AeroMexico ORD to MEX Review: AM Plus, Boarding Zones & Terminal 5
About My Flight from Chicago O’Hare to Mexico City on AeroMexico
My flight from Chicago O’Hare to Mexico City on Aeroméxico was part of my journey from Chicago to Buenos Aires. I struggled to find a good review of the Chicago to Mexico City leg, so I decided to write my own based on my experience.
Aircraft Type and Cabin Layout
The flight operated on a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with three classes of service. AeroMexico Premier Class occupies the first four rows, followed by three rows of AM Plus, and then 21 rows of Main Cabin Economy.
Getting to Mexico City - AeroMexico - Chicago O'Hare to Mexico City - Table of Contents
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AeroMexico AM Plus on the 737-800
Why I Upgraded to AM Plus
Although I was originally seated in an exit row, I upgraded to AM Plus at a cost of $28. I made this decision because the middle seat in the exit row was already taken, while AM Plus row 8 had an open middle and aisle seat. I hoped no one would take the middle seat, giving me extra space for the flight.
AM Plus vs Exit Row Legroom
Unfortunately, the flight ended up being fully booked, and the middle seat did not remain empty. While AM Plus provides four additional inches of legroom, the difference was not as noticeable as the extra space offered by the exit row. Had I known the flight would be full, I would have kept the exit row seat.
Based on my experience, AM Plus is most useful when standard economy is nearly full and exit rows are unavailable. The extra legroom does provide some added comfort, but if an exit row is open, it offers significantly more usable space than AM Plus. On a full flight, AM Plus can still be a modest upgrade, but it is not a substitute for an exit row seat.
AeroMexico Check-In at Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Terminal and Check-In Experience
Check-in at Chicago O’Hare International Airport was fairly routine. My flight departed from the International Terminal (Terminal 5), and when I arrived at the airport around 9:30 pm, the check-in area was largely deserted. At that time of night, only a few flights had not yet departed.
Broken Kiosks and Bag Check
AeroMexico had a row of kiosks that were not working, which meant all passengers needed to line up at the main check-in counter. Thankfully, multiple agents were working, and the check-in process moved fairly quickly. I received my boarding pass and was informed that I would not need to reclaim my checked bag in Mexico City.
TSA PreCheck and Security
After check-in, I proceeded through security. With TSA PreCheck, it only took a few minutes to clear security and enter the terminal.
AeroMexico Boarding Procedures at O’Hare
Terminal 5 Late-Night Conditions
Terminal 5 at Chicago O’Hare Airport lags behind many other major international airports in the United States. There are only a handful of shops and restaurants, and most were closed late at night.
Boarding Zones and Timing
AeroMexico begins boarding approximately 40 minutes before departure and requires passengers to be in the gate area 60 minutes prior to departure. My flight was scheduled to leave at 12:20 am but was delayed until 1:00 am due to a late-arriving aircraft.
Boarding was organized using numbered queues for zones 1 through 5. Despite upgrading to AM Plus, I boarded with Zone 5. Fortunately, there was still space in the overhead bins for my backpack. One benefit of boarding late was that the aircraft pushed back from the gate within about ten minutes of my taking my seat.
Upgrading to AM Plus did not include priority boarding on this flight. Despite paying for the extra legroom, I still boarded with Zone 5, alongside most of the main cabin passengers. While overhead bin space was still available when I boarded, travelers expecting earlier boarding with AM Plus should be aware that it does not guarantee priority access.
Seat 8D – AeroMexico 737-800
Seat Comfort and Legroom
I was seated in seat 8D, an AM Plus seat, for the flight from Chicago to Mexico City. AM Plus increases the seat pitch from 32 inches to 36 inches. While the extra legroom was noticeable, it did not compensate for having a seatmate when compared to the exit row I had given up.
Seat Features and Entertainment Screen
Despite the full row, the seat itself was comfortable. The adjustable headrest featured bendable flaps that helped support my neck, and the in-seat entertainment screen displayed flight information throughout the journey.
AeroMexico Meals on the Chicago to Mexico City Route
Inflight Meal Service
Shortly after takeoff, a meal was served. The meal included a ham and cheese sandwich, vanilla pudding, and a Kit Kat. While it was not anything special, it was appreciated, especially given the flight time of fewer than four hours. Complimentary meals on flights of this length are increasingly rare.
AeroMexico Inflight Entertainment and WiFi
Entertainment Options
I slept for most of the flight and did not use the inflight entertainment system. AeroMexico’s inflight entertainment included movies in both English and Spanish, along with a dedicated section for Christmas movies.
Free Messaging and Paid WiFi
AeroMexico offers free inflight messaging on Wi-Fi–equipped aircraft, including the 737-800. Free messaging is supported on iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp. I briefly used the messaging service to contact my younger brother, who was up late assembling a Christmas gift for my niece.
Full WiFi access is available for purchase, with multiple pricing options depending on usage needs.
My Conclusions About Flying AeroMexico from ORD to MEX
Overall Impression
AeroMexico provided solid service on this redeye flight from Chicago to Mexico City. I would rank AeroMexico slightly above U.S. carriers on this route due to the complimentary meal and free inflight messaging.
Arrival and Connection in Mexico City
After arriving in Mexico City, I cleared immigration and security. With a three-hour layover before my connecting flight, I visited the American Express Lounge, where I wrote this review.
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