If you live in Southern California, you may be able to travel south for less money! The Tijuana Airport is just across the border from San Diego and the Cross Border Xpress (CBX) can get you there easier.
When I first started looking at flights to Havana, I decided to investigate the cost from Tijuana compared to San Diego. The flight from San Diego to Havana, Cuba was at least $800. I found one from Tijuana for $330! I chose to cross the border and save some money!!
In the past, you would have to enter and exit Mexico via one of the regular, busy border crossings and then drive or cab to the airport. Unfortunately, while this saves you money on your flight, you may spent a couple hours waiting to cross the border.
The Cross Border Xpress (CBX) opened December of 2015. This bridge links San Diego County (Otay Mesa) directly to the Tijuana International Airport. It saves a lot of time and hassle that may otherwise be experienced with the regular border.
How it works: You need to have a boarding pass for a flight departing Tijuana International Airport within 24 hours of when you cross the bridge. On your way back to the United States, you must have a ticket that arrived within the last 2 hours. You will also need your passport and the Cross Border Xpress bridge ticket. Each ticket is valid to cross one way.
Tickets can be bought along with your flight, at the CBX terminal upon arrival, or online at www.crossborderxpress.com They currently cost $12 per person per crossing for all ages.
How to get there:
1. Take the trolley. Trolley passes are $5 for the whole day. The blue line ends at San Ysidro trolley station, right by the San Ysidro border crossing. From here, you could try to get a taxi, Lyft, or Uber to the Cross Border Xpress.. There is also a shuttle that runs between this trolley station and the CBX terminal every 30 minutes between 5:00 am and 2:00 am. It costs $3 each way. Currently it is difficult to find very much information online about shuttles beyond what is listed here: www.crossborderxpress.com/getting-here For information on the trolley, visit www.sdmts.com
2. Drive yourself and Park. There is parking in front of the CBX terminal in Otay Mesa. It claims to be fully fenced, with security lights and patrolled 24/7. Parking is first come first serve and is currently $15/day.
3. Get a ride. You could take a taxi or Uber… but if you have a friend that will drop you off and pick you up, this is your easiest and cheapest option. This is how I am experiencing the CBX bridge for the first time. The driver will be required to take a ticket upon entering the area, but will be able to exit at no cost if doing so within 15 minutes.
4. There is also a shuttle that goes from Downtown San Diego to the CBX terminal. It costs $8 each way and runs every 2 hours between 5:30 am and 1:30 am. This info is listed along with the shuttle from San Ysidro trolley station at www.crossborderxpress.com/getting-here
Once you are at the CBX terminal, you can check in and get your boarding pass. If you bought your CBX bridge pass along with your ticket, they can print this out for you as well. Then you show an agent your boarding pass, passport, and ticket and cross through the enclosed walkway.
You will arrive in Tijuana airport next to the baggage claim. Follow the exit sign and head left. Then you will need to go through Tijuana’s security to access the gates. Currently there are two concourses. One has the Volaris flights and the other the Aeromexico flights. The concourses are a mirror image of each other. They have almost exactly the same restaurants and shops. And yes, each has a Starbucks. Concourse A has a lovely wine bar where you can purchase by the glass or bottle. This is where I am waiting for my flight and writing this post.
Upon returning from your vacation, you will again cross the bridge to the United States. The exit to the bridge is in the baggage claim area. I read multiple reviews of people missing the sign for the CBX bridge and they end up exiting the baggage claim. They cannot reenter once exiting, and therefore have no way to access the bridge. If this happens, you must use the regular border crossing, which means getting a cab and waiting in line to cross. Be sure you are entering the CBX area before exiting baggage claim. Watch for this sign!
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