Volaris: your traveler's guide to Mexico's ultra-low-cost airline

The Volaris fare that shows up in search results includes a personal item and nothing else. This guide is about everything the cheap price leaves out: the Zero, Basic and Plus fare ladder, the carry-on trap hiding inside Basic, bags, check-in, pets and refunds, plus how to reach Volaris directly or get help from a live BargainAirTicket agent, 24/7 in English and Spanish.

BargainAirTicket is an independent travel agency. We are not Volaris and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by Volaris. This guide is for information only. You can manage your booking yourself at volaris.com at no cost. If you'd rather we handle it, our agents assist for a service fee, quoted before you're charged.

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About Volaris

A quick profile of the carrier.

Volaris is a Mexican ultra-low-cost carrier built around hubs in Mexico City (MEX), Guadalajara and Tijuana, flying across Mexico and to the United States and Central and South America. It belongs to no global alliance, and its model is simple: the base fare buys the seat and a personal item, and everything else, carry-on, checked bags, seat choice, flexibility, is sold separately. That makes the cheap fares genuinely cheap, and the airport genuinely expensive if you arrive unprepared. Volaris answers on several channels including WhatsApp, where it states a human agent responds within 30 minutes at most.

Model

Ultra low cost

Main hubs

MEX / GDL / TIJ

Alliance

None

Yes, 30 min response

Hubs & route network

Where the airline is based and where it flies.

Volaris runs its network from three Mexican hubs, and the US border weighs more here than on most airlines. Your Volaris trip most likely touches one of these:

MEX

Mexico City, Benito Juárez

Main hub

GDL

Guadalajara

Hub

TIJ

Tijuana

Hub, on the US border

LAX

Los Angeles

US gateway

ORD

Chicago

US gateway

DEN

Denver

US gateway

Mexico City (MEX), Guadalajara and Tijuana anchor the network, and Tijuana sits directly on the US border, which is why so many itineraries for travelers living in the US route through it. South of Mexico, Volaris flies to Central America and to Bogotá, where its own pet caps tighten. Tell us your whole itinerary when you call, because on an ultra-low-cost carrier the extras, bags, seats, changes, are priced per flight and per fare, and the cheapest total is rarely the cheapest base price.

Volaris route network

Schematic of the airline's main hubs and popular routes we book, not to scale. For the full current network, see volaris.com.

Popular routes we book

Call for phone-only fares.

Guadalajara → Los Angeles GDL-LAXCall for fare Tijuana → Guadalajara TIJ-GDLCall for fare Mexico City → Cancún MEX-CUNCall for fare Chicago → Mexico City ORD-MEXCall for fare

Fares & cabins, what's included

Volaris sells one cabin with three fare bundles, and the differences are everything. Read the bottom rung carefully, it includes less than most travelers assume.

Zero

The advertised price. It includes a personal item that fits under the seat and nothing else: no carry-on, no checked bag. Best only when you can travel with what fits under a seat. Anything else is an add-on, cheapest when added before the airport.

Basic

The counterintuitive one: Basic includes your personal item plus one checked bag of up to 33 lb, but still no carry-on. People assume it works the other way around and find out at the gate. If you need the overhead bin, Basic alone doesn't get you there.

Plus

The only Volaris fare with real flexibility: personal item plus a carry-on of 22 x 16 x 10 in (up to 44 lb combined with the personal item), a checked bag of up to 55 lb, priority boarding and Volaris TV, unlimited itinerary changes and full refund eligibility.

Not sure which fare fits your trip and budget? An agent can compare them for you on the call.

Not sure which fare or route is best?

Tell an agent your dates and we'll find the right option, plus phone-only fares across 500+ airlines.

Call +1 (833) 667-2918

Baggage, the essentials

General guidance from Volaris's published allowances. Your exact allowance depends on your fare, and the fee sheet changes often.

Personal item:

Included on every fare, including Zero, and it must fit under the seat. On Zero it's the only bag you get without paying.

The Basic carry-on trap:

Basic includes a checked bag of up to 33 lb but no carry-on. If you board with a roller expecting the bin, that's an add-on, and airport prices run higher than booking-time prices.

Plus covers the lot:

A carry-on of 22 x 16 x 10 in, up to 44 lb combined with your personal item, plus a checked bag of up to 55 lb at 62 linear inches.

Checked-bag limits:

Checked bags run to 62 linear inches, with 33 lb included on Basic and 55 lb on Plus. Anything heavier or extra is a paid add-on, and we never quote amounts because the sheet changes, call and we'll confirm today's figure.

We can confirm your exact allowance and pre-pay bags for you, just call.

Check-in & boarding

How to be ready on the day.

Check in online at volaris.com or in the Volaris app and save your boarding pass. One rule makes Volaris different: itinerary changes are allowed only up to 4 hours before departure and only before you check in, so checking in early is a commitment. If your plans have any chance of moving, change first and check in after.

For flights within Mexico, bring a valid original physical photo ID: Volaris explicitly does not accept photocopies or digital documents, so an ID living in your phone's wallet won't board you. Minors can use a birth certificate, CURP, passport or a health-institution ID card.

Loyalty & memberships

Why we keep program names off this page.

Volaris promotes its own memberships and discount offers from time to time, and their terms change often, so we keep names and details off this page rather than risk telling you something stale. If you have a Volaris account or membership, mention it on the call, and check what's current at volaris.com.

Volaris: frequently asked

Quick answers, call us for anything specific to your booking.

What does the Volaris Zero fare include?+

A personal item that fits under the seat, and that's the complete list. No carry-on and no checked bag come with Zero; both can be added for a charge, cheaper at booking than at the airport. If you have any luggage at all, call us before you fly and we'll add what you actually need.

Does the Basic fare include a carry-on?+

No, and this is the Volaris rule that catches the most people: Basic includes a checked bag of up to 33 lb but no carry-on. Only the Plus fare includes a carry-on, 22 x 16 x 10 in, up to 44 lb combined with your personal item. If the overhead bin matters to you, plan for it before the gate does.

Can I change my Volaris flight?+

Yes, with two hard limits: changes are allowed up to 4 hours before departure, and only before you check in, on fully paid reservations. The Plus fare includes unlimited changes. Once you check in, the itinerary is locked, so if your plans might move, change first and check in after. Call us and we'll handle it in the right order.

Can my teenager fly alone on Volaris?+

Volaris sets 18 as the minimum age to fly alone, much stricter than most US carriers. Younger passengers use its paid Volaris is With You service, mandatory for ages 5 to 12 and offered as optional for 13 to 17, and those two statements sit oddly together on the airline's own page, so if your teen is 13 to 17, call and we'll confirm exactly what applies before you book.

Can my dog or cat fly in the cabin with me?+

Dogs and cats can, when pet plus carrier together weigh no more than 26 lb and the carrier fits 44 x 30 x 19 cm. The minimum age is 4 months, spots are capped per flight (16 pets, and only 6 on Bogotá flights), and Volaris bans a long list of breeds from both cabin and cargo, including some that surprise people, like German Shepherds and Boxers. Call us with your pet's details before you book the ticket.

Can I get a refund from Volaris?+

Eligibility runs on two clocks: an international reservation must be at least 7 days from departure, a domestic one at least 24 hours. The Plus fare includes full refund eligibility, and a paid Cancel For Any Reason add-on, bought only at booking, lets you cancel up to 24 hours before departure for an 80% or 100% refund choice. Tell us what happened and we'll read your exact case.