Fly to Mexico: No US Stop or Visa
Flights from Europe, Japan, and Asia without Transiting in the USA
Flying to Mexico from Europe, Japan, and Asia need not require stopovers and visas for the USA. Usually not cheaper but direct flights are convenient and save time.
Mexico’s geographic location to the south of the United States of America (USA) and the lack of demand for direct flights to many other countries mean that many travelers to Mexico have to travel via the US. Apart from the inconvenience and time needed to go through US immigration and customs simply to change planes to Mexico, many nationalities also need visas to travel to or simply transit through the US. Applying for a US visa can add a significant expense and considerable inconvenience to travelers to Mexico. Although the cheaper intercontinental flights to Mexico generally go through the US, numerous other options are available which can save time and thereby negate the usually higher airfares.
Flights from Europe to Mexico Not Requiring a US Stopover or US Visa
Several airlines fly directly from European airports to Mexico City International Airport (MEX) without stopping in the US. Flights from Europe to Mexico City (MEX) generally take just less than 12 hours while the return to Europe is up to an hour shorter.
Daily nonstop flights from Europe to Mexico City International Airport (MEX) are offered by:
- German airline Lufthansa (LH) flies from Frankfurt (FRA) to Mexico City (MEX).
- Dutch airline KLM (KL) flies from Amsterdam (AMS) to Mexico City (MEX)
- British Airways (BA) flies from London Heathrow (LHR) to Mexico City (MEX)
- Air France (AF) flies from Paris Charles de Gaul (CDG) to Mexico City (MEX)
- Spanish airline Iberia (IB) flies from Madrid (MAD) to Mexico City (MEX)
- Mexican airline Aeromexico (AM) flies to Mexico City (MEX) from Paris Charles de Gaul (CDG) and Madrid (MAD)
Charter Airlines flying from Europe to Cancun (CUN) without stopping in the US:
Although charter airlines usually prefer to sell complete vacation packages with not only airfares but also hotel accommodation in Cancun included, some allow airfare only passengers too. Charter airline flights are often seasonal and generally not available daily. Airfares are not necessarily cheaper than flying on a full-service airline but should you be heading for the Yucatan Peninsula these flights have the advantage of flying to Cancun rather than Mexico City.
- Dutch airline Martinair Holland (MP) flies from Amsterdam (AMS) to Cancun (CUN)
- German airline Condor (DE) flies from Frankfurt (FRA) to Cancun (CUN)
- German airline LTU (LT) flies from Düsseldorf (DUS) to Cancun (CUN)
- Spanish airline AirEuropa flies from Madrid (MAD) to Cancun (CUN)
Flights from Asia to Mexico Not Requiring a US Stopover or US Visa
From Tokyo Narita (NRT) two options are available on direct flights to Mexico City (MEX) and although both require refueling stops, no plane changes are involved.
Stopping over in the US or Canada has long been the only way to travel between Asia and Mexico. However, Aeromexico recently introduced a direct flight from Tokyo (Narita Airport NRT) via Tijuana to Mexico City International Airport (MEX). The flight from Tokyo to Tijuana takes just over 10 hours (12h30 on the return) and after a two-hour layover continues to Mexico City (a further 3h20).
Japan Airlines (JL) flies from Tokyo Narita (NRT) via Vancouver (YVR) to Mexico City International Airport (MEX). The flight from Tokyo to Vancouver is 8h30 and after 90 minutes continues to Mexico in just over 5 hours.
From other Asian destinations, a stopover in the US can only be avoided by flying to a Canadian airport and then continue to Mexico on a Canadian or Mexican carrier.
Cheap Domestic Flights on Mexican Budget Airlines
Mexico City and Cancun are the two major ports of entry into Mexico by travelers arriving by plane. It is possible to continue to other Mexican destinations cheaply on low-cost carriers flying from Cancun, Mexico City Airport, and Toluca Airport (near Mexico City).
