No Water Allowed While Transiting In Mexico City

I have found myself flying more through Mexico City International Airport recently. On my most recent trip to Colombia, I was simply transiting and ended up doing it both directions. I have transited in several airports around the world but had not experienced this bizarre rule before. I was told there was no water allowed while transiting in Mexico City. Normally, if you never leave the secured area it is not a problem, but this situation was as strange as it gets. Here is my experience with my water bottle while transiting Mexico City.

Transiting Process In Mexico City (MEX)

When you deplane in Mexico City you walk through a long set of hallways, just like many other airports when arriving or transiting internationally. From there you are then dropped into the immigration control area. You will show your passport and answer any questions they may have. Next, you walk to the baggage retrieval area to grab any bags you have before having them scanned at a exit checkpoint. The final step of the transiting process is to either exit the via a controlled area or utilize the transit area.

Mexico City Transit Area

You must have your passport and ticket checked where you then proceed up an escalator and directly to a security checkpoint. There are some signs, but nothing outside of normal security type ones of no weapons etc.  Also of note, I observed no trash cans here like you might see in the US and no signs saying no beverages.

After my bags went through, they grabbed my personal water bottle. I travel with this everywhere and it is a standard $15 type of bottle, nothing fancy. That is when they stopped me to tell me I could not have the water bottle. I questioned that even in transit where I am not leaving security it isn't allowed? Getting off one plane and directly onto another without exiting any control points? No was still the answer.

I observed a trash can now about two feet away. He could tell what I was thinking and this is when it got really weird. He said I couldn't go anywhere with the water and that dumping it out was not an option. I had to either drink it all right there on the spot or leave it behind. That didn't make any sense to me. How does me drinking it make it any better than dumping it out? Well, I had just topped it off on the airplane before landing, so I was not going to guzzle a bunch of water. I left the water bottle behind and cut my losses.

Avoiding International Incident

I probably looked visibility frustrated. That is as I walked off to gather my belongings and put my belt back on, I was approached by another employee. They came up and asked me if there was a problem. I explained the situation, he smirked at me and basically stated oh well, you should have gotten rid of it before getting here.

I explained there are no signs nor trash cans anywhere to do that other than the one two feet away from where we were. Again, I got the smirk and a too bad. Acting in my best interests, I let it go as I figured starting an incident over a water bottle would not be wise. I didn't need to end up as a Ken on Twitter videos for the next several years after all. The embarrassment of my Delta snafu still sticks with me some as well.

No Water Allowed While Transiting In Mexico City: Top Thoughts

It is important to realize that airport rules may vary all over the world. I still have no idea how this makes any sense though. You are in a secure area, getting off a plane, and onto another, having never left the airport. The area is designed specifically for transiting passengers. Still baffled, I even walked slower transiting on my return, looking for signs, trash cans, or anything specifically mentioning this, but saw nothing. I am still not sure if there is no water allowed while transiting in Mexico City or if there was an agent on a power trip. Best to play it safe if flying into, or through MEX though, and dump out any water you have until you get past the checkpoints.

Have you had this issues here or other places? Come over to the ToP Facebook Group and let us know.