Our flight leaves SFO and arrives in Cancun, via stop in Mexico City. Will we have to go through Customs in both Mexico City and Cancun? Does this mean getting the luggage and then getting it back for the next flight? We have a 2 hour layover - is that enough time? Thanks for any help and information. We will be traveling on Mexicana Airlines

You'll have to go through customs just once - in Mexico City. And yes, you'll have to get the luggage and check it back in. Don't know if they have a dropoff right outside customs to recheck your bag without having to get in line (like they do in Miami or Atlanta).

Are you booked through to Cancun as one ticket? If so, it's a "legal" connection, and if you miss your connection, they'll just put you on the next flight. Just pack a bathing suit and a change of clothes or two in your carry on just in case something happens with your luggage (not saying it's likely, just best to be cautious).

Are you sure about this? When we connected to Oaxaca through Mexico City a few years ago, we did NOT go through customs in Mexico City, just immigration. Our bags were tagged with orange international tags when we checked in in Chicago, and we did not see them again until Oaxaca. Then I guess they were SUPPOSED to be checked, ie, the orange international tags, but we just retrieved hem and went on our way.

I had the opposite experience. So maybe it's changed.

Budgin, best would be to call your airline.

Maybe you were not able to check your bags through to your final destination at your originating point?

These are questions you really need to ask your airline.

Don't recall. It's been a while.

Nowadawys its depends. For example if you are going from the U.S. on Aeromexico you would do customs at your final destination if they have it. If you were changing from say continental to Aeromar you would probably do customs in MEX. As above check with the airline, but either way, you will just do it once, and yes two hours is enough if you flights are on time. I have done it many times in an hour chaning planes in MEX.

Last November we flew from LAX to Acapulco with Mexicana Airlines, with a plane change in Mexico City. We checked our luggage through to our destination and did not have to pick it up and recheck it at MEX. We went through passport control (immigration--which was a complete zoo) and that was it. That was the most time consuming part of our plane change, that and the fact that our gate was the last one, a pretty long hike.

This is easy...call your air carrier.