BACKGROUND
Hi Everybody! Welcome to my flight-report series on my trip to Mexico last month. I booked these flights with Aeromexico at the last minute from SFO-MID (Merida), via GDL on the way there and MEX on the way back. I had one-hour connections both ways. Originally, my routing looked like this:
SFO - GDL AM 663
GDL-MID AM 2107
MID-MEX AM 516
MEX-SFO AM 664
However, we missed our connection at GDL (long story, explained in previous flight report), we rerouted GDL-MEX-CUN instead of GDL-MID for the remainder of our journey, while retaining the MID-MEX-SFO itinerary on the return leg. Our routing now looked like this:
SFO-GDL AM 663 HERE
GDL-MEX AM 225 HERE
MEX-CUN AM 445 HERE
MID-MEX AM 516 COMING SOON
MEX-SFO AM 664 COMING SOON
Here's our old routing:
And here's our new one:
Also, this flight-report is dedicated to the victims of the crash of LaMia flight 2933. This was a tragedy that should have never happened. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.
FLIGHT REPORT
After a delay and a go-around on AM 663, and a long customs line (took 1 hour to clear) line made me miss my connection at GDL, I proceeded to the customer service line. The wait was long
(about 20 min) but the agent was very helpful and rerouted us to CUN through MEX. Now instead of flying GDL-MID (there's only one flight a day), we flew GDL-MEX-CUN. Now after a layover at MEX, I'm relieved to be boarding my final flight. After looking at my BP (No pic, sorry) I realize that I will be seated in the bulkhead seat in the Y+ section of the cabin. But I don't get priority baggage or boarding, #FirstWorldProblem indeed. Its very weird that a bulkhead seat was available to someone on a ticket issued only a few hours before the flight's departure. The flight was pretty close to full too!
MEX T2:
Boarding was underway at gate 63 (sorry for bad pic):
Windows are definitely not kind to AvGeeks like ourselves, however I've found workarounds.
T2 is AM and Aeromar flights. Lineup is mostly AM 737s:
My ride for today. A three-year-old 737-800 (reg: XA-AMC) with sky interior whose exterior is adorned with an ad for aviations favorite phone (just kidding, sarcasm doesn't really work when you're typing does it?)
Architecture of T2 is very modern. Here are some pics of the facade:
Last exterior shot of a/c, I promise:
Earplugs are offered in the jetway. There are some onboard also:
Boarding shot:
Legroom is obviously great!
I like that the IFE is mounted on the bulkhead rather than in the armrest. I guess that it might be a little annoying to lean forward to use the touchscreen, but it wasn't much of a problem for me.
Seatback pocket contents:
The earphones are good for a short-med haul flight. On a long haul though, I'd want better ones. Quality is very good.
We push back ahead of schedule (I think). Here are some spotting pics:
Lining up for an on time takeoff:
Takeoff!!! Wonderful views as always with departure from MEX.
There were about 5 mins of ads on the IFE after departure but other than that the IFE was ad free (unlike EK, where you have to brave about 5 mins of ads for every movie you watch)
Shortly after departure, there is a beverage service. I have a water and a tonic water. Served with peanuts:
I had a very friendly seat mate who insisted that I try a coconut water so here we go:
It was good, considering that I'm usually not crazy for coconut water. it was a brand called Aculpulco that was advertised on the IFE.
I watched some travel videos on different cities in Mexico. then I started to watch a movie that I finished on the MEX-SFO leg.
Position at the end of beverage service:
Moving Map pic:
About 20 mins before landing, I see the beautiful blue sea below me. It made me want to jump out of the a/c and go for a swim!
On final approach I saw the densely forested Yucatan peninsula. Here are some pics:
There were these weird clearings. Why? Thanks for any insight:
Touchdown!!!!!
Spotting. Mostly US airlines plus European leisure airlines and AV:
BONUS
Tourism Bonus of Tulum:
Unlikely place for Italian food, but really good:
SUMMERY
AM's domestic product is definitely very good. I'd think of it as being like what you'd find on a U.S legacy carrier but with long-haul grade IFE, free alcoholic beverages, and a free bag.
IFE is very good. better than what you get on some long haul legacy carriers (VS, I'm looking at you)
The cabin is clean and very modern. Nothing is broken.
IFE is very good. I'd be satisfied with this on a long haul flight.
The catering meets expectations but isn't remarkable.
CUN is a very efficient airport – deplaning to the taxi rank in 10 mins. However, it's very chaotic and unclean. It's a two hour drive from Tulum though, which is difficult.
MEX is a very nice airport. I've never been to T1, so no comment on that.
Thanks for reading. Please drop me a line in the comment section. See you next time!
Please Comment! Your feedback is much appreciated!
Thank you for sharing this FR with us!
I'm glad everything worked out in the end with the routing.
Nice spotting shots at MEX!
The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are good, thankfully. The Galaxy Note 7, that is a completely different story haha.
The IFE looks good and so does the cabin. Was there no handset for the IFE?
Nice aerial shots and stunning bonus at the end!
Thanks for sharing.
Have a good one, see you!
Hi RI 777
The routing saga was stressful, but the AM people at GDL were amazing!
Thanks for your feedback on my spotting! It has been an area of some improvement for me. It you look at my earlier FRs the spotting was terrible.
Oops! Sorry about my mistake. Smartphones aren't my area of expertise.
No, There wasn't any handset, but the touchscreen was very good so not a problem. It was actually nice not having a handset in my armrest!
Glad you enjoyed my bonus. I had a great time in Tulum. It might be easier for you to go there one of these days bc of the new ARN-CUN nonstop on Thomson and TUIfly.
Thanks for reading!
-Max