13 Flights Cancelled And Dozens Delayed At Los Cabos Airport Today: What Travelers Need To Know

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Saturday is traditionally the busiest transition day of the week in Los Cabos. Thousands of sunburned tourists pack up to head home, while thousands of new arrivals touch down to start their Baja winter vacations. But if you are flying into or out of SJD International Airport today, Saturday, November 14, you need to double-check your airline app immediately.

As of early this morning, Los Cabos International Airport is experiencing a massive wave of operational disruptions. The departure and arrival boards are flashing red, and the delays are stacking up quickly.

If you are currently sitting in your resort lobby waiting for an airport shuttle, or sitting at a gate in the United States waiting to board your flight down to Cabo, here is the latest data from the tarmac and exactly what your passenger rights are under Mexican law.

The Hard Numbers: United and Alaska Airlines Take The Brunt

The operational disruptions started early. As of the 5:00 AM local time report, airport authorities confirmed a total of 13 outright flight cancellations and 10 upcoming severe delays, completely piling on top of 65 rolling delays that have already impacted the schedule.

An analysis of the terminal data shows that incoming flights (arrivals) are taking the absolute worst of the hit. The disruptions are heavily concentrated on major U.S. connection hubs, specifically affecting flights originating out of Los Angeles (LAX), Houston, Denver, Seattle, and Portland.

If you are flying with United Airlines or Alaska Airlines, you need to be on high alert. These two carriers are currently experiencing the highest number of disruptions to their early morning and mid-day schedules. However, other major carriers including Delta, American Airlines, JetBlue, and Air Canada have also logged cancellations and rolling delays this morning.

While some delays are a manageable 15 to 20 minutes, others are stretching into painful territory, with at least one Alaska Airlines arrival currently held back for over three hours (183 minutes).

Crucial tip for departing tourists: Because the majority of these cancellations and delays are affecting arriving aircraft, it means the planes you are supposed to take home are not physically at the SJD airport yet. A delayed arrival guarantees a delayed departure.

What You Should Do Right Now

If you have a flight scheduled for today, do not head to the airport blind. SJD is not a massive, sprawling airport with endless lounges; when flights back up, the terminals get incredibly crowded, seating becomes scarce, and the food court lines stretch out the door.

• Check the App: Rely on your airline’s official mobile app for the most real-time data, not the airport’s website.
• Talk to Your Shuttle Provider: If you booked private transportation from your resort, message them now. Many professional transport companies actively track flight numbers and will allow you to push your pickup time back so you can wait out a delay by the resort pool rather than on the airport floor.

Know Your Passenger Rights in Mexico

If you are flying out of Los Cabos and your flight is delayed or canceled due to reasons within the airline’s control, you are protected by Mexico’s Civil Aviation Law. Do not let gate agents brush you off; here is exactly what you are legally entitled to:

For Flight Delays:

• 1 to 4 Hours: The airline is legally obligated to provide you with basic assistance. This includes access to phone calls or emails, as well as complimentary food and beverages while you wait.
• Over 4 Hours: If your delay stretches past the four-hour mark, Mexican law treats it exactly like a cancellation.

For Flight Cancellations (or delays over 4 hours): You have the right to demand one of three compensation options:

1. A Full Refund: A complete refund of your ticket price, plus an additional compensation penalty mandated by law.
2. Substitute Transportation: Rebooking on the very next available flight (whether it is with them or a rival airline) at absolutely no additional cost to you, plus meals and hotel accommodations if the flight doesn’t leave until the next day.
3. Penalty-Free Rescheduling: A new itinerary for a future date of your choosing without any change fees or penalties.

If an airline tries to deny you these basic rights at the Cabo airport, look for the Profeco module. The Federal Consumer Prosecutor’s Office maintains a physical presence at SJD specifically to help tourists enforce their legal rights against airlines during massive disruption days like today.