Traveller reference · VB
Viva Aerobus
No alliance · IATA VB · ultra low-cost, anchored at Monterrey
Travelaidnow is an independent travel agency and is not Viva Aerobus, nor affiliated with or endorsed by it.
This page is a general reference written by our team. Baggage allowances, fees and policies are set by the airline and change without notice, so confirm anything that affects your trip with Viva Aerobus directly before you travel.
Official site: vivaaerobus.comViva Aerobus, which increasingly brands itself simply as Viva, is Mexico's other large ultra low-cost carrier. Its largest base is Monterrey, which shapes the network: the airline is disproportionately strong on routes between northern Mexico and Texas, where Volaris is stronger on the California-to-Jalisco corridors.
The commercial model is the same unbundled structure as its rival. The headline fare buys a seat and a personal item; cabin bags, checked bags, seat selection and changes are extras, and the same fee escalates the later you buy it. Bundles combining several extras are usually cheaper than assembling the same items one at a time.
In December 2025 Viva and Volaris announced they would combine into a single Mexican airline group, and Volaris shareholders approved the structure in March 2026. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval. Both airlines have said they will keep separate brands, operating certificates and loyalty programmes, so for now they should be treated as two airlines rather than one.
Viva Aerobus at a glance
- IATA code
- VB
- ICAO code
- VIV
- Based in
- Mexico
- Alliance
- No global alliance
- Type
- Ultra low-cost
- Frequent flyer
- Doters
How Viva Aerobus baggage works
A personal item is included in the base fare. A full-size cabin bag is a paid extra, as is each checked bag, and the airline is consistent about measuring the personal item because the fee depends on it.
The escalation matters more here than the headline amount. The same bag costs least added at booking, more at online check-in, more at the counter and most at the gate. Adding what you know you need at the point of booking is the cheapest option available and it is not a close call.
Bundles that package baggage, seat selection and flexibility together are worth pricing against the individual extras before choosing, since the bundle is frequently the cheaper route to the same items.
Check-in
Check in online or in the app. Counter check-in can attract a charge, and the queues at Monterrey and Cancún at peak times are long enough that the online route saves more than money.
Cutoffs are firm and there is no alliance to fall back on. A missed departure generally means a new ticket rather than a rebooking, so the ordinary advice about arriving early applies more strictly here than on a full-service carrier.
Boarding
Boarding is by group with priority sold separately. As with any carrier that charges for the overhead bin, fewer passengers bring a full-size cabin bag and boarding is correspondingly quicker.
Bag sizers are used at the gate. A personal item within the published dimensions passes without discussion; one slightly over is charged at the most expensive point in the pricing curve.
Before you fly Viva Aerobus
Check which Mexico City airport your flight uses
Viva operates to both MEX and AIFA, the newer airport north of the city coded NLU. They are separated by a long drive, and a fare that looks cheaper into NLU can cost the saving back in ground transport and time. Read the airport code rather than the city name.
Monterrey is the network's centre of gravity
If you are travelling between Texas and northern Mexico, Viva usually has the schedule depth. For the California to western Mexico corridors, Volaris generally has more frequency. Checking both before booking takes a minute and the networks are genuinely different.
The merger does not change your ticket yet
The combination with Volaris is subject to regulatory approval, and both carriers have said the brands, operating certificates and the Doters and Altitude programmes continue separately. Book, check in and claim as though they are two airlines, because for now they are.
Planning a trip rather than researching a carrier?
Our route and airport guides cover the journey itself — when demand peaks, which airports work, and how long the connection really takes.
FAQ
Viva Aerobus — common questions
General guidance only. Viva Aerobus sets these policies and can change them, so confirm anything that affects your trip at vivaaerobus.com.
Does Viva Aerobus include a carry-on bag?
A personal item that fits under the seat is included. A full-size cabin bag for the overhead bin is charged separately, as is each checked bag. Current amounts are on vivaaerobus.com and depend on the route and on when you add the bag.
Are Viva Aerobus and Volaris the same airline now?
Not yet. They announced a combination into a single airline group in December 2025 and Volaris shareholders approved the structure in March 2026, but the transaction is subject to regulatory approval. Both have said they will keep separate brands, operating certificates and loyalty programmes, so treat them as two airlines when booking.
What is Doters?
Doters is the loyalty programme associated with Viva. It is a points programme rather than a baggage allowance, and membership does not change what extras cost on a given booking.
Does Viva Aerobus fly to the United States?
Yes, it operates transborder routes alongside its large Mexican domestic network, with particular depth between northern Mexico and Texas. Its route map on vivaaerobus.com is the reliable source, since ultra low-cost networks change seasonally more than full-service ones.