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NinaNina

Apr 18, 2007, 8:27 AM

Post #1 of 10 (2112 views)

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Flying to DF vs. Flying to Oaxaca

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Greetings! I've been researching airfare and routes for the family, and was hoping to get some advice.

I'd love to take advantage of Continental's Houston to Oaxaca direct flight, surpassing the D.F. connection that all other routes seem to demand. However, the cost is significantly more because we would have to fly to Houston the night before and stay somewhere.

So we could fly to D.F. but, as I recall, the airport is as crowded and chaotic as LAX, and I am wondering if we will encounter greater difficulty with FM3 paperwork and such at the D.F. airport as opposed to the OAX airport. Is dealing with luggage (lots and lots of luggage) and customs much harder in Mexico City? Is any of this an issue?

esperanza

Apr 18, 2007, 11:17 AM

Post #2 of 10 (2095 views)

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Re: [NinaNina] Flying to DF vs. Flying to Oaxaca

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In my experience, not an issue, although I'm not sure what you mean by "I am wondering if we will encounter greater difficulty with FM-3 paperwork and such at the D.F. airport..." Again, in my experience only, you simply hand the Immigration officer your FM-3 and the officer stamps you in. Maybe your situation is different.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Bubba

Apr 18, 2007, 11:34 AM

Post #3 of 10 (2089 views)

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Re: [NinaNina] Flying to DF vs. Flying to Oaxaca

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So we could fly to D.F. but, as I recall, the airport is as crowded and chaotic as LAX, and I am wondering if we will encounter greater difficulty with FM3 paperwork and such at the D.F. airport as opposed to the OAX airport. Is dealing with luggage (lots and lots of luggage) and customs much harder in Mexico City? Is any of this an issue?

It is not an issue. Fly to DF and change to Oaxaca. The Mexico City airport is a piece of cake compared to LAX or Houston or Atlanta or....

waltw

Apr 18, 2007, 11:45 AM

Post #4 of 10 (2088 views)

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Re: [NinaNina] Flying to DF vs. Flying to Oaxaca

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It is rather easy to step on an airplane in Mexico City without getting your FM-3 stamped, showing that you've re-entered the country. You just have to get there and ask where the immigration booth is, and get your FM-3 stamped, prior to boarding the plane.

If you're on a really tight budget, you could also fly into Mexico City, take an "official" taxi to El Tapo, and bus to Oaxaca. Ofcourse, you have to weigh the savings advantage (if there is one), with the disadvantage of lugging a bunch of luggage around and a 6 hour bus trip.

NinaNina

Apr 19, 2007, 10:13 AM

Post #5 of 10 (2043 views)

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Re: [NinaNina] Flying to DF vs. Flying to Oaxaca

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Once again, you all are a wealth of information. I find it fascinating that the mexconnect people are so much more adventurous and open than many of the 20-somethings and 30-somethings that post on Dave's ESL Cafe Mexico forums. Many of them have all sorts of reasons for avoiding D.F.

Walt--I've done that DF to OAX bus many times, and it's great, but my toddler would not be much fun for the duration of the ride! Thanks again for all the brilliant suggestions.

judithnpups

Apr 19, 2007, 1:16 PM

Post #6 of 10 (2031 views)

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Re: [NinaNina] Flying to DF vs. Flying to Oaxaca

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Just a caveat regarding tons of luggage: Be sure to check with your airlines to be sure there are no extra-baggage restrictions in place when you plan to fly. Sometimes Continental imposes luggage restrictions on its Houston to Morelia flight. It may not be a problem to DF.
Buen viaje.
Judith in the DF (formerly in Morelia)

(This post was edited by judithnpups on Apr 19, 2007, 1:20 PM)

geri

May 1, 2007, 11:19 PM

Post #7 of 10 (1965 views)

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Re: [judithnpups] Flying to DF vs. Flying to Oaxaca

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I came through DF tonight (from Miami) and then on to Oaxaca. The new DF airport is great. Good signage, efficient customs operation (it was an off-hour so no long line, although there sometimes is.) Baggage was checked through to Oaxaca, but I went through customs (including stamping FM-3) in DF. Slick.

NinaNina

May 2, 2007, 10:18 PM

Post #8 of 10 (1946 views)

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Re: [geri] Flying to DF vs. Flying to Oaxaca

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Thanks for your post, Geri! Why is it I always forget how customs works on connecting flights? Does the "checking the baggage through to Oaxaca" mean that it skips the customs procedure entirely, or is there another inspection in Oaxaca?

geri

May 3, 2007, 7:51 AM

Post #9 of 10 (1928 views)

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Re: [NinaNina] Flying to DF vs. Flying to Oaxaca

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Our "bodies" went through customs in DF, our baggage in Oaxaca. I know what you mean about forgetting the process. I've been flying directly into Oaxaca for a few years, so I had forgotten also. It's important to get your FM-3 stamped, both when you leave and when you return, as you know. In Oaxaca, that means hunting for a migracion officer and there's usualy one hanging around. However, there's not a prominently signed station, so you have to ask the airline counter clerk to call him over. In returning directly into Oaxaca, I just turn in my FM-3 form (that I filled out when I left). It's usually late at night with a lot of confusion and the clerk at the customs counter doesn't stamp the book. She always takes the form and waves me on as if all is completed, with a "todo bien." In DF Monday, the officer took my FM-3 and went into a room in the back for a few minutes (I assume because I had a few exits stamped in my FM-3 without any entrances). He came back and non-verbally handed me my FM-3. My guess, and it's ony a guess, is that he checked with someone. Is it too much of a stretch to "guess" that the FM-3 forms that I turn in in Oaxaca are then entered into a computer or some sort of system to show that I indeed have returned? This system probably only applies to Oaxaca or to other airports in Mexico that have a small number of FM-3ers processed through. Dunno.

waltw

Jun 13, 2007, 4:32 AM

Post #10 of 10 (1842 views)

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Re: [geri] Flying to DF vs. Flying to Oaxaca

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This is a recent experience I had flying into Mexico City and then attempting to fly from DF to Oaxaca, though I think what happened could occur with anyone catching a flight from DF to another city into the interior of Mexico.

When waiting for your flight, the airlines will generally post the gate number as "Sala B" - a waiting area. Then, a few minutes before the flight, "Sala B" will change to the gate number you are actually boarding from, say gate "19". An announcer will also come on and announce your flight and gate number.

This system works quite well, unless whoever or whatever is manning the electronic board never changes "Sala B" to the gate number the plane will actually be leaving from. If this happens, you may find yourself missing your flight and hanging out at the Hotel Camino Real bar across the street from the DF Airport until closing time, and then wandering the halls of an empty airport, waiting to catch a morning flight.

Based on this experience, I would recommend two rules regarding the DF Airport:

1) If you have an FM3, find the booth and make sure you get it stamped for entry and exit prior to boarding the plane.

2) Don't trust the electronic board - listen to the announcer, and/or check at your airline's booth 40 minutes or so prior to departure. Ask them what gate you'll be departing from.