Cancun

We have booked a holiday to Cancun - first time there - and from what I am reading, it sounds as though the arrivals experience is pretty ghastly and stories of THREE hour queues have been bandied about

We are flying UC so will HOPEFULLY be off the aircraft promptly, though that hasn't always been the case, but is there any sort of priority queue? And is there a half decent lounge for the return?

Many thanks.

Well, can only give you my experience.

When we went over, the incoming flight was delayed an hour, and on the return trip it was delayed two hours, so accumulated lost time....

But the impact of that might have affected my queueing and lounge experience.

1) Being in Upper, we were off first. There was still about maybe 50 people ahead of us at the various passport checks when we arrived, so probably from previous flights.

And then it stopped. Nothing moved for an hour. Not a single person at passport control queue was let through. Nothing at all. Queues built up, not sure if other flights came in, but if VS came in behind a big flight caught like this, I doubt I'd be seeing the passport queues at all....

That could be affected by the 1 hour lateness....

Once through, the luggage was all sitting waiting. It could have been a luggage check before people let through on passports. There was evidence both of ours were opened and checked.

2) Lounge on the return was ok, Priority Pass one, but the first one I've been in where they enforced the 3 hour before departure rule, which was a bit of a git since we were delayed two hours (and due to its being departure time after delay, and VS usually calls an hour before the real departure, really on 2 hours in there). So we went and hung about for an hour, had some lunch at the overpriced Margaritaville, and eventually got in.

3) Weird little final note of lateness. Pilots tend to try and use the jetstream to gain time (I think, no expert), so quite bumpy and turbulent on the way back. Only comparison I have is another 2 hour delayed one from Vancouver, which was as bumpy.

Thanks for your experience - though it sounds as though it may be a challenging one! Better get in training for sprinting off the aircraft then

On the other hand I've never had any problems at all with passport control in Cancun (2014 and 2015). Just remember to stubbornly ignore the people who give the impression they are part of tourist information but are actually salespeople that hang around just inside the exit.

The lounge in CUN is instantly forgettable. We went to Margaritaville for a lovely burger and frozen margaritas instead. From there you can see the gate VS usually uses in the corner of the terminal.

Hi 7 visits to cancun( next one in 26 days) you never know how long it's going to take through passport control. My experience is from 2 hours plus to 10 mins. The one with the longest delay we were 2 hours later taking off from gatwick. There were 4 large planes landed within 10 mins which contributed to the build up. On a positive note never had to wait for luggage . Average time from landing to hotel( private transfer 30 mins travel is an hour and half .

We went last year in Economy. Through passport control very quickly but waited over an hour for our cases almost to the point ourselves and a few others were convinced they hadn't been boarded

Cancun airport is one of my top three worst airports which I have to visit far too frequently for work purposes. When that place is busy it is Busy! It is not uncommon for the last few rows of economy passengers to actually start queuing while still on the aircraft and be stuck on it in line for 20minutes not moving not because they are waiting for the people in front to get their things but because that is the end of the immigration line (that is it at its worst) if you arrive at a busy time then you can add at least another 2hours minimum to your journey. The airport itself puts me off visiting Cancun for any holiday.