BajaNomad

baja flights

sd2hi - 2-4-2014 at 07:09 PM

Hola Gang,

Two of us are flying from Hawaii to meet a boat in La Paz. The tentative plan is to fly Honolulu to San Diego, taxi to TJ and fly TJ (Volaris) to La Paz. Also thinking of flying out of Loreto. The only flight I could find is Alaska Air, Loreto to LAX (kind of expensive). Does anyone have a better rout? We would like to be there from May 1 - 25/27.

Side note does anyone know the motorboat Darlin (50ft). The owners name is Korbey?

aloha,

Andrew

dasubergeek - 2-4-2014 at 09:52 PM

Hola... your first idea is the cheapest. You'll spend about $75 on a private cab from the San Diego Airport to the border, then another $7 on a private cab from the border to the Tijuana airport. You can fly Volaris or Interjet for cheap, and you can buy your FMM directly at the airport.

Make sure you tell the taxi to take you to the OTAY MESA border crossing or you'll spend money and time sitting in Tijuana's awful traffic trying to get to the airport.

sd2hi - 2-4-2014 at 11:46 PM

thanks for the tip, keep em coming ;D

bc4me - 2-5-2014 at 12:50 AM

Volaris is the cheapest option. They have specials at times, for instance at the first of January this year a round trip from TJ to La Paz was $85 on certain days of the week.

Volaris also has a shuttle bus that goes back and forth from Lindberg Field to the Tijuana airport. I think it's around $15 one way.


http://volaris.com/en/prepare-your-trip/travel-information/s...

sd2hi - 2-5-2014 at 01:45 AM

BIG thanks bc4me, awesome tip! My parents live 2 miles from Lindberg field. :biggrin:

EnsenadaDr - 2-5-2014 at 04:50 AM

Yes I know him personally. One of my good friends dated him for a year or so. She can tell you everything you need to know about him. U2U please your email, she is in Merida and can communicate with you directly.
Quote:
Originally posted by sd2hi
Hola Gang,

Two of us are flying from Hawaii to meet a boat in La Paz. The tentative plan is to fly Honolulu to San Diego, taxi to TJ and fly TJ (Volaris) to La Paz. Also thinking of flying out of Loreto. The only flight I could find is Alaska Air, Loreto to LAX (kind of expensive). Does anyone have a better rout? We would like to be there from May 1 - 25/27.

Side note does anyone know the motorboat Darlin (50ft). The owners name is Korbey?

aloha,

Andrew

Phil C - 2-5-2014 at 07:09 AM

Aerocalifia has a flight Tijuana to Loreto. Thursdays and Sundays about 1:00 pm 1600 to 1700 pesos.

DawnPatrol - 2-5-2014 at 09:27 AM

Be real careful of taking the shuttle bus option to the TJ airport unless you do it MANY HOURS before you depart!
Almost missed our Volaris flight last year because we got stuck with a full inspection of the bus and passengers crossing into Mexico....

Best would be to find a way get to Otay crossing, walk across and get a $10 taxi from there to airport as its a very short drive

[Edited on 2-5-2014 by DawnPatrol]

MitchMan - 2-5-2014 at 09:36 AM

From San Diego, you can take a trolley to the border or you can take a greyhound bus to the border OR take the bus to the TJ airport. Look at the greyhound schedule closely and make sure that the schedule can provide AMPLE time for your making your Volaris flight. DawnPatrol's advice is good advice. Sometimes the buses can run a bit behind.

I have taken the greyhound bus from Oceanside many, many times directly to the TJ airport, never had a problem except for once when the greyhound (Crucero) bus had a break down right at the Oceanside bus depot and couldn't go on. That was an exception, though, not at all the "rule".

Just to give you an idea of the cost of a round trip bus ticket from Oceanside to TJ airport and back to Oceanside, it's about $19 USD for the round trip bus ticket. Also, you don't have to take and pay for a taxi from the border to the airport (and back). That is a savings of about $30 USD right there.

[Edited on 2-5-2014 by MitchMan]

Another option

durrelllrobert - 2-5-2014 at 11:22 AM

Aeromexico flies from Honolula to TJ via Guadaljara for about $1500

sd2hi - 2-5-2014 at 11:24 AM

Thanks for all of your input. My parents or friends can give us a ride to the border. The reason I am considering the Volaris shuttle instead of walking across the border is that a gringo couple crossing the border on foot with luggage to get a cab is like a cat carrying a steak through a alley full of dogs. Just a little little unsettling for me.

BajaBlanca - 2-5-2014 at 11:30 AM

Walking across the border, even with suitcases, will not be an issue safety wise, if that is what you mean.

DawnPatrol - 2-5-2014 at 11:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaBlanca
Walking across the border, even with suitcases, will not be an issue safety wise, if that is what you mean.


What Blanca said.. its no sweat from crossing to the taxis

sd2hi - 2-5-2014 at 11:46 AM

I just looked at the Greyhound bus website. $15 from downtown San Diego to TJ airport. Seems like the way to go. No carrying luggage or boarder crossing/ deal with taxi hassles. Any opinions on Greyhound vs Volaris shuttle?

danaeb - 2-5-2014 at 11:49 AM

If you have a ride to the border, cross at Otay. The pedestrian entrance is on Nicolas Tesla Ct (off Siempre Viva, the last US Exit). It's very easy to get to - you can google the location.

I make this trip every 6 weeks or so and this is the ONLY way I go down now.

Here's a video provided by Delta Truck Parking, that literally walks you across the border, step by step.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-Eh3_YRmlY&feature=youtu...

PS: Once you're across, the taxi fare is $12USD and takes about 10 min. to the airport. I usually allow 2 1/2 hours (or more depending on holidays) to get from my home in central San Diego to take-off time. Also, Fridays are the worst time to head south to the border - lots and lots of traffic headed into Tijuana. Not a good day to fly out, but if you have to, add an extra hour to get there.

[Edited on 2-5-2014 by danaeb]

DawnPatrol - 2-5-2014 at 11:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by sd2hi
I just looked at the Greyhound bus website. $15 from downtown San Diego to TJ airport. Seems like the way to go. No carrying luggage or boarder crossing/ deal with taxi hassles. Any opinions on Greyhound vs Volaris shuttle?


Greyhound is the one that took us forever to get to the airport... If you do this get their many hours before....
its a crap shoot if they inspect the bus and that takes a lot of time. Sometimes they don't sometimes they do....

sancho - 2-5-2014 at 11:52 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by sd2hi
My parents or friends can give us a ride to the border. The reason I am considering the Volaris shuttle instead of walking across the border is that a gringo couple crossing the border on foot with luggage to get a cab is like a cat carrying a steak




If you can get a ride to Otay Mesa crossing, that is the
way I would go, easy walk to cabs on Mex side, no hawkers,
Airport is 2 mi away, cab ride $8-$10, Valaris at
times has sale fares, but I would count on $170
one way

dasubergeek - 2-5-2014 at 11:55 AM

It can take hours to cross the border on a bus. You need to give yourself at least four hours between when you board the bus in SD to your flight time at TIJ—not to mention that you have to get from the airport to downtown SD.

Have your parents drop you off at the Otay border. You'll cross over and walk down a little path and there will be taxis with prices posted. Thousands and thousands of gringos with luggage cross and it is not a problem, safety-wise. It should not cost you more than $10 to go from Otay border to the airport. You'll push the button at the "traffic light" and you'll probably get your luggage inspected by Aduana, but they're very polite.

On the way back, just so you know, the taxi will cost twice as much. This is because there is a taxi monopoly at the airport. Do not listen to the people offering to drive you over in a van; it's not worth it, especially not at Otay where the pedestrian wait rarely exceeds half an hour. And if you don't already have it, get a passport card. It'll expedite your northbound land crossing no matter how you do it.

sd2hi - 2-5-2014 at 12:05 PM

Thanks for the scoops gang. Sounds like Otay & walk across it the way to go. Do we need a visa for a 28 day stay?

sancho - 2-5-2014 at 12:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by sd2hi
Do we need a visa for a 28 day stay?



Yes, available at the TJ Airport, $24, but I'm so hinky
I would ask at Mex Immigration as you walk into
Mex at Otay

vandy - 2-5-2014 at 01:02 PM

One option is SAN to SJD
$105 one way including all fees Apr 30 on Spirit Air

Don't know the best way to get to La Paz from Los Cabos
but there are a few options...

dasubergeek - 2-5-2014 at 02:39 PM

Yes, though you'll spend another $75 in tack-on fees on Spirit (you get NOTHING for free on that airplane).

Cliffy - 2-5-2014 at 03:05 PM

And the seats do not recline and the Coke costs money and the---it goes on and on
Did it once on Spirit but never again.

dasubergeek - 2-5-2014 at 04:34 PM

It's not as bad as Allegiant—Allegiant charges you for seat selection, for carry-on luggage, for printing your boarding pass at the airport, for using a credit card online (wtf?)... and then we finally got on our flight to Bellingham and they started running a gambling operation for the benefit of the flight attendants!

sd2hi - 2-5-2014 at 06:18 PM

Thanks again for all of the great advice. My GF does not have a passport. Think they will give her a hard time at the border. She is ethnically Japanese.

EnsenadaDr - 2-5-2014 at 07:39 PM

Yeah they will she will probably go to secondary inspection. Go to Honolulu and get a passport.
Quote:
Originally posted by sd2hi
Thanks again for all of the great advice. My GF does not have a passport. Think they will give her a hard time at the border. She is ethnically Japanese.

paranewbi - 2-5-2014 at 08:04 PM

Walking across at otay is a breeze. If you want to get your visa there it is on the right of the walk way just after you enter but you have to walk a little further and pay at the bank on the left where you'll see the declaration parking lot. Then walk back and get your form stamped in the visa office.
Really...don't bother. when you walk through the border look to your left and you'll see the taxi's parked there on the sidewalk. Go to the first guy and get in then when you get to the airportJust go to the Kiosk in the lobby for your visa. When you walk through the front doors look to your right...it's there. When you get done with your visa just walk to the right of the kiosk and there's a rather non-descript opening at the far right. Go through there and the military check is there...no big deal they have never checked us. Counters are right around the corner. The counter lines are laid out by destination so just look for the little sign at the entrance to each line for your destination. The security stuff after that is a breeze.
Also! Leave yourself some time for some food. Pretty good eats in the terminal. And there's a bar every 50 paces. If you need just ask the nearest one to you for their access code for the wifi.
P.S. when you see people lining up to enter the plane just get in the line that moves first...even if your the last person. Act dumb and get on the plane. The front overhead compartments fill up with the crap from the people who sit in the back of the plane. OH YEA...no longer free beverages er rum, brandy etc.

dasubergeek - 2-6-2014 at 12:44 PM

Never mind northbound, you will be unable to board a flight without a passport. If you fly from the U.S. to Mexico your passport will be checked at check-in on the U.S. side. If you fly from Mexicali or Tijuana, you will go through an FMM checkpoint before you're permitted to check in, and you cannot purchase an FMM without a valid passport.

sd2hi - 2-7-2014 at 04:53 PM

Thanks for all of the input.

Volaris and Sprint advertise on their websites that there are discounts for last minute ticket sales. Do any members buy their tickets at the airport the day of travel without reservations? How full are the flights?

aloha,

Andrew

BajaBlanca - 2-7-2014 at 05:56 PM

Get the gf a passport, put a rush on it and it will arrive quickly. She CAN'T get a visa without it, she won't be able to fly.

Marc - 2-7-2014 at 08:41 PM

Fly direct from LA