Navigating Latin America with the Volaris Annual Pass
Travel enthusiasts on a budget and individuals with a lot of flexibility should read this
Months ago I posted a Twitter thread about the Volaris Annual Pass. If you are a traveler on a budget or you have a lot of spare time/flexiblity, the Volaris Annual Pass might just be the golden ticket to exploring Latin America. Recently activated, this pass allows you to jet off to any destination serviced by Volaris, with only the Airport Tax (TUA) as a cost.
I also recommend that you switch the website to Spanish. I purchased the ticket months ago during the presale for 3,999 MXN. The price is now 7,999 MXN if you pay in pesos, but 499 USD if paid in USD—a $50 USD difference. This article is just an entry to walk you through what you could be a part of.
*This is not a sponsored post or affiliate link
The Basics
One of the key stipulations of the Volaris Annual Pass is the ability to book domestic flights with just a 1-day notice and international flights with a slightly longer lead time of 3 days.
Navigating the portal is a breeze – a simple interface prompts you to enter your origin and destination, setting the stage for your next adventure.
Flight Availability
Curiosity often strikes on how to gauge flight availability. Fear not, for under the flight section lies a regularly updated PDF that details the number of available seats per flight. A handy tool for spontaneous travelers, this feature ensures you're always in the loop.
Cost Comparison: Annual Pass vs. Regular Booking
Let's crunch the numbers. I checked flights to Acapulco for tomorrow through the traditional system – the absolute cheapest came in at 2,178 pesos. Even with Vclub offers, the total amounted to 2,729 pesos. Now, the game-changer – booking through the Annual Pass portal slashed the cost to a mere 551 pesos. A win for spontaneity and savings.
Planning Ahead vs. Spontaneous Travel
Addressing the common query – why not save money by booking in advance? A quick lookup for the soonest ticket to Acapulco showed a Vclub rate of 268 pesos, but with the TUA factored in, the absolute cheapest rate soared to 819 pesos. The Annual Pass emerges victorious.
How Many Flights to Break Even?*
The million-dollar question: how many flights do you need to take to make the Annual Pass worthwhile? It depends on your travel frequency, destinations, and the pass price. Purchased during the presale at 4k pesos (now 8k), I found that even one of the more expensive next-day flights, like Mexico City to Tijuana, would save you a whopping 5k pesos.
International Ventures
Thinking of crossing borders? A flight from Mexico City to Chicago could range from 6,200 to 10,212 pesos. With the Annual Pass, that same journey would only set you back 1,879 pesos, resulting in savings ranging from 4,200 to 8,300 pesos. It's safe to say; the pass pays for itself after just a few international flights.
In the end, I haven't found a situation where the pass hasn't been useful. I recently took a trip to Cabo and booked the first flight for 551 Pesos. I was slightly hesitant about having to book the return flight the day before I left, but I was also prepared to extend my trip. Considering the cost of the flights, extending the trip for X amount of days made the cost manageable. I didn't even schedule my return flight until a little after 5 pm, and there were plenty of seats available on multiple flights.
Volaris Annual Pass Link
Have you flow Volaris or have the pass? Tell me what you think.
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