Traveling from Cozumel to Cancun typically conjures images of lengthy ferry rides followed by an even longer car journey. This can be complicated by rough seas and bad traffic.
However, Aerus, a newcomer in the regional flight sector, promises to change that with a swift 30-minute flight that bridges the gap between these two tourist havens.
Recently we decided to book and take a flight. Here’s how our experience unfolded, from booking to landing.
Booking Online with Aerus
Our journey with Aerus began online at https://flyaerus.com. The booking process was slightly cumbersome; the English version of the website faltered, making navigation a tad frustrating. Also the mobile version of the site added difficulties which made me book from a computer (on vacation! How dare they!).
It’s clear that Aerus could improve their online interface to enhance user experience. Nonetheless, we managed to book our tickets after some persistence and the help of the Google translate app.
Check In Process and Check in Time
Arriving at Cozumel Airport at 6:55 AM for an 8:00 AM departure based on the recommendation of our concierge at private paradise, we found the airport almost empty. In fact we were the only people there.
The Aerus desk was unstaffed until exactly 7:00 AM when a lone Aerus employee arrived and began to organize our luggage and flight.
He spoke enough English to help us along the way. Given that Aerus had only launched services 10 days prior, it was understandable yet inconvenient that there was only one agent handling both check-in and boarding.
Armed with what appeared to be notecards from training, the agent navigated through our check-in, which was complicated by our amount of luggage – two duffels, two carry-ons, two roller suitcases, and an oversized item, a ski (not a water ski – a shot ski).
The process was slow, taking nearly 50 minutes, but the agent’s inexperience was evident and somewhat forgivable given the newness of the operation.
Plus there was nobody in line before or after us and he was the gate agent so I don’t think he would have let us not make the flight. In the future I bet check in will be faster and only take a few minutes. But for now you may want to allot some extra time.
Security and Boarding Procedure
Post-check-in, the process smoothed out considerably. Being the only passengers, we breezed through security and were escorted to our plane by the same agent who checked us in.
Boarding the Cessna Caravan, we noticed it was compact yet brand new. The twelve-seater was equipped with comfy new leather seats but cramped aisles, which proved a slight challenge to navigate with our carry-on bags. Once we were seated though everything was great.
The air conditioning was a welcome feature, kicking in as soon as the plane was powered. We read the safety card (which was only in Spanish) and we were on our way.
The Flight & The Views
After we were boarded we left the gate at 8:09 AM and taxied directly to the runway, taking off shortly after.
There were two friendly pilots who made the quick trip feel safe and enjoyable. The low altitude flight also really allows you to take in the beautiful ocean and coastal views.
That alone was a big bonus as I had never really seen the coast from that perspective.
The flight was a brief hop, landing in Cancun International Airport at 8:30 AM. I should also mention that the pilots were skilled and landing was very soft.
By 8:32 AM, we were at the gate, and by 8:40 AM, we had our bags and were outside the terminal. They arrive in the domestic terminal so there is no need for customs or immigration.
This expedited experience allowed us ample time to catch the shuttle to Cancun’s International Terminal 3 for our subsequent United flight.
For those in a rush, taxis are readily available at the terminal, offering a quicker but more expensive alternative to the free every-20-minutes shuttle.
Is Aerus a Good Option?
Despite a rocky start with the check-in process, Aerus delivered on its promise of a fast, convenient connection from Cozumel to Cancun.
The flight itself was smooth, and the service, though initially shaky, was great in every other way.
For travelers looking to save time, Aerus provides a viable, efficient alternative to the ferry-and-drive combo that many are accustomed to.
As this young airline irons out its initial operational kinks, it’s poised to become a favored choice for inter-city travel in the region.
Questions & Answers
Have a question? Leave it in the comments and I’ll try to get back to you. Here are the questions I had and searched Reddit for before figuring it out myself.
Is there a direct flight between Cancun and Cozumel?
Yes! A new service launched in May 2024 from Aerus. It’s small, affordable and overall pretty easy.
What is the fastest way to get from Cancun Airport to Cozumel?
The fastest way we found outside of a private jet was using one of the daily scheduled flights from Aerus.
We took the route from Cozumel to Cancun and it went pretty easy.
Casey Meraz is the founder of Juris Digital, Casey Meraz Consulting, Local SEO Experts and the author of How To Perform The Ultimate Local SEO Audit. He has written two books on SEO and has spoken at many digital marketing conferences. Casey is widely recognized as a Local SEO Expert.
