Are there still any "cheap" options for flying from Australia to Mexico without going through the US?
I've travelled to Mexico many times and I'm starting to feel the itch again but I think finding a cheap way there has become more difficult since my last trip 3 years ago.
I have some problems with US customs and immigration which makes getting a transit visa a serious pain so I cannot take any flight which stops on US soil, even to refuel. So all the obvious routes via Hawaii and California are out.
Another restriction is that I want a one-year ticket. It's much easier to find deals on two-week trips than long trips. Booking a few months in advance is not a problem however. Neither is having to travel within a small time window when the price is best.
The last few trips I've flown JAL via Tokyo and Vancouver and was very happy with the airline. I don't mind the long flights and I know how to turn a stop over into a feature of the trip.
But it seems JAL has cancelled this route since they've been haemorrhaging money and needed to make some cutbacks!
I've looked for other options but the airline comparison sites don't make it easy to add in the "avoid USA" parameter. I've looked at going via Canada, Santiago, Buenos Aires, and even London. But all these options work out about double my usual price of about $2,000! (AUD or USD are about the same right now)
I always expected it to be easier to get a cheap one year ticket to Vancouver and then a cheap one year ticket from there to Mexico City. But for some reason this doesn't seem to be cheap even though you can get two week tickets from Van to Mex for a couple hundred bucks.
Is there still any route I can take from Australia to Mexico, avoiding USA, for $2000 or less, for a one year ticket?
Best Answer
The only thing I can think of is:
- Air Canada has nonstops SYD-YVR (Vancouver) and YVR-MEX - that's the fastest way.
- Korean Airlines has SYD-YVR via Seoul
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Can you fly directly from Australia to Mexico?
There are no direct flights from Australia to Mexico City. Popular non-direct routes for this connection are Melbourne Airport - Mexico City Benito Juarez Airport, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport - Mexico City Benito Juarez Airport and Brisbane Airport - Mexico City Benito Juarez Airport.Can I fly to Mexico without a return flight?
So the real answer is NO, you don't need an onward ticket. The immigration entering Mexico is quite relaxed. I've never had a problem entering and getting my 180-day tourist visa on arrival.Can you fly direct from Sydney to Mexico?
There are no nonstop flights from Sydney to Mexico City, but you can book connecting routes with Delta, American Airlines, United, Air Canada and Qantas.Do flights from Mexico go through customs?
Read this excellent article from Top Questions, there is no Immigration or Customs when you exit Mexico, you will go through I&C upon your return to the US at the first port of entry.This is a CHEAP way to get to MEXICO from the UNITED STATES
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Answer 2
Ok, maybe not an actual answer, but this might be another option:
An ex-coworker who used to have a boat and told me that is quite easy to get a lift on a boat or yacht from Mexico towards (south-) west; so if you're on a budget and not in a hurry you could try to buy a one-way plane ticket to Mexico and then sail back towards NZ or AUS from Mexico. Right now i could only find this one offer, but you have better luck if you ask the locals at the marina in Mexico when you're there...
Plus you get a chance to see all the little islands like Fiji, Cook Islands, French Polynesia etc. on the way.
Answer 3
LAN Airlines now flies from Sydney to Santiago, as well as from Santiago to Mexico City. ITA Matrix gives an approximate price of $2600 for a round flight through Chile.
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