Cabo San Lucas

[jax88]

Time to plan another trip.  Looks like Cabo this time.  Can anyone share what they know about the airport at Cabo San Lucas (MMSL)?  What are their landing fees, overnight fees, do they have tie downs, etc.  Any information would be appreciated.

[Bennett]

I suggest that you contact (and join) the International Bush Pilots (formally, the Baja Bush Pilots).  They have up to date information on just about all of the Baja airports.  I've flown to Cabo a number of times.  There are two airports, and they can give you current advice about the differences. Great organization, and worth the annual fees. 

[Joe Zuffoletto]

Randy,

I'm flying to MMSL this Friday, 13 April. It will be my first personal flight to Mexico. I've done a lot of research, legwork and planning for this trip and will be glad to share what I've learned with everyone. Before I dive in, a few questions: 1) Have you flown to Mexico before and are you familiar with all the paperwork, etc.? 2) Where will your flight originate, and will MMSL be your first destination in Mexico? and 3) When do you plan to go? There's a G-20 summit in Cabo in June and you definitely don't want to go when that's underway as there will be airspace restrictions, etc.

Bush Pilots International is a good resource but there aren't many recent posts about MMSL. I would HIGHLY recommend the book "2010 Pilot's Guide to Mexico," which you can order online from Caribbean Sky Tours.

BTW, MMSL is definitely the airport of choice for GA in the Cabo area. MMSD (San Jose del Cabo, where the airlines go) is not GA-friendly at all.

Joe

[RobertoTohme]

Randy,

Check out www.acsl.com.mx for the info you're looking for, and as Joe said, if this is your first flight into Mexico then you have to do some research work... it's not difficult, just different.   I fly to ACSL on average once a month, and it couldn't be better for convenience and practicality.

[Immelman]

It has been about 4 yrs since I made the trip, but we used MMSL and left the airplane there for about 4 days. Whatever the fees were, they were quite reasonable. Did not get ripped off on anything, and received great service.

[frcabot]

Can anyone comment on this with info? I e-mailed MMSL, they said they want to charge me $360 USD for a single Mooney for one night, which includes a $4.29 landing fee, a $2 embarking/disembarking fee, a $13.42 parking fee, a $31.59 "boarding passenger" fee and a $138.82 (WTF) "handling" fee, and then they want to charge me another $170.75 in "immigration" fees even though I'm already clearing customs in Ensenada. That does not seem like "quite reasonable" fees...

[yvesg]

That would be an expensive trip. I would email them back that this is not reasonable.

Yves

[frcabot]

That would be an expensive trip. I would email them back that this is not reasonable.

Yves

I did. But since others are writing about the "reasonable fees," there must be something I don't know or I must be talking to the wrong employee. So I'm hoping someone with first-hand knowledge can give me the skinny on what the fees are actually supposed to be?

[frcabot]

Here's the e-mail exchange:

 

 

 

On Tue, Feb 3, 2015 at 7:37 PM, Operaciones <xxx@acsl.com.mx> wrote:

 

Hello,

 

Yes, the quote is in USD. We are charging you

$188 pesos per day for parking.

$60 pesos of landing

 

Because it is an international fee,bording  and handling is a bit higher.

 

If you would stay for a week or more we can make you a discount on parking.

 

Best,

 

 

 

Luis A Romo

MMSL FBO

Cabo San Lucas International Airport

Tel +52(624)124-55-00

Fax +52(624)124-55-50

 

#1 Mexican FBO in the 2014 Pilots’ Choice Awards

#1 Mexican FBO in the 2014 Pro Pilot PRASE Survey

 

 

 

 

De: xxx [mailto:xxx@gmail.com] 
Enviado el: martes, 3 de febrero de 2015 19:45

Para: Operaciones
Asunto: Re: Question re fees and 100LL prices

 

 

Hello,

 

This is in US dollars? $360 USD seems high for a single engine four seat plane? Your website shows the following fees http://www.acsl.com.mx/fees.html:

-Landing 60 pesos minimum

-Boarding 12.20 pesos

-Parking 75 peso minimum

-Airport Use Fee 240.00 pesos per passenger

 

For a total of about 387 pesos or $26 USD? So how does $26 USD turn into $360 USD?

 

Also please keep in mind that we are clearing customs in Ensenada (MMES) and will be proceeding to Puerto Vallarta MMPR after departing, so they are both domestic.

 

Are you sure that the figures you provided are correct?

 

 

On Tue, Feb 3, 2015 at 6:38 PM, Operaciones <xxx@acsl.com.mx> wrote:

Hello Mr. xxx,

 

Attached you will find the quote that you requested us,

 

It covers a 24 hours parking, 1 PAX, all airport and authorities fees.

 

Hope to see you in Cabo San Lucas soon, have a great evening,

 

Please if you have any other question don’t hesitate to ask us,

 

Best,

 

 

 

Luis A Romo

MMSL FBO

Cabo San Lucas International Airport

Tel +52(624)124-55-00

Fax +52(624)124-55-50

#1 Mexican FBO in the 2014 Pilots’ Choice Awards

#1 Mexican FBO in the 2014 Pro Pilot PRASE Survey

[carusoam]

Dp

[frcabot]

1 peso is about $0.07 according to Siri...

Roughly worth a dime for easy calculation.

240 X $0.10 = $24

How does that sound?

Confirm your calculations back with the gentleman in Mexico. Bring a copy of your conversation with you.

Best regards,

-a-

Sorry, not sure what you're trying to say. The airport is telling me the fees are $360 USD. Where are you getting $24 from?

[carusoam]

Grabbed the wrong number....

The obvious error is the word USD, $ mixed with the word Peso...

USD is $, Peso is not USD....

Try #2...

Adding all the numbers...I get 387 pesos

Converting, I estimate $38.7 includes the pilot

Add $24 for each additional passenger.

That is my understanding of the email....

It would make sense to confirm your understanding with the gentleman who you are emailing with.

How is this?

Best regards,

-a-

[frcabot]

Grabbed the wrong number....

The obvious error is the word USD, $ mixed with the word Peso...

USD is $, Peso is not USD....

Try #2...

Adding all the numbers...I get 387 pesos

Converting, I estimate $38.7 includes the pilot

Add $24 for each additional passenger.

That is my understanding of the email....

It would make sense to confirm your understanding with the gentleman who you are emailing with.

How is this?

Best regards,

-a-

Yes, that's exactly what I calculated. If you look at the e-mail exchange above, I said my calculations per their fees on their website came to 387 pesos or $26 USD. Technically it might be a little bit more for some of the fees if they depend on MTOW, since a Mooney M20J is about 2,700 lbs (so I guess some of the fees would be x3).  And he said no, it was $360 USD, including some bogus "handling" fee of $140 USD. So I'm not sure what the deal is.

[frcabot]

Yes, that's exactly what I calculated. If you look at the e-mail exchange above, I said my calculations per their fees on their website came to 387 pesos or $26 USD. And he said no, it was $360 USD, including some bogus "handling" fee of $140 USD. So I'm not sure what the deal is.

Also, the written quote I received very clearly says $360 DOLLARS, not pesos.

[carusoam]

There will be plenty of time for mistakes once you get there.

See if you can clear up your understanding with him before you go.

It looks like you and I have cleared up the calculation and came to the same number...

You may try a different way. Have him quote it in pesos. This will make it easier for him to get his numbers correct.

The mix of USD and Pesos in this fashion is typical for honest mistakes...

Quoting in pesos removes the error.

If the quote comes back 3,600 pesos, he doesn't want you in his airport....

[frcabot]

There will be plenty of time for mistakes once you get there.

See if you can clear up your understanding with him before you go.

It looks like you and I have cleared up the calculation and came to the same number...

You may try a different way. Have him quote it in pesos. This will make it easier for him to get his numbers correct.

The mix of USD and Pesos in this fashion is typical for honest mistakes...

Quoting in pesos removes the error.

If the quote comes back 3,600 pesos, he doesn't want you in his airport....

-a-

It looks like the major difference is that he wants to charge some sort of "handling" fee and the immigration fees. I'm 100% sure the immigration fees are unnecessary since we're clearing customs in MMES. No clue what the handling fee is, I have a feeling it's quite unnecessary.

[jkhirsch]

Looks like an exchange rate problem to me, just remember even when frustrated that ol'...honey...flies...vinegar.

[Joe Zuffoletto]

Here are my fees from March, 2013, in US dollars:

 

Landing: $5

Embarking/Disembarking: $2.34

Parking for one week, including 20% discount: $100

Boarding for one pax (in addition to me): $26

Handling: $83

 

Total: $217

 

I just sent them an RFQ for my Mooney for later this spring. I'll post what I get back.

[frcabot]

Here are my fees from March, 2013, in US dollars:

 

Landing: $5

Embarking/Disembarking: $2.34

Parking for one week, including 20% discount: $100

Boarding for one pax (in addition to me): $26

Handling: $83

 

Total: $217

 

I just sent them an RFQ for my Mooney for later this spring. I'll post what I get back.

Apparently not an exchange rate problem then. Except that the "handling fee" appears to have gone up by $60. Wow... I've honestly never heard of such a thing in the states. These are like Gulfstream prices or something. I guess we will scuttle the trip, it's really not worth it to me to pay $300 bucks just to spend one night in MMSL when I can fly commercial for cheaper than the "handling fees" alone.

[frcabot]

LOL, I just got a quote back from "Manny Aviation Services" Mexico for MMSL: total is $815.31 US Dollars... ROFL. A $261.37 "coordination, representation & arrangements" fee, a $71 "access to plataform [sic]" fee, a $202 "handling supervision" fee, a $22 "communications fee"... I kid you not.

 

Mexican economy must really be hurting, eh?

[Joe Zuffoletto]

I never minded paying the handling fee because they don't inspect your luggage and I often mule stuff down there for my vacation home for which I would normally owe duty (e.g., mucho Scotch  ).

 

I know the fees have gone up but I didn't realize how much. Also, I thought there was only one FBO at MMSL. Never heard of Manny Aviation Services.

 

Cabo is the most expensive destination on the Peninsula by far. Some guys at Baja Bush Pilots are flying into La Paz and driving down these days.

[Robert C.]

Some one with mexican experience pls jump in but it looks to me like a massive communications breakdown. Isn't the "sign" for peso the same as for $ ?

 

Look at the official fee table:

 

Concept Description National International 501 Landing (pesos per ton MTOW)
$60 pesos minimum charge. $ 17.90 $ 42.00 502 Boarding / unboarding services
(pesos per ton MTOW) $ 12.20 $ 24.00 503 Parking (pesos per ton MTOW
and per hour of parking)
$75 pesos minimum charge $ 3.45 $ 6.70 504 Airport Use Fee 
per boarding passenger) $ 240.00 $ 30.00 USD

 

These are all peso numbers.

 

Joe's actual bill bears that out.

 

Am i missing something?

 

Robert

[frcabot]

Some one with mexican experience pls jump in but it looks to me like a massive communications breakdown. Isn't the "sign" for peso the same as for $ ?

 

Look at the official fee table:

 

Concept Description National International 501 Landing (pesos per ton MTOW)

$60 pesos minimum charge.

$ 17.90 $ 42.00 502 Boarding / unboarding services

(pesos per ton MTOW)

$ 12.20 $ 24.00 503 Parking (pesos per ton MTOW

and per hour of parking)

$75 pesos minimum charge

$ 3.45 $ 6.70 504 Airport Use Fee 

per boarding passenger)

$ 240.00 $ 30.00 USD

 

These are all peso numbers.

 

Joe's actual bill bears that out.

 

Am i missing something?

 

Robert

Guys, the FBOs have confirmed again and again US Dollars. Dolares. Not pesos. They say explicitly "United States Dollars." There is no communication breakdown, they are trying to rip off gringos thinking we are all dumb or something. Joe also said his bill was in US Dollars. I'm inclined to believe him since it's still cheaper than what I was quoted but in the same ballpark.

[Joe Zuffoletto]

Some one with mexican experience pls jump in but it looks to me like a massive communications breakdown. Isn't the "sign" for peso the same as for $ ?

 

Yes, "$" signifies pesos or dollars in Mexico. Major source of confusion for gringos. "What do you mean, $18 for a beer???"

[kortopates]

Cabo San Lucas used to be a great flyin destination for GA but that was ruined in my opinion when it became mandatory to hire a handler and pay the exorbitant fees. I haven't been back since before the mandatory handling fee.  I recall when this first started, they took and gave you a nice 8x10 glossy of your plane landing at the airport as some justification of the charges. I guess enough people complained about that that and they have since dropped the picture and increased their charges. At least I haven't heard about the picture in years anymore.

 

Although I have been sticking to La Paz and Punta Pescadero ever since, I understand the preferred airport for the south cape is now the big one at San Jose Del Cabo - but you have to ask to park in the public transient parking area to avoid FBO handling fees. Jack at Baha Bush is always willing to step you the process if you are a member and give him a call. I'd recommend that since I last heard parking was very reasonable there at MMSD. These days though they have such great care rental deals at La Paz that most folks are drawn there.  

 

As for using Ensenada to enter - why? Although I have never used them, they have a reputation for being very nice but very slow and have recently been requiring advanced reservations to land there do to construction going on at the field. Hopefully you are aware of that and know how to call to make one. That said, you should have the range to make Loreto and I would suggest clearing there and if not, then San Felipe which is the most efficient place to process through but fuel prices are bit higher. Anyway, the scenery is far superior flying down east side of baja plus there are landing options along the east side every 30-45 minutes as well.