The idea of walking across the border into Mexico to board a flight may sound strange to the average traveler. But for those who have used Cross Border Xpress (CBX) — the service that connects Southern California with Tijuana International Airport by pedestrian bridge — it can open up lots of possibilities, according to some travel experts.
“I’d go through CBX over San Diego any day,” said Tania Swasbrook, cofounder of Vgari Lifestyle, a travel agency and Virtuoso member based in San Diego. “Tijuana has routes that just don’t exist from San Diego. There are different parts of Mexico that you can fly to."
Over the past few years, I’ve met multiple travelers and travel advisors who sing the praises of CBX. The most commonly mentioned selling points include cost savings, the availability of more flights to more Mexican destinations and the overall ease of the process.
Selling Cross Border Xpress to Clients
Vgari’s Swasbrook is among the travel advisors who have personally used CBX for trips to Mexico and then sold clients on its advantages.
“I recommend it,” she said. “I do it myself often, and it’s super easy."
She admits that some clients have been skeptical when she has suggested that they try CBX.
“I’ve actually had to convince some of them — but then they’re obsessed,” she said. “I guide them through it. They get nervous, but then they get there and say, ‘This is it? It’s easy!’
The uniqueness of the concept is perhaps one reason why some travelers may be hesitant at first.
There’s nothing like this anywhere in the world, so it’s not like you can say, ‘This is like the one in Shanghai.' It’s difficult to understand, but then when you get there, you’re put at ease immediately.
“There’s nothing like this anywhere in the world, so it’s not like you can say, ‘This is like the one in Shanghai, or somewhere else,” Swasbrook said. “It’s difficult to understand, but then when you get there, you’re put at ease immediately.”
How Cross Border Xpress Works
The concept is indeed relatively simple: Passengers who have purchased a ticket for a flight out of Tijuana can buy a ticket to use the CBX facility, which is located in the Otay Mesa neighborhood of San Diego, just across the border from Tijuana International Airport.
Travelers can arrive by car (parking is available), taxi, ride share or bus. Alternatively, CBX operates a dedicated bus service linking the facility with various destinations in Southern California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas. CBX tickets can be purchased at the facility and on the CBX website and app.
Upon arrival at the CBX facility, travelers — who must hold an airline ticket for a flight departing from Tijuana for that day — simply present their CBX ticket, walk across an enclosed bridge that traverses the U.S.-Mexico border, pass through Mexican customs and immigration and proceed to their gate.
Nausheen Farishta, founder of Globe Gazers, a travel blog focused on solo travel, also recommends CBX.
“I've spent a lot of time assisting people with the logistics of cross-border travel,” she said. “For my clients flying from Tijuana International Airport to other locations in Mexico, CBX has proved to be an invaluable resource. It offers a quick, easy and secure link to the airport in Tijuana with little waiting time.”
Farishta also notes that crossing the border through CBX is generally faster than a traditional land border crossing.
“From my perspective, CBX offers great value for people traveling farther into Mexico,” she said. “One client used CBX to avoid any delays at the busy land border during rush hour traffic, as she was boarding an early flight from Tijuana to Oaxaca. Without CBX, her travel would have undoubtedly been much more stressful, but she made her flight with plenty of time to spare.”
Insider Tips for Using Cross Border Xpress
While the process of using CBX is straightforward, Swasbrook says she has learned some strategies to make the experience go even more smoothly.
First, she says advisors and their clients should be aware of how Mexico’s budget carriers operate, since they’re among the biggest players at the Tijuana airport and charge low airfares that often don’t include many extras.
“The airlines there are mostly not the higher-end carriers,” she said. “It’s Volaris, Viva Aerobus — so you have to really pay attention to how you book it. That’s why you should always use a travel agent who has experience booking those airlines and using CBX.”
Those looking for a more traditional airline experience with more amenities may want to opt for Aeromexico, which also flies out of Tijuana.
Swasbrook additionally notes that it’s better to avoid peak holiday travel times, including Christmas, Easter and even Mother’s Day.
“You have to be careful with festive dates, because sometimes they only have a few people working, and you can have huge lines,” she said.
She also recommends buying CBX tickets in advance for both the departure and the return, to avoid potential delays during the return trip into the U.S.
