On the Ground: I always suggest leaving your hotel with plenty of time to spare on your return trip to Benito Juárez International Airport; as in most metropolitan cities, traffic can be unpredictable. Aeromexico has plenty of ticketing counters with friendly staff, and we checked in within five minutes. In my experience at MEX, security lines are never long, so we had plenty of time to find Aeromexico’s temporary Premier Salon lounge. The older VIP lounge was under final reconstruction at the time (it opened April 6 and now includes spa services and a kids’ lounge). The temporary lounge, although crowded, had all the necessities, including a large circular bar, snacks and WiFi.

Pre-Flight: Our early evening flight on a new Boeing 737-800 was busy, but we were offered refreshments of Champagne or water and reading materials at once. Takeoff was quick and on time.

In-Flight: Once we reached cruising altitude, we spread out in our lightly reclining seats, perfectly fine for the five-hour flight. Clase Premier boasts a 2-2 configuration of fairly wide seats, universal electrical outlets and a fully compatible screen and entertainment system offering newly released movies, music and games.

Dinner offerings were plentiful, but I chose the simple pasta dish with a light cream sauce and veggies, accompanied by a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc and a top-shelf whiskey as a nightcap.

After everything was cleared, I sat back and watched a newly released film while using onboard WiFi to work on emails before resting for the remainder of the flight. The cabin crew was prompt in keeping passengers replenished with water or refills throughout the trip.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

◆ Aeromexico’s newer Boeing 737-800 aircraft is a welcome upgrade with onboard entertainment and WiFi.

◆ The flight attendants were both unobtrusive and accommodating.

◆ Aeromexico’s new VIP Salon Premier in the International Terminal is a must-try; SkyTeam members can also use it.