Volaris is a Mexican ultra-low-cost carrier connecting 80+ US cities to over 50 destinations in Mexico. It also services Central and South American destinations like Guatemala and Colombia, with more routes coming.
Founded in 2005, Volaris dominates the market with cheap fares and an expansive route network. You get what you pay for: a barebone service and upcharges every step of the way. Armed with these tips, you’ll be able to make the most out of flying Volaris.
Why fly Volaris
Volaris gets many negative reviews, but in my experience, the airline delivers on its promise: a cheap fare that gets you from A to B. While it’s harder to find extremely low fares last minute, particularly in high season, booking ahead can get you a flight to Central and South America at a fraction of the typical cost.
The key to a good Volaris experience is paying attention to ticket options and upcharges. The airline has multiple fare options, combos, and bundles, but all the picking and choosing can become confusing fast. Be sure to calculate all your extra items like an assigned seat or a checked bag, to see if the deal is truly worth it (I found jotting down notes to be helpful!).
Still, if you’re traveling light (read: no checked bags) and have flexibility, Volaris should be part of your search. The same goes for when you’re traveling with family as round trip tickets for 5 can add up quickly. The trick is knowing where and how to search (more on that below).
The route selection is another reason to consider Volaris. The Frontier codeshare partnership brings smaller airports like Fort Myers or Cedar Rapids on board. It is also sometimes the only nonstop from certain US airports to destinations in Mexico. But be aware that not all flights are available on all routes.
Navigating fare classes
Volaris offers 3 fare classes - Zero, Basic, and Plus - and many upsells. Keep in mind that the initial fare you’ll see during the search is often not representative of what you’ll actually pay. Be sure to click ‘Select’ into each fare type as the fares displayed on the next screen will often differ.
Zero
The most no-frills fare class is called Zero, perhaps because it comes with nothing but a personal item that must fit under the seat in front of you. Everything else, including carry-on items, seat selections, and checked bags, must be purchased. It’s the equivalent of the most restrictive basic economy class on other airlines, with no changes or refunds.
Basic
I tend to purchase the next fare class, Basic, most often. It comes with the carry-on included and, in my experience, the final cost comes out comparable to (and sometimes even cheaper than) the cost of Zero with a carry-on add-on. This fare class doesn’t allow changes or refunds either, but you can purchase it as an add-on.
Plus
Plus is as close to business as one can get on an ultra-low-cost carrier. In addition to a personal item and a carry-on, this fare includes one checked bag, priority boarding, changes and cancellations. If you’re traveling with bags and want a flexible fare with priority boarding, choose Plus. It often makes more sense than a Basic with add-ons because the cost is comparable and it will include guaranteed priority boarding (the only fare it’s available on).
Keep in mind that the differences in fares and add-ons depend on routes, seat availability, and season, so be sure to look at each pricing option closely before booking.
Add-ons and combos
Unlike other airlines, Volaris offers the ability to stay on the most restrictive ticket while still being able to change it with the More Flexibility add-on. For a cost comparable to two cups of coffee, you can get unlimited time and date changes with no restrictions, which I find pretty generous for the price (Zero and Basic fares only).
Other add-ons include More Speed with a standard seat selection, priority boarding, access to express lanes at certain US airports (Plus fares only) and Combo Business (the most expensive add-on, available on all fares) which includes unlimited time and date changes, a carry-on, a 24-hour hold and a standard seat selection.
This is where the confusing part comes in. With so many options and minimal cost differences, the process can quickly become overwhelming. Knowing your non-negotiables comes in handy. I travel with a carry-on only and prefer priority boarding, so I stick to purchasing a Basic fare with no add-ons, and just pay for a Premium bulkhead seat (the first 3 rows). In my experience, that gives access to the first few boarding groups.
Depending on the route, a seat in the back would be quite inexpensive, while the first row would cost about 5 times more. Volaris offers 4 types of seating (from most expensive to least): Premium (first 3 rows), More Space (exit row), Quick Exit (rows 5 and 6) and Standard (all the rest). You can choose not to pay for a seat selection, but I find the expense to be worth the comfort of a bulkhead seat or the convenience of deplaning faster.
Volaris memberships
Volaris offers two types of programs: a membership discount program called v.club and an annual unlimited pass for frequent flyers.
v.club
Volaris membership - v.club - offers members up to 20% discounts on fares and access to exclusive deals. The first year is included with a Zero fare. You can also buy it separately at any time for a nominal monthly fee. This option might make sense for someone who plans to travel on a Volaris route frequently. Booking a Zero fare ticket is a good way to try v.club at no cost.
Annual pass
For frequent travelers, Volaris offers an annual pass which gives you the option to book unlimited one-way direct flights to any destination on the Volaris network. The annual pass cost is comparable to a high season round trip Basic fare from Chicago to Mexico City, for example.
As is the case with most passes, you’ll need to be flexible: annual pass seats open 24 hours before departure on flights within Mexico and 3 days before on flights from/to the US. Unlike other passes, there are no blackout dates. There is a catch, though: you still need to pay for a carry-on, checked bags, taxes, and airport use fee which goes to Mexican airports. These fees can add up quickly.
The bottom line: this pass works best for luggage-free travelers who go to Mexico and other Volaris destinations much more frequently than 1-2 times a year. The more you fly, the more valuable the pass becomes.
Booking and pre-flight experience
One of the main drawbacks to Volaris is that it takes an effort to find flights to your destination served by this airline. There are two challenges: inconsistent flight information and confusing origin availability.
The flights don’t show up consistently in the Volaris system. An airport like Knoxville, for example, shows up as an origin airport on the Volaris app, but it’s not available as an option on the website. When in doubt, it’s best to check with Volaris customer service which you can contact through messenger services.
Keep in mind that Volaris doesn’t fly every day on some of its routes, so you might need to check each day of the week to find your departure.
Both Volaris app and website default to Mexican pesos, so be sure to change that when you’re booking your flight.
I found the check-in process consistent and straightforward on both the app and website. Keep in mind that checking in at the counters will cost you, so it’s best to check in digitally ahead of time.
Onboard Volaris
In true budget airline fashion, Volaris doesn’t offer wi-fi or in-flight entertainment. Refreshments, including water, are available for purchase and snacks mostly include packaged chips and candies and some sandwiches. I made the mistake of buying coffee on a flight to Mexico City once and I do not recommend it.
Volaris fleet consists of Airbus A319, A320 and A321 models, which are all single-aisle jetliners with three seats on each side. You’ll likely fly the A320 aircraft which represents the majority of its fleet. Volaris was one of the first in North America to use the A320Neo, which is a slightly bigger and quieter version of A320.
Depending on your route and seat configuration, expect to see legroom ranging from tight 28-30 inches to slightly bigger 30-32 inches. Premium seats tend to have a bit more legroom and feel less cramped. On several occasions, my first-row Premium seat had a tray table in the armrest, which narrowed the seat. I would avoid rows 11 and 12 as they often don’t recline at all.
In my experience, the seats are quite rigid and uncomfortable. But because most of the flights Volaris serves are short-haul (with the exception of destinations like Lima), it’s manageable.
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.
