When you travel by plane in Mexico, you must be aware that the country has aviation regulations that protect passengers from various unpleasant situations. For example, from delays of regular flights. These rules apply only to events occurring in Mexico, but regardless of the airline's jurisdiction. For example, your flight from Mexico is delayed — then you are entitled to compensation, your flight to Mexico was late and you missed your next connecting flight on a single air ticket — you also have the right to compensation. But if you have a separate ticket for the next flight, you are not considered a transit passenger and do not have the opportunity to claim compensation.
Compensation policies for flight delays are regulated by the Civil Aviation Law and the Mexican Federal Consumer Protection Law, and the Federal Consumer Office (PROFECO) is entrusted with enforcing these rights. INPROFECOand should be contacted if the airline refuses to provide you with compensation or a refund.
The compensation amounts, of course, cannot be compared with those in force in the EU, but they are still useful to know. So, if your flight is delayed by 1 to 4 hours, the airline must offer you compensation or a discount on a ticket to the same destination, plus access to free telephone and email, snacks and drinks. If a flight is delayed by 1 to 2 hours, no compensation is provided, the amount of the discount on subsequent purchases is not specified, and each airline determines it itself. Let's say Aeromexico gives a 5% discount on the purchase of next tickets, VivaAerobus opens an electronic deposit for 75 MXM, although many companies do not do even that.
If the flight delay is more than 2 hours but less than 4 hours, the airline is required to compensate you in the amount of 7.5% of the cost of the affected flight segment. All Mexican airlines follow this rule, and Interjet even promises a free ticket on future flights on the cheapest Light fare. It’s more difficult with foreign airlines: not everyone agrees to pay compensation, and often the matter is limited to various “goodies.” in the form of food vouchers, VIP lounges, etc. However, European airlines, as a rule, provide compensation, since EU legislation approaches this issue even more strictly.
If the flight delay is more than 4 hours, the airline has a choice:
- agree to cancel the ticket with a refund of the full cost of unused flight segments + pay 25% of their cost,
- offer another nearby flight (including connecting flights) to the same destination, paying for hotel and transfer, if the original flight is canceled or postponed for a significant period,
- send to the same destination on another flight of the passenger's choice and pay compensation of 25% of the cost of the ticket or unused flight segments.
Again, Mexican, European and Latin American airlines meet these criteria, but US airlines — not always. European airlines may award miles towards future flights instead of issuing cash equivalent vouchers.
The same compensations as for delays of more than 4 hours apply to overbooking.
Compensation must be paid or processed within 10 days from the date of the flight delay. In this case, the airline is obliged to notify the passenger about the planned delay as soon as it becomes aware of it.
You can view the compensation policies of various airlines flying to Mexico at thispage.
Among other air travel rules that are important for passengers in Mexico, we note the following.
Within 24 hours from the date of purchase, the ticket can be returned without any penalties.
The airline does not have the right to refuse boarding on a flight if the previous flight segment was not used, but the passenger notified the airline 24 hours before the departure of the unused flight segment.
When the route changes due to any circumstances, the airline is obliged to deliver the passenger to the final destination at its own expense. In particular, in Mexico, due to weather conditions, planes flying to Merida often land in Cancun. Passengers are then transported from Cancun to Merida by bus.
The price of any air ticket includes the carriage of 2 pieces of hand luggage with a total weight of 10 kg free of charge. The maximum permitted size of hand luggage should not be less than 55x40x25 cm, this is a small suitcase.
Compensation for damage or loss of hand luggage is 6950 MXN, checked baggage — MXN 13,032 (2020) per item.