Looking for Viva Air Colombia? Let’s clear the air. The short story is, the Colombian budget airline you’re searching for has hung up its wings for good. It’s a common point of confusion, especially since there’s another “Viva” airline out there flying the sunny skies of Mexico.
If you’ve landed here trying to book a cheap flight in Latin America, don’t click away just yet. You might have been searching for Viva Air Colombia, but the airline you probably need to know about is Viva Aerobus. As someone who travels through Mexico often, I am a big fan of Viva Aerobus, Mexico’s ultra-low-cost carrier.
Known for its no-frills approach, Viva Aerobus offers flights across Mexico and to a handful of international destinations at prices that often undercut the competition.
So, what happened to Viva Air Colombia?
Viva Air Colombia ceased all operations in 2023. The airline faced financial turbulence, citing rising fuel prices and a stalled merger with Avianca, and ultimately filed for bankruptcy. So, if you’re trying to book a flight with them, you’re unfortunately out of luck.
Meet Viva Aerobus: A different Viva for your travels
Viva Aerobus offers an extensive domestic service across Mexico and international flights to destinations including the United States and Colombia at prices that often undercut the competition. With an all-Airbus A320 family fleet and an emphasis on keeping costs low, this airline has quickly become a popular choice for travelers looking to explore Mexico without breaking the bank.
Viva Aerobus fares
Viva Aerobus offers three fare types (Zero, Light and Smart) that let you choose how much flexibility and baggage you need. The Zero Fare is a budget-friendly option for those who travel light and don’t need checked baggage. This is the option for those who want to hop on a plane to Cancun with nothing more than a large tote bag full of toiletries and a swimsuit.
With Zero Fare, you get web check-in starting 4 hours before departure and the ability to carry on one personal item that fits under the seat in front of you. Keep in mind that Zero Fare doesn’t include free itinerary changes, though changes may be available by paying fare difference and fees, so your plans need to be fairly set. If you realize later that you need to add baggage, you can do so for a fee.
I typically purchase the Viva Aerobus Light Fare. This mid-range fare includes a personal item, a carry-on and the ability to change your itinerary up to three times. If you want the flexibility to hop on an earlier flight if there’s room, you can add the Flex Pass for an additional fee.
You can add a checked bag for an additional fee, but I usually pack light since its typically warm when I visit Mexico. Most of the time, I find that a carry-on is all I need. This fare also allows you to buy a seat selection, which I normally do because I like to sit near the front of the plane.
The Viva Aerobus Smart Fare is the top-tier fare on this airline. This option includes a personal item, carry-on, checked bag, seat selection and unlimited itinerary changes. This is the perfect option for anyone who plans to pack heavy or splurge on a shopping spree in the markets of Mexico City.
Check-in
Viva Aerobus offers multiple ways to check in, including a standout option I love: Vivabot via WhatsApp. Just send a quick message to the service number, follow the prompts, and you’ll receive your boarding pass as a QR code in seconds. Viva Aerobus is one of the only airlines I know that provides this option. You can also check in online or through the Viva Aerobus app by entering your booking code and last name.
If you’re part of Viva Fan, (more below) you can even check in with a smile through the Smile & Fly feature that uses facial recognition for a seamless experience.
And if you can’t check in before the day of your flight, don’t worry – just head to the counter at the airport. Arrive 2 hours before a domestic flight or 3 hours before an international one and Viva Aerobus staff will assist you with check-in and any baggage needs.
Viva Aerobus frequent flyer program
Doters is Viva Aerobus’s free frequent flyer program with three levels (Green, Silver, and Gold) that offer increasingly better benefits as you level up. Members earn points based on how much you spend and how often you fly, and you can use those points for flights, experiences and even some cool perks. Signing up is free and once you’re in you’ll start accumulating points immediately.
At the Green level, you earn 1 point for every $2 MXN spent. Move up to Silver, and you get 1.5 points for every $2 MXN spent, and at Gold, you earn 2 points for every $2 MXN spent. If you’re flying often like me, there’s also a loyalty bonus where you can rack up extra points for completing multiple flights – 2,000 points for 4 one-way flights, 3,000 for 8, and 8,000 for 16.
Beyond just earning points, Doters members enjoy perks like exclusive fares, extra baggage allowances, free seat selection, priority boarding and access to the Smile & Fly feature. You can even use your points to pay for airport fees or share them with someone else who’s also enrolled in the program. It’s a solid setup, especially if you find yourself on Viva Aerobus flights regularly.
Viva Aerobus membership
Like many airlines, Viva Aerobus has a membership program for loyal fliers. The Viva Fan membership offers some interesting perks, especially if you’re a frequent flyer within Mexico or to nearby international destinations.
For a yearly fee, you can get extra baggage weight allowances for carry-ons and checked luggage, as well as discounts on fares. There’s also the option to add up to 8 people to your membership through the Viva Fan Accompanied Traveler Membership, so you and your travel companions can all take advantage of the discounted rates and special promotions when traveling together.
What intrigues me most about Viva Fan is the simplified check-in and boarding process using facial recognition – just smile and you’re good to go. That said, whether this membership is worth it depends largely on how often you fly with Viva Aerobus and whether the benefits align with your travel habits.
Credit card options
In partnership with HSBC, Viva Aerobus offers 2 credit card options that cater to frequent flyers looking to maximize their travel perks. The HSBC VIVA Credit Card includes a welcome benefit of a voucher for one round-trip flight with a base fare of $0 MXN upon card activation, though you’ll need to pay the Airport Usage Fee (TUA).
In addition to the free flight, it comes with perks like priority boarding, free checked baggage once a year and 20,000 Doters Points as a welcome bonus.
The HSBC VIVA PLUS card offers even more, including one free carry-on bag and one free checked bag on every Viva Aerobus flight regardless of your fare class. You'll also get 35,000 Doters Points as a welcome bonus when you spend $60,000 MXN within the first 3 months, and unlimited LoungeKey access based on your spending. Both cards provide Doters Points that never expire, interest-free installments up to 18 months on Viva purchases and purchase insurance.
I don’t fly Viva Aerobus enough for these cards to be worth it for me, but they are ideal for those who do frequently travel with Viva Aerobus.
Viva Aerobus codeshares
While Viva Aerobus is not a member of any of the 3 major airline alliances, it has partnered with Iberia, Spains largest airline, to make travel between Mexico and Spain a bit easier. It’s a practical setup that cuts down on the hassle of booking with different airlines while keeping things straightforward with baggage and fares.
This codeshare agreement means if you're flying Iberia from Madrid to Mexico City, you can now catch a connecting Viva Aerobus flight to other cities across Mexico without needing separate tickets. And if you're traveling from a smaller Mexican city to Madrid, you can start your journey with Viva Aerobus and then hop on an Iberia flight in Mexico City.
Pet policy
Viva Aerobus is pet-friendly, welcoming your cats and dogs in the cabin as long as they meet certain requirements. Your pet needs to be at least 8 weeks old for domestic flights within Mexico (though dogs traveling to the United States must be at least 6 months old to meet CDC requirements), they must weigh a maximum of 26 lbs (12 kg) including the carrier and the carrier dimensions can’t exceed 44 cm × 35 cm × 21 cm.
There are also specific breed restrictions for certain brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds, particularly regarding cargo transport, though they may be allowed in the cabin if they meet size and weight requirements.
Before you book, note these important limits:
Emotional support animals and service dogs fly free and don’t need to be in a kennel, but they do need to be leashed, harnessed and have proper ID. If your pet doesn’t meet the in-cabin criteria, or if they’re not properly documented as an emotional support animal, they’ll have to travel in the cargo hold and any extra costs will be on you.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
