During my recent trip to Mexico on various assignments, I flew Delta Air Lines between New York City and Mexico City. Here’s a review of my experience and the experience both in flight and in the airport.
THE ROUTE: Mexico City, Mexico (MEX) to New York City (JFK); Boeing 757-200, economy class (four hours, 10 minutes)
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THE AIRPORT: Delta Air Lines operates out of Terminal 2 at Benito Juarez International Airport. It’s the newer of the two terminals, which means that facilities are quite modern and comfortable (although I’m personally not a big fan of the dotted window design in the concourse, which makes the terminal less than ideal for plane spotting). Since traffic in Mexico City was better than expected, I arrived three hours before my flight, and check in was swift and courteous (the ticket agent even advised me that I’d accidentally left some cash in my passport).
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The security line at the Mexico City airport was equally swift, and I didn’t have to wait at all. Passengers here don’t need to take off their shoes, but they do need to remove not only computers but also cameras and other electronic devices from their cases. After passing through security, I used my HSBC Premier card to access the Salon Premier, a lounge specifically for HSBC customers. The lounge is small and comfortable (and free, if you have Premier status) and serves free beverages and both hot and cold food. By the time I got to the gate, 45 minutes before departure time, they were already boarding my flight to New York City, and the process was again very swift and efficient.
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THE AIRCRAFT: The Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-200 aircraft had two main classes of service, although the front of the economy cabin also had premium economy seating. I was in the standard seating area. Flight attendants, most of whom were bilingual English/Spanish, handed out blankets to passengers once we were seated. Half way through the flight, I noticed that the mid-cabin lavatory was out of order (a sign was attached to the door), but there were two functioning lavatories at the back of the economy-class cabin.
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IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT: Earphones were distributed for free, and the entertainment consisted of overhead screens in the aisles. The feature film was “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” followed by various television programs.
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AIRLINE FOOD: Airline meals were free on this Mexico City flight to JFK, consisting of a free bag lunch (a small sandwich and bite-size Milky Way), accompanied by free soft drinks and refreshments. Later during the trip, flight attendants circulated to distribute cups of water, and —something I really appreciated — toward the end of the flight, they moved through the cabin again to provide a second beverage service, accompanied by free snacks.
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THE ARRIVAL: We landed more than 30 minutes early at New York City’s JFK airport. Terminal 4 sometimes involves a rather long walk from gate to exit, but the immigration process was quick (I’m a member of Global Entry, which helps a lot), and the wait for my checked baggage was also rather quick for a New York City airport. I took the AirTrain home.