Minneapolis to Cancun on Delta Airlines
About My Flight - Minneapolis to Cancun on Delta Airlines
After the breakout of the COVID-19 Pandemic, I canceled multiple flights resulting in many different vouchers from various airlines. One of the airlines I had several credits with was Delta Airlines. These vouchers were one of the reasons I chose to book my departure flight from Minneapolis to Cancun with Delta Airlines. Another key reason was that Delta is one of the few airlines that continues to block the middle seat in economy class. Delta sometimes blocks seats in first-class as well, depending on the configuration of the aircraft.
To gain an extra layer of protection, I booked my flight in Delta’s First Class Cabin. The cost of a first-class ticket $394 (one way) compared to $218 (one way) for an economy class ticket. I thought it was worth the extra money to have more space since we were still amid the Covid-19 Pandemic.
I was excited when I went to chose my seat. Seat 3C was available, and as a bonus, seats 3D and 3B were blocked for safety. Having no one next to me or directly across from me would provide an even better chance of social distancing.
One final incentive of my first-class ticket was the opportunity to review a narrow body international flight on Delta Airlines in their premium cabin. I was curious to see if my trip from Minneapolis to Cancun would be different than Delta’s domestic first class.
I woke up on the morning of my flight to a winter storm warning. The Minneapolis area was expecting 6-12 inches of snow. Thankfully, I was able to get in the air a few hours before the storm began.
Minneapolis to Cancun on Delta Airlines - Table of Contents
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Checking In at Minneapolis International Airport - MSP to CUN
After waking up at 5:45 am, I arrived at the airport around 6:30 am. I was surprised by how crowded the airport was. I parked my car in the parking garage at MSP ($22 a day) and walked across the sky bridge into the check-in area.
The line for Delta Economy stretched almost the entire length of the terminal. With my first-class seat, I had access to premium check-in at the Delta Sky Priority counter. The line was still fairly long, and it took around 30-minutes to get to the front of the line.
The agent checked my passport, tagged my bag, and asked me to scan a QR code on my phone, which would allow me to complete my health screening for the Mexican authorities. The QR code took me right to the website, and I filled out the form before going through security.
With TSA Pre-Check, I was through security within ten-minutes. I used the restroom and then made it to the gate about 45-minutes before boarding.
At the Gate/Boarding - Delta Airlines - Minneapolis to Cancun
There was plenty of room at the gate area to spread out. It appeared from the number of people at the gate that the flight would be about half-full. Delta is still blocking middle seats, which was likely why there were so few people in the boarding area.
Delta boarded from the back of the airplane to ensure passengers can social distance. As a first-class passenger, I was welcome to board whenever I wanted to. I boarded about halfway through the process and took my seat. As expected, there was no one next to me, which was an added safety benefit.
First Class Seat 3C - Delta 737-900 ER - Minneapolis to Cancun
I chose seat 3C, which was next to two seats (3D and 3B) that were blocked due to COVID-19 safety protocols. I spent most of the time in seat 3D so I could lean up against the window.
The plane had entertainment monitors and WiFi but was definitely one of Delta’s older 737’s. The first-class seat reminded me of first-class on Delta’s old 757-300s. While there was plenty of legroom and space, the seat itself was not as comfortable as other first-class seats I have sat in.
Having an empty seat next to me made up for the uncomfortable seat as I was able to spread out and work on my website.
Another perk on having my own row is that I could move between the aisle and window seat. As we came into land, I took some beautiful pictures of the Caribbean coastline, lagoons, and tropical forests.
On Board Service - Minneapolis to Cancun on Delta Airlines
Service on my flight to Cancun was limited due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. It began with a Clorox Wipe upon boarding to wipe down the seats. Then, the flight attendants passed out a bag with goldfish crackers, Delta’s famous Biscoff cookies, and a bottle of water.
About thirty minutes into the flight, the flight attendant came through the first-class cabin and offered each passenger a snack box. I chose the “Orange Box,” which consisted of Wheat Thins, salami, cheddar cheese spread, some chocolate wafers, another bag of goldfish crackers, and a tic-tac.
I then was offered my choice of beer and wine. Since I do not drink alcohol, I asked for a Diet Coke. Unfortunately, there were not any cans of pop available, so I was stuck drinking some tiny bottles of water.
The flight attendants were extremely friendly and constantly came through to collect garbage and check to see if I needed anything. While it wasn’t a typical “first-class” experience, I felt fortunate to be able to spread out and have more space to stay socially distanced.
Wi-Fi - Delta Airlines - Minneapolis to Cancun
There were various Wi-Fi plans available, ranging from $6 for an hour of slower Wi-Fi to $36 for fast, streaming quality Wi-Fi for the duration of the flight. I purchased one hour of streaming quality Wi-Fi for $10. An hour of Wi-Fi would allow me to work on my website, check my email, and then be able to take a nap before landing. I always purchase the faster Wi-Fi as it allows me to upload photos.
Customs and Immigration at Cancun International Airport
The first stop after deplaning was immigration. Upon nearing the escalator that led to the passport control area, I knew I was in for some trouble. The escalator was turned off, and there were a bunch of people standing on it. Once I got down into the arrivals hall, there was a mass of disorganized humanity, masked up and unsure of where to go. After waiting for about twenty minutes without moving, I started pushing my way up towards the front until I reached the queue.
It took about 45-minutes from the start of the queue to reach the front of passport control. As I neared the front of the line, it suddenly became very noisy, and everyone was looking towards the rear of the line. A fight had broken out, and there were definitely punches being thrown. I don’t understand why someone would fly into a foreign country, only to be arrested before clearing immigration and customs.
The immigration agent barely asked me any questions other than “work or vacation.” I think she was more interested in watching the post-fight spectacle as well. She stamped my passport and returned the immigration form that I will need to turn in when I exit Mexico.
When I arrived at the baggage claim, my bag was already out. I had heard stories about the stoplight at customs, red means they search your bag, and green means you walk through unsearched. I am not sure if the stoplight has been discontinued, or if due to COVID-19, they suspended it. Regardless, I walked right through customs without even receiving a glance.
Cancun Airport Transporation
There are plenty of options to get from the Cancun International Airport to your hotel. Typically, I either take a taxi or an Uber, but due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, I decided to pre-book my airport transportation using a private transfer company. I thought this would be the safest way to ensure the vehicle had been properly sanitized after the driver’s previous trips.
To get to my airport transfer, I walked through the arrivals area towards ground transportation. When I exited the terminal, I was met by a rush of people trying to offer me taxi service and other transportation options. I found a man holding the sign for my transportation company, and he took me to my driver. I highly recommend pre-booking transportation, as it is very chaotic upon leaving the airport.
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