It’s no secret that Mexico is one of our favorite travel destinations. Mexico is filled with so many unique destinations to visit throughout the year and if you live in Southern California, you have a major advantage when it comes to saving money on flights to Mexico.
San Diego is a border town connected to Tijuana and taking a domestic flight out of Tijuana when traveling throughout Mexico will save you a ton of money on flights.
I have been traveling to Mexico since I was just a kid, and ever since I can remember we have always flown out of Tijuana to save money on airfare. Traveling domestically out of the Tijuana airport can lead to cost savings up to 50% on airfare compared to airports in Southern California.
In recent years, traveling out of Tijuana has gotten much easier with the order of Cross Border Express (CBX).
What is CBX?
@aly.andco Want to travel to Mexico for less? Flying out of Tijuana and using the CBX bridge can save you $$$ on airfare. #familytravel #traveltiktok #traveltips #familytravels ♬ Love Story (Sped Up) – SNC
Cross Border Express, often referred to as CBX, is a pedestrian bridge that connects the Tijuana airport to San Diego. The bridge allows travelers to bypass traveling across the border through this unique partnership between the United States and Mexico.
The CBX Bridge is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and was utilized by over 4M people in 2022. Pedestrians cross the CBX Bridge by foot, making it a really convenient way to save money on travel if you are in Southern California.
How to get to CBX?
The CBX airport terminal is in Otay Mesa (Southern San Diego) and is physically located in the United States. Once you pay the toll and cross the bridge, you will enter customs and will end up at the Tijuana International Airport.
CBX is a total game changer for those who live in close proximity to the border, and you don’t have to deal with the hassle of driving across the border either.
CBX is about a 25-minute drive from Downtown San Diego, on days without any traffic. Note that if you are heading to CBX in the afternoon Monday through Friday, you will need to plan for traffic delays during peak traffic hours in San Diego.
What airlines fly out of Tijuana International Airport?
You can find direct flights from 12 different airlines out of Tijuana International Airport that travel to more than 39 destinations. These destinations include all major Mexican beach destinations and cities.
For traveling throughout Mexico, we usually fly through AEROMEXICO, VOLARIS, or VIVA AEROBUS. You’ll want to compare these airlines for the best deals as the costs can vary drastically depending on the destination and airline.
- AEROMEXICO
- VOLARIS
- AIR FRANCE
- CALAFIA AIRLINES
- GOL
- KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES
- VIVA AEROBUS
- AIR EUROPA
- AVIANCE
- FRONTIER
- IBERIA
- LATAM AIRLINES
You may be interested in reading our travel guide to Mexico City or our Cancun trip itinerary as you plan out some of the best places to visit in Mexico.
How much does it cost to cross CBX?
In order to cross the CBX pedestrian bridge, you will need to purchase a ticket for the bridge and have your boarding pass ready to show.
Many airlines allow you the option to purchase your CBX ticket with your flight when you are flying out of the Tijuana airport. If you decide to purchase through the airline, your boarding pass will serve as your ticket to cross the CBX bridge.
The most cost-effective way to purchase CBX is through the airline. It is also the most convenient as your boarding pass will serve as your ticket and pass to fly. The above image is an example of what it will look like when adding CBX to your airline ticket.
If you forget to purchase your ticket with your flight, you are not out of luck.
You can purchase CBX tickets here. Individual or family pack tickets can be purchased, and you are able to select from a one-way ticket or a round trip ticket. The cost for a round trip varies from $37.95 to $49.95 for an individual round trip ticket and from $141.94 to $189.95 for family pack (4 people) roundtrip ticket.
Here is a calendar to show the peak season categories:
Getting to & Parking at CBX
Every time we fly out of Tijuana International Airport using CBX, we always opt to park our car in the Cross Border Express parking lot. I find this to be the most cost-efficient and convenient way to travel if your vacation is for a week or less. If you are traveling for a few weeks or more, you will likely find it more cost-efficient to just take an Uber as a daily charge can easily add up.
I have priced out the cost of taking an Uber to CBX on multiple trips and it has always been a cheaper option to park at one of the secured self-parking lots at CBX.
CBX offers various levels of parking: valet services, premium and lots 1-3, lots A through E, or street parking. All of the parking lots, with the exception of street parking, are behind security gates. I have always felt like our car and belongings were exceptionally safe and the only way in and out of the parking structure is through your paid parking ticket.
Our favorite parking location at CBX is lot 3. Lot 3 is a short walk to the CBX entrance and is secured with a gate.
If you choose to park your car at the CBX parking lot, it is important to know that parking spots fill up quickly and I highly recommend reserving your spot early on.
You can reserve your parking at the link here.
Save time by filling out your required documents
In order to cross into Mexico using the CBX bridge, you will need to fill out a FMM Immigration Form. This form is required by every foreigner entering Mexico. The simple form will ask for your passport information and questions related to travel. This can be filled out online here, or in person at a kiosk.
I highly recommend filling out the form online as the kiosks can have long lines during peak seasons. One important thing to note when filling out the form online as to indicate that you will be traveling by land NOT AIR, as you will be crossing into Mexico by foot.
Be sure to arrive early
Although you will be flying domestic, you should plan to arrive 2-3 hours before your flight when using the CBX bridge.
Crossing the bridge is a multi-step process and there are many steps along the way where you can face delays and set backs, which can easily cause you to miss your flight if you do not plan accordingly.
Here is what you should expect on your day of travel
- Arrive at CBX 2-3 hours ahead of your flight
- Fill out your FMM immigration form upon arrival (see above for filling this out ahead of time)
- Show your CBX ticket or boarding pass to gain access across the bridge (CBX tickets can be purchased at a kiosk if you forgot to purchase one ahead of time)
- Get in line for customs and immigration. This is where you will be asked to show your filled out FMM form to enter Mexico
- Head to your airline counter to check in any bags and from here you will enter security again
- Once you have passed security, you have officially made it inside the terminals and you are ready for your flight
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