Mexico air passenger rights: what you're owed under Ley de Aviación Civil
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If your flight to, from, or within Mexico was delayed, canceled, or overbooked, Mexico's Ley de Aviación Civil (Civil Aviation Law) gives you specific rights — including compensation tied to your ticket price.
AirHelp doesn't currently handle Mexican claims, but if you flew with an EU airline, EU rules may also apply. We can check for free.
AT A GLANCE
Mexico’s passenger rights protection regulation
Mexico's Ley de Aviación Civil applies to all flights to, from, and within Mexico
Delays of 1 to 2 hours entitle you to food, drinks, or a voucher for a future flight (per the airline's policy)
Delays of 2 to 4 hours entitle you to food, drinks or a voucher for future flights worth at least 7.5% of the ticket price
Delays over 4 hours, cancellations, and denied boarding entitle you to claim flight compensation, plus a refund or rerouting
Compensation is at least 25% of your ticket price, not a fixed amount (like under EU rules)
No compensation if the disruption is caused by extraordinary circumstances like weather, security, or air traffic control
Claims are enforced by PROFECO, Mexico's consumer protection agency
AirHelp doesn't process Mexican claims, but can check if EU rules or the Montreal Convention apply to your flight
What is the Ley de Aviación Civil?
The Ley de Aviación Civil is Mexico's federal aviation law, and it's what gives you rights when a flight to, from, or within Mexico doesn't go to plan. It covers every scheduled flight on that map: Mexican carriers (Aeroméxico, Volaris, VivaAerobus), and any foreign airline landing at or departing from a Mexican airport. The law is enforced by PROFECO, Mexico's Federal Consumer Protection Agency, which handles complaints when airlines don't comply.
The law works differently from EU law EC 261, which most European travelers already know. Under EC 261, compensation is a flat figure tied to distance: £220, £350, or £520, while Mexican law ties compensation to your ticket price. For qualifying disruptions, you're entitled to at least 25% of what you paid for the ticket — paid on top of any refund or rerouting. The exact payout depends on your fare, so two passengers on the same flight may receive different amounts.
Mexico flight compensation: how much can you get?
Under the Ley de Aviación Civil, you're entitled to compensation when your flight is significantly delayed, canceled, or overbooked, as long as the disruption is the airline's fault. The amount is calculated as a percentage of your ticket price.
Disruption | What you're entitled to |
|---|---|
Delay of 1 to 2 hours | Food, drinks or a voucher for a future flight |
Delay of 2 to 4 hours | Same as above, but voucher ≥7.5% of ticket price |
Delay over 4 hours | At least 25% of the ticket price + refund or rerouting + care |
Cancellation | At least 25% of the ticket price + refund or rerouting + care |
Denied boarding | At least 25% of the ticket price + refund or rerouting + care |
Airlines have 10 days from your claim to pay the 25% compensation. Food, drinks and accommodation must be provided during the disruption itself.
Could EU law give you more?
European law provides fixed compensation of up to £520 depending on flight distance, regardless of ticket price. If your flight to or from Mexico was operated by an EU airline, you may be covered by EU law EC 261 instead, and that often means a higher payout. AirHelp can check which regulation applies to your flight for free.
Your rights for delays, cancellations and denied boarding
Delays
How much you're owed depends on how long the delay lasts. The longer you wait, the more the airline has to do for you.
For delays of 1 to 2 hours, the airline must provide as a minimum either food and drinks, a voucher for a future flight on the same route, or a combination of both — based on the airline's published compensation policy.
For delays of 2 to 4 hours, the same applies, but if the airline offers a voucher, it must be worth at least 7.5% of your ticket price. You also get free access to phone calls and emails.
For delays over 4 hours, you get the same options as for a canceled flight (see below): a refund, rerouting on the next available flight, or rescheduling for a later date. The 25% cash compensation applies if you choose a refund or rescheduling.
In all delay cases, the airline must give you free access to phone calls and emails while you wait.
Cancellations and denied boarding (overbooking)
If the airline cancels your flight for reasons within its control, or denies you boarding because the flight was oversold, the law gives you the choice between three options:
A refund of your ticket, plus at least 25% of the ticket price in cash on top
Rerouting on the next available flight, with meals, a hotel if you need to stay overnight, and transport to and from the airport
Rebooking for a later date that suits you, plus the same 25% in cash
Overbooking comes with one extra step. Before bumping anyone involuntarily, the airline has to call for volunteers willing to give up their seat in exchange for benefits. Only if there aren't enough volunteers does involuntary denied boarding apply — and in that case, the 25% applies on all three options, including rerouting (see below).
Worth knowing: the 25% applies even if you accept rerouting after overbooking
For a while, the law allowed airlines to skip the 25% compensation if you accepted rerouting. In July 2023, the Mexican Supreme Court settled the question: it's additional. So if you’re denied boarding for overbooking and accept the rerouting option, you're still entitled to the 25% in cash.
When the airline doesn't have to pay
If the cause of the disruption is an extraordinary circumstance outside the airline's control, the airline has no legal obligation to pay compensation or to provide food, drinks, or accommodation. Examples of extraordinary circumstances include severe weather, political instability, security threats, and air traffic control restrictions.
How to claim flight compensation in Mexico
Claiming compensation under the Ley de Aviación Civil comes down to three steps. The clock starts ticking from the day of the disruption, and you have 1 year to file a complaint — that deadline is set by article 14 of Mexico's Federal Consumer Protection Law.
Contact the airline directly. Most carriers have a complaints form on their website, and some accept claims at airport counters too. Send your booking details, a description of what happened, and any receipts for extra costs you had to cover. Keep proof of every communication — emails, reference numbers, screenshots.
File a complaint with PROFECO. If the airline doesn't reply, or refuses to pay what you're owed, the next step is Mexico's consumer protection agency. PROFECO runs a free online conciliation service through two platforms, Concilianet and Conciliaexprés, which between them cover most major airlines operating in Mexico. If your airline isn't on either, you can still file in person at any ODECO (PROFECO's local offices), or get in touch by phone or email through the consumer helpline.
Take it to court if conciliation fails. If PROFECO conciliation doesn't resolve the dispute, you may have additional options — including pursuing further legal remedies through a Mexican civil court.
What to have ready: your e-ticket or boarding pass, proof of the disruption (airline emails or screenshots usually do the job), and receipts for any out-of-pocket costs.
Could AirHelp help under another law?
AirHelp does not currently process claims under Mexico's Ley de Aviación Civil — for these, the PROFECO route is the right path. But you may be covered by another regulation as well: if your flight to or from Mexico was operated by a European airline, EC 261 can pay up to £520 in fixed compensation. And if your bags were lost, damaged, or delayed, the Montreal Convention may apply.
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