I arrived back in Cancun yesterday and here are some observations: 1. Every airline serving USA to Cancun routes EXCEPT JETBLUE, is now using Terminal 3. 2. For US airlines that fly FROM Cancun to other Mexican cities, like American, for example who flies from here to Mexico City, those flights are still using Terminal 2. BUT FOR US TO AND FROM CANCUN, IT IS NOW TERMINAL 3 FOR THESE FLIGHTS. 3. The signs when you get off the plane direct you to Baggage Claim and not to Immigration or Customs. There is this incredibly long walkway if you are at the extreme gate. I bet I walked at least 300 yards. But the walkway is wide enough that you can pass slow walkers. If you have health issues I strongly suggest arranging for a wheel chair. 3. When you get to the end of this walkway you turn to the left and you are in the Immigration area. There are about a million counters and it was a free for all of sorts. You just looked for a short line and then get in it. The clearing process is unchanged. Note: It seems better to stay to your left as far as choosing which line to get in as Mexican citizens are directed toward the right on signs that are too small to read until you are already committed. 4. From there you go into Baggage Claim. There are monitors to direct to you 1 of 5 carousels. (I can never remember how to spell that word.) This process is indentical to that in Terminal 2, except that I did not see anyone trying to match up your baggage claim checks with your luggage. Good thing as Mr. Pro Traveler here tossed his first boarding pass, with claim checks attached, in the trash during my first flight segment. I was freaking out but it was a non-issue. 5. If you are facing Baggage Claim as you leave Immigration, after you get your luggage, you more or less go to your left and make a UTurn to the Customs area. There are a few lines where then scan everything but you, including purses, but they were not scanning yesterday for some reason. You still have to push the Green Light Red Light thing where you pray for green. I got green which was great since I was way over my allowance of $300 US of things subject to duties. It was scary as I was #7 in this line when I got in it. #7 got the red light. So did 4 and then 3. I am starting to wonder "what the h---?" Then #2, a single traveler, had a cart with at least 6 suitcases. She did not have the option of red or green light. She was sent for a thorough search and was not happy about it so argued for minutes while our line grew longer and longer. Finally got trough with no problems. 6. Getting out of the airport to your transportation seems to be the same zoo as it is in Terminal 2. There are 3 windows straight ahead as you leave Customs that say Official Aiport Transportation, or similar wording. These I believe are Gray Line and a sure thing if I am right. But if you turn to the right here, which is the building exit, there are close to 100 things that look like 3 foot high tree stumps where you are almost wrestled to the ground. It has to be OPC time share people who may also sell transportation to the hotels. I did see some guys with Azur badges and that is a company who also does transportation. No matter what, it is $9 US per person so don't pay a dime more. And someone either at these tree trunks, or when you exit the building, will try to grab your luggage and take you to the vehicle. These are honest hard working guys who are looking for tips so this is not a bad thing. I HOPE ANA SEES THIS AS SHE IS THE EXPERT ON THE AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION MATTERS. HOPEFULLY SHE CAN CLARIFY MY UNCERTAINTY ON THIS. I have a car here and don't deal with hiring a ride to a hotel. 7. If someone is meeting you, or if you are waiting for someone who is coming on a later flight you have a few options. a. Outside the building, you can make a left and go through these little automatic gate things and there are outside covered tables. b. After going through the gates, you can go into a small bar/restaurant. c. You can keep walking further and go into the departure area where there is a Starbucks with seats, Haagan Daaz with no seats, and a Mexican Cantina with lots of seats. d. If someone is picking you up in a private vehicle you have to go to the departure area as this is the only place they can meet you at the curb, but they cannot wait at the curb to hang out, or the only parking lot where they can park. Hope this is of some help.
Thank you for the information! Let me see if I have this straight; 1 - go to immigrations 2 - go to baggage claim 3 - go to customs, stay left and avoid the #7 spot 4 - I have booked w/Brant so I think we will be able to avoid the tree trunck area and people. Did I get it all?
Alice You got it. #5 would be to exit the terminal and locate your driver. Brant is a good friend of mine, and Trina, who works in his office, lives in the same building as I do and is one of my best friends. I am sure that they will tell you where to meet your driver, who will no doubt be holding a sign with your name on it. There are many people arriving with private transportation waiting so you may have to look at lots of signs. But Entertainment Plus has built a great business with excellent service and will be there when and where they tell you. Tell Trina I said HI if you talk to her.
Thank you TJ - this board and all the members have been so helpful in putting this vacation together for me. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the information and advise. I have already heard from Trina via e-mail regarding the pick-up time I had selected for a tour we booked. If it weren't for Trina looking out for us I would have had 4 really grumpy teeage girls up a 1/2 early for no apparent reason. Thank you Trina!
Bunny Love - You can get the ticket to the ADO bus to Downtown Cancun or to Playa Del Carmen right at the buses, or you can go inside of Terminal 2 to get them. In my opinion no matter which terminal you arrive at, the easiest thing is to just get them at the buses. They will put your luggage in the storage compartments and then you sort of line up to get on the bus. Be aware that locals often ride the bus to and from work and their idea of standing in line is much more aggressive than what you are used to in the US. Enjoy your trip.
Terminal 3 Hi! We just got back last night from Cancun, and I must say, your info about Terminal 3 was great. I had printed off your posting, and it helped out a lot. The only thing that kind of stinks about this terminal (unless we just missed them) is that we didn't see the women who usually have the little bag with coupons and info about Cancun. (we usually seem to use at least a couple of those coupons each trip) But thanks for the info. There isn't a lot of waiting room when you leave Cancun though, at least where our plane was taking off from. But it was a great trip. I'll try to do my trip report in a couple of days.
"1. Every airline serving USA to Cancun routes EXCEPT JETBLUE, is now using Terminal 3. " Exception to this would be Charter flights, correct?
