If you’re looking for cheap flights in Mexico, you’ll find several options when it comes to low-fare airlines. But every airline in Mexico offers a different kind of experience, so it’s a good idea to know what to expect before your book your ticket.
During my most recent Mexico trip, I flew from Cancun to Guadalajara aboard Volaris, which is by some measures the largest airline in Mexico and also the nation’s top low-cost carrier. This is a review of my experience — and you can see a travel video of my flight experience here (or by scrolling to the bottom of this page).
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Is Volaris a Good Airline?
There were multiple choices for flights between Cancun and Guadalajara. I usually opt for Aeromexico when I can, since it ties in with Delta’s SkyMiles program (and I have the lowest possible elite-level frequent flyer status with them, so they treat me decently). But on this route, Aeromexico was rather pricey and also required a connection at Santa Lucia (also nicknamed AIFA), the new airport serving Mexico City. It just wasn’t worth paying more money for a trip that would also take more time.
Viva Aerobus was another option, off course, but it’s generally considered to be the most bargain-basement, no-frill airline in Mexico, and up to now I’ve avoided booking them. Volaris, meanwhile, was offering a decent fare for a nonstop flight, and since I’ve flown them before (all the way from New York City to Guadalajara), I was familiar with the airline and willing to deal with their limited inflight services.
Is It Worth Splurging on a Volaris Premium Seat?
I did, however, decide to splurge a bit to buy myself a Premium seat. That provided me with several benefits, including the ability to choose my seat in advance, to bring aboard a carry on, to sit in the first three rows of the plane and to board with group 2, which would increase the chance that I could find space in the overhead compartment for my carry-on. My total airfare for the one-way flight was 1,876 Mexican pesos (about US$100).
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Flying Volaris from Cancún International Airport
If you’re going to fly Volaris, you should download the Volaris app before the day of departure. I was able to check in for my flight two days before the date of my flight, and having the electronic boarding pass made it much easier when it came time to go to the airport. (You can also check in online and print your own boarding pass, I believe, but they will likely charge you to print a boarding pass at the airport.)
Volaris departs from Terminal 2 at Cancun International Airport. That’s one of the older terminals, but it’s still comfortable enough. I breezed through the security line in less than ten minutes (my flight was on a Saturday morning, which may have helped). Like many airports in Mexico, the Cancun airport has the strange practice of not announcing the specific gate until about an hour before the departure time. When I got to the gate, they called for group three passengers to come to the check-in area to drop off their carry-on luggage; that made me even happier that I had paid for group 2 Premium seating.
Overall, the boarding process was well organized, with each group boarding from a different part of the gate area, which helped to prevent large crowds forming. There are no jetways at this part of Terminal 2, so passengers have to walk across the tarmac — which I actually like, since you get to see the plane, take photos and feel like you’re in an old movie. Boarding was via two stairs, one at the front and one at the back of the plane, which helped to speed the process.
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What It’s Like Aboard a Volaris Airbus A321
The airline seating on the Airbus A321NX was relatively comfortable, but it appeared the seats don’t recline and there were no outlets or charging docks, so those were negatives. I did have three seats to myself, at least — probably another perk of buying a Premium seat is that it’s less likely that other people will pay for that upgrade, thereby increasing your chances of having an empty seat next to you.
There is a charge for food and drinks; items can be viewed in the Entre Nubes menu on the app, although flight attendants also had a hard copy to show passengers. I asked about the cost of water and they said there was a charge for a bottle but cups of water were free. However when I asked for a cup, the flight attendant went back to the galley and filled the cup from a spigot — so if you’re the type of traveler who avoids unbottled water, that might not be an attractive option.
THE ARRIVAL: We arrived on time at Guadalajara International Airport, which is a beautiful facility — except that we had to park on a far-off apron and get on a bus to reach the terminal, which added several minutes to the arrival experience.
THE BOTTOM LINE: If you’re looking to save some money and are willing to deal with limited services, lack of some inflight amenities and charges for snacks and drinks, Volaris is a worthwhile choice.
I’m a travel writer, travel blogger and Mexico travel specialist, and I love sharing travel tips to make your next vacation or business trip better. My new memoir was just published: Prepare for Departure: Notes on a Single Mother, a Misfit Son, Inevitable Mortality and the Enduring Allure of Frequent Flyer Miles. Please click and check it out!
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