the locals themselves.
I would just give the advice I always give; don�t look like a tourist!

tsarina_darci · Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Posts: 3

Hey! yes you should be very safe, don't worry too much

but one other thing that's good to know: when you fly in to the DF airport and are carrying on to elsewhere in mexico, you have to do your immigration stuff (visa / passport stamping) THERE before you go on to where ever. the airport ppl can point you in the right direction, many of them speak english. BUT make sure to tell the person stamping your visa that you need the full 90 days (assuming you're going on a tourist visa) - somehow there was some confusion when i went thru, like the line was for Connecting Flights, but even tho i said i was going to veracruz they tht i meant a connecting flight out of the country and only gave me a visa for TWO DAYS Neutral

which i had to pay a $100 fine for down the road. Grrr. anyways, just remember you'll need to do that stuff in the airport there.

MELEE · Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:48 pm Post subject:

Actually, there is immigration and customs in Oaxaca, most connecting passengers do not go through them in DF, but the wierd thing is when you get off the plane in Oaxaca the majority of the people will be travelling internally and will not go to customs and immigration, their luggage will all be together and your luggage (an that of any other international travellers) will not be with the rest of the passengers luggage. BUT NO ONE TELLS YOU THIS. So you stand there watching the luggage come out and yours never comes. You start to panic, only then will some officail persona point you to the other luggage carousel where only your, and maybe a few other, bags are. This happens so often, I think the airport employees actually enjoy this little game and probably place bets on how big of a panic attach specific travellers will have.
Except, now that I've remembered to tell you, you won't have to suffer. Wink