Come Fly Via the Tijuana Airport

The decline in the value of the Mexican peso and the opening of a new border crossing southeast of San Diego have made Tijuana’s airport a virtual LAX-South in recent months.

Southern Californians heading for such popular destinations as Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Acapulco and Mexico City have discovered that they can save nearly 50% by flying from Tijuana rather than from Los Angeles.

Additionally, they eliminate most of the advance purchase and minimum stay restrictions that apply to flights originating in the United States.

Tijuana Airport officials say they have no idea how much of their traffic originates from north of the border, but nearly all the passengers on a recent flight to Puerto Vallarta were English-speaking. And a check of the recently expanded airport’s parking lot showed a ratio of about four California license plates for every one from Mexico.

New Border Crossing

Adding to the attraction is the new Otay Mesa border crossing about five miles east of the familiar San Ysidro crossing. It eliminates driving through the confusion of downtown Tijuana, as well as the long lines coming back into the United States.

“It just doesn’t make sense not to do it this way (go to Tijuana),” said William R. Rise of Manhattan Beach, who was on his way to Puerto Vallarta in early February.

Although fluctuations in the peso can cause the exact price to change daily, it cost Wise $116 to fly round trip from Tijuana to Puerto Vallarta. If he had left from Los Angeles, he would have paid $242.

Until less than three years ago Tijuana was a one-airline airport, Aeromexico, but following the expansion of the main terminal, Mexicana began serving the city too. Between them, passengers have full daily schedules to Acapulco, Cancun, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, La Paz, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and other Mexican cities.

Round-Trip Savings

Some round-trip comparisons, keeping in mind that the peso has fluctuated between 430 and 500 to the dollar in recent weeks:

Los Angeles-Guadalajara $234, compared to Tijuana-Guadalajara $130. Los Angeles-Mexico City $265, compared to Tijuana-Mexico City $153. Los Angeles-Acapulco $293, compared to Tijuana-Acapulco $209. Los Angeles-Cancun $355, compared to Tijuana-Cancun $252.

Most travel agents will book passengers on Mexicana or Aeromexico out of Tijuana, although some are reluctant to do so, most likely because it cuts their commission from the airlines.

In any case, would-be travelers can always buy their tickets at a Mexicana or Aeromexico office for flights from Tijuana.

The next step is to get to Tijuana. The airport is best reached by driving south on Interstate 5 to Interstate 805 a few miles north of San Diego. Then, no more than two miles north of the border, California 117 intersects 805 and heads south and east to the Otay Mesa border crossing.

Impossible to Get Lost

From there, an abundance of signs reading “aeropuerto” make it impossible to get lost. Those who don’t see the signs will still see the airport, as it is parallel to the international border and only a few yards south of it. The control tower is visible from both sides of the border.

For those who prefer not to drive to Tijuana but still want the savings, Greyhound offers frequent departures throughout the day from its downtown Los Angeles terminal, arriving in Tijuana in about three hours. From that terminal, a cab ride should cost no more than $5. The bus fare is $19.65 each way, with no discount for a round trip.

Amtrak has eight trains daily on the Los Angeles-San Diego run. The one-way fare is $18.50, with a reduced round-trip cost of $25.50. San Diego’s trolley runs from the San Diego Amtrak station to the border; again, probably not more than a $5 cab ride to the airport.

Airport parking, as of mid-February, was 1,000 pesos a day, about $2.25. Those intending to park at the airport should be forewarned that they may be asked by a parking attendant if they would like their car given “special attention.” It’s a minor mordida , or bite. An extra 1,000 pesos seems to suffice, and the lot is surrounded by a high chain-link fence and guarded 24 hours a day.

Bilingual Personnel

Once inside the terminal, travelers will find the going equally easy. Everything from ticket counters to washrooms to gift shops is marked with international symbols, and both Aeromexico and Mexicana have bilingual personnel. Additionally, both accept dollars at a competitive exchange rate.

Travelers wanting to exchange additional dollars for pesos (or pesos for dollars upon their return) will find a branch of Banca Serfing, one of Mexico’s largest banks, in the main airport terminal.

After ticketing, all passengers must pass through a security barrier, and the personnel screening carry-on luggage appear to be more vigilant than their counterparts at LAX. Clearing Mexican immigration is only a matter of signing the tourist card that all visitors to the interior must carry, and from there, it’s on to the departure gate.

Returning to the United States via Tijuana, travelers find two other pluses: They don’t have to pay Mexico’s international departure tax, usually about $10. Additionally, U.S. Customs at the Otay Mesa crossing is much quicker than going through LAX, where customs personnel are often heavily overburdened.

The popularity of the Tijuana airport has not had an adverse effect on Los Angeles to Mexico flights. While neither Aeromexico nor Mexicana will give figures, both report that Los Angeles traffic is comparable to recent years.

Keep in mind that the Otay Mesa crossing is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. (and has been known to close a few minutes early); the San Ysidro border crossing never closes.

Mexicana’s telephone number in Los Angeles is 646-9500, Aeromexico’s is 380-6030. Their respective numbers at the Tijuana airport are (706) 383-2850 and (706) 383-2700.