The Cross Border Express (CBX) from Tijuana International Airport to the USA could not have been simpler…it is a far better way to cross into the USA than the conventional land route.
Cross Border Xpress (CBX) Review – Northbound Crossing From Tijuana Airport To USA
I first wrote about the proposed bridge linking Tijuana to the USA in 2010…by December 2015 it had opened (at a cost of $120 million) and each year about 4 million travelers pass through.
After arriving in Tijuana from Mexico City, we walked down the departure hall, following the signs for the Cross Border Xpress.
In an apropos end to LEGO-filled trip, there was a LEGO vending machine on the way out…
Exit the secure area, proceed downstairs to baggage claim, the walk to the far end of baggage claim. There, you will find the CBX entrance. It’s currently under construction. There’s kiosk you can use to buy tickets…don’t do it!
Note: this service is only available for those departing or arriving in Tijuana Airport. You must scan your boarding pass in addition to your CBX ticket. When arriving and crossing northbound, you must use CBX within two hours of arrival.
Not only can you pre-purchase tickets online, but you can purchase them online on the spot and they are issued instantly. Ticket prices vary slightly based on the season and the direction you are traveling, but via the kiosk, they were 740 MXN each (about 36 USD) for our northbound high season crossing while online they were 29.95 USD each.
While family after family came up to the kiosk to buy tickets, I purchased them on the phone and saved about 15 USD for the two of us. Why didn’t I buy them in advance? I figured if there was a flight delay or some other issue, we might not need to use the CBX at all.
Tickets are not issued in a specific name…they are transferable…and really solely about revenue generation to pay for the facility rather than tied to your passport or any security-related matter.
Use the QR-code generated from your ticket to exit the gate, then proceed upstairs and start walking…it took us about 10 minutes to reach the end at a healthy pace. With the painting and other work taking place, I did not see that actual border marker marking the line between the United States and Mexico.
As we approached the end, we took an escalator downstairs and found the sort of immigration area you would expect to see at any major airport or cruise terminal…a dozen desks and belted stanchions creating lines (no photos – there were several no photography signs posted in this area).
Thankfully, it was empty…we had the room to ourselves and were processed into the USA in about 30 seconds.
Once past the desk, walk by the customs area (where you will be directed for any applicable secondary screening) and then follow the exit signs out, where you will be dumped by a 24/7 Starbucks.
The arrival hall in the CBX facility also feels like an airport, with rental car counters and concessionaires. Outside, you can walk past a couple taco trucks and into the parking lot.
We made our way around to the front where did not have any wait for a Lyft to take us to San Diego Airport (45 USD…Uber was 62 USD). The journey took 25 minutes at 7:00 pm.
CONCLUSION
The entire CBX process was very smooth and certainly saved time…it was worth the 60 USD for the easy cross-border experience. While the standard crossing at San Ysdiro does have an express lane for Global Entry cardholders, Augustine does not have one (yet) and that would have likely meant a very long and tedious wait.
I recommend the CBX and also advise you, especially if you are traveling within Mexico, to check out fares from Tijuana versus San Diego. In our case, we saved a whole lot of money (and it was fun!).
Do you have to be flying out of TIJ to use the CBX? Or in theory, can anyone use it if you’re willing to pay the $30?
You have to an airline ticket. Either way you go, into the TJ airport or out of the TJ airport, you have to scan both your CBX Code and your airline boarding pass for the gate to open.
Yes, I have updated story to add that. Thank you for the reminder.
What a great review. Thanks!
I’ve always wondered what the CBX is like from the experience side. Never used it but such a fascinating airport model.
As one that now lives in Cabo San Lucas and still has family in Orange County, we use it frequently. The airfare inside mexico to TJ is usually hundreds less than flying to LAX, or Orange County. The care rental prices are a good deal usually as well. Big note missed, there is a shuttle bus service you can book that leaves about every hour to San Diego and beyond. $17 to san Diego airport rental car terminal. Other buses go to LA, Las Vegas and Stockton.
The shuttle would have been ideal if I was traveling solo, but for the two of us I thought the 45 USD Lyft was fair.