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Airline Routes and Airports
Airlines that fly direct into Mérida MID:
- Continental flies directly into Merida ( MID ) via Houston IAH. Previously, the NWA-Continental partnership gave you the option to book this as a NWA flight. Now that NWA is part of Delta, the only direct route to Mérida is the Continenal via Houston Inter-Continental Bush -- IAH.
- US airlines from Miami into Merida often use Mexican Partners;
so, try them directly first for prices for savings even if you want
to use the US airlines for mileage.
- Mexicana, Aeromexico, and Aviacsa via Monterrey, México
City, and/or other cities in México (as well as via Miami).
These airlines are often very competitive with Continental for the
Houston-MID market as well as for persons initiating their travel from the west coast and central states regions (California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona,
Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico travel).
- Generally: Mexicana is the most expensive of the
three, Aviacsa least expenseive & Aeromexico in between; to buy
direct from Aviacsa go to their web sites to get US-based 800 ##
http://www.mexicana.com
http://www.aeromexico.com/en_us/
http://www.aviacsa.com
Although you may already have extensive experience searching for cheap airfares online, OSEA recommends the use of Kayak.com for ease and effective finding of best fares. On Kayak you can automatically do comparative searchs on kayak against four other providers -- hotwire, expedia, priceline, travelocity.
Caveats
First, when ever you use an online travel company and feel you have a good quote, its often good policy to check the pricing against the fare listed directly from the airline on their website.
Second, check the fares to see if the taxes are included or not. Typically the really great fares, say $200 roundtrip to Cancun do not include the various airport taxes, which total approximately $90 to $100 US.
Third, over the last 2-3 years the airlines have been criminal in their adding hidden or concealed fees to their fares. Before you buy a ticket, double check the cost of changing any segment and the cost of baggage. Its not fun to have pay an extra $25 or more dollars for a piece of luggage at the counter. True, the standard HAS been that at least two bags of luggage for international travel is free. Then this was reduced to one bag. It could very well be that free baggage is completely eliminated for international travel. Keep your eyes open!
Check here to compare the "extra" charges and fees that airlines are charging for your luggage and seat cushion.
Cancun Airport
| AIRLINES service Cancun via different USA ports of entry |
| Airlines |
Main US Port of Entry |
Website |
Phone Number |
| AirTran |
Atlanta & Baltimore only |
www.airtran.com |
1-800-825-8538 |
| American Airlines |
Has extensive service throughout Mexico; flghts from Dallas, Miami, Chicago |
www.aa.com |
1-800-433-7300 |
Continental |
Cleveland, LaGuardia NYC, Newark, Houston |
www.continental.com |
1-800-523-3273 |
| Delta |
Atlanta |
www.delta.com |
1-800-222-1212 |
| Frontier |
Salt Lake City, Kansas City, Denver |
www.frontierairlines.com |
1-800-432-1359 |
| Northwest |
Memphis, Indianapolis, Detroit, St. Paul/Minneapolis |
www.nwa.com |
1-800-225-2525 |
| United |
Chicago, DC, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles |
www.united.com |
1-800-864-8331 |
| US Airways |
Phoenix, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Charlotte |
www.usairways.com |
1-800-428-4322 |
| Spiritair |
Ft. Lauderdale |
www.spiritair.com |
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| Alaska Air |
Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles |
www.alaskaair.com |
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Note, flights into Merida are more expensive but much cheaper and easier to get in and out of the airport and elsewhere (such as Piste). A taxi from chichen to merida airport is roughly $70 US.
Flights into Cancun can be cheaper. However, calculate additional airport to bus station charge of $5 one way, and $20 bus to get from Cancun to Piste. Thus, add another $50 to the Cancun ticket for local travel. A taxi from Piste to Cancun airport is roughly $150 US, which can be divided by number of passengers. Airport Shuttles from Tulum and from Playa del Carmen range from $25 to $15 US.
Check here to compare the "extra" charges and fees that airlines are charging for your luggage and seat cushion.
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