FLYING TO CANCUN, COZUMEL, MERIDA

FLYING TIPS

Packing Your Bags
TSA suggests that travelers consider how they pack and understand that Federal Security Screeners may have to open and physically search a bag as part of the screening process. Overstuffed bags are more difficult to close once opened which could result in delays or problems with checked luggage.

Tourist Card
You need to fill out a Mexican Tourist Card, which you hand over to immigration when you enter Mexico. We have actually experienced flights where the flight staff did not hand out the card in-flight saying they were not necessary. The entire flight had to get cards and fill them out while standing in line after landing, which caused a major delay at the airport. Tourist Cards are absolutely necessary. Insist the airline give you one to fill out while in-flight.

Pack Entire Contents Of Luggage In Plastic Bags
Union rules dictate that if there is an electrical storm ALL outside airline workers MUST go inside. If your luggage is in an open-air transporter or is on the conveyer belt going into the plane when the call goes out for employees to go inside, they just leave your bags in the rain. We actually saw our own luggage [backpacks] sit on a transporter in the rain for about an hour. Upon arrival the entire contents of our bags were soaking wet. We have noticed that some airlines use covered transporters, while some do not.

Leave Phone Numbers At The Boarding Gate
Write full name and phone numbers (include country area code) of relatives/friends not traveling with you on that part of your boarding pass which airline staff take from you at the boarding gate. It makes it easier for airlines to contact your relatives in case of emergency.

Remove Old Luggage Tags
One of the main reasons luggage goes to the wrong flights is because of old destination tags and check-in tags.

Avoid Alcohol
- it's more intoxicating at high altitudes
- alcohol on breath at customs is not cool
- flight attendants can flag you as a drunk (hassle you)
- if you do get drunk you could miss your hotel transfer shuttle (this happens).

Once in Cuba we met a guy who got drunk on the flight and passed out in his taxi going to his hotel. He woke up on some deserted stretch of highway to find three guys going through his pockets just before they hit him on the head. He said he lost $2000.00 and all his luggage. He was there for the cigar conference and was apparently a regular visitor to Cuba.

Prescription Medications
If you take prescription medications, bring enough to last through your entire trip. Take along a copy of the prescription, or your doctor's name and telephone number, in case the medication is lost or stolen. The medicine should be in the original prescription bottle in order to avoid questions at Customs inspections. The name on the bottle must match the name in the identification documentation of the owner of the meds. Carry it in a pocket or a carry-on bag; don't pack it in a checked bag, in case the bag is lost.

Waiting till the last minute to book is not recommended. Booking late does not necessarily mean there will be a further discount.

There is no stand-by out of Cancun, Cozumel or Merida [unless you work for an airline].

Charters fly in and out on certain days of the week while major carriers fly everyday.

Having to connect in Mexico City to get to Cancun, Cozumel or Merida is no problem and only adds a couple hours of extra travel time depending on how close the connecting flights are.

Mexico City airport is easy to navigate and there are numerous help desks and personnel to assist you in connecting flights.

Your luggage is automatically moved from one airplane to the connecting airplane. You do not have to collect it then recheck it on your connecting flight.

It is a good idea to put suntan lotion on before you leave, especially in the winter months. This is so when you arrive in Mexico you are already prepared and do not have to dig out your lotion.

Wear zip-off pant/shorts so soon as you get off the airplane you can be in shorts.

NOTE: Metal zippers can set off the metal detector at security.

Under no circumstances should you take any photographs of customs at any airport [especially in the US]. You may end up in security explaining your actions.

Do not carry exposed or unexposed film in your checked bags. Undeveloped film should go in your carry-on, and film faster than 800-speed can be handed to a screener for physical inspection so it can avoid being X-rayed. You may also want to ask for a hand inspection if you know your undeveloped film might be X-rayed more than five times before it is developed.

If you have more than two pieces of luggage and wish to avoid paying an extra bag fee, plastic wrap two bags together. This is allowed. - But, the weight must still be under regulation to avoid an extra over-weight charge.

Use a bathroom in the airport terminal before departure. On some flights the cabin crew begins beverage service shortly after the Fasten Seat Belts sign is turned off, and the serving cart may block access to the bathrooms.

Avoid flying if you have recently had abdominal, eye or oral surgery [especially a root canal]. The pressure changes that occur during climb and descent can result in discomfort.

If you have an upper respiratory or sinus infection, you may also experience discomfort resulting from cabin pressure changes.

Changes in pressure can temporarily block the Eustachian tube, causing your ears to pop or to experience a sensation of fullness. To equalize the pressure, swallow frequently; chewing gum sometimes helps. Yawning is also effective.

Avoid sleeping during descent; you may not swallow often enough to keep ahead of the pressure change.

If yawning or swallowing doesn't help, pinch your nostrils shut, then breathe in a mouthful of air. Using only your cheek and throat muscles, force air into the back of your nose as if you were trying to blow your thumb and finger off your nostrils. Be very gentle and blow in short successive attempts. When you hear or feel a pop in your ears, you have succeeded. Never force air from your lungs or diaphragm; this can create pressures that are too intense.

Mace can only go in your checked bags.

Check carry-on bags for pocket-knifes, key chains with mini replica weapons or any other item that could be suspect.

Golf Clubs - Before flying, thoroughly clean your golf clubs. Residual traces of chemicals used in golf course turf maintenance could trigger baggage security devices.

Sports Gear such as baseball bats and lacrosse sticks - must be checked.

Fishing Tackle must be checked.

Fireworks are not allowed on airplanes, in checked or carry-on baggage.

Airline air is dry; if you wear contact lenses, blink often, limit reading and use eye-drops.

AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT

The investment for the modernization of Mexico's Metropolitan Airport System, consisting of Mexico City International Airport and the peripheral terminals of Toluca, Cuernavaca, Puebla, and Querétaro, will add up to USD 1 billion. Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA) said that together these airports handle 60 million passengers and more than 700 000 aircraft movements a year.

The company stated that construction of the new Terminal 2 at Mexico City Airport has cost more than USD 600 million, of which over USD 200 million were provided by the Federal Government, while the other USD 400 million were obtained from a syndicated credit granted by four banks: Citi Group- Banamex, BBVA Bancomer, Inbursa, and HSBC, through Nacional Financiera. ASA clarified that such financing is part of the first credit obtained by the Federal Government that will not be converted into public debt since it will be paid off with a portion of the annual airport user tax (Tarifa de Uso Aeroportuario, TUA) to be collected during that period.

With the extension of Mexico City International Airport, the terminals there will have an annual capacity to serve 32 million passengers - 20 million at Terminal 1 currently in operation, and 12 million at the new Terminal 2 due to open in April 2007 - up from nearly 25 million at present. -- A Government official has denied plans of a third runway at the airport arguing there is not sufficient space. However, he ensured the Government will maintain the two existing runways in good condition.

Representatives of Mexico's industrial sector are promoting construction of an international airport on the ‘Mayan Riviera' to foster tourism in the region. The Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry presented the initiative to local authorities to build the airport near Tulum.

During a first stage, the airport would consist of a main terminal building, logistic facilities, and a 2200-m runway. The State Secretary for Economic Development, Francisco J. Díaz, commented on the project: “We plan to invest USD 150 million and I hope we can disclose the bidding structure for the project soon. Construction work will require about one year and a half.” Díaz added that the new airport will be located in the area of Tulum and Carrillo Puerto. The Government apparently already has the land for the project, and interested investors may participate in building and operating the airport. -- Experts noted that the ‘Mayan Riviera' is growing rapidly, so construction of an airport in that zone would reduce the time tourists spend travelling. Vacationers currently arrive at Cancún Airport and travel to the ‘Mayan Riviera' by road.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A. de C.V. (ASUR) had announced in September 2006 that it has sought authorization from the Federal Government, through the Secretary of Communications & Transportation (SCT), to build and operate an airport in the Mayan Riviera. ASUR had not received a reply from the SCT, and there is no assurance that the SCT will respond favourably to this request. – The Mexican Secretariat of Communications & Transportation may offer the Mayan Riviera and Chetumal airports as a package, as reported by local officials. The purpose is to require the successful bidder to invest and refurbish both airports to increase the number of local and foreign visitors. Chetumal Airport, located in the capital city of Quintana State on the southern Mexican border, plays an important role in the regional development, as stated by governmental sources, and this is why it needs to have its runway refurbished and extended.

Shareholders of Puebla's ‘Hermanos Sedán International Airport' will invest nearly USD 200 000 to reinforce security measures. This information was disclosed by Víctor Mata Temoltzin, the air terminal's manager, who said the actual measures include purchasing an X-ray machine, and also an additional metal detector. “They will now offer two flights to the United States; therefore, security systems should be reinforced to give passengers every security assurance possible,” he said. At the same time, the company plans to refurbish part of the building in 2007 because it considers its design to be obsolete.

GAP - the former owner of ‘Jesus Terán Peredo International Airport' in Aguascalientes - sold 70% of its shares to North American investors, according to Airport Director Román Araiza Ledesma. The remaining shares are kept by the Mexican Stock Exchange. Consequently, improvements are expected to be seen in the short term. The purpose is to foster the arrival of new airlines in an effort to meet the greater demand by offering more flights. The first interested party would be low-cost carrier Volaris, planning flights mainly to Mexico City and Tijuana.

The President of the ICAO Council, Roberto Kobeh González, warned that Mexican airports could be subject to an auditing process in 2008 in order to check their safety. The auditing process is conducted every three years at the airports of the 189 ICAO member countries. According to ICAO, aviation safety is the joint responsibility of each and every contracting State. This is the reason for the establishment of regional surveillance organizations at the air terminals, and for compliance with the regulations. In that respect, Kobeh González stated that Mexico does not seem to have problems in terms of safety, unlawful interference or terrorist acts based on the audits already conducted so far.

Source: Momberger Airport Information