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There’s nothing worse than getting off a aircraft after a protracted flight to see a unending queue to clear customs and passport management.
And Cancun International Airport was as soon as infamous for its prolonged arrivals course of, with passengers typically ready something between 3-4 hours from their flight touchdown earlier than they had been out of the airport.
But all that has now modified.
According to a report from Riviera Maya News, Cancun airport has efficiently decreased common entry wait instances from virtually 3 hours to simply 7 minutes.
Reduced Wait Times For Arrivals
The Secretary of Tourism of the Government of Mexico has launched new applied sciences which have dramatically decreased wait instances for worldwide arrivals from the United States and Canada.
These applied sciences had been initially introduced in Cancun airport and following their success the Tourism Secretary Miguel Torruco Marques has now proposed introducing these instruments in all main airports in Mexico.
So what, precisely, are the modifications which have decreased wait instances so dramatically?
The principal new expertise that has been launched in Cancun is automated immigration filters.
These machines have been put in in Terminal 3, which is the terminal largely used for arrivals from the United States and Canada.
These machines will also be utilized by Mexican arrivals with chip passports.
And in case you can’t use the brand new automated kiosks (maybe as a result of you do not have an American or Canadian passport) then don’t fear: there are different upgrades too! 60 of the immigration brokers based mostly on the airport have been given public relations coaching from the Cancun Hotel Association.
Why? To make sure that in case you do have to attend for an agent, you’ll get an important stage of customer support if you finally get to the desk!
It’s additionally work noting that as a part of the dedication to new applied sciences, all the terminals in Cancun Airport now provide free wi-fi web entry for all passengers.
So at the very least you’ll be able to scroll, stream, or examine social media in case you do get caught in a queue!
Personal Experiences
I solely arrived at Cancun airport as soon as (at first of the yr), and it was removed from a clean expertise.
3 hours in a protracted queue with minimal air-con, surrounded by inebriated Brits (As a Brit myself, I’m allowed to say it!) The queues had been disorganized, and all the pieces felt frankly chaotic.
The truth there was nowhere we might seize a bottle of water made all the pieces really feel even worse.
Compared to experiences shared by vacationers who’ve been to Cancun airport extra not too long ago, it appears like a complete new place! Smooth transitions, simple processes, and extra importantly, very small queue instances.
I might undoubtedly have an interest to listen to how and when these new applied sciences will probably be rolled out to different Mexican airports.
Passing Through Cancun Airport Smoothly
Cancun Airport is Mexico’s 2nd busiest airport (After Mexico City International Airport) and it’s also ranked because the 43rd busiest airport on the planet.
If we have a look at simply worldwide arrivals alone then it’s the 10th busiest airport on the planet.
If you need to keep away from the inevitable crowds that include an airport this in style then select your arrival instances properly.
The busiest days to reach in Cancun International Airport are weekend days (Saturday and Sunday) and the airport is at its busiest between 11am and 2pm. To keep away from these crowds take into account arriving on a weekday and both early within the morning or within the night.
You may make your arrival into Cancun airport go extra easily by ensuring you’ve your passport and any supporting paperwork (comparable to your accomplished customs type) open and prepared.
This may sound apparent, however I’ve misplaced rely of the variety of instances I’ve been caught behind somebody who bought to the entrance of the queue with their passport nonetheless of their backpack!
Finally, keep calm and affected person: that is the time to interrupt out that yogic respiratory!
Things can and do go improper, however frankly, dropping your mood received’t get you thru customs and passport management any sooner.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed below are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, authorized or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the publish.