Volaris Pet Policy: What to Know Before You Fly With a Pet in 2026

If you are planning pet travel with Volaris, it can be confusing because the rules differ for pets in the cabin, checked pets, emotional support animals, and service dogs. Volaris allows dogs and cats, but the rules change based on the animal’s size, combined weight, route, and documentation.

This guide breaks down the Volaris pet policy so you can plan ahead and avoid problems at the airport.

Does Volaris Allow Pets?

Yes. Volaris Airlines allows dogs and cats under its standard pet travel policy, and no other animal is accepted as a regular pet. Pets under 4 months old are not allowed, and neither are sick, violent, pregnant, nursing, or poorly cleaned animals. Only one dog or cat is allowed per container.

Volaris Pet Fees

Type of animal	Fee status	Notes
Pet in the cabin	Paid service	Only dogs and cats are allowed. The combined weight of the pet and carrier must not exceed 26 lb. The carrier must fit under the seat.
Checked pet	Paid service	Available for dogs and cats traveling in a kennel. The combined weight of the pet and kennel must not exceed 45 kg (100 lb).
Emotional support animal	Free on eligible routes	Applies to emotional support dogs and cats on eligible routes and only when documentation and size rules are met. If the animal does not qualify, it may need to travel as a checked pet for an additional charge.
Service dog/service animal	No additional charge	Service animals may travel at no additional charge when they meet the applicable requirements and documentation rules.

Pet Travel Categories on Volaris

Volaris separates animal travel into four categories:

• Cabin pet: a dog or cat traveling in a carrier under the seat
• Checked pet: a dog or cat traveling in a kennel in the aircraft cargo compartment
• Emotional support animal: a dog or cat traveling under separate documentation and route rules
• Service dog: a service animal traveling under a separate category from pets and emotional support animals

Cabin Pet Rules

A dog or cat may travel in the cabin inside an approved carrier placed under the seat in front of the passenger. The carrier may be made of fabric, rigid plastic, or bubble-style material and must not exceed 44 cm in length, 30 cm in width, or 19 cm in height. The pet must be able to move naturally inside the carrier, and the combined weight of the pet and carrier must not exceed 26 lb.

Pets cannot travel in an emergency exit row. Dogs may travel in a window seat, while cats are restricted to the last row window seat.

Checked Pet Rules

If the pet and carrier are above the cabin limit, the animal may travel as a checked pet for an additional charge. The combined weight of the animal and kennel must not exceed 45 kg, or 100 lb.

The kennel must be rigid, clean, waterproof, well ventilated, scratch-proof, and equipped with an anti-escape closure and handles. It must also be labeled with the passenger’s contact details and the pet’s identification information.

Emotional Support Animals

Volaris accepts emotional support animals (only dogs and cats) on eligible routes, including flights within Mexico, within Central America, within South America, between Mexico and Central America, between Mexico and South America, and between Central America and South America.

To qualify, the passenger must provide a valid ESA letter from a mental health specialist, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed clinical social worker. The document must be issued no more than one year before departure, confirm that the passenger is under professional care and requires the animal to travel on the aircraft, and be printed on letterhead paper with the specialist’s professional license number.

The animal may travel with a harness and leash or in a carrier. It must not be taller than 10 inches from head to paws, and the combined weight of the animal and carrier must not exceed 26 lb.

Service Dogs

Service dogs may travel at no additional charge when they meet the applicable requirements and they are handled under a separate category from regular pets and emotional support animals. The passenger remains responsible for the care, feeding, and handling of the dog throughout the trip. Required documents still apply, including the vaccination record, health certificate, and any documents related to the dog’s service purpose, like a PSD letter.

Breed Restrictions

Brachycephalic breeds and some small dogs are considered higher-risk for air travel due to potential respiratory and heat-related complications.

Volaris’s official materials are not fully consistent on how these breeds are handled. Some pages indicate that brachycephalic animals are not recommended for travel and may be accepted if the passenger signs a liability waiver at the airport, while the airline’s pet terms and conditions state that brachycephalic breeds are not accepted in the cabin or as checked pets.

Breeds named include Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Cane Corso, English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, Shar-Pei, Tibetan Spaniel, Pug, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Because of that conflict, travelers with one of these breeds should confirm the current rule with Volaris before booking a flight or paying the pet fee.

Documents Required

Document requirements vary depending on whether you are traveling with a regular pet, an emotional support animal, or a service dog. In general, travelers may need to present:

• A vaccination record with rabies vaccine information
• Current deworming, not older than six months, considering the return date
• A health certificate stating that the animal is clinically healthy
• The pet transportation form provided at the airport or through Volaris’s online form process for pets

Emotional support animals and service dogs are subject to additional documentation requirements beyond the standard pet paperwork (ESA and PSD letters).

Domestic and International Travel Requirements

Requirements vary depending on whether you are flying within Mexico, traveling internationally, or entering the United States with a dog. The table below highlights the main rules travelers should review before departure.

Route	Main requirements	Additional notes
Domestic flights within Mexico	Vaccination booklet showing the first rabies vaccine or a current booster	If the rabies vaccine is the first dose, it must be applied at least 30 days before the flight. If the pet is 15 months or older, a current booster may allow travel without waiting 30 days.
International travel	Requirements vary by destination	Flights from Mexico to Central America require an animal health export certificate issued by SAGARPA/SENASICA. Flights from Colombia may also require a Sanitary Inspection Certificate (CIS) issued by ICA.
Travel to the United States	Dogs must be at least 6 months old, have a detectable microchip, appear healthy on arrival, and have the CDC Dog Import Form receipt	Additional rules depend on where the dog has been during the previous six months and whether it has a current U.S.-issued rabies vaccine.
Service dog/service animal	No additional charge	Service animals may travel at no additional charge when they meet the applicable requirements and documentation rules.

How to Add a Pet to Your Reservation

The pet service can be added during booking when selecting a seat, or later through ‘My Trips’. If the service was not prepaid online, the transportation fee can be paid at the airport. Because pet space is limited, adding the service as early as possible is the safest approach when planning a trip.

Airport Check-In

Travelers with pets must check in at the airport counter, where the staff reviews the animal, the carrier or kennel, and the required documents. For domestic flights, arrival should be at least two hours before departure. For international flights, arrival should be at least three hours before departure. Airport security may also require an additional inspection of the animal and its container.

Practical Tips Before Your Trip

A few planning steps can make the trip easier for both the passenger and the animal:

• Feed and give your pet water about four hours before the flight.
• Let your dog or cat get used to the carrier in advance to help reduce stress.
• Do not sedate your pet, since sedation can increase the risk of cardiac or respiratory problems during the flight.
• Use a collar, leash, or harness as required.

Volaris Airlines Pet Policy FAQs