BACKGROUND
Hi Everybody! Welcome to my flight-report series on my trip to Mexico last september. 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 HERE
MEX-SFO AM 664 COMING SOON
Here's our old routing:
And here's our new one:
FLIGHT REPORT
Lets get Started!
MEX FIDS:
My boarding gate. I made it with just 10 min to spare (50 min layover. MEX is actually a really good transit airport as long as you don't have to switch terminals):
Not great in the cleanliness department:
Boarding:
My ride today. A new 737-800 w/ sky interior. XA-MIA. A beauty despite the shameful special livery (AM is really distasteful with their advertisements EVERYWHERE! Fuselages, tray tables, IFE, overhead bins.):
Earphones were at the gate for the IFE system. Good quality for length of flight:
Boarding shot:
Legroom is pretty good (but I'm short):
I do like that AM provides pillow / blanket:
IFE hardware is really good. Resolution is great as is touchscreen response and monitor size:
USB is nice too:
Some spotting at MEX:
XA-AMC, the plane that flew me MEX-CUN:
Taxiing to the runway. Takeoff was great with beautiful views over Mexico City:
V1:
Rotate!
Breaking through the clouds:
Even more ads on the IFE after takeoff:
Shortly after takeoff. A snack is served:
The food isn't very good. A cold croissant with disgusting lunch meat.
After snack drink:
Views of sunset over Baja California and Jalisco:
Position as seen on IFE:
Cabin pic:
Listening to some music while identifying towns from the moving map and watching the beautiful sunset over the Gulf of California
Shortly afterwards, descent started:
Spotting at International Terminal A at SFO:
BA A380 for LHR:
Bad pic of 777 headed to Manilla:
Finally, VX 789 for LHR:
CONCLUSION
Overall, AM is far better than its competitors for USA-Mexico flights.
The cabin was new and spacious. It's very nice despite the constant ads.
The FAs were efficient and kind, but nothing was "above and beyond".
The IFE is great. High resolution and great response from the monitors was great. Also, the screen size was good. The selection of movies, tv, etc, was great for a short flight but I do imagine that I'd get bored on a long haul. Moving map did the job well too.
AM does like to say that they have "complimentary meals" on its USA flights. They really don't, it's a snack. Quality isn't great either, but don't go around thinking that you'd get this on a US carrier.
MEX was efficient and had great design. However, there was some trash in the boarding area.
SFO is okay as always. The immigration line is always a pain though.
Overall, AM is the best choice for USA-Mexico flights if the price isn't too much higher than Mexican LCCs or US legacies.
See you next time for a FR series on my trip to Thailand this December.
SFO-TPE ~~ CI (Y+)
TPE-BKK ~~ CI (My first time in J!)
BKK-CMX ~~ PG
CEI-BKK ~~ PG
BKK-USM ~~ PG
USM-BKK ~~ PG
BKK-TPE ~~ CI (J)
TPE-SFO ~~ CI (Y+)
Please drop me a line in the comments section!
Thanks Mr. Max for sharing this FR.
I think that when an airline places too many ads, especially in the fuselage of the planes it cheapens the image of the company. Special liveries are another story and I really like AM's “Quetzalcoatl” one on its 787. It's brilliant.
AM's catering in the back of the plane on the US-Mexico routes might not be the best, but at least it offers something which is more than what competitors do instead of charging for Buy on Board. Considering that the average median income of a household in Mexico is disproportionately less than a U.S. one, it seems almost criminal to charge for food, especially by U.S. carriers.
Nice aerials on take off from MEX. It makes you realize how huge this metropolis is from above.
Looks like your trip to BKK will be quite an adventure. I see that you booked your ticket on CI. I have commented on another report that when you purchase a Y+ fare with them from the U.S. to anywhere in Asia, the intra-Asian connection from TPE is in J which is a very nice perk.
Thank you for sharing this FR with us!
Nice shots from MEX, glad to hear you made it with 10 minutes to spare.
The cabin looks pretty nice with a good IFE-system. A bonus for handing out pillows and blankets.
Absolutely wonderful aerial shots, especially those taken during sunset!
Thanks for sharing, looking forward to the next series.
Have a good one, see you!