Our Review of Mexico City Airport

Our Review of Mexico City Airport

Information compiled by David Enrich, aviation and airport guide expert since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Other Reviews

Passenger Reviews of Mexico City Airport (MEX)

To understand the real passenger experience at Mexico City International Airport, reviews from two major sources were analyzed:

• Google Reviews, where travelers rate airports after visiting them.
• Skytrax, an international aviation rating organization that collects passenger feedback and certifies airport quality. 

These platforms provide insights into aspects such as cleanliness, staff service, facilities, restaurants, signage, and waiting times.

Overall, Mexico City Airport receives mixed but generally acceptable reviews. Google ratings tend to be relatively positive, while Skytrax reviews are often more critical about infrastructure and congestion.

• Average Google rating: about 4.4 / 5 from thousands of passenger reviews. 
• Skytrax certification: 3-Star Airport, indicating an average level of facilities and service. 

Summary of Reviews (Google vs Skytrax)

What Passengers Like Most

Based on aggregated comments from Google Reviews and Skytrax, travelers frequently highlight several positive aspects.

1. Excellent Connectivity

Mexico City Airport is one of the busiest airports in Latin America, serving more than 44 million passengers annually, with numerous domestic and international connections. 

Travelers appreciate the large number of destinations and airline options.

2. Good Food and Shopping Options

Skytrax notes that the airport offers a good choice of shopping and dining areas around the gates, including duty-free stores and restaurants. 

Many passengers mention:

• Mexican restaurants
• Coffee shops
• Duty-free liquor and tequila stores

Traveler tip: Food options are usually better after security near the gates.

3. Convenient Location

The airport is located only about 5–8 km from downtown Mexico City, making transfers relatively quick compared with many major airports.

Most Common Complaints

Despite its connectivity and location, passengers also highlight several issues.

1. Congestion and Capacity

One of the most frequent complaints is that the airport feels overcrowded, especially during peak travel times.

Many travelers mention long queues at:

• security checkpoints
• immigration
• baggage claim

2. Aging Infrastructure

Some Skytrax reviews describe parts of the airport as old or poorly maintained, especially in older sections of Terminal 1. 

Comments sometimes mention issues such as:

• outdated facilities
• worn flooring or lighting
• inconsistent cleanliness

3. Wayfinding and Signage

Skytrax also notes that signage and maps could be improved, making navigation confusing for first-time visitors. 

Ratings Overview

Final Rating and Conclusion

Taking into account both user feedback and professional ratings:

Final Score: 3.8 / 5

Justification

Strengths

• Excellent connectivity and flight options
• Very close to the city center
• Wide range of restaurants and shops

Weaknesses

• Overcrowding due to high passenger volume
• Parts of Terminal 1 feel outdated
• Signage and wayfinding could improve

Pros and Cons of Mexico City Airport

PROS

Location: Mexico City Airport is located in Penon de los Banos neighborhood in Venustiano Carranza, 5 km (3 miles) east from Downtown Mexico City.

Airline Transport Links: The airline offers domestic and international flights to the top 10 destinations: Cancún, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Tijuana, Mérida, Puerto Vallarta, Los Angeles, New York, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, and San José del Cabo.

Hub: MEX Airport serves as a hub for Aeromar, AeroUnion, Mas Air, Aeroméxico Connect, and Aeroméxico, which is the airport’s major airline. It is a focal city for Air France Cargo, Volaris, and VivaAerobús. 

Modern and Diverse Facilities:  A range of food options, shopping spots, and lounges are available to meet the demands of diverse passengers. Provides VIP services, business lounges, and other facilities such as currency exchange and medical help.

Airport Efficiency: During off peak hours, baggage handling is often efficient, with shortened check-in and security routines. Modern terminals are meant to improve passenger comfort and convenience.

Lost and Found: If you have lost something at the airport premises, you may call the airport’s lost and found office to start the process of regaining your items.

Spacious Terminals: Terminals are spacious and well-designed in MEX airport that can assist manage passenger flow and reduce congestion.

 

CONS

Seasonal Overcrowding: The airport may get quite crowded, especially during peak travel months, resulting in lengthier wait times and a possibly stressful experience.

Immigration Delays: Extended waiting times at immigration and customs can be a notable issue, with reports of delays during busy periods.

Limited Waiting Areas: During peak hours, finding available seating in airports, particularly near the gates, might be challenging.

Ongoing Construction Projects: Frequent construction and restoration projects at the airport can cause interruptions, noise, and temporary closures of specific sections, causing discomfort for travelers.

Long Walking Distances: The expansive layout of the terminals, especially Terminal 1, may require long walks to reach gates, baggage claim, or transportation options, which can be tiring for some passengers.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

There are two terminals: Mexico City Airport has two main terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.  To minimize last-minute confusion, be sure you know which terminal your flight will depart from.

Transport to and from the City: The airport is well-connected to Mexico City by the metro, public buses, taxis, and private shuttles. The metro is the most convenient method to reach the city center. But, if you’re traveling with large luggage or arriving late at night, taxis or ride-sharing services are the best options.

Check-in Areas:

• Terminal 1: The check-in desks are located on the terminal’s upper level (PA -Planta Alta). Security checkpoints are located near the departure gates.
• Terminal 2: The check-in desks are located on the terminal’s upper level (PA -Planta Alta). Security checkpoints are located in departure level in order to access to; Hall K (including security checkpoint), Hall M (National), Mezzanine (MZ).

Dining and Shopping: Both terminals provide a wide range of food and retail outlets. Terminal 1 includes a wide range of restaurants, cafes, and duty-free stores, but Terminal 2 has a modern retail center with both local and international brands.

Family-Friendly Services: Mexico City Airport has child-friendly services, with specific play spaces, family toilets, and special facilities for families flying with small children.

Lounges:  The airport has many lounges across both the terminals where passengers can relax, have refreshments, and use Wi-Fi while waiting for their flights. Access is provided through membership programs or by purchasing a day pass.

Additional Tips:

Arrive Early: To allow sufficient time for check-in, security, and any potential delays, especially during peak travel times.

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal, mobile charging stations are also available.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Annual Passengers Evolution

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Mexico City Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Mexico City Airport (last month)