Viva Aerobus Pet Policy (2026): Fees, Carrier Size & Rules

How to add your dog to a booking

1. Add the pet service on Viva's website or through any of its sales channels, as early as possible. It depends on availability, and the cabin allows only 6 pets per flight.
2. For a pet in the hold, Viva's Terms and Conditions say to request it when you buy the ticket, at least 4 hours before departure online or through a sales channel, or at least 2 hours before departure at the airport.
3. Sign Viva's release of liability letter. You can sign it electronically in your reservation, or download it and bring two signed copies.
4. Bring your pet's documents. Arrive at least 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight, and accept the liability waiver at the check-in counter.

Sources: Pets in the cabin, Terms and conditions (section 12, animals)

Pet fee

• Viva's fee table is in Spanish even on the English page. "Mascota (A bordo)" is a pet on board (in the cabin) and "Mascota (Documentada)" is a pet checked in (in the hold).
• Viva says the prices shown are estimated minimum and maximum ranges, and the final amount can vary by route, season, where you buy, how early you buy and the flight segment. The final price is shown during booking. The page was last updated in February 2026.
• Within Mexico, the pet-on-board fee is MXN 1,129 online and up to MXN 1,229 at a sales point, and MXN 1,229 at the airport. The checked-pet fee is MXN 1,039 online, up to MXN 1,129 at a sales point, and MXN 1,129 at the airport.
• Viva's table has separate dollar columns for flights to or from JFK, ORD, LAX and DEN and for other destinations. The pet fees are the same in both: $85 on the website and $95 at the airport for a pet on board, and $75 and $85 for a checked pet.
• Under the Mexican peso table, Viva says charges apply per passenger and per segment. It doesn't repeat that under the dollar table.
• Emotional support and service animals travel free (see the service animals section).

Source: Charges for additional services

Carrier size and weight

The weight limit is 27 lb (≈ 12.2 kg) including the carrier. Viva's Terms and Conditions give a different limit: 12 kg (about 26 lb) for the pet and carrier together. Confirm with Viva if your pet and carrier weigh more than 26 lb.

• The carrier must be rigid or semi-rigid, and your pet must be able to stand and move easily inside. It stays under the seat in front of you for the whole flight. Viva's Terms and Conditions give the maximum as 44 x 35 x 21 cm and say the carrier must be closed with a padlock or seal you provide.
• Pets must be at least 8 weeks old, or 6 months old dogs on flights to the United States.
• Up to 6 pets are allowed per flight.
• 1 carrier per passenger, with one pet inside.

Where you can sit

• Window seats only, except seats next to emergency exits
• Two animals can't sit in adjacent seats or rows, so Viva may reassign passengers

Sources: Pets in the cabin, Terms and conditions (section 12, animals)

Routes, breeds and other restrictions

Where pets can't fly

We haven't verified which routes, if any, don't accept pets on Viva. Check the official page before you book.

Breeds

Viva doesn't carry short-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs in the hold. Its Terms and Conditions say they "will only be accepted in the passenger cabin" if they meet the size, weight and document rules, and the passenger signs a letter of responsibility. Viva's breed list isn't complete ("among others"), and includes Boxer, Bulldog, Pug, Shih-Tzu, Pekingese, Maltese, Lhasa Apso and all Mastiffs. Confirm with Viva whether your dog counts as short-nosed. Confirm with Viva before you book a short-nosed dog or cat.

Also good to know

• Dogs flying from Mexico to the U.S. must be at least 6 months old, have a microchip and implantation certificate, a receipt for the CDC Dog Import Form, and an emergency contact in Mexico or the U.S.
• Dogs from Mexico to the U.S.: a certificate that the dog is free of screwworm, signed by an official veterinarian and issued within 5 days before travel, if the country is on the list Viva links to.
• Viva says it only transports dogs that have not been in high-risk countries for dog rabies in the 6 months before the flight date.
• Dogs flying from the U.S. to Mexico need a New World screwworm (GBG) inspection certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian, issued within 5 days before travel (the USDA format may be used). Viva's cabin page also says Senasica inspects the pet if it travels from the U.S.
• Flights within Mexico: a rabies vaccination certificate (one year from the date of application) with deworming not older than 6 months, a health certificate from your vet issued no more than 5 days before the flight, and a signed release of liability letter.
• Pets must stay in the carrier from the moment you present them at the counter until you leave the destination airport. Feeding pets or giving them treats during the flight is not allowed.
• Minors traveling alone can't bring pets on board.
• Viva only carries dogs and cats as pets.

Sources: Pets in the cabin, Dogs in the cargo hold, Terms and conditions (section 12, animals)

Cargo and checked pets

Viva carries pets in the cargo hold through Dogs in the cargo hold. Dogs over 16 weeks old can fly in the hold in a rigid carrier. The dog and carrier together can weigh up to 99 lb, and the carrier can be up to 126 linear inches (length + width + height). Viva takes at most 5 pets in the hold per flight. Viva's Terms and Conditions give different limits: 45 kg, 319 linear cm and a minimum age of 4 months on domestic flights.

Compare every airline's hold rules in our guide to airlines that fly dogs in the hold.

Sources: Dogs in the cargo hold, Terms and conditions (section 12, animals)

Service dogs and emotional support animals

• Only trained service dogs are accepted as service animals.
• Required paperwork: Service Animal Air Transportation Form (flights from Mexico to the U.S.); two signed copies of Viva's letter of responsibility.

Sources: Service animals, Emotional support animals, Terms and conditions (section 12, animals)

Other details

• Viva's pet page and its Terms and Conditions disagree on the cabin limits: 27 lb vs 12 kg for pet and carrier, a carrier of 18 x 14 x 8 in vs 44 x 35 x 21 cm, and (for the hold) a minimum age of 16 weeks vs 4 months. This page follows the pet page. Confirm with Viva before you book.
• Viva says the passenger must follow the official rules of the destination country for international flights. Check them before you book.
• Emotional support dogs and cats travel free of charge with the right paperwork. If the paperwork is missing, Viva moves the animal to the hold as a pet, at the passenger's cost.

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