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Is it safe to travel to Mexico for spring break? What travelers should know
If you’re heading to Mexico for spring break, your trip may still be on — but you may need a backup plan.
Mexico’s latest security turmoil is already spilling into one of the biggest stresses of travel: flight schedules and cruise itineraries. Some airlines have paused flights to certain destinations and cruise lines have begun skipping ports, creating uncertainty just weeks before peak travel season.
Will Mexico violence affect spring break travel?
Right now, the answer is: it depends on where you’re going and whether disruptions linger into March.
ANKARA, TURKIYE – FEBRUARY 23: An infographic titled “States where violence erupted following the killing of El Mencho” created in Ankara, Turkiye on February 23, 2026. (Photo by Yilmaz Yucel/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A State Department security alert says Americans in certain areas should shelter in place because of “ongoing security operations,” road blockages and related criminal activity.
The same alert also makes a key distinction for spring break planning. Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara flights have continued to be disrupted, with the alert citing flight-crew availability. Most other airports are operating normally, and the alert says it has no indication of security-related flight disruptions outside Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta — including for travelers using other Mexican airports.
It also says the situation had “returned to normal” in Quintana Roo (Cancún/Cozumel/Playa del Carmen/Tulum), along with Sinaloa and Tamaulipas — important for travelers weighing whether to switch destinations.
So if your spring break trip is Puerto Vallarta/Riviera Nayarit (Nuevo Vallarta) or Guadalajara, you’ve got more near-term volatility to plan around than travelers heading to places like Cancún.
Airline specifics: waivers, rebooking windows, and what to check
Here’s what the big carriers have said so far:
American Airlines (GDL + PVR)
American Airlines’ travel alert covers Guadalajara (GDL) and Puerto Vallarta (PVR). The airline is waiving change fees for customers who booked by Feb. 21 and were set to travel between Feb. 22 and Feb. 26. Those travelers can rebook their trips at no extra charge, as long as the new flight departs by March 7. It also notes changes must be booked by Feb. 26, and you can’t change origin or destination cities.
Spring break implication: if you’re flying mid-March, you likely won’t be automatically covered under this waiver unless the airline extends it — but it’s a model for what extensions can look like.
Delta (PVR + GDL)
Delta’s advisory is explicitly labeled for “Jalisco, Mexico – Civil Unrest.” It lists PVR and GDL as affected cities, with impacted travel dates Feb. 22–26 and a reissue deadline of March 7. Rebooked travel must begin no later than March 7 for the waiver terms described.
Southwest Airlines (PVR)
Southwest posted a dedicated advisory for “Jalisco Mexico Civil Unrest – PVR.” It warns service to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) may be disrupted Feb. 22–25, and says customers can rebook or travel standby within 14 days of the original travel date between the same city pairs without paying a fare increase. It also spells out refund eligibility if Southwest cancels or significantly delays a flight and you choose not to travel.
Air Canada (PVR + Guadalajara region)
Air Canada’s notice urges customers in the Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta region to stay at their hotel or current accommodations and not head to the airport, saying it revised ticketing policies for affected customers.
What the State Department alert says about flights and ground travel
GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 22: A view of the site where Mexican Army troops killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as ‘El Mencho,’ leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (Jalisco New Generation), during a federal operation in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico on February 22, 2026. Earlier in the day, armed men blocked several highways in the western state of Jalisco, setting vehicles and trucks on fire in response to the federal security operation in the region (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The State Department says that “some, but not all” scheduled flights departing Guadalajara are disrupted, with a note that canceled U.S.-bound travelers may be able to connect through another Mexican city. It also adds that widespread toll road disruptions are occurring, with travelers directed to check the Mexican Federal Roads and Bridges of Incomes and Related Services X account for road-closure updates
Cruise line specifics: where ships are being rerouted and what’s on the March calendar
Cruise lines have mostly responded by skipping Puerto Vallarta rather than canceling full voyages.
Holland America’s Zuiderdam had a Puerto Vallarta call canceled; Cruise Critic reports passengers were told the ship would not dock.
Cruise Critic also reported Norwegian Bliss and Royal Princess were scheduled to dock later in the week and were expected to skip Puerto Vallarta as well.
Travel Market Report, citing a Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson, said a Norwegian Bliss Puerto Vallarta call was canceled, and it laid out what it described as the next scheduled Puerto Vallarta calls for several ships in early March — right in the lead-up to spring break travel weeks.
For spring breakers, this tells you that even if flights stabilize, cruise itineraries can still shift quickly — especially if lines decide Puerto Vallarta is a “skip” port for a few weeks.
GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 22: A view of the site where Mexican Army troops killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as ‘El Mencho,’ leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (Jalisco New Generation), during a federal operation in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico on February 22, 2026. Earlier in the day, armed men blocked several highways in the western state of Jalisco, setting vehicles and trucks on fire in response to the federal security operation in the region (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Anadolu/Anadolu via Getty Images)
When is spring break 2026 in Austin?
For families and college students in the Austin area, peak travel weeks are still ahead. Most spring break trips typically fall in mid-March, when schools and universities schedule time off.
Austin ISD spring break runs March 16–20.
The University of Texas at Austin is on break March 16–21.
Texas State University, another major driver of regional travel, schedules its break for March 15–21.
Because many travelers book trips months in advance, the biggest question now is whether the recent disruptions in western Mexico will stabilize before those peak weeks or whether airlines and cruise lines will continue adjusting schedules and itineraries as spring break demand ramps up.
Practical spring break tips: how to check cancellations and protect your trip
Here are some steps you can take to ensure you aren’t surprised when you show up at the airport for your vacation:
Check your airline’s “Travel Alerts/Advisories” page first; that’s where waiver terms and rebooking windows live. American, Delta and Southwest have published Mexico-specific entries tied to Puerto Vallarta/Guadalajara.
Turn on push notifications in the airline app and monitor “Flight Status” daily in the 72 hours before you leave and again the day of travel. Delta explicitly encourages travelers to check flight status frequently and enable notifications.
For cruises, watch your cruise line’s app and daily itinerary notices — port swaps are often communicated onboard and via the app before they show up elsewhere.
Call your travel insurance provider now if you’re unsure what’s covered; travel advisors told Travel Weekly this is the moment to confirm coverage and guidance.
Enroll in STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) for Mexico so you get U.S. government updates and know how to reach consular help if conditions change.