PSTA taxis line up outside T1 and T2 arrivals
PSTA runs as an authorized taxi service at Mexico City International Airport (MEX), with desks in both T1 and T2 arrivals halls next to the exit doors. You buy a paper ticket at the counter, then hand it to the driver in the official PSTA line right outside the terminal. Fares are pre-set by zone, so a ride into central Mexico City (around the Zócalo) usually prices in the MXN $250–$350 range depending on time and traffic.
Service runs 24/7 from both T1 and T2, which matters if your Aeroméxico flight lands at 03:00 or a US carrier drops you late into T1. You pay at the booth in pesos or by card, then the agent prints a receipt with the fare, license plate, and a 10-digit ticket number. Keep that slip; it’s the only proof you have if you need to complain or forgot a bag in the trunk.
PSTA uses sedan-style taxis for up to 4 passengers with one or two 23 kg checked bags, and they also sell “van” categories for larger groups or heavy luggage. A van to Condesa or Roma Norte often comes in around MXN $450–$550 from either terminal, which splits nicely if there are 3–4 people. Make sure the booth actually marks “van” on the ticket; drivers sometimes push back if the wrong category is printed.
Staying inside the secure area, you’ll see signs in Spanish and English pointing you toward “Taxis Autorizados” on the arrivals level; follow those to find the PSTA counter in T1 Hall A and the similar counter near Door 4 in T2. Ignore anyone approaching you in the corridor offering “taxi, taxi” or quoting a price in US dollars; the official counters work in Mexican pesos and show the tariff chart on the wall with zone codes.
Watch out for surge-style upselling on “traffic” or “night” supplements; PSTA uses a fixed tariff table, so there’s no official MXN $100 night fee or extra cost for the toll road into the city. If someone at a desk tries to add a handwritten charge on the receipt, step one desk over and buy from the next PSTA agent. The printed fare on the system receipt is what you pay the driver, nothing more.
One tip: if you’re landing into T2 but staying north of the airport near the Peñón de los Baños area, ask specifically for that zone at the counter; it’s usually MXN $150–$200 cheaper than a central city fare, and you avoid paying for distance you’re not actually traveling.