Trip Report: Aeromexico, Houston IAH to Mexico City (May 2022)

 Stay Report: Aeromexico, Houston IAH to Mexico City
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I needed to fly to Mexico City from New Orleans and there were a couple of options available but most had me connecting in Houston - since I was connecting in Houston anyway I thought I may as well try and fly with an airline I have been wanting to fly for a while; Aeromexico.                                                                                                                                                                                              Aeromexico is a Skyteam member and is the national airline of Mexico.  They have a good reputation of flying mostly international flights from Mexico with some limited domestic routes.  Delta and Aeromexico have a joint venture agreement which allows them to seamlessly operate and sell tickets on each others routes.  Previously when I have flown to Mexico City, it has been with other carriers as they have provided better timings and fares; many carriers have stopped flying to Mexico City and instead have focused on leisure destinations such as Cancun in Mexico.  From Houston there are fullservice airlines flying like United and Aeromexico as well as low-cost airlines like VivaAerobus and Volaris.  I looked at the low-cost airlines and 1) the timings were odd; 2) with the addition of checked baggage and other amenities the price was the same as Aeromexico; and 3) I was traveling with my friend and so wanted to coordinate flight timings with them.  

It was easy to book the ticket with Aeromexico.  As a full service airline, a personal item plus a handcarry were included in the ticket as well as preselecting your seat at no charge.  Aeromexico has 3 categories of tickets - classic, plus and premier.  Classic is the regular ticket with a seat assignment and handy carry, plus includes that plus extra miles, extra legroom seats, and priority boarding.  Premier is business class with extra checked baggage and other business class services.  I selected the classic because I was not checking a bag and the classic fit my travel plans.  I was able to preselect my seat during the booking and could manage my booking through the app; including being able to upgrade at a cost or add additional services for a fee.                                                                                                                                                                            Checkin was open 24-hrs in advance where I could confirm my seat selection, add any extras, and receive my boarding pass.  I got to the gate really early as I was connecting from another airline and wanted to ensure I had enough time to connect to my international flight.  Because I had checked-in online, I needed to verify my passport and boarding pass with the gate agents.  The agents were very helpful and customer friendly so this was an easy process.  Flight was scheduled to depart at 11:15am and 30minutes prior boarding started.  Boarding was done by groups and these were strictly enforced; however, passengers waited until called by the gate agents event though the previous group had gone through so boarding took longer than necessary.  Luckily we were not a full flight so boarding completed, boarding doors closed and we pushed back ontime.

The operating aircraft for this 2hr20min flight was a Boeing 737 with a 3-3 seat configuration.  The color scheme, the layout, the seat configuration, everything reminded me of an older Delta plane; I know they have a joint-venture so do they also share planes?  The plane had business class up front and then economy in the back but in economy there was economy plus with extra legroom and then regular economy.  Each seat had a big PTV screen with USB ports and headphone jack underneath, followed by a full-size tray table and then a seatback pocket containing the safety card.  The seat pitch was good and so was the seat width but the seat comfort was lacking and you felt the age of the plane in that.  Once we were airborne, inflight service commenced with complimentary drinks and peanuts; there was also buy-on-board service as well for additional snacks.  Wifi was available but it was not complimentary but the PTV did have a decent amount of movies and TV shows; especially given the short flight time it was a good selection.

We landed and it took a VERY long time to get to the gate and deplane.  Overall, it was an average flight with Aeromexico.  It seemed very reminiscent as if I was traveling with Delta - same color scheme, same seat design and PTV design, and same layout.  The only difference was the onboard staff and primary language of instruction.

Trip Report: VivaAerobús, Mexico City to Merida (May 2022)

  Trip Report: VivaAerobus, Mexico City to Merida
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I needed to fly from Mexico City to Merida and the day I was looking to fly, only two options were available: VivaAerobus and Volaris.  I looked at both websites and priced out both flights - both flights were leaving around the same time and both were low-cost airlines; the only difference between the two that I could see is that VivaAerobus included the airport tax within your ticket price while for Volaris this had to be paid separately.  For this reason only I decided to book with VivaAerobus. VivaAerobus is a low-cost airline based in Mexico.  As a lcc, the airline operates like any other lcc in that you pay for your ticket and that comes with a seat; anything else is additional.  The airline has 4 different ticket options and I choose the option that includes a personal item + carry-on.  The option that I choose did not include choosing your seat as that would cost extra.  There were no bundle options and when booking lcc's around the world I find that the bundle options always seem to work best for me but they did not have that option.  Throughout the booking process there were options to upgrade or add features such as selecting your seat or adding luggage; these options were available all the way until check-in.  I booked and paid for my ticket and received my confirmation and then downloaded the app so that I could manage my booking through the app (I could also add all the options for my booking through the app).

With my ticket I was able to check-into my flight 36-hours prior to my flight.   Up to this point, and

during the check-in process, there was the availability to add the options of preselecting my seat or adding additional luggage.  I did add additional hand luggage because I was not sure how strict VivaAerobus was in enforcing the hand-carry weight restrictions (were not strict at all).  After upgrading my hand luggage, I checked in and received a random seat number and my boarding pass.  I was assigned a middle seat and I was not able to change/modify my seat without paying for a seat selection.                                                                                                                                                                                          The flight was scheduled to depart at 8:00pm and I got to the airport 2-hours in advance.  Because I had checked-in online and had a mobile boarding pass, I did not need to go through the check-in desks but could head straight to security.  After security, I checked the screen to see which gate the flight would take off since neither the mobile boarding pass nor the app stated a gate number.  When I checked the monitor it said "T gates" and I was confused since every other gate had a number and no letters.  I later found out that this is the general waiting area until your gate is announced and then you proceed to your gate since there is limited to no waiting space near the gates.  We got a seat near the monitors so we could watch our flight and this is where the fun began.  Our flight was scheduled to take off at 8pm so boarding would begin at 7:15p; that time came and went and there was no announcement nor information regarding the flight on the main screen.  I had to go to VivaAerobus's own counter where I found out that the flight had been delayed; there was no announcement nor information provided.  A little while later, the flight was still delayed and now said a departure of 9:30pm; I talked with the agent who said that the incoming flight was delayed but that the plane had departed and would land into Mexico City at 9:30pm which meant we would not take off until 10/10:15pm.  There was no general information nor announcement from the airline nor ground staff.  Finally at 9:30pm a boarding gate was announced and we all proceeded to the gate.

The gate was extremely chaotic and disorganized because there was more people waiting for the plane than what the gate could accommodate.  Passengers were supposed to board through one line but it was very difficult to hear which group they were boarding unless you went right next to the gate agent.  VivaAerobus boards the plane by rows from the rear to the front in 3-row increments; you wait for your row number/group to be called and proceed boarding that way.  I am not sure if this was a COVID thing or if this was done pre-COVID as well.  During the boarding process, I did see other VivaAerobus staff rolling around carts with weighing machines to enforce hand-carry restrictions but the staff on this flight did not do that.                                                                                                                   The flight was 90% full so we boarded and pushed back from the gate at 10:15pm.  The plane was an Airbus A321 in a 3-3 seat configuration.  There were business class seats which VivAerobus contacts as VIP and there were also some economy seats with extra legroom.  I was in the standard economy seat in row 18.  The standard seat had a seatback pocket on the top which contained the onboard menu, the safety card as well as the airline's magazine.  Beneath that was a standard tray table and beneath that should have been a small pocket to store valuables but that was removed so there was nothing.  The seats themselves looked nice and decent and were slimline seats; the plane and seats seemed somewhat new.  Even though the plane just landed from another flight and they quickly turned around the flight, the airplane was in decent and somewhat clean condition; probably not sanitized but definitely cleaner than I have seen for other airlines.  The seat width was decent but the seat pitch was definitely tight and this is where you could feel the low-cost effect.  Overall, the seats were decent for the 1h45m flight that we had but I am not sure they would be comfortable on the longer flights that VivaAerobus operates (to Chicago or New York).

Once airborne, inflight service commenced.  As with all low-cost airlines, VivaAerobus operates a buy

on-board service.  Nothing is given for free and everything is available for purchase.  They have a variety of options available including sandwiches, drinks and snacks; I did not purchase anything but I did see a lot of people purchasing items and the costs was the same as what you would get in the airport terminal.  The airplane also offered wifi onboard and once connected you could access the onboard menu and magazine, the flight status, information about VivaAerobus, newspapers, movies and TV show, and of course wifi.  Wifi was available for purchase and some movies and TV shows were locked and could be accessed by purchasing an entertainment package.  The wifi and availability of many options for free was something I was not expecting so kudos to VivaAerobus for that. We started our decent into Merida and landed 2.5hrs later than our scheduled arrival.                                                                                                                                                      Overall, it was an interesting and frustrating experience with VivaAerobus.  The on-ground experience was frustrating as there was no announcements nor information regarding flight delays, the agents were not service friendly and many of them seemed annoyed that questions were being asked.  Onboard, the plane looked new, the cabin was clean, and the seats were decent for a low-cost airline.  The main question - would I recommend VivaAerobus?  I would say definitely not recommend VivaAerobus for long-haul as the uncomfortable seats and the buy-on-board would not make it a comfortable long-haul flight.  For short-haul, under 2-hours, I would say if the price is right then yes.  I paid $50 for my one-way flight and that included the extra payment for the luggage (which we ended up not needing) so that is a good price for a short-haul flight.

A Stay Report: Le Meridien Mexico City

A Stay Report: Le Meridien Mexico City
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When looking for hotels, I usually look for ones that are situated in connected areas – this means that the hotel is within walking distance to some activities, restaurant, services, and transportation.  Based on price, I had originally selected a hotel which was a bit further from the connected areas but was lower in price.  I then found a hotel that was more centrally located, but the price was a bit higher so I booked that hotel.  Le Meridien then had a sale on their hotels, and the Le Meridien Mexico City (LMMC) was centrally located, had great reviews, and the price was comparable to the other hotel so I booked it.

After I had booked the hotel, I wanted to contact the hotel regarding airport transportation (it is not included with the hotel).  Le Meridien is part of Starwood and they do not provide hotel email addresses easily, but luckily LMMC is active on social media so I sent them a facebook message and they responded very quickly.  The rates they offered were very competitive, so I booked the car service for all my transportation to/from the airport.  The hotel provided directions on where the car would meet us, and when we landed we followed the directions and the service was waiting for us.  The car service to and from the airport were not Le Meridien cars, but rather locally hired private taxis.  The payment could be made directly with the taxi or with the hotel, and each car was comfortable and clean. 

The hotel is located on one of the main thoroughfares  - Paseo de Reforma – is about a 10 minute walk to Bellas Artes and the historic district.  There are many restaurants and services either next to or near the hotel, and it is very accessible and safe to walk around the hotel.   You pull up to the hotel on the ground floor which has the concierge, a Starbucks, a waiting area for the transport, and elevators.  There are also circular stairs which take you up to the lobby level.  This level contains the check-in desks, the concierge desks, a bar/lounge, and elevators.  The hotel is laid out like a triangle, with the lobby and entrance at the tip of the triangle, thus it’s a bit smaller and compact.  Check in was efficient, and we were given our keys to our room.

Our room was located on the 14^th floor, which is indicated as an SPG Guest level.  As you

get out of the elevator, there is a small area with a chair and amenities on shelves inside the wall.  The amenities include extra bottles of water, apples, newspaper, and miniature treats.  It was a nice gesture and another way of recognizing loyalty.  

The room itself is very large and spacious.  As you open the door, you enter into the sitting area.  On the left hand side is a large console with a TV on it, and a couch and chair facing the TV; the couch can be turned into a sofa bed.   There was a table in front of the couch, plus a lamp and a coffee table on either side of the couch.  On the other side of the room was a chaise lounge to sit, and next to that was a mini kitchenette – which had a sink, a microwave, a mini-fridge, and storage on the bottom plus a coffee maker, water bottles (complimentary and paid), and other amenities on top of the counter.  Across from the kitchenette was the bathroom.  The bathroom was very large and spacious as well.  It contained a large counter with a sink, bottles of water (complimentary),a toilet, and a shower.  The shower head was very powerful and provided a nice shower.   

In between the kitchenette and the bathroom was a door that led to the bedroom.  The bedroom was also spacious and has a lot of room to move around.  As you entered into the bedroom, there was a closet on the right-hand side and a desk with a TV stand next to it.  On the other side were two double beds with a nightstand in the middle.  The beds were comfortable and provided a nice and restful sleep for the night.  There were plenty of outlets around the room, and the nightstand had a plus + USB charging ports on it (very accessible and convenient).

Other hotel amenities that I used included wifi in the room, the business center, and the

concierge.  The free in-room wifi was a decent service and speed and you could connect as many devices as needed.  The business center was on the second floor next to the meeting rooms, and it was small and had older computers but it had all the basic services needed.  I also utilized the concierge at the hotel – and I had mixed interactions.  My conversations with the concierge prior to my arrival, to confirm the airport pick-up, were very convenient and efficient.  My conversations with the concierge at the hotel were also nice, but it was only when the concierge was available and that was not all the time.  There were times when I only wanted to reconfirm the airport pickup, and only the concierge could do that but they were not available (or it was too long to wait for them).  They were friendly, but I have had better concierge experiences (in fact, we went to another hotel for breakfast and their concierge provided better service in terms of information).  The hotel also has an indoor gym and meeting rooms that I was not able to try out.

Overall, it was a nice stay at the Le Meridien Mexico City.  The spacious and comfortable rooms plus the convenient location made it a nice.  This combined with the extra amenities as SPG member were well appreciated.  The only negatives were the car pickup (which had to be reconfirmed but was prompt and on-time each time) and the concierge interaction; but other than that a very pleasant stay. 

A Trip Report: Southwest Airlines, New Orleans to Mexico City via Houston (September 2016)

A Trip Report: Southwest Airlines, 
New Orleans to Mexico City via Houston

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When Southwest bought out AirTran, they inherited the international destinations that AirTran had already been flying – mostly to the Caribbean.  Southwest used those destinations as a starting off point to expand internationally and add more destinations in Central America and the Caribbean.  They also upgraded their home base in Houston – Hobby Airport – to add international flights from that airport.  I have flown Southwest many times domestically, but this was my first time trying their international service so I was curious what was different and was stayed the same.

My flight was from New Orleans to Mexico City via Houston, with the same route on the return.  As they are just starting out with their international service, they do not have as many flight options to choose from – with some cities have longer transit times than others.  As with their domestic service, each ticket on Southwest includes 2 free bags, 2 free carryons, no change fees, and credits if the flight price goes lower.  Some differences between the domestic and international service is that international service can only be booked on a desktop, and not on a mobile or other device, and changes can only be made by calling a representative.  Another difference is that you cannot check-in to your flight via a mobile device, only from a desktop or the airport kiosk.  A final difference is that Southwest does not allow standby service on international flights – if you clear customs and there is an earlier domestic flight available, you have to pay a large sum to get on an earlier flight.

On board, there is no difference between a domestic and international service.  At check-in, you are assigned a group letter and a number and you board accordingly. Once on board you can choose any open seat.  While this concept allows you to choose your seat, it is a pain to stand in line and wait and then get on board and wait again as passengers play musical chairs and assess the best seat.  The flight from New Orleans to Houston was 1hr while Houston to Mexico was 1hr 40 minutes.  The plane on each sector was an older Boeing 737-700. Southwest usually operates these planes on their short-haul sector, as the seat comfort is low and the seat pitch is average.  The seats are fine for the short-haul but after a while they can become very uncomfortable.  Once we reached cruising altitude, the cabin crew came by to take your drink order and hand out pretzels/peanuts.  Southwest provides complimentary drinks and you can access TV through your personal device using Southwest wifi.  Each flight was relatively uneventful and there was no indication or difference between a domestic and international flight.

As I said, I have flown Southwest many times domestically so it was interesting to see how they operated their international service.  Overall, it was a nice flight with decent service and consistent experience; however, the restrictions regarding managing a booking (not everyone has access to a desktop these days) and the limited flight options were a negative.  Another negative is Houston Hobby - which has limited food options and when you are connecting from an international to domestic flight, you have to exist out and go through regular security - there is no transit area.  

Southwest is in its infancy in terms of international travel, and you can feel it in terms of on the ground and in the air.  There is room for improvement, but the free bags and consistent service are something you can count on Southwest for.