Forums > General > Traveling Mexico

chinagringo

Jun 23, 2010, 10:10 AM

Post #1 of 10 (6186 views)

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VOLARIS - A crazy airline!

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Since we may have to postpone our August trip to October, I was playing around with the VOLARIS web site last night. Owned by Carlos Slim, they have certainly come up with some innovative marketing concepts! I was looking at LAX to GDL to LAX. They give you three pricing levels designated as: Want to Save, Want to Travel and the most expensive - Want it All. These different price levels offer differing benefits regarding the ticket changes allowed, number of bags allowed and the percentage of refund if your flight is more than 30 minutes late for any reason.

On the particular days that I checked - I found a $67USD per person fare LAX to GDL and a return of $24USD per person GDL to LAX. This amounted to a total fare of $368.22 for two of us. I consider that total to be totally unreal! In addition, they offer travel change insurance and a doubling of your on time guarantee for very nominal amounts.

If one is flexible on travel dates - fare such as this would certainly be better that the Tijuana option and then busing to San Diego.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

tashby

Jun 23, 2010, 11:35 AM

Post #2 of 10 (6170 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] VOLARIS - A crazy airline!

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The VivaAerobus website is set up the same way.....different price levels depending upon different factors (amount of luggage, flexibility, willingness/ability to print your own bordering pass, etc.)

Additionally, you may not be looking at the *complete total* until you work through the ticketing process all the way to the point you're ready to put your credit card number in.....that's when all the taxes and fees are finally included.

Once you've done your homework and read all the fine print, then get used to navigating the sites, it's pretty easy, really. I like it.

Friends flew Volaris LAX to GDL roundtrip a few months ago and saved considerably over the alternatives.

(This post was edited by tashby on Jun 23, 2010, 11:38 AM)

Peter

Jun 23, 2010, 1:06 PM

Post #3 of 10 (6151 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] VOLARIS - A crazy airline!

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I used Volaris a few times Tijuana-Morelia or reverse. Good, comfortable airline. They didn't have service to the US at that time. It was running around $1,000 - 1,500mx either direction. Good price.

chinagringo

Jun 23, 2010, 1:12 PM

Post #4 of 10 (6149 views)

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Re: [tashby] VOLARIS - A crazy airline!

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Tasby:

Out of concern over your comments, I went back and checked the pricing and took it all the way to the credit card entry point. The price that I stated did have all taxes, fees, etc. but did not include the optional travel insurance or the other optional insurance which doubled your refund in the event of a late flight.

I had played a similar game with them when checking a number of weeks ago when we thought we were going in August. I discovered that these fares change frequently and one needs to pounce when you find a great fare.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

tashby

Jun 23, 2010, 2:02 PM

Post #5 of 10 (6135 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] VOLARIS - A crazy airline!

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Then that's a great fare.

Right now I'm staring at very nearly the same price to fly RT in August between Guadalajara and.....Mexico City.

You win. Buy it.

skier14

Jun 23, 2010, 6:27 PM

Post #6 of 10 (6099 views)

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Re: [tashby] VOLARIS - A crazy airline!

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I just returned June 15th from a round trip to LAX via VOLARIS. Price is correct. Made reservations about a month ahead of trip. Arrived at Airport 3 hours ahead of flight and stood in line for 1.5 hours for ticketing and baggage inspection. If you travel light you get the best price. Three prices depending on the baggage weight. I have used this airline before, but went to TJ and then bused to the border, trolly to San Diego and on to LA vis Greyhound or Amtrak. This time to LAX was much eaiser and more comfortable, except that passing through customs at LAX with my Mexican wife in the visitors lines took 2 hours. Not the fault of Carol Slim. It's another story.

Reefhound

Jun 24, 2010, 7:12 AM

Post #7 of 10 (6034 views)

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Re: [tashby] VOLARIS - A crazy airline!

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Wish they would add service to Houston.

chinagringo

Jun 24, 2010, 7:52 AM

Post #8 of 10 (6025 views)

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Re: [Reefhound] VOLARIS - A crazy airline!

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VivaAerobus does fly out of Houston but I think only to their hub in Monterrey and then one has to transfer planes to other destinations.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Reefhound

Jun 24, 2010, 9:19 AM

Post #9 of 10 (6016 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] VOLARIS - A crazy airline!

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Yep. But when I last checked they didn't do transfers as a single ticketing. You could book a flight Houston to Monterrey and then Monterrey to D.F. but it would be two separate flights with separate boarding passes and checkins and luggage retrieval. And if the first flight was late and you missed the second one, tough luck.

They used to fly out of Austin to Monterrey and Cancun. I'm not sure why they don't fly to Cancun from Houston. I would think demand would be much higher on that route as Continental has about 5 or 6 daily direct flights there.

Anonimo

Jun 25, 2010, 6:21 AM

Post #10 of 10 (5956 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] VOLARIS - A crazy airline!

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This is a job for the FAA!
<Smiles!>

Saludos,
Anonimo