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

Curious to hear from people who have flown to Mexico from across the pond. Did you fly in through the US or straight to Mexico? Which was the cheaper option?

I ask because I've heard of some people choosing a direct, though more expensive flight because of difficulties and headaches with US flight security. I've been reading about it lately...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5395928.stm

englishsettler · Joined: 29 Aug 2006 Posts: 20

i have travelled alot from UK to mexico over last 2 years mostly to aguascalientes. The via US option is cheaper almost everytime and is the only viable option if you want to reduce the cost of the fare. US is a major hassle now but you just have to ride it out and not let it wind you up when you are being grilled by their unreasonable immigration.....Houston being the worst/
I sometimes think i will just go to mexico city in future and then take a bus to the desire destination just so i avoid US but in the end its easier just to accept the US obstacle and go with the flow just because its still just as competitive in price and easier because you arent going between different modes of travel.
P.S my record for delays to get to mexico is when i went last December. It took me nearly 4 days from UK via US !!! both my flights got cancelled at Houston !!

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

One of the teachers I work with is British, and wanted to visit her parents last Christmas. Her Mexican fiance wanted to go with her, but they found it impossible to get the paperwork necessary for him to transit the USA.

They could have flown from HUX to London with Continental with stops in Houston and NY for 10000 pesos per ticket, but because of the hassles with US transit they instead bussed up to DF and flew Air Canada from DF to London via Toronto. The tickets were 15000 pesos each.

They weren't happy about spending the extra 10000 pesos, but they didn't have much choice in the matter.

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

Hm. That's funny, I recently went through Houston and found the immigration officials there the most chilled out. My worst experience was in Miami, where I was only in transit and spent 2 hours in the transit lounge waiting to come to Bogota and yet was treated like a terrorist of the highest degree. And LAX sucks for sheer waiting times, and crazy immigration officials who rant at you for things that are irrelevant, but don't ask any actual security or immigration questions. Rolling Eyes

Just in case you're also interested in poor, neglected Oz Guy ( Wink

) , I would echo what Englishsettler says about it being cheaper to travel via the US. There was an option to fly with Japan Airlines via Vancouver out of DF, but I can't seem to find anything on their website. One of the pluses of flying JAL is that if the connecting flight is more than 8 hours away, they give you a free hotel room. Smile

sickbag · Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 155 Location: Blighty

I'll be flying direct to London this Christmas but coming back via Dallas. It is more expensive but the lack of hassle plus hours waiting around for a connection make it worthwhile (on the way out at least)

I'm hoping BA do their usual overbooking thing and offer free flights etc. - will save me paying for a flight home next summer.

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

From the UK you can fly via Spain with Iberia though they have the least amount of legroom and baggage allowance. The second leg ends up being more than 10 hours too. You can also fly through Holland with KLM. They have more legroom and double the baggage allowance. Prices are about the same as flying through America.