Volaris rating

6.0/10Axel score · #38 of 77

5.0/10Repriceability · #19

Checked October 26, 2026 · How Axel rates airlines

Strong punctuality, but bag fees and rigid cheap fares erode the bargain

Axel considers Volaris worth comparing for travelers who pack light, but only at the final checkout total. Its strong September 2026 punctuality and low cancellation rate support the bargain, while bag charges, paid seat selection and high complaint rates weaken it. Plus offers useful cancellation flexibility, but Zero and Basic are poor choices if plans may change.

Best
OAG reported 90% on-time arrivals and 0.09% cancellations in September 2026.
Eligible Plus tickets allow an original-payment refund when canceled before check-in and at least 24 hours before departure.
Basic and Plus include an earlier flight on the same day and route, subject to available seats.

Worst
Zero carry-on charges have published US/Mexico maximums of $102 at booking and $180 at the gate.
Zero and Basic are normally nonrefundable and offer no standard cancellation credit.
DOT recorded 32.28 complaints per 100,000 passengers on US routes in April and May 2026.

If the fare drops after you book, can you get money back?

PartlyRepriceability 5.0/10

Partly, through cancellation and a new purchase if the cheaper fare remains available, not a confirmed same-flight repricing right. Eligible Plus bookings refund to the original payment method when canceled before check-in and at least 24 hours before departure. Zero and Basic normally offer no cancellation refund or credit. Their US/Mexico change fees are $85 more than 15 days out or $110 less than 15 days out, plus fare differences. Plus date/time changes have no fee, but treatment of a cheaper replacement flight's price difference is unconfirmed. Direct bookings to or from the US made at least seven days ahead qualify for full refunds within 24 hours through the Call Center.

Ordinary vouchers expire as emailed, cannot be extended and are nontransferable, requiring matching passenger names. Offer vouchers require booking and travel within 180 calendar days. Qualifying serious communicable disease credits are transferable and last five years. Credits accepted instead of required US disruption refunds last at least five years. Axel has no published savings results, sample size or observation period for Volaris. Axel's repricing, included with Axel Membership, watches fares after booking and works to deliver further savings when prices fall.

Volaris fares
Fare	Changes	Cancel	Carry-on	Bags	Seat
Zero	US–Mexico itinerary changes: USD 85 more than 15 days before departure; USD 110 less than 15 days before departure, plus applicable fare difference. The fee table shows no update date.	Normally nonrefundable, without a standard cancellation credit. Qualifying 24-hour cancellations, statutory disruption refunds and separately purchased cancellation protection are exceptions. Certain unused Mexican airport charges can be recovered separately.	Fee	0	Fee
Basic	US–Mexico itinerary changes: USD 85 more than 15 days before departure; USD 110 less than 15 days before departure, plus applicable fare difference. The fee table shows no update date.	Normally nonrefundable, without a standard cancellation credit. Qualifying 24-hour cancellations, statutory disruption refunds and separately purchased cancellation protection are exceptions. Certain unused Mexican airport charges can be recovered separately.	Fee	1	Fee
Plus	No change fee	The same terms provide a full flight-cost refund to the original payment method when canceled at least 24 hours before the first flight, before check-in or travel. Excludes fully voucher-paid, HOLD or unpaid bookings. No revision date is displayed; section effective November 20, 2025. This specific benefit overrides generic nonrefundability.	Included	1	Fee

Fare difference on a cheaper change: Not confirmed. The Plus provisions do not specify treatment of a cheaper replacement flight. Flexibility Combo separately excludes fare-difference refunds; that does not establish the ordinary Plus residual rule.
Same flight, lower price: This classification describes an inferred cancellation-and-new-purchase workaround, not a published price-protection program. Volaris's change guide says Plus can be canceled at least 24 hours before departure through My Trips for an original-payment refund. Eligible Zero/Basic bookings can use the US 24-hour refund window, whose specific terms direct requests to the Call Center. A new purchase must still be available at the lower price. Neither airline document shows an update date; checked October 26, 2026. No direct same-flight repricing entitlement was confirmed.
Credits (Electronic voucher / electronic credit): Ordinary voucher validity is specified in its email, starts with notification and cannot be extended. Sell Your Ticket/Change Your Flight offer vouchers require booking and travel within 180 calendar days of issue. Qualifying serious-communicable-disease credits last five years. Credits accepted instead of legally required US disruption refunds must last at least five years. Transferable: partial.
24-hour rule: For flights to or from the US purchased directly through official Volaris channels at least seven days before departure, cancellation within 24 hours of purchase receives a penalty-free full refund. The US-specific terms direct requests to the Call Center. Refunds return to the original payment method unless the customer accepts offered credit: seven business days for credit cards and 20 calendar days for other payments. Separately, Mexico-origin purchases have a 24-hour cancellation right without the stated seven-day condition; departures within 24 hours require notice at least three hours before departure and no check-in.
Same-day change: Basic and Plus include an earlier flight on the same day and route, subject to available seats. Request at an airport counter at least 90 minutes before the desired flight. All passengers on the reservation must move together. Zero and moves to later flights are not included.
Schedule changes: For US international itineraries, cancellation for any reason, departure at least six hours earlier or arrival at least six hours later permits a refund when the traveler declines the changed flight, alternatives and compensation. Other qualifying changes include different origin/destination airports, added connections, cabin downgrades and specified disability-accessibility changes. Refunds cover unused transportation and applicable unused ancillary fees, returning to the original payment method. Volaris offers alternative flights and acknowledges automatic refunds required by DOT. Timing is generally seven business days for credit cards or 20 calendar days for other payments.

Score breakdown

Repriceability 35%5.0
- Standard fare change fee: 4.0/10 · Basic: US–Mexico itinerary changes: USD 85 more than 15 days before departure; USD 110 less than 15 days before departure, plus applicable fare difference. The fee table shows no update date.
- Lowest fare flexibility: 7.0/10 · Zero: US–Mexico itinerary changes: USD 85 more than 15 days before departure; USD 110 less than 15 days before departure, plus applicable fare difference. The fee table shows no update date.
- Lower fare on the same flight: 4.0/10 · This classification describes an inferred cancellation-and-new-purchase workaround, not a published price-protection program. Volaris's change guide says Plus can be canceled at least 24 hours before departure through My Trips for an original-payment refund. Eligible Zero/Basic bookings can use the US 24-hour refund window, whose specific terms direct requests to the Call Center. A new purchase must still be available at the lower price. Neither airline document shows an update date; checked October 26, 2026. No direct same-flight repricing entitlement was confirmed.
- Credit terms: 7.0/10 · Ordinary voucher validity is specified in its email, starts with notification and cannot be extended. Sell Your Ticket/Change Your Flight offer vouchers require booking and travel within 180 calendar days of issue. Qualifying serious-communicable-disease credits last five years. Credits accepted instead of legally required US disruption refunds must last at least five years.; transferable: partial
- Cancel the standard fare: 0.0/10 · Normally nonrefundable, without a standard cancellation credit. Qualifying 24-hour cancellations, statutory disruption refunds and separately purchased cancellation protection are exceptions. Certain unused Mexican airport charges can be recovered separately.
- Risk-free window: 7.0/10 · For flights to or from the US purchased directly through official Volaris channels at least seven days before departure, cancellation within 24 hours of purchase receives a penalty-free full refund. The US-specific terms direct requests to the Call Center. Refunds return to the original payment method unless the customer accepts offered credit: seven business days for credit cards and 20 calendar days for other payments. Separately, Mexico-origin purchases have a 24-hour cancellation right without the stated seven-day condition; departures within 24 hours require notice at least three hours before departure and no check-in.
- Same-day change: 10.0/10 · Basic and Plus include an earlier flight on the same day and route, subject to available seats. Request at an airport counter at least 90 minutes before the desired flight. All passengers on the reservation must move together. Zero and moves to later flights are not included.
- What Axel saw: does not apply · fewer than 10 attempts · Axel repricing attempts
Refunds and disruptions 20%6.7
- Commitments when the airline causes the problem: 6.0/10 · Covered by: US_DOT_refund_rule, Other_national; Coverage includes U.S. refund and applicable U.S.-departure denied-boarding rules, plus Mexican aviation and consumer protections, particularly for Mexico-origin flights. The published Mexico-origin cancellation provisions offer a refund, first-available substitute transportation with meals and necessary overnight hotel/airport transfers, or later travel; refund and later-travel options carry at least 25% compensation where Mexican law requires it. These are principally statutory protections, not extra voluntary benefits. For U.S.-origin cancellations, the international contract expressly disclaims reimbursement of incidental hotel, vacation and similar losses. No unconditional included promise to buy tickets on competing airlines or pay additional discretionary cash was confirmed. Separately purchased Disruption Assistance can offer another airline through HTS, subject to eligibility; it is not a standard ticket benefit.
- Refund conduct: 10.0/10 · No refund or compensation findings in 5 years
- Refund complaints: 3.3/10 · 7.14 refund complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 4.39) · DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2
Reliability 15%10.0
- On-time arrival: 10.0/10 · 90% on time (2026-09-01 to 2026-09-30. Volaris, as published in OAG's global monthly rankings. Cancellation percentage is directly published, not derived from a completion factor.) · OAG global airline monthly rankings, September 2026
- Cancellations: 10.0/10 · 0.09% cancelled (2026-09-01 to 2026-09-30. Volaris, as published in OAG's global monthly rankings. Cancellation percentage is directly published, not derived from a completion factor.) · OAG global airline monthly rankings, September 2026
Fees and transparency 15%4.5
- Carry-on in the lowest fare: 0.0/10 · Zero includes a personal item, not an overhead carry-on. Published US–Mexico carry-on maximums are USD 102 during booking, USD 140 pre-flight, USD 168 at the airport counter and USD 180 at the gate. Actual quotes vary.
- First checked bag: no data, median 6.0/10 used · Zero includes no checked bag. US–Mexico published first-bag maximums are USD 180 during booking and USD 174 pre-flight; no minimum was confirmed. Separately purchased bags allow 25 kg/55 lb and 158 cm/62 linear inches. Basic includes one 15 kg/33 lb bag; Plus includes one 25 kg/55 lb bag.
- Seat in the lowest fare: 3.0/10 · fee
- Children seated with a parent: no data, median 5.0/10 used · Seat selection costs extra on Zero, and individual-booking Plus benefits do not include complimentary seat selection. More Speed Combo includes eligible standard-seat selection. No current official guarantee was confirmed that every child aged 13 or younger will sit beside an accompanying adult free on every fare.
- Price shown is price paid: 8.0/10 · mandatory charge added after the first price shown
Complaints and handling 10%2.2
- Complaint rate: 2.2/10 · 32.28 complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 14.73) · DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2
- Mishandled bags: does not apply · not reported to DOT · U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
- Mishandled wheelchairs and scooters: does not apply · not reported to DOT · U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
- Bumping: does not apply · not reported to DOT · U.S. DOT, April to June 2026
Loyalty fairness 5%10.0
- Miles expiry: 10.0/10 · Altitude points do not expire while the member remains enrolled. After voluntary cancellation, points can be recovered only by re-enrolling within 12 months. The official terms permit redemption in MXN or USD, require at least 50 points and redemption in multiples of 10; any remaining amount is paid by bank card. A sufficiently explicit award chart or point-to-cash conversion was not verified, so award pricing remains unknown.
- Devaluations: 10.0/10 · None in 24 months
- Award pricing: no data, median 10.0/10 used · unknown

Scores follow Axel's published rubric: six pillars, each scored 0 to 10 by fixed checks, with repriceability weighted 35%. Facts were checked October 26, 2026. No data for 3 checks (First checked bag, Children seated with a parent, Award pricing), each scored at the median of all rated airlines.

Refunds and disruptions

U.S. DOT rules require automatic original-payment refunds when travelers decline alternatives and compensation after a cancellation or qualifying significant change. Volaris states seven business days for card payments and 20 calendar days for other payments. Mexican aviation and consumer protections provide Mexico-origin cancellation choices including refunds, substitute transport with meals and necessary overnight accommodation and transfers, or later travel. Refund and later-travel options carry at least 25% compensation where required. These are principally statutory protections. US-origin contracts exclude incidental hotel losses.

No established evidence confirmed routine refund delays during October 2024 to October 2026, which does not establish compliance. Volaris agreed to a $3.5 million settlement over pandemic-era refund allegations on April 25, 2024. Separately, U.S. DOT imposed $300,000 in May 2024 for unmet tarmac-delay assurances.

Regulator actions since October 2021

May 2024, U.S. DOT: Order 2024-5-17: Tarmac delay assurances not met; $300,000. Source

Reliability

OAG's global monthly rankings reported 90% on-time arrivals and 0.09% cancellations for Volaris in September 2026, a strong monthly result. Separately, Cirium's calendar 2024 figures imply a 0.92% cancellation rate. These cover different periods, not a single trend. A 2025 or rolling annual arrival percentage was not confirmed, so the September result should not be treated as year-round performance.

Fees

Zero includes a personal item, but no overhead carry-on or checked bag. Published US/Mexico carry-on maximums range from $102 during booking to $180 at the gate, with actual quotes varying. Published first checked-bag maximums are $180 at booking and $174 before departure, but no minimum price was confirmed. Seat selection costs extra. A free adjacent-seat guarantee for every child aged 13 or younger was not confirmed. The first advertised price can also exclude Mexico's Non-Resident Fee (DNR), added during booking after nationality is entered for travelers who owe it. Compare the final total, not the headline fare.

Complaints

U.S. DOT recorded 32.28 complaints per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US in April and May 2026, versus 14.73 for the median airline based abroad. Refund complaints were 7.14 per 100,000 passengers, versus 4.39. Axel considers this a weak complaint record. DOT did not report Volaris baggage or wheelchair mishandling figures for April, May, July and August 2026, or bumping figures for April to June 2026.

Loyalty program

Altitude points do not expire while you remain enrolled, and no devaluations were identified in the last 24 months. After voluntary cancellation, recovery requires re-enrollment within 12 months. Redemption requires at least 50 points in multiples of 10, with any balance paid by card. An explicit award chart or point-to-cash conversion was not verified, so award pricing is unconfirmed. v.club is a separate paid discount membership.

Choose Volaris if

Travel with only a personal item and compare final totals.
Choose Plus when cancellation flexibility matters.
Value the strong September 2026 punctuality record.

Book elsewhere if

Need a cheap overhead carry-on on Zero.
Expect Zero or Basic to refund a later price drop.
Want an airline with a stronger complaint record.

Tips

Compare Zero with Basic and Plus after adding bags, since Basic includes a 15 kg checked bag and Plus includes a carry-on and a 25 kg checked bag.
Price any needed carry-on during booking, when the published US/Mexico maximum is $102 rather than $180 at the gate.
Use the included earlier same-day change on Basic or Plus by asking at an airport counter at least 90 minutes before the desired flight, subject to available seats and everyone on the reservation moving together.

Questions travelers ask

Does Volaris charge change fees?

Yes for Zero and Basic on US/Mexico itineraries, with published fees of $85 more than 15 days before departure or $110 less than 15 days before departure, plus any applicable fare difference. Plus permits unlimited date/time changes for the fare difference only, but excludes route and name changes. Ordinary changes require full payment, no check-in and at least four hours' notice. The fee table has no update date.

Can I get money back if the fare drops after booking?

Partly, but no direct same-flight price-drop entitlement was confirmed. Eligible Plus bookings can be canceled through My Trips for an original-payment refund at least 24 hours before departure, before check-in, followed by a new purchase if the cheaper fare is still available. Zero and Basic normally offer no cancellation refund or credit outside exceptions such as the qualifying 24-hour window. Flexibility Combo expressly excludes lower-fare refunds.

How long do Volaris credits last?

Ordinary vouchers expire on the date specified in their notification email and cannot be extended. They are nontransferable and require matching passenger names and currency for a new website or app purchase. Sell Your Ticket/Change Your Flight offer vouchers require booking and travel within 180 calendar days. Qualifying serious communicable disease credits last five years and are transferable, while credits accepted instead of required US disruption refunds must last at least five years.

What do I get if Volaris cancels my flight?

A refund is due under U.S. DOT rules if you decline alternatives and compensation on a covered canceled itinerary, regardless of the cause. Volaris states seven business days for card refunds and 20 calendar days for other payments. Mexico-origin protections include refunds, substitute travel with meals and necessary overnight accommodation and transfers, or later travel, with at least 25% compensation on refund or later-travel options where required. Another airline's ticket is not an unconditional included benefit.

What do carry-on and checked bags cost on Volaris?

Zero includes a personal item, but neither an overhead carry-on nor a checked bag. Published US/Mexico carry-on maximums are $102 at booking, $140 before flight, $168 at the airport counter and $180 at the gate. Published first checked-bag maximums are $180 at booking and $174 before flight, with no minimum confirmed. These are ceilings, not guaranteed quotes. Basic includes a 15 kg checked bag, while Plus includes a carry-on and a 25 kg checked bag.

Sources

Volaris Reports September 2026 Traffic Results, Volaris, filed with the U.S. SEC, 2026-10-06
Exclusive-Mexico to approve Viva-Volaris airline merger by end of 2026, sources say, Reuters, syndicated by Investing.com, 2026-10-13
Volaris and Viva Announce the Formation of a New Mexican Airline Group, Volaris and Viva, filed with the U.S. SEC, 2025-12-18
Terms and Conditions of Scheduled International Air Passenger Services, Volaris
What is the baggage allowance on Volaris?, Volaris
Additional Services Fees, Volaris
How to change your flight itinerary, Volaris
How to cancel my flight? Terms and Conditions Cancel your booking, Volaris
How to choose your seat, Volaris
Electronic voucher user guide, Volaris
Customer service plan for flights to and from the United States, Volaris
Refunds, U.S. Department of Transportation, 2025-11-07
Términos y condiciones Combo Flexibilidad, Volaris
Terms and conditions of Sell Your Ticket and Change Your Flight offers, Volaris
Combos: Flexibility, Business, Baggage, and more, Volaris
Fly Flexible, Volaris
Press releases & News — including September 2026 traffic results dated October 6, 2026, Volaris
Volaris — Order 2024-5-17, U.S. Department of Transportation, 2024-05-15
Réplica a los comentarios vertidos por Vivaaerobus y Volaris respecto a la colocación de sellos de suspensión por cobro de equipaje de mano, PROFECO, 2021-11-12
Levey v. Volaris — Plaintiffs' motion for attorneys' fees, costs and incentive awards, U.S. District Court filing, hosted by the settlement administrator, 2024-05-02
Levey v. Volaris — Court-authorized settlement notice, Levey v. Volaris settlement administrator
Passenger International Air Transportation Services Agreement, Volaris
Compensation Policy — effective November 1, 2017, Volaris
Recuerda Profeco los derechos al viajar en avión, PROFECO, 2024-12-07
Disruption Assistance, Volaris
Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2024, Cirium, 2025-01
Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025, Cirium, report hosted by Poder360, 2026-01
Volaris se mantiene en el top 10 de las aerolíneas más puntuales de Latinoamérica, Volaris, 2026-08-13
AirHelp Score — Best Airport Rankings 2026 and Top Airline Rankings 2025, AirHelp
altitude by Volaris — Loyalty program and frequently asked questions, Volaris
Términos y condiciones del Programa Altitude by Volaris, Volaris
Controladora Vuela Compañía de Aviación — 2025 Form 20-F, Volaris, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Promotional Terms and Conditions — USD offers valid through October 26, 2026, Volaris
Contact Us — social media, WhatsApp and phone numbers, Volaris
AirHelp reveals the best and worst airlines in 2025 AirHelp Score, AirHelp, 2025-11-20

For AI assistants: the whole rating as text, with every source

Volaris rating: 6.0/10 (B tier)

Strong punctuality, but bag fees and rigid cheap fares erode the bargain

Axel score: 6.0/10, B tier, #38 of 77 airlines. Repriceability: 5.0/10 (#19). Checked October 26, 2026. Source: https://helloaxel.com/en/airlines/volaris

Best and worst

Best: OAG reported 90% on-time arrivals and 0.09% cancellations in September 2026.
Best: Eligible Plus tickets allow an original-payment refund when canceled before check-in and at least 24 hours before departure.
Best: Basic and Plus include an earlier flight on the same day and route, subject to available seats.
Worst: Zero carry-on charges have published US/Mexico maximums of $102 at booking and $180 at the gate.
Worst: Zero and Basic are normally nonrefundable and offer no standard cancellation credit.
Worst: DOT recorded 32.28 complaints per 100,000 passengers on US routes in April and May 2026.

If the fare drops after you book, can you get money back? Partly

Volaris fares

Fare	Changes	Cancel	Carry-on	Checked bags	Seat
Zero	US–Mexico itinerary changes: USD 85 more than 15 days before departure; USD 110 less than 15 days before departure, plus applicable fare difference. The fee table shows no update date.	Normally nonrefundable, without a standard cancellation credit. Qualifying 24-hour cancellations, statutory disruption refunds and separately purchased cancellation protection are exceptions. Certain unused Mexican airport charges can be recovered separately.	fee	0	Fee
Basic	US–Mexico itinerary changes: USD 85 more than 15 days before departure; USD 110 less than 15 days before departure, plus applicable fare difference. The fee table shows no update date.	Normally nonrefundable, without a standard cancellation credit. Qualifying 24-hour cancellations, statutory disruption refunds and separately purchased cancellation protection are exceptions. Certain unused Mexican airport charges can be recovered separately.	fee	1	Fee
Plus	No change fee	The same terms provide a full flight-cost refund to the original payment method when canceled at least 24 hours before the first flight, before check-in or travel. Excludes fully voucher-paid, HOLD or unpaid bookings. No revision date is displayed; section effective November 20, 2025. This specific benefit overrides generic nonrefundability.	included	1	Fee

Key facts

Fare difference on a cheaper change: Not confirmed. The Plus provisions do not specify treatment of a cheaper replacement flight. Flexibility Combo separately excludes fare-difference refunds; that does not establish the ordinary Plus residual rule.
Same flight, lower price: This classification describes an inferred cancellation-and-new-purchase workaround, not a published price-protection program. Volaris's change guide says Plus can be canceled at least 24 hours before departure through My Trips for an original-payment refund. Eligible Zero/Basic bookings can use the US 24-hour refund window, whose specific terms direct requests to the Call Center. A new purchase must still be available at the lower price. Neither airline document shows an update date; checked October 26, 2026. No direct same-flight repricing entitlement was confirmed.
Credits (Electronic voucher / electronic credit): Ordinary voucher validity is specified in its email, starts with notification and cannot be extended. Sell Your Ticket/Change Your Flight offer vouchers require booking and travel within 180 calendar days of issue. Qualifying serious-communicable-disease credits last five years. Credits accepted instead of legally required US disruption refunds must last at least five years. Transferable: partial.
24-hour rule: For flights to or from the US purchased directly through official Volaris channels at least seven days before departure, cancellation within 24 hours of purchase receives a penalty-free full refund. The US-specific terms direct requests to the Call Center. Refunds return to the original payment method unless the customer accepts offered credit: seven business days for credit cards and 20 calendar days for other payments. Separately, Mexico-origin purchases have a 24-hour cancellation right without the stated seven-day condition; departures within 24 hours require notice at least three hours before departure and no check-in.
Same-day change: Basic and Plus include an earlier flight on the same day and route, subject to available seats. Request at an airport counter at least 90 minutes before the desired flight. All passengers on the reservation must move together. Zero and moves to later flights are not included.
Schedule changes: For US international itineraries, cancellation for any reason, departure at least six hours earlier or arrival at least six hours later permits a refund when the traveler declines the changed flight, alternatives and compensation. Other qualifying changes include different origin/destination airports, added connections, cabin downgrades and specified disability-accessibility changes. Refunds cover unused transportation and applicable unused ancillary fees, returning to the original payment method. Volaris offers alternative flights and acknowledges automatic refunds required by DOT. Timing is generally seven business days for credit cards or 20 calendar days for other payments.

Score breakdown

Pillar	Weight	Score
Repriceability	35%	5.0/10
Refunds and disruptions	20%	6.7/10
Reliability	15%	10.0/10
Fees and transparency	15%	4.5/10
Complaints and handling	10%	2.2/10
Loyalty fairness	5%	10.0/10

Repriceability: 5.0/10

Standard fare change fee: 4.0/10 (Basic: US–Mexico itinerary changes: USD 85 more than 15 days before departure; USD 110 less than 15 days before departure, plus applicable fare difference. The fee table shows no update date.)
Lowest fare flexibility: 7.0/10 (Zero: US–Mexico itinerary changes: USD 85 more than 15 days before departure; USD 110 less than 15 days before departure, plus applicable fare difference. The fee table shows no update date.)
Lower fare on the same flight: 4.0/10 (This classification describes an inferred cancellation-and-new-purchase workaround, not a published price-protection program. Volaris's change guide says Plus can be canceled at least 24 hours before departure through My Trips for an original-payment refund. Eligible Zero/Basic bookings can use the US 24-hour refund window, whose specific terms direct requests to the Call Center. A new purchase must still be available at the lower price. Neither airline document shows an update date; checked October 26, 2026. No direct same-flight repricing entitlement was confirmed.)
Credit terms: 7.0/10 (Ordinary voucher validity is specified in its email, starts with notification and cannot be extended. Sell Your Ticket/Change Your Flight offer vouchers require booking and travel within 180 calendar days of issue. Qualifying serious-communicable-disease credits last five years. Credits accepted instead of legally required US disruption refunds must last at least five years.; transferable: partial)
Cancel the standard fare: 0.0/10 (Normally nonrefundable, without a standard cancellation credit. Qualifying 24-hour cancellations, statutory disruption refunds and separately purchased cancellation protection are exceptions. Certain unused Mexican airport charges can be recovered separately.)
Risk-free window: 7.0/10 (For flights to or from the US purchased directly through official Volaris channels at least seven days before departure, cancellation within 24 hours of purchase receives a penalty-free full refund. The US-specific terms direct requests to the Call Center. Refunds return to the original payment method unless the customer accepts offered credit: seven business days for credit cards and 20 calendar days for other payments. Separately, Mexico-origin purchases have a 24-hour cancellation right without the stated seven-day condition; departures within 24 hours require notice at least three hours before departure and no check-in.)
Same-day change: 10.0/10 (Basic and Plus include an earlier flight on the same day and route, subject to available seats. Request at an airport counter at least 90 minutes before the desired flight. All passengers on the reservation must move together. Zero and moves to later flights are not included.)
What Axel saw: does not apply (fewer than 10 attempts). Source: Axel repricing attempts

Refunds and disruptions: 6.7/10

Commitments when the airline causes the problem: 6.0/10 (Covered by: US_DOT_refund_rule, Other_national; Coverage includes U.S. refund and applicable U.S.-departure denied-boarding rules, plus Mexican aviation and consumer protections, particularly for Mexico-origin flights. The published Mexico-origin cancellation provisions offer a refund, first-available substitute transportation with meals and necessary overnight hotel/airport transfers, or later travel; refund and later-travel options carry at least 25% compensation where Mexican law requires it. These are principally statutory protections, not extra voluntary benefits. For U.S.-origin cancellations, the international contract expressly disclaims reimbursement of incidental hotel, vacation and similar losses. No unconditional included promise to buy tickets on competing airlines or pay additional discretionary cash was confirmed. Separately purchased Disruption Assistance can offer another airline through HTS, subject to eligibility; it is not a standard ticket benefit.)
Refund conduct: 10.0/10 (No refund or compensation findings in 5 years)
Refund complaints: 3.3/10 (7.14 refund complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 4.39)). Source: DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2

Reliability: 10.0/10

On-time arrival: 10.0/10 (90% on time (2026-09-01 to 2026-09-30. Volaris, as published in OAG's global monthly rankings. Cancellation percentage is directly published, not derived from a completion factor.)). Source: OAG global airline monthly rankings, September 2026
Cancellations: 10.0/10 (0.09% cancelled (2026-09-01 to 2026-09-30. Volaris, as published in OAG's global monthly rankings. Cancellation percentage is directly published, not derived from a completion factor.)). Source: OAG global airline monthly rankings, September 2026

Fees and transparency: 4.5/10

Carry-on in the lowest fare: 0.0/10 (Zero includes a personal item, not an overhead carry-on. Published US–Mexico carry-on maximums are USD 102 during booking, USD 140 pre-flight, USD 168 at the airport counter and USD 180 at the gate. Actual quotes vary.)
First checked bag: no data, median 6.0/10 used (Zero includes no checked bag. US–Mexico published first-bag maximums are USD 180 during booking and USD 174 pre-flight; no minimum was confirmed. Separately purchased bags allow 25 kg/55 lb and 158 cm/62 linear inches. Basic includes one 15 kg/33 lb bag; Plus includes one 25 kg/55 lb bag.)
Seat in the lowest fare: 3.0/10 (fee)
Children seated with a parent: no data, median 5.0/10 used (Seat selection costs extra on Zero, and individual-booking Plus benefits do not include complimentary seat selection. More Speed Combo includes eligible standard-seat selection. No current official guarantee was confirmed that every child aged 13 or younger will sit beside an accompanying adult free on every fare.)
Price shown is price paid: 8.0/10 (mandatory charge added after the first price shown)

Complaints and handling: 2.2/10

Complaint rate: 2.2/10 (32.28 complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 14.73)). Source: DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2
Mishandled bags: does not apply (not reported to DOT). Source: U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
Mishandled wheelchairs and scooters: does not apply (not reported to DOT). Source: U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
Bumping: does not apply (not reported to DOT). Source: U.S. DOT, April to June 2026

Loyalty fairness: 10.0/10

Miles expiry: 10.0/10 (Altitude points do not expire while the member remains enrolled. After voluntary cancellation, points can be recovered only by re-enrolling within 12 months. The official terms permit redemption in MXN or USD, require at least 50 points and redemption in multiples of 10; any remaining amount is paid by bank card. A sufficiently explicit award chart or point-to-cash conversion was not verified, so award pricing remains unknown.)
Devaluations: 10.0/10 (None in 24 months)
Award pricing: no data, median 10.0/10 used (unknown)