BajaNomad

Volaris - TIJ - CUN Questions

mrfatboy - 1-9-2013 at 11:52 AM

Hey everybody!

I need to get to Cancun for a wedding 5/24 thru 5/31 (Memorial Day Weekend). USair just jacked up the rates to $720/pp. I have been doing a lot of reading about Volaris Airlines out of Tijuana here on nomads and thought I might try them out. Right now, the tickets are $422/pp.

I have not flown out of tijuana in over 15 years so I'm a little rusty. I see that people here recommend Delta parking at Otay and then crossing border by foot, then taking cab to tij airport.

So my questions are:

I'm thinking about taking the redeye (00:30) out of TIJ. It would be a friday night of Memorial Day weekend. I would probably have to be at Delta Parking by 10pm or so in time for flight, correct?

Any issues crossing the border at 10pm or so? Availability of cabs? etc?

I will be returning at 5pm at TIJ the friday after. Probably will be at Otay border by 5:30pm. How are border wait times on a friday at 5:30pm crossing by foot?

Do I have to pay any airport fees/visas/etc at the tij airport for cancun or is everything included in ticket price?

Do I just have to fill out a simple immigration form at airport?

Any gotcha's like peso's only or cash only situations?


Any tips on when Volaris has sales? I saw that they just had 50% discount but you had to fly before 4-30 so it didn't work for me. Do they have sales frequently? Should I wait a bit?


thanks in advance for any tips
;D

BajaLucy - 1-9-2013 at 12:18 PM

Hi there we use Volaris last year on a trip to Guadalajara
We actually park at the airport as we thought it would be a haslo to get a taxi from Delta or te shuttle from airport. I belive they have one in SD they can pick u up and drop u at the boarder but then u have to get a taxi We peoabably pay $12-15 per day parking at TJ airpor.. And you do have to pay for tourist car/visa something like that if ur are an American unles u can prove you have dual citizenship or Mex..
Good luck It's better some times flying fromTJ

BajaLucy - 1-9-2013 at 12:24 PM

What I hear from other ppl some times if u get ur ticket like midnight time or really early in the morning they have specials like even $100 Also you have to pay in pesos I belive either way only cash they have n immigration booth at the airport and if you decide to use their parking they have a machine only pesos u can pay for parking.. Honestly because is a holiday weekend time you might expect some delays from either border TJ-SD let us know how it goes good luck :yes:

mrfatboy - 1-9-2013 at 12:55 PM

Does anybody know how much the tourist card is for a US citizen to Cancun?

vandenberg - 1-9-2013 at 01:23 PM

Years ago we used to fly out of TJ on Mexicana for a fraction of the price of flights out of the USA. We used to drive from Sacramento to TJ spend a night coming and going at the Conquistador motel in TJ, leave the car there for 2 weeks for free, cabbed it to the airport, and came out way ahead.
Rooms were very reasonable and it's a nice place.
Maybe give that a shot? Longterm parking at airports is getting rediculously expensive.

Gaucho - 1-9-2013 at 04:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mrfatboy
Does anybody know how much the tourist card is for a US citizen to Cancun?


It's $26.00 US payable at the airport to the right as you walk in the main terminal. Park at Delta, $6.00 per day and they shuttle you to the border, walk across, $12.00 for a cab to the airport. Piece a cake. Do the same on the return.

mrfatboy - 1-9-2013 at 06:13 PM

thanks for the info. I'm just trying to figure out all the additional costs but it looks like I'm still way ahead going with volaris. Today a tij - cun ticket is $395 compared to $720 on usair.

danaeb - 1-9-2013 at 06:31 PM

Volaris also has a shuttle bus from the Amtrak station downtown San Diego to the TJ airport. The shuttle schedules and fares are posted on the Volaris website:

http://extras.volaris.com/Shuttle-Tijuana-Aeropuerto

The last shuttle leaves at 21:30, which should allow enough time for your flight.

lizard lips - 1-9-2013 at 06:47 PM

I have flown Volaris alot to many destinations in Mexico as well as the TJ-Mexico City-Cancun flight and I have immigrado status so I don't need to buy the visa any longer so I can't help you there.

If your flight leaves after midnight, as many Volaris flights do, I would get there early. The Volaris lines are LONG at this time beacuse of the cheaper rate. Get to the airport by at least 9:30 p.m. to check in.

I always purchase my Volaris flights on-line. There are options you can pay for to speed the process at the check-in. One of these is the FAST line. I use to purchase this but don't anymore because no one checks to see if you bought this option. Once you see the Volaris lines to check in just go to the FAST line. It will save you time and there is nothing on the paperwork you need to check in that says you paid for this service. Another thing I always do is get the isle seat on the very last row. Nobody wants to sit in the very last row so usually the other two seats are not occupied and you can lie down especially on the red eye! By the time everyone gets off the plane and goes to the baggage area you will still have to wait for awhile. I have never had a problem with bathroom smells even in the last row close to the bathroom plus you have the stewards there close by if you need something. IT"S GREAT!

Once at the airport in Cancun they provide private cab or communal cabs. The price difference is a lot so take the communal cabs and save quite a lot. It will take longer to get to your hotel in that others will be left off at their hotels first. You may also have to wait until the van is full. Still not bad and you will save money.

Last time I flew from TJ I parked my car at their parking lot for four days and the cost was 675 pesos. Not bad but it was a lot cheaper a few years ago. You pay for the parking once you have landed at a kiosk just outside the east exit door. You must pay in pesos and the machine does not accept 500 pesos bills. Once paid just get in your car and drive to the exit, put your paid ticket in the machine at the exit and off you go. You can also pay at the exit area if you have US currancy. Good luck and have a great time!

mrfatboy - 1-9-2013 at 07:55 PM

I just noticed that the flight I'm looking at is $15pp cheaper if I use the iphone volaris app. Strange.

mrfatboy - 1-9-2013 at 08:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mrfatboy
I just noticed that the flight I'm looking at is $15pp cheaper if I use the iphone volaris app. Strange.



I'm just going to be bringing carry ons. I will check in and print my ticket before I get there. Will I have still wait in long lines or just go straight to gate?

lizard lips - 1-9-2013 at 08:05 PM

Straight to the gate but watch what you carry on.

paranewbi - 1-10-2013 at 07:05 AM

Flown out of TJ...very modern airport with plenty of good stuff to eat and bars through out the terminals close to gate seating area. As you walk to your gate you will also see large flat screen tv's with movies playing in some of the shops along the walk. Wifi throughout the place, just ask one of the bar workers or shops for their pass word.

Delta is my preferance, cheap parking rates, ride to from boarder included, they call cab ahead as they drop you off so the guy is waiting for you on the other side of the boarder. Have taxi on ride back take you up to the walk line (not suppose to but they do it if you ask - tip good)...rather chance a walk line (although never had much of a wait at Otay) then a long line for driving. Also the drive back from the airport can be intense at sometimes with traffic.
When you come out of mex to US, call Delta on cellphone (enter in your phone on ride to border) and then wait in the culdesac for them, they're fast.

Immigrate at airport kiosk, bank is near kiosk but don't know if it's open all night if you need pesos. If your driving to Delta, and get in town early enough or live here, stop in at Cosco off Polomar exit (I-5) in Chula Vista and walk in door for memberships (not main one -need to show card) and walk past membership counter, on past eyeglass counter and on left across from cashier stations is the peso booth (glass window). No need to show any membership card and only need ID if using credit card to get pesos.

When at immigration kiosk in airport, if there is a line, go up to right side of counter and ask for the form so you can fill it out while waiting in line. Watch to right side of kiosk where people are going around a large glass wall through entrance area and go there after you get visa. Military guys are on other side of wall and usually wave you through. Turn left and you will enter a large room with all the check in counters. Look for your line that has your destination sign at the end of the line entrances within the Volaris counter segment. Walk up and check in and then there is another line (you may have pushed through to get to the counters) that is the line to enter the security area. Have your passport ready and your ticket for the guy to check for entrance into this area.

Go to the luggage xray conveyor and then your on your way down a long corridor with the luggage pickup areas barely visible on the other side of a glass wall. The little open restaurant at the end of this corridor is one of my favorite breakfast places. At this point you have to make a hard right turn and you've arrived at the nirvana that the TJ airport is as the first leg of your adventure.

They usually board last row first, but this is mexico and you will quickly learn that if you are in the bulkhead seats (row 1) where we like to sit, the overhead compartments for carryon is crammed full with the luggage from the people in the last 30 rows and it seems to work that the first 30 rows luggage ends up going to the last 30 overhead compartments! Just get in the boarding line and play stupid...no one is going to tell you to wait your turn!

P.S. we usually get multiple "adult" beverages for free so don't be afraid to ask....oh, yea, last time they had a great film with kids on how to use the oxygen masks...no stewart lecture.

Let us know if anything has changed when you get back.

woody with a view - 1-10-2013 at 05:24 PM

flew to Cabo in Oct and never had to pay for an FMM and no one asked to see it. YMMV.

edit: from TJ.

[Edited on 1-11-2013 by woody with a view]

danaeb - 1-10-2013 at 06:01 PM

Just my two cents. It's a small price to pay for being in Mexico legally. I have, on occasion, been asked for the FMM on my return thru the TJ airport.

Gaucho - 1-10-2013 at 06:08 PM

I just came back from San Jose after New Years and they checked my FMM.

mrfatboy - 1-11-2013 at 04:44 PM

There will be two of us travelling to cancun but while searching for flights I noticed they sometimes have better sales where there is only 1 ticket available discount rate. So a good tip would be search for 1 ticket first and buy at cheaper price then buy 2nd ticket.

I have not tried it but maybe you can fool the system entirely and just buy one ticket at a time and get the cheaper sale price on both. Just make they have all the available seats first for your group. You don't want to buy one ticket to find out that was the last :)

mrfatboy - 1-12-2013 at 12:04 PM

OK, another question.

I see it costs an additional $28 RT/pp to pick your seats. What if I don't? I want to check in online before I head to TJ airport to avoid long lines at counter. Are the seats issued when you check in online? I will be having carry ons only and want to avoid the volaris front desk.

danaeb - 1-12-2013 at 02:03 PM

I think you may have been looking at the price in pesos to pre-book your seats. Usually it's only $2.00 USD to pre-book seats. When you check in online (72 hours before flight time) you can choose available seating then. As you enter the check-in area, you can ask a Volaris rep regarding procedures for proceeding directly to security and your gate. Volaris now has weight limits for carry-ons, depending on fare class.

mrfatboy - 1-12-2013 at 03:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by danaeb
I think you may have been looking at the price in pesos to pre-book your seats. Usually it's only $2.00 USD to pre-book seats. When you check in online (72 hours before flight time) you can choose available seating then. As you enter the check-in area, you can ask a Volaris rep regarding procedures for proceeding directly to security and your gate. Volaris now has weight limits for carry-ons, depending on fare class.


I wish it was pesos. I just checked again and it clearly states $13.32 USD per seat per segment. So an extra $53.28 per couple RT.

The only other thing is that their website could be messed up. It's absolutely crazy. Some flights are not showing depending if I'm looking for 1 or 2 seats when clearly the plan e is empty. Also, currently the same seats are $80 cheaper now if I use the Volaris iphone app.

One of the other things I'm concerned about is flight cancellations. I have been reading a lot of bad reviews about Volaris on this subject.

I'm taking the 12:30am redeye. Does anybody know of a good website that tracks ontime/cancellation performance? I tried to track last nights 12:30am flight on the Volaris website and it said "no info available" :wow:

I think I will just have to prepare for an adventure and take an extra "go with the flow" pill :lol:

paranewbi - 1-13-2013 at 07:01 AM

Call the number provided for help with your seat choice or other questions if you are having problems figuring out their system...they have always been gracious and ready to straighten out any problems I have had with the online system. They speak perfect english and never make you feel rushed in getting their answers to any and all questions you have :)

They can reserve your seats, make changes to tickets, and probably guide you to a way in seeking the information you need on cancellations/ontime flights.

paranewbi - 1-13-2013 at 07:09 AM

http://www.volaris.mx/en/get-know-volaris/contact-us/

Sales, complaints and comments 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year

Sales Mexico 01 800 122 8000
Sales USA 1 866 988 3527
Customer Service, Information and Itinerary changes (55) 1102 8000

dtutko1 - 1-13-2013 at 07:27 AM

We flew into TIJ 12/20/2012 and the border wait at Otay for walking thru was 1 1/2 hrs @ 5pm. After our rez was made the flight times changed and Volaris emailed the changes, also emails from them on advanced checkin and shuttle info.

mrfatboy - 1-13-2013 at 09:09 AM

I just scored a $285 RT ticket from tij-cun using the volaris iphone app. That same flight now does not show up in the iphone app at all at any price. However, if I go online it is available for $377. I'm playing volaris roulette and wait until midweek to see if that price drops lower.

Kalypso - 1-13-2013 at 10:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mrfatboy
Quote:
Originally posted by mrfatboy
I just noticed that the flight I'm looking at is $15pp cheaper if I use the iphone volaris app. Strange.



I'm just going to be bringing carry ons. I will check in and print my ticket before I get there. Will I have still wait in long lines or just go straight to gate?


Volaris used to have what they called the "Fila Rapida" for passengers who had done on-line check-in. Friends who flew TIJ/OXA at Christmas reported there was no longer a Fila Rapida at TIJ. They also said there was one, snaking long line of 300+ people checking in for all flights. They were on the 1:30 am flight to Oaxaca. That was in December for Christmas when everyone is traveling, now that the holidays are past, the Fila Rapida may have returned at TIJ.

In any event, allow yourself more time than you think you'll need. I've flown out of TIJ numerous times and it's always an adventure :D . You should probably also think about paying the extra few dollars to pick your seat assignments at the time you buy your ticket. If you do this, and the seat prints out on your boarding pass when you do on-line check-in, you *should* be able to go directly to the gate. Flying out of TIJ is *almost* like flying out of an airport in the U.S., but not quite. If you do go directly through security to the gate, I'd make it a point to double check with the gate agents prior to the flight boarding just to make sure the flight manifest shows you as checked in.

Volaris also recently drastically reduced the weight limit for checked baggage. They are currently offering a special deal to purchase extra weight. It's $24 to pruchase the extra weight in advance vs. the $100 they'd charge you at check-in if a bag is overweight. You're traveling light, so this probably isn't an issue, but it is a major change in their policy that has peeed off a lot of fliers.

Just go for it. Volaris has lots of funky rules now, and checking in in TIJ can be a hassel because it's kind of chaotic (by American standards and expectations), but I've always had good flights. I think (but not 100% sure) Interjet also flies the TIJ/CUN route, you might want to check them as well.

[Edited on 1-13-2013 by Kalypso]

jeffg - 1-13-2013 at 11:08 AM

If you wait until you do the online check-in you can book your seats then at no cost. I've never had any problem waiting to getting seat assignments, even on flights that ended up being full. Print your boarding passes, then if you can go straight to the gate. If you ASK a Volaris rep in the check-in area they'll likely tell you to stand in line to check in, so don't ask. Careful what you have in your carry-on, any kind of scissors or similar things you'll have to leave behind.

danaeb - 1-13-2013 at 01:59 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mrfatboy
I just scored a $285 RT ticket from tij-cun using the volaris iphone app. That same flight now does not show up in the iphone app at all at any price. However, if I go online it is available for $377. I'm playing volaris roulette and wait until midweek to see if that price drops lower.


When you say you "scored" a ticket, did you purchase it? If yes, then any price reductions you might see next week would probably not offset the charge to change the ticket you purchased. If you're happy with the price, I'd stick with it, unless you like roulette odds. $285 RT from TIJ-CUN sounds like a great price. For future reference, you can use the Southwest Airlines website to search for and book your Volaris flights. They have been code-sharing for about a year.

mrfatboy - 1-13-2013 at 02:42 PM

Yes. I bought the $285 ticket. It's a fantastic price. I still need another one for my wife. US flights are about $650 to $750+. Last week when I started Volatis was even $430.

How do you book volaris flights on the southwest? I can only look up US cities?

Kalypso - 1-13-2013 at 02:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mrfatboy
How do you book volaris flights on the southwest? I can only look up US cities?


In the flight search box just type in the name of the Mexican city from which you are departing or the airport code and a skinny little drop down will show the airport. Click on it to autofill the departure city. Then do the same thing with the Mexican city to which you are flying. Enter your dates as usual then press serach. It takes it a minute or two, but if Volaris flies the route, then all the available Volaris flights will pop up in the usual Southwest format.

So in your case, on the SWA web site, just type Tijuana into the departure city box and Cancun into the arrival city box, enter your dates and search.

mrfatboy - 1-15-2013 at 05:30 PM

Is anybody a member of the Volaris Vclub and is it worth it? From what I understand it costs $49 for a years membership for one person another $29 person for up to 6 family members.

Volaris says being a member gets you first dibs on promotions however it's a crap shoot if there is a promotion for the specific flight you are taking.

Thoughts?
Quote:

In the flight search box just type in the name of the Mexican city from which you are departing or the airport code and a skinny little drop down will show the airport. Click on it to autofill the departure city. Then do the same thing with the Mexican city to which you are flying. Enter your dates as usual then press serach. It takes it a minute or two, but if Volaris flies the route, then all the available Volaris flights will pop up in the usual Southwest format. So in your case, on the SWA web site, just type Tijuana into the departure city box and Cancun into the arrival city box, enter your dates and search.



BTW, The southwest mobile site as viewed on a smartphone will not allow you to input mexican cities. US only. Tijuana worked fine in a normal computer browser.

[Edited on 1-16-2013 by mrfatboy]

mrfatboy - 1-17-2013 at 12:30 PM

Well, my Volaris TIJ - Cun ticket hunt is over. I now have my two tickets to Cancun. One for $286 and another for $313. I wanted to see if I could get another $286 but my wife thought she might be sitting on the wing if I waited any longer. :)

I have flown many airlines around the world but I have never seen so many flight price differences in my life. Prices were changing about twice a day and it depended on what your were using to book(iphone app, volaris.com, southwest.com)

I booked my $286 ticket on my iphone(volaris app). After that, the flight never showed back up. The Volaris website went up to $404 yesterday then back down to $377 this morning. I checked Southwest and the same ticket was $313. Booked it! Crazy.