Comments on: Navigating the Mexico City Airport

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 23 May 2011 01:52:22 +0000

Hey Lou, great point!! You are correct– that couldn’t be less clear during the immigration process. But yes! Keep your mitts on that card & avoid any drama as you try to leave!

By: Lou

Lou — Sat, 21 May 2011 01:45:00 +0000

Hi – Does everyone but me know that you have to keep the immigration card you filled in when you arrived in Mexico with you in order to leave Mexico?
If not, pay a fine?

By: Mark Tisdale

Mark Tisdale — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 07:14:55 +0000

Awesome! Flying into Mexico City in less than two weeks and was trying to decide if it was worth paying to pay for a transfer into the city (Historic District) or just pick up an official tax in the airport. Sounds like I can deal with all that!

I’ve been to Mexico twice before but first time in Mexico City and have heard all the scary things that can happen so was feeling a bit intimidated!

Now I feel better about just paying for the tax at a stand in the airport.

Only question is any concern about not speaking any Spanish to mention?

By: Liam

Liam — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:16:05 +0000

That worked perfectly Julie, thanks.

An interesting trick they used was, after they quoted 180 pesos to Polanca (perfect), they said they was a 20 minute wait for a car.

However, a van was immediately available so I paid the 80 pesos extra.

It was worth it after 17 hours travelling from Ireland. I was like a zombie!

Cheers,

Liam

By: Liam

Liam — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:48:57 +0000

Thanks Julie! I’ll try it out when I arrive in Mexico City airport on Friday week (the 1st)!

By: John

John — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 05:52:55 +0000

Hey Julie, I have one more question for you which I posted in the appropriate thread (Public transport in Mexico City: overall, thumbs up)…if you would be so kind…

By: John

John — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:37:39 +0000

Thank a lot Julie. Much appreciated. I found some alternative ticketmaster will call locations near my hotel just in case I can’t get to Gandhi in the airport.

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:45:42 +0000

Hi John,

It sounds like Librerias Gandhi is inside the secure area of T2: http://www.ticketmaster.com.mx/h/tcenters/oriente/gandhita2.html If you are flying into T2, however, I don’t think you will be able to access that area… I’m not 100% sure, but I think you can only access that area if you are getting on a flight, not if you are arriving.

Similarly, there are a variety of ATMs in T2 (inside/outside secure area) ; you can see them on the “interactive” map on the airport website. http://www.aicm.com.mx/servicioausuarios_en/resultbusqueda.php?Comercio=21&Grupo3=7 for the list or http://www.aicm.com.mx/informacionalpasajero_en/mapaaicm/interactivemap.php?UBICA=ALL_44&NIVEL=PLANTA%20BAJA&COMERCIO=BANAMEX&TELEFONO=12-26-23-11&HORARIO=MONDAY-SUNDAY%2024:00%20HRS&SERVICIOS=FINANCIAL&LOCAL=44&TERMINALAEREA=T2 for the map (click “services” and click the “$” sign).

Good luck!

By: John

John — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 04:57:47 +0000

Hi everyone, I’m going to Mexico City for the 1st time and this was most helpful. There’s just a couple of things I’m still wondering about.

1. Is there an ATM in the secure area of T2?

and

2. Is Librerias Gandhi in or out of the secure area of T2? I need to pick up a couple of concert tickets I bought from ticketmastermx.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
John

By: Julie

Julie — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:53:43 +0000

Thanks Dave– much appreciated tips on some non-Wings options!!

By: Mexico City Airport- Terminal 1 Meeting Point – Midwesterner in Mexico

Mexico City Airport- Terminal 1 Meeting Point – Midwesterner in Mexico — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:44:22 +0000

[...] it with any other impending Mexico City airport visitors. (Consider it a follow-up to my “Navigating the Mexico City Airport ” post from last [...]

By: Dave T

Dave T — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 03:58:06 +0000

In addition to Wings in T-2, there are also TWO locations of Carl’s Jr. fast food (the best hamburgers in the business), one upstairs and one downstairs. There’s a food court upstairs that has numerous options…mostly non-chain places…and a Chili’s.

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:07:07 +0000

Hi Kire,
Thanks for the note re. that link; I found some commentary on another site & added a link above.
W/r/t food inside T2, I wouldn’t say there’s a wealth of options but there’s enough to survive. There are a couple Starbucks & a 7-Eleven convenience store w/snacks. Also there’s a Wings (kind of like a Denny’s or Perkins). And a few others that I don’t recall by name…

If you are super inspired, you can look up restaurants on this link: http://www.aicm.com.mx/servicioausuarios_en/resultbusqueda.php?Comercio=432&Grupo3=2 , though it is admittedly a bit difficult to tell if they are pre or post security.
Good luck!

By: Kire

Kire — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:45:42 +0000

Thanks for your super fast reply! So I imagine we get off, go through customs, then get dumped out downstairs somewhere, then go back upstairs and hop the train.

Unfortunately http://www.strykers.net/maps/T2/ is broken.

Are there many places to eat past security in T2?

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:27:04 +0000

Hi Kire,

Yes, I am 99% certain you have to exit the secure area, and then the sign for the train is within the terminal on one end (but outside security).

By: Kire

Kire — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:28:08 +0000

Do you have to leave the secure area to get on the train to T2?

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:45:06 +0000

Hi Tiffany! Your family can come meet you in either Terminal 2 or Terminal 1. Both have parking lots if they drive a car to come get you. Once you leave the secure passengers-only baggage claim area, there are always families & drivers waiting for people right outside the baggage area exit in both terminals. Have a great trip!

By: Tiffany ramirez

Tiffany ramirez — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:15:53 +0000

when arriving to juarez international airport terminal 2 are you able to meet your family in that terminal or do you have to go over to terminal 1 to meet your family?

By: katrina

katrina — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 02:54:56 +0000

THe matching of baggage ticket to luggage is a common practice in many south american countries I’ve visited. I think it’s an attempt to stop someone lifting your luggage?

By: Who doesn’t like a good milestone like 100 blog posts? – Midwesterner in Mexico

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:05:57 +0000

[...] but obviously reader requests rise to the top of the heap. ;) (Reference recent über-popular Mexico City Airport post requested by reader Tori!) If anything leaps to mind, please give me a holler. For anyone [...]

By: Amazilia

Amazilia — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 20:08:20 +0000

Congratulations!! this is the most complete post about the airport that I have read. I wish you have written it before my trip to Mexico. The airport and the taxi system is really good and efficient in Mexico and in general their transportation system is superb.
Once I went to the airport by the Metro, and as one commentator said before it is only recommendable if you have light baggage.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 04:15:51 +0000

Very good post. As somebody who lived in Mexico City for 7 years, I can say it has nothing missing.

I would say that going through customs at terminal 2 is way easier than going through at terminal 1.

One thing I think is valuable to add on the AirTrain section, is that you have to have a boarding pass to go from terminal 1 to terminal 2. Or know your ticket number or e-ticket. I didn’t have a boarding pass, nor knew my e-ticket, so I had to either take a taxi or a public bus.

By: mjesf

mjesf — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 04:19:17 +0000

About the question about taking the Metro to the airport, having done it; I can say it is doable if and only if you have packed super light (as in everything is in a very, very small duffel bag that regularly holds your gym clothes) and you can do multiple transfers to get to your destination.

By: Lesley

Lesley — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:34:00 +0000

Wow! I think I’m going to send this post to every visitor we have. Super helpful. Have I mentioned that I love your map-making skills?

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:57:27 +0000

Hi all! Thanks for the feedback!
Joy- agreed, Terminal 2 is magic & super-easy.
Kim– Yes! Don’t be seduced by the random dudes claiming secret taxi offerings as they wander by you!
Tori– Happy to help!! Hope you have a great trip!
Laura- Good question regarding transferring between terminals; I have not done that, but I found a guy’s website who outlines the process with photos. He doesn’t say exactly how much time to allow, but I would tend to agree– act on the safe side & allow AT LEAST an hour, probably more, to ensure you get through immigration/baggage claim/customs & have time to take the 5-min train ride + get to your new gate, + allowing a little extra for any flight delays. Perhaps more like 1.5-2 hrs… http://www.strykers.net/maps/T2/

By: Laura

Laura — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 12:17:06 +0000

Thanks for posting this, can you also add the process of arriving at one terminal and catching a connecting flight from the *other* terminal? I have never done it myself, but have heard to allow LOTS of time in between flights, not only for the immigration but getting from point A to point B on the train.

And thank you for reminding readers to alert ther credit card issuer before traveling. I always do this, after an initial trip and having the card denied when I really needed to use it!

By: Tori

Tori — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 04:05:21 +0000

Julie….thanks for doing this, and not just for me, but for those that could possibly be traveling alone for the first time there. I really appreciate your detail, and you have seemed to of hit everything. Thanks again, and next Saturday can’t come fast enough!!
PS: Forgot to add great post!

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:54:38 +0000

You forgot about the rogue taxi guys after you leave customs trying to lure you to one of their unauthorized taxis to bring you who knows where!?!!!!

By: Monica

Monica — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:49:09 +0000

i as an italian i have to fill two forms before entering mexico: the one in the link and the one written in red

By: Joy

Joy — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:19:26 +0000

If people are still wanting more information, I wrote this a couple of years ago, before I met my secret love: Terminal 2.

http://joyvictory.wordpress.com/2007/10/17/10-overly-detailed-tips-on-flying-into-mexico-city/

By: American Mommy in Mexico

American Mommy in Mexico — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:09:55 +0000

I do not know how anything could have possibly been missed! Impressive detail and pictures too!