Flying Home from Mexico City to Heathrow Read Time
I always find the flight home feels different from the outbound journey. The excitement of the trip has passed, you are usually more tired, and what matters most is a smooth airport experience, a comfortable seat and some decent sleep. On this journey, some parts worked well, but others left us disappointed.
British Airways 787-9 First Class Inbound Review: Mexico City to Heathrow in Seats 2E and 2F
American Express Centurion Lounge Mexico City Review: Disappointing, Crowded and Not Worth the Queue
In This Blog
A Smooth Start at Mexico City Airport
The journey started well. Check-in at Mexico City Airport was quick and simple, which made a good first impression. There was no unnecessary stress, and the process felt straightforward.
For a long-haul flight home, that matters. Nobody wants to embark on an overnight journey only to face confusion or long queues at check-in. Thankfully, British Airways handled this part well, and we moved through the airport without any major issues.
At that point, I felt hopeful that the rest of the airport experience would continue in the same way. Unfortunately, the lounge experience did not match the smooth check-in.
The Admirals Club Was a Disappointing Start
British Airways First and Business Class passengers had access to the American Airlines Admirals Club Lounge at Mexico City Airport. On paper, that sounded useful. In reality, it felt disappointing.
The lounge was crowded and lacked the calm feeling I wanted before a long overnight flight. Seating felt limited, and the whole space lacked a premium atmosphere.
The food was also poor. The choice looked limited, and nothing really appealed. For a lounge used by premium cabin passengers, it did not feel good enough.
After enjoying the Concorde Room at Heathrow on the outbound journey, the contrast felt very clear. I never expected Mexico City to match Heathrow’s Concorde Room, but I did expect something more comfortable and relaxing than this.
The Admirals Club felt more like a basic waiting area than a lounge I would look forward to using again.
Trying the American Express Centurion Lounge
Because the Admirals Club disappointed us, we decided to try the American Express Centurion Lounge. We had access because we hold an American Express Platinum Card, which includes lounge access as part of the annual fee.
I hoped this would give us a better place to relax before the flight. Sadly, it was also busy, with queues and very little sense of calm.
I had a Monterey Jack cheese, ham, lettuce and tomato sandwich, which was fine as a quick snack. However, the overall experience still felt underwhelming. The lounge had a stronger name and brand than the Admirals Club, but it did not give us the relaxing pre-flight experience we wanted.
At that point, both lounge options had disappointed us. Neither one felt especially premium, and neither made the start of the journey feel special.
Finally, on board British Airways First Class
Once we boarded the British Airways Boeing 787-9, the experience improved.
1 were sitting in seat 2E, the middle pair in First Class. These seats worked well for couples, especially on a night flight. It makes it easier to talk during the meal service, while still giving you your own space when it is time to sleep.
The small First Class cabin felt calm, which was a welcome change after the busy lounges. It was not the most modern or impressive First Class product in the sky, but it gave us privacy, comfort and direct aisle access.
After the poor lounge experience, simply sitting down in a quiet cabin felt like a relief.
Champagne Before Takeoff
British Airways served Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle Champagne before takeoff, which helped the flight feel more like First Class.
After two disappointing lounges, that glass of champagne made a difference. It gave the onboard experience a stronger start and added back some of the premium feeling that the airport experience had lacked.
The service itself felt similar to the outbound flight. It was no better or worse. The crew were friendly and professional, but the service did not feel especially polished or memorable. It worked well enough, but it did not reach the level where you step off thinking it was outstanding.
Dinner Was Mixed
The meal service was another mixed part of the journey.
The presentation was fine, and the crew served the meal at a steady pace. However, the beef was overcooked, which was disappointing. On a First Class flight, I expect the main course to feel more carefully prepared.
The food did not ruin the journey, but it did not lift it either. Like the outbound flight, it was acceptable rather than memorable.
British Airways can deliver some lovely touches in First Class, but the dining still feels inconsistent. The champagne felt premium. The overcooked beef did not.
The Lie-Flat Bed Was the Best Part
As this was an overnight flight, the bed mattered more than anything else.
The seat converted into a lie-flat bed, and British Airways provided a decent pillow, mattress topper and cover. These made the seat much more comfortable for sleeping.
The mattress topper softened the bed, the pillow gave enough support, and the cover felt comfortable for a long night flight. It was not an ultra-luxury First Class suite, but it did the job well.
For me, this was one of the strongest parts of the whole journey. After a busy airport experience and two disappointing lounges, the ability to lie flat and rest made a big difference.
My seat 2E also worked well for the overnight flight. They gave me the benefit of sitting next to my fellow passenger at the start of the journey, while still allowing me to settle down separately when it was time to sleep.
Heathrow Took the Shine Off the Arrival
Unfortunately, the experience at Heathrow was a nightmare.
After landing in Mexico City, I waited more than two hours to retrieve my luggage. After a long overnight flight, that felt unacceptable.
The delay completely took the shine off the arrival experience. It was frustrating, tiring and not what you want after travelling First Class overnight.
Luckily, I had booked an overnight stay at the Sofitel London Heathrow before our flight back to Manchester the next day. That decision made a big difference. Without the hotel stay, the baggage delay could have caused much more stress and may have affected our onward travel plans.
After a comfortable enough flight, it was disappointing that the journey ended with such a poor baggage experience.
Looking Back on the Whole Journey
Looking back, the Mexico City-to-Heathrow experience was a journey of contrasts.
Check-in worked well. The lounges did not. The Admirals Club felt crowded and basic, while the Centurion Lounge also felt too busy to enjoy properly.
Once onboard, British Airways First Class felt much better. The champagne before takeoff added a premium touch, and the lie-flat bed with pillow, mattress topper and cover helped me sleep.
However, the overcooked beef, average service, and long wait for luggage at Heathrow made the journey feel less than special from start to finish.
Final Thoughts
This was not a bad journey, but it was not a brilliant one either.
The British Airways First Class cabin gave us comfort, privacy and a decent night’s sleep, which mattered most on an overnight flight. However, the experience around the flight let it down.
The lounges in Mexico City were disappointing, the food on board could have been better, and the two-hour luggage delay at Heathrow was a poor end to the journey.
Would I fly British Airways First Class from Mexico City to Heathrow again using Avios or a Companion Voucher? Yes, probably.
Would I pay the full cash fare for the same overall experience? Probably not.
For me, this was a comfortable flight home, but the overall experience reminded me that First Class is not just about the seat. The airport, lounge, food, service and arrival all matter too — and on this trip, too many of those parts fell short.
Discover more from The Only Way Is Travel
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
