When transporting a pet by a commercial airline, it is extremely important to understand their pet policy. These policies vary between airlines. Some allow small pets to fly in the cabin and others don’t. It is important to know the answers to all your questions before making your decision to fly your pet on any commercial airline. Does Volaris allow pets on your specific route? How much does it cost to fly a dog or cat on Volaris? What documents will I need? What are the carrier or crate requirements for Volaris? All your answers related to Volaris pet policy are answered below.
Note: It is important to mention that the pet policy of the airline that operates your pet’s route will preside over the policy of the airline that owns the route. This is important to note because if the operating airline changes during your trip, then you will likely need to claim and recheck your pet on the next airline. This will cause you to clear customs and enter the layover country. You will need time and extra documentation to accommodate this process during the layover unless flying domestically.
Classes of service offered to pets by commercial airlines
- In-Cabin: Pets traveling in the cabin must fly with an adult passenger and travel in an airline compliant
carrier stowed under the seat. - Checked Baggage: Pets traveling with a passenger that are not permitted in the cabin due to size or breed can be transported as checked baggage in the cargo hold.
- Air Cargo: Unaccompanied, very large pets or pets flying to countries that require that pets enter under air cargo will travel as manifest cargo in the hold.
Can my pet fly with me in the cabin? Yes (Certain Flights)
Can my pet fly with me as checked baggage? Yes
Can my pet fly as manifest cargo? Yes
Where is Volaris based?
Volaris [IATA:Y4] is based in Mexico and has hubs in Cancún, Culiacán, Guadalajara, León/Del Bajío, Mexicali, Mexico City, Monterrey, and Tijuana.
What countries does Volaris fly to?
Volaris offers service to pets to the following countries: Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and the United States.
Volaris Pet Policy – In Cabin
If your dog or cat meets the requirements listed in Volaris’s pet policy to fly in the cabin, it will need an airline-compliant pet carrier unless you are flying with a service dog who is trained to assist you in a task required to address a physical or medical disability.
Pets allowed flown by Volaris in the cabin
Small dogs and cats are permitted to fly in the cabin on Volaris. Pets must be clean, healthy, harmless and mannerly.
Age requirements
The maximum weight of your pet and its carrier is 22 lbs. (10 kg). The minimum age for pets to fly as checked baggage is 4 months.
Reservations
Reservations can be made at the following numbers: Mexico +52 (55) 1102 8000, the United States +1 855 VOLARIS (8652747), Guatemala +502 2301 3939, Costa Rica +506 4000 0229, El Salvador +503 2504 5540, Colombia +57 60 1744 3272, Honduras +504 2202 7900, Peru +5116449040 and TTY- +1 (855) 425-2002.
Pet carrier requirements
Your pet’s carrier must:
- Have adequate ventilation on at least 3 sides (domestic US) or 4 sides (international)
- Be large enough for your pet to stand up and turn around comfortably
- Be able to accommodate your entire pet. No part of your pet can extend out of the carrier
- Be able to fit under the seat in front of you
- Have a waterproof bottom and absorbent pet pad
- Have secure fasteners (heavy duty zippers are recommended)
The maximum size carrier is 17.5″L x 12″W x 7.5″L (44L x 30W x 19H cm high). Exit row or bulkhead seats cannot be reserved when flying with any pet. Cats will be seated in the last row of the airplane.
Pets must remain in carriers for the duration of the flight.
Related: Selecting a pet carrier that is airline compliant
Forms required
Volaris requires that passengers transporting pets fill out an on board pet form. Pets must have proof of rabies vaccination and health certificates on all domestic flights. Pets flying internationally must have an international health certificate depending on their destination country.
Regulations for dogs flying to the United States have changed. Find new regulations to import a dog to the United States here. For flights within Mexico or to any country in Central or South America, pets must wait for 30 days after rabies vaccination before traveling.
The passenger assumes full responsibility and expense for complying with applicable laws, customs and/or other governmental regulations, requirements, or restrictions of the country, state or territory to and from which your pet is being transported. Upon arrival, health certificates, import permits, and other papers may be required by local authorities depending upon the route on which your pet is traveling.
Related: Regulations and forms required to import a pet to over 220 countries
Route restrictions
Check in
Your pet should be presented at the departure airport ticket counter in its crate at least 2 hours prior to departure for domestic flights and 3 hours prior to departure for international flights.
Related: How to clear airport security with a pet
Service dog pet policy
All service dogs may fly in the cabin at no charge. They must be trained by a person or organization that specializes in service dog training to provide specific tasks for a person with a disability. Notice must be provided to the airline at least 48 hours prior to departure.
Service dogs must be suitably marked, harnessed and leashed. They must fit in the space provided at their passenger’s feet without intruding on cabin operations or other passengers. They will not be seated in exit rows. They must be clean, mannerly and not show any signs of aggression toward other passengers or the flight crew.
If flights involve the United States, Department of Transportation forms must be completed and submitted at least 48 hours prior to departure. All required documentation required for the destination country must be provided at check in.
All service dogs are subject to the same requirements as regular dogs when traveling internationally.
Volaris Pet Policy – Checked Baggage
If the size of your pet is too large to fit in an airline-compliant pet carrier, or it is a pet other than a cat or dog, it will be transported as checked baggage on Volaris if it is flying with an adult passenger. This section of the cargo department has the same temperature and pressure as the passenger cabin.
Live animals are checked in by reservation employees and are checked in at the airport terminal. The airline will move your pet between aircraft in their fleet during layovers if the layover is not over about 3 hours in length.
Pets flown by Volaris as checked baggage
Small dogs and cats can be flown as checked baggage with Volaris.
Reservations
Reservations can be made at the following numbers: Mexico +52 (55) 1102 8000, the United States +1 855 VOLARIS (8652747), Guatemala +502 2301 3939, Costa Rica +506 4000 0229, El Salvador +503 2504 5540, Colombia +57 60 1744 3272, Honduras +504 2202 7900, Peru +5116449040 and TTY- +1 (855) 425-2002.
Age requirements
The minimum age for pets to fly as checked baggage is 4 months.
Pet crate requirements
All crates must conform to regulations imposed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The crate must be labeled with your contact information (name, phone, and address) and pet identification (name, age, and sex). One per is permitted per crate. For more information, see PET CRATE REQUIREMENTS.
Forms Required
Volaris requires that passengers transporting pets fill out an on board pet form. Pets must have proof of rabies vaccination and health certificates on all domestic flights. Pets flying internationally must have an international health certificate depending on their destination country.
The passenger assumes full responsibility and expense for complying with applicable laws, customs and/or other governmental regulations, requirements, or restrictions of the country, state or territory to and from which your pet is being transported. Upon arrival, health certificates, import permits, and other papers may be required by local authorities depending upon the route on which your pet is traveling.
Related: Regulations and forms required to import a pet to over 220 countries
Check in
Your pet should be presented at the departure airport ticket counter in its crate at least 2 hours prior to departure for domestic flights and 3 hours prior to departure for international flights.
Volaris Pet Policy – Air Cargo
All live animals flying as air cargo travel under an airline manifest or air waybill and are tracked throughout the entire flight. The airlines are responsible for caring for your pet during layovers as well. Unlike checked baggage, pets are generally checked in and claimed at the airline’s cargo facility. This facility is located on airport grounds; however, not the terminal. Many airlines require that an agent books the transport. If you need a licensed agent to arrange your pet’s transport, send us an email at info@pettraveltransport.com.
Contact Volaris Air Cargo for more information for transporting your pet as air cargo.
Volaris Pet Crate Requirements
All pet crates must conform to regulations set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The container must be large enough for your pet(s) to stand, turn around, and lie down. The crate must be made of fiberglass, metal, rigid plastics, weld metal mesh, solid wood or plywood.
The crate door must have a secure, spring-loaded, all-around locking system with the pins extending beyond the horizontal extrusions above and below the door. The floor must be waterproof. The crate must not have wheels attached when checking your pet. Metal hardware should be used to fasten the top and bottom halves of your pet crate together. Volaris requires either metal or plastic threaded nuts and bolts to secure both halves of the crate.
All crates must be labeled with LIVE ANIMAL stickers and a Shipping Declaration that includes feeding and watering instructions.
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
All pets should be acclimated to their crates prior to travel. This may take weeks or even months to accomplish; however it is the best thing you can do for your pet before flying.
Related: Acclimating your pet to its crate or carrier
Temperature Restrictions – Checked Baggage and Air Cargo
When temperatures rise above or drop under certain levels, commercial airlines will prohibit the transport of live animals in the cargo hold. These restrictions are implemented for the safety of your pet. It is important to note that the risk from high or low temperatures is not when your pet is airborne. The risks come during preflight holding, loading on the tarmac and taxiing to the take-off runway.
Pets will not be accepted as checked baggage or air cargo when actual or forecasted temperatures are above 85°F (29.4°C) or below 45°F (7.2°C) at any airport on the itinerary. Pets may be accepted at temperatures below 45°F with an acclimation certificate, however, no pet will be transported at temperatures lower than 20°F (-6.6°C).
Note that the temperature restrictions for summer travel are lower for brachycephalic (snub-nosed) pets.
Cold-blooded animals are exempt from these restrictions.
Related: Why temperatures matter for pets flying in the cargo hold
Breeds Banned by Volaris
Volaris classifies the following pets as brachycephalic and will a liability waiver to fly in the cargo hold:
DOGS: Affenpinscher, American Staffordshire Terrier, Australian Silky Terrier, Beagle, Bijon Frise, Boston Terrier, Boxer (all breeds), Bulldog, Cane Corso, Chihuahua (all breeds), Chow Chow, Dachshund, Dogue de Bordeaux, English Toy Spaniel, Brussels Griffon, French Poodle, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, Mastiff, Pekinese, Pit Bull, Presa Canario, Pug (all breeds), Sharpei, Shih Tzu, Tibetan Spaniel, Schnauzer, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Toy Fox Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier.
Australian Silky Terrier, Beagle, Bichon Frise, Chihuahua (all breeds), Toy Fox Terrier, French Poodle, Schnauzer, Yorkshire Terrier, and Dachshund (wiener dog).
CATS: Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, and Persian.
Breeds considered dangerous or aggressive cannot travel either as pets on board or checked: Pit Bull (all breeds), Staffordshire Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Shar Pei, Boxer (all breeds), Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Akita Inu, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Anatolian Shepherd, Doberman, Rottweiler, Japanese Tosa, Dogue de Bordeaux, Akita Americano, Neapolitan Mastiff, Presa Canario, German Shepherd, and Italian Mastiff.
Private Jet Charter
Another option for pet owners who do not want their pet to fly in the cargo hold is a pet-friendly private jet charter. Your pet can fly in your lap, at your feet or beside you comfortably without being confined. We can arrange flights from anywhere in the world to anywhere you need to go on your time schedule, without the crowds or commotion of a commercial airport.
Other Information
The information published here is a guideline for Volaris airline pet policy. For more airline pet policies, click the banner below.
Further Reading
How to keep your pet safe when flying in the cargo hold
Tips for airline pet travel
Requirements for a pet transiting a country by air
When do you need a pet transporter?
Routing your pet’s flight
Flying with a snub-nosed breed
More information on airline pet travel
Have a comment or question about transporting a pet with Volaris? Post it below and we will respond. You can also reach out by posting to our Blog, X (Twitter), Facebook, or Email or follow our activities on Instagram and TikTok.
To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given airline may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to deny your pet boarding privileges at the time of check in. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Volaris pet policy.
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