Take your best friend with you
If your pet and carrier weigh up to a maximum of 10 kg (22 lb) combined, you may take your pet on board. If your pet and carrier weigh up to a maximum of 45 kg (100 lb) combined, you will need to check in your pet.
For the safety of your pet, check the restrictions by breed before your trip.
You may add an onboard or checked pet when booking your flights. Look for the travel with your pet option on the select your seat step. For information on costs, go to the additional services fees section.
Carrier type
If traveling with a dog, the carrier to take it on board may be made of fabric or sturdy plastic. If traveling with a cat, it must be sturdy (plastic). In both cases, it must comply with measurements and requirements.
In the aircraft
The carrier must be closed with a plastic clamp to be provided to you at the airport, so your pet cannot leave it during the flight. During the flight, you must place the carrier under the seat in front of you, and the rest of your personal items on the overhead compartments.
Carrier weight and dimensions
The combined weight of the carrier and your pet must not exceed 100 lbs (45 kg).
Length: it must be equal to the measure of the animal from the tip of the nose to the tailhead, plus a quarter of that length.
Width: it must equal twice the width of the animal. You should use the widest part of the animal as a reference.
Height: it must equal the measure of the animal standing, from the tip of the head or the ears to the ground.
Your pet must be able to freely spin around on its axis and stand up on its four paws inside the carrier.
Carrier characteristics
The carrier must have a sturdy structure, and be clean, waterproof, well ventilated, wheel-free, and free of objects that can hurt your pet, be scratch-proof, with an anti-escape closure, and it must have handles for carrying.
Identification and contact information
The carrier must be labeled with your contact information (name, phone number and address) and the pet’s identification information (name, age and sex).
Leakproof containers
Leakproof containers may be placed inside the carrier with pet food and water (provided by the passenger), as necessary for the trip. The carrier must contain absorbent material or kitty litter and odor neutralizers.
Necessary documents to travel with your pet
Vaccination certificate
You must present a valid vaccination certificate that includes the first administration of a rabies shot or current booster dose (the validity can be 1, 2, or 3 years).
If your pet is receiving the rabies vaccine for the first time, it must be administered at least 30 days before your flight date.
If your pet is 15 months of age or older, it must have a current booster dose of rabies vaccine to be able to fly without waiting for 30 days.
Your pet must also have completed deworming treatment recently (no more than six months before the date of return).
Information for pets traveling to Honduras
The vaccination certificate must include the following vaccines:
Dogs: rabies, distemper, adenovirus or hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and leptospirosis
Cats: rabies, viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus, feline panleukopenia, and feline leukemia virus.
Important: if your dog or cat does not have the leptospirosis vaccine, it can get the shot upon arrival at the airport in Honduras for the applicable rate.
Both dogs and cats must have completed deworming treatment recently (no more than six months before the return date).
Additional information: upon your arrival in Honduras, the International Regional Organization of Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA) staff will carry a health check on your pet, and you'll have to pay the related fee.
Information for pets traveling to Peru
The vaccination certificate must include the following vaccines:
Dogs: parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and rabies
Cats: feline panleukopenia and rabies
Both dogs and cats must have completed deworming treatment recently (no more than 15 days before travel).
Additional information: upon your arrival in Peru, the staff of the National Agrarian Health Service (SENASA) will carry a health check on your pet, and you'll have to pay the related fee.
Animal health certificate
You must present an original and non-certified copy of the animal health certificate indicating that your pet has been subject to prior inspection and is clinically healthy.
The certificate must be issued on letterhead paper with the veterinarian’s professional license number, dated fewer than five days before the initial flight date.
If the certificate does not have the license number on letterhead paper, you must also present a copy of the veterinarian’s professional license.
If the return flight is more than 5 days after the issuance of the certificate, you will need to present another certificate that is valid for the return.
If you are traveling to or within Central and South America, you must also show an International Animal Health Export Certificate issued by SAGARPA/SENASICA/SENASA/CENTREX.
If you are traveling from the United States to Mexico, you will not need to present a health certificate. SENASICA personnel will carry out a physical inspection on your pet upon arrival.
If you are traveling from Colombia, you must also present a Sanitary Inspection Certificate (aka CIS) issued by the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA). For more information, visit the ICA website.
Service restrictions
■ Only dogs and cats are allowed.
■ Pets younger than 4 months, nursing, sick, dead, violent, or pregnant are not accepted.
■ Add the service in advance since there is a limit of four checked pets and two traveling onboard per flight (including emotional support cats).
■ You may take one single animal per carrier.
■ Do not have your pet undergo surgical procedures within 5 days before the flight.
■ The pet on board and checked pet services are not available for flights operated by Frontier (direct or codeshare).
■ Passengers traveling with dogs may choose any window seat, except premium or emergency exit. Those carrying cats may select only window seats in the last row.
Restricted breeds
Brachycephalic and small breeds
Air travel is not recommended for brachycephalic or small breeds. These animals are at higher risk of health complications during the flight.
If you want to travel with a brachycephalic or small pet, you must sign the liability waiver that we will provide to you at our airport counters.
Brachycephalic dogs: Affenpinscher, American Staffordshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Boxer (all breeds), Bulldog, Cane Corso, Chow Chow, Dogue de Bordeaux, English Toy Spaniel, Brussels Griffon, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, Mastiff, Pekinese, Pit Bull, Presa Canario, Pug (all breeds), Sharpei, Shih Tzu, Tibetan Spaniel, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Brachycephalic cats: Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, and Persian.
Small dogs: Australian Silky Terrier, Beagle, Bichon Frise, Chihuahua (all breeds), Toy Fox Terrier, French Poodle, Schnauzer, Yorkshire Terrier, and Dachshund (wiener dog).
Dangerous breeds
Dogs considered aggressive or dangerous cannot travel either in the cabin or the cargo hold: Akita Inu, Anatolian Shepherd, Belgian Shepherd, Brazilian Mastiff, Doberman, Rottweiler, and Tosa Inu.
Restrictions for pets traveling to the US
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have updated the restriction for dogs arriving from high-risk countries for dog rabies.
Dogs arriving from Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Peru or have been in those countries in the last six months can enter the US only if they meet one of the exceptions:
■ Dogs with a valid rabies vaccination certificate issued by a certified veterinarian in the US.
○ The vaccination certificate must be valid and current.
○ You must present proof that your dog has a microchip. The microchip's number must be included on the rabies vaccination certificate or a separate document.
○ The dog must be at least six months old and healthy upon arrival.
Learn more about the vaccination certificate.
■ Dogs with a valid import permit issued by the CDC. Learn how to apply for an import permit.
In both cases, they can enter the US only at the approved ports of entry. Volaris operates flights in Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Seattle (SEA), and Washington D.C. (IAD).
■ Dogs who have a valid rabies vaccination certificate issued abroad (any country other than the United States). You must show the certificate at the airport for validation.
In addition to the certificate, you must meet the following requirements:
○ Show proof of having a microchip. The microchip number may be on the rabies vaccination certificate or a separate document.
○ The dog must be at least six months old and healthy upon arrival.
○ Upon arrival, the dog must undergo a veterinary examination and rabies revaccination at a CDC-approved animal care center (all costs at the owner's expense). You will need to schedule an appointment because if the center does not have space, the dog will not be able to enter the United States and return to the country of departure at the owner's expense.
The approved animal care centers where Volaris has a presence are Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), and New York (JFK).
If you travel with three or more dogs, you must show a valid CDC import permit or a foreign-issued rabies vaccination certificate. You can only enter through the stations where there are CDC-approved animal care centers.
This restriction applies to non-stop and connecting flights. Cats are exempt.
Check out the list of high-risk countries for dog rabies.
Keep your pet well fed and hydrated
Feed and give water to your pet about four hours before the flight.
Have your pet get used to its cage
Allow your pet to get used to the cage days before traveling.
Carry a toy or garment
Put an object that is familiar to your pet in the cage so that it can travel more relaxed.
Keep the cage clean
Place absorbent material or sanitary stones in the cage.
Don't sedate your pet
Doing so may increase the risk of suffering cardiac or respiratory problems during the flight on some animals, in accordance with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the norms of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
How long beforehand should I arrive at the airport?
For domestic flights (Mexico), you must arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight’s departure, and for international flights, at least three hours before, so we can verify that your pet meets all the requirements to travel.
Vaccination cards and health certificates
Pet travel form filled out with your details as well as your pet's details.
Pay for the transportation of your pet if you didn't do so during the reservation. Go to additional services fees to check the cost of this service.
The airport security staff may need to carry out an extra inspection of your pet and its carrier. We recommend you arrive early in case this is required.
Want to know more?
For more information about official provisions regarding traveling with pets, consult the following links:
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Requirements by country of origin to enter Mexico
Review the SENASICA (National Department for Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality) requirements for importing animals into Mexico, depending on your country of origin and country of departure.
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Requirements for entering the United States
Consult the regulations of the United States government for entering with animals.
How can I add this service to my reservation?
You can add the service when booking your flights on our website or app, or afterwise at airport counters or our Call Center.
Check out the fees here.
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