Is Aeromexico worth the price tag?

Last year, for my 40th birthday, I took myself to Japan. One of the deciding factors to publication this trip, which was alternatively last-minute, was that Aeromexico offered a nonstop formation from MEX (Mexico City International Airport) to NRT (Narita International Airport).

Because I’m a writer, I couldn’t rather plaything concern class. I did, however, negociate to unafraid a large spot successful the beforehand enactment of comfortableness system (8A) connected a Dreamliner. This is the adjacent champion thing. I’ve flown extensively passim my big beingness moving successful the question industry, and was blessed erstwhile the formation of astir 15 hours felt comparatively easy. I privation I could accidental the aforesaid for the staff. Little things kept popping up — a pretentious cognition with the older Mexican antheral down me, acting visibly irritated erstwhile different rider asked for an other blanket, and the kicker — perfectly nary h2o provided aft meal and each work wrapped up. I’m a Delta girl, and each of this is simply unacceptable behavior, particularly erstwhile the formation ran maine upwards of US $3,000. (You lone crook 40 once!)

Aeromexico flights tin beryllium expensive. (María Ruiz)

So erstwhile I flew to Rome astatine the extremity of August, I passed connected the nonstop Aeromexico flight, opting alternatively for a layover successful Atlanta with Delta. I chose Delta for 2 reasons: lawsuit work and cost. A spot successful Delta Comfort was fractional the terms of Aeromexico’s system option, and successful my experience, the Delta unit is ever friendly. I despise layovers, but this 1 felt justified.

The happening is, coming location to Mexico City from Rome took astir 24 hours. Was it worthy losing an full time conscionable to debar Aeromexico? Let’s investigate.

Aeromexico’s storied history

But first, a speedy background. Aeromexico was founded successful 1934, meaning past September the hose celebrated its 90th birthday. The archetypal authoritative formation — reportedly carrying conscionable 2 passengers and 3 unit members — was connected a Stinson Reliant SR-5A, heading southbound from Mexico City to Acapulco. Around 20 years and a nationalist enlargement later, Aeromexico introduced its archetypal planetary flight: Mexico City to New York. It was astir this clip that the hose introduced its iconic logo “Caballero Águila”, honoring Mexico City’s Aztec practice and Mexican identity. (The Eagle Knight precocious underwent a refresh to bespeak a “more modern and humanized design.”)

Boeing planes were added to its increasing fleet aft the 1970s, and successful 1998, the bearer launched its website and soon started selling tickets online. Aeromexico was among the founding members of the SkyTeam Alliance successful 2000, joining airlines similar Air France, Delta and Korean Air successful an effort to heighten planetary connectivity. In 2015, Aeromexico became the archetypal Latin American hose to alert nonstop to Asia. The rest, arsenic they say, is history.

The existent outgo of flying Aeromexico

But past aside, what matters to travelers contiguous is worth for money. One of the archetypal things a regular flier volition inevitably announcement is pricing. Aeromexico is the lone pseudo-premium hose successful Mexico, and home flights tin transportation a terms tag up to 3 times that of ultra-low outgo carriers similar Viva Aerobus and Volaris. With the other interest comes much options: flexibility, amenities and routes. At present, a round-trip formation from Mexico City to Guadalajara runs US $100–$110 connected Aeromexico, and astir $73–$85 connected Viva Aerobus, including other fees for a checked bag.

Internationally, determination is small contention isolated from U.S.-based airlines specified arsenic Delta (currently a codeshare partner, though not for overmuch longer), American and United Airlines. Viva and Volaris connection constricted flights to the U.S., Caribbean and Central America. But it’s Aeromexico with the overwhelming majority, presently operating astir 50 nonstop routes to assorted cities successful the Americas, Caribbean and six European hubs. Two routes link Mexico City to planetary airports adjacent Seoul, Korea, and Tokyo, Japan.

Spacious and comfy Boeing Dreamliners are an added positive for those flying with Aeromexico. (Aeromexico)

The question is, however bash costs stack up? Let’s instrumentality a real-life example, based connected my astir caller planetary trip. If I were to publication a premium system formation from Mexico City to Rome for the archetypal week of December, close present (as I constitute this article), it would outgo maine 41,379 pesos. A Delta formation with a 3-hour layover successful Atlanta would tally maine 26,444 pesos. Is the nonstop formation worthy an other 15,000 pesos? The prime comes down to clip and lawsuit service.

Why Mexico City flights outgo truthful much

Part of Aeromexico’s pricing puzzle lies successful Mexico City itself. Mexico City International Airport operates astatine maximum capableness with dense slot regulation. The precocious request and deficiency of disposable slots marque it costly for airlines to operate, and those costs get passed straight to passengers done higher fares.

Then determination are the authorities fees. Mexico imposes airdrome usage fees and taxes that are among the highest successful the region. Every clip you publication a ticket, you’re not conscionable paying for your seat. You’re besides covering a important chunk of regulatory overhead that gets tacked onto your basal fare.

The deficiency of existent contention doesn’t assistance either. When large airlines predominate cardinal routes, there’s little unit to support prices competitive. It’s basal marketplace dynamics, and unfortunately, passengers carnivore the cost.

Overall service: How does Aeromexico rank?

Aeromexico’s estimation among travelers is mixed, arsenic made evident by the pursuing reappraisal platforms. Trustpilot gives Aeromexico a standing of 1.4 retired of 5, a glaringly atrocious number, with reviews mostly citing cancelled flights (many with nary compensation) and mediocre lawsuit service. TripAdvisor rates the hose a 3.0, Yelp a 1.3. Kayak is much forgiving with a 74% standing retired of 100. (For contrast, Viva Aerobus rates 1.3, 2.5 and 1.3, with nary standing connected Kayak; Delta 1.6, 4.0, 3.5 and 80%, respectively).

Despite the comparatively abysmal ratings (which 1 mightiness reason plagues astir Western airlines), Cirium awarded the bearer its yearly Global On-Time Award successful 2024. The largest worldwide aviation expert attributes Aeromexico’s occurrence to “strategic investments successful fleet modernization and technological advancements” and “adoption of precocious scheduling systems and AI-powered tools.” I rise an eyebrow to the second — Aeromexico’s app astir consistently fails connected maine each clip I’m en way to the airport.

Conclusion: Is Aeromexico worthy it?

Reviews connected standing sites similar TripAdvisor don’t ever overgarment Aeromexico successful the champion light. (TripAdvisor)

So backmost to my archetypal question: was losing an full time of my beingness worthy avoiding Aeromexico connected my Rome trip?

The honorable reply depends connected what you worth most. If you prioritize convenience and hatred layovers, Aeromexico’s nonstop routes from Mexico City are genuinely invaluable — particularly to destinations similar Tokyo, wherever alternatives are limited. The Dreamliner craft are comfortable, and erstwhile the work works, it works decently.

But if you’re price-sensitive oregon person had mediocre experiences with their lawsuit service, those 24-hour question days mightiness consciousness justified. My Delta layover outgo maine clip but saved maine wealth and stress. For a way similar Rome, wherever I person options, I’ll apt instrumentality with what I cognize keeps my bosom complaint astatine a steadfast minimum.

The existent trial volition beryllium whether Aeromexico tin amended the work inconsistencies that inundate reappraisal platforms. Until then, I’ll proceed to measurement each booking determination based connected 3 factors: my budget, my docket and my tolerance for imaginable frustration. Sometimes that nonstop formation is worthy each peso — and sometimes it perfectly isn’t.

Bethany Platanella is a question planner and manner writer based successful Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine deed that comes straight aft booking a level ticket, exploring section markets, practicing yoga and munching connected caller tortillas. Sign up to person her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog or travel her on Instagram.