A test embankment with a vacuum assisted surcharge loading and prefabricated vertical drains (PVD’s) was constructed for the new International Airport of Mexico City. The main purpose of the trial test was to verify the capability of a drain to drain vacuum application method combined with a preloading fill to be successfully applied under extremely difficult soil conditions such as those existing in the construction area of the new International Airport of Mexico City. StarDrains were adopted to accelerate soft soil consolidation. To this aim an intensive monitoring program was carried out to control the effects induced in the subsoil by the consolidation process. Monitoring comprised all the period of construction and also a period of 60 days after vacuum switch off. Vacuum application lasted 6 months. During this time a vacuum pressure of approximately 60 kPa was delivered on average at drains caps (being 78 kPa the local average atmospheric pressure) and a final settlement of approximately 2 m was reached at the center of the test fill. Numerical analyses were carried out through Illicon code. Theoretical predictions based on the adopted model were very satisfactory as for the settlements observed in the center of the test fill at both ground surface and at depth. Measured lateral displacements in the outer area were consistent with, and even more satisfactory than, previous experiences and data reported in the literature. Differential settlements in the treated area were extensively monitored and critically analyzed. Pore water pressure variations measured by Casagrande and vibrating wires piezometers resulted in acceptable agreement among them, but theoretical predictions were of poorer quality compared to those of settlements. Possible reasons of the observed discrepancies were identified and discussed.