Mexicans love animals very much and always take them with them on the road. We can say that the criteria for transportation on domestic flights of Mexican airlines are even more loyal than for international transportation. Almost all low-cost airlines in Mexico provide the opportunity to transport animals, which cannot be said about, say, European low-cost airlines.
Transporting pets on Mexican airlines has its own nuances. Today we'll tell you what to look for if you're planning to fly with your pet on any of Mexico's four major airlines.
You can view information about transporting animals on each airline's website using the links below. If you are interested in the rules for importing pets into Mexico, here they are:Here.
General requirements
- When checking in for a flight, you must undergo veterinary documentation control by an airline employee. This usually takes about half an hour, so you must arrive early for registration.
- The animal must have an international veterinary passport or its equivalent that meets the requirements of the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA). In Mexico, such a document is allowed to be obtained upon your first visit to any veterinarian.
- The animal must have a veterinary health certificate, which can be obtained from any Mexican veterinarian. Certificate validity period — 5 days. It should contain information about the latest vaccinations, corresponding to the data in the animal’s passport, and especially — against rabies, carried out no later than 30 days before the flight. In addition, there you should include information about deworming and treatment for external parasites. Deworming must be done no later than 6 months before the date of travel (depending on the drug), treatment for external parasites — no later than 1 month ago.
- For international flights, you must have an export certificate issued by SAGARPA no later than 5 days before travel. In other words, if your animal has a veterinary passport issued in another country, you must additionally obtain a SAGARPA health certificate.
- If you just flew into Mexico and obtained a SAGARPA import certificate, you do not need to purchase a health certificate from a Mexican veterinarian. For domestic flights, you can use the SAGARPA import certificate during its validity period, that is, 8 days.
- If the animal has visible injuries or illnesses, there should be documentation from the veterinarian (along with his license) explaining these injuries.
- The animal must be clean and not emit any unpleasant odors.
- Transportation in the cabin is allowed in both soft and hard containers, transportation in the luggage compartment — only in hard containers.
- The animal must remain in its carrier or container during the entire flight.
- The animal must move freely inside the container without touching its top.
- During the flight, feeding and watering the animal is prohibited.
Individual airline regulations
- Transportation of animals under 16 weeks is not permitted.
- Only small breeds weighing no more than 9 kg together with the weight of the container or carrier are allowed for transportation in the cabin. Otherwise, the animal will have to be checked in as luggage.
- Maximum duration of flight for transporting an animal in Mexico, USA, Canada, Central and South America — six o'clock. Animals are not permitted on longer flights (to Europe).
- On one flight, no more than 1 animal per passenger and no more than six animals per flight are allowed.
Price
- MXN 1,000 inclusive of taxes on domestic flights
- $125 plus taxes on international flights to the USA, Canada, Central and South America
- Only small breeds weighing no more than 5 kg along with the weight of the container or carrier are allowed for transportation in the cabin. Otherwise, the animal will have to be checked in as luggage.
- The animal should not be taller than 25 cm. When transported in a container, the distance from the ears, when the animal is assessed, to the top of the container must be at least 4 cm.
- The maximum size of the container for transporting an animal in the cabin is — 40 x 30 x 22 cm (15 x 12 x 9 inches). The container must fit under the front seat. Animals in large containers must be checked in as luggage.
- Cats and dogs of brachiocephalic breeds are not allowed for transportation.
- Dogs of dangerous breeds can only be transported in the luggage compartment in special containers.
Price
- 899 MXN on domestic flights
- $100 on international flights
- Transportation of animals under 4 months is not allowed.
- Only small breeds weighing no more than 10 kg along with the weight of the container or carrier are allowed for transportation in the cabin. Otherwise, the animal will have to be checked in as luggage.
- The maximum size of the container for transporting an animal in the cabin is — 44 x 30 x 19 cm (17.5 x 12 x 7.5 inches).
- The maximum permissible weight of the animal together with the container — 45 kg.
- The maximum allowed container size is — 158 cm sum of all measurements.
- The container must include the owner's contact information and identification of the animal.
- The animal must have an additional certificate (certificate) of deworming, issued no later than 6 months before the trip.
- On one flight, no more than 2 animals per passenger and no more than seven animals per flight are allowed.
- Cats and dogs of brachiocephalic breeds are not allowed for transportation.
Price
- on domestic flights
- transportation in the cabin
- 999 MXN if paid in advance
- 1300-1500 MXN when paying at the airport
- transportation in the luggage compartment
- 899 MXN if paid in advance
- 1100-1200 MXN when paying at the airport
- transportation in the cabin
- on international flights
- transportation in the cabin
- $100 if paid in advance
- $120-140 if paid at the airport
- transportation in the luggage compartment
- $90 if paid in advance
- $110-120 if paid at the airport
- transportation in the cabin
- Transportation of animals is not allowed: in the aircraft cabin — under 8 weeks (2 months), in the luggage compartment — less than 16 weeks.
- Only small breeds weighing no more than 12 kg along with the weight of the container or carrier are allowed for transportation in the cabin. Otherwise, the animal will have to be checked in as luggage.
- The maximum size of the container for transporting an animal in the cabin is — 40 x 30 x 20 cm. The container should fit under the front seat.
- The maximum permissible weight of the animal together with the container — 32 kg.
- The maximum allowed container size is — 319 cm sum of all measurements.
- The container must include the owner's contact information and identification of the animal.
- The animal must have an additional certificate (certificate) of deworming, issued no later than 6 months before the trip.
- On one flight, no more than 1 animal per passenger and no more than three animals per flight are allowed.
- Cats and dogs of brachiocephalic breeds are transported only in the aircraft cabin.
Price
- on domestic flights
- 949 MXN in the cabin if paid in advance
- 849 MXN in luggage compartment if paid in advance
- 1020 MXN when paying at the airport
- on international flights
- 1249 MXN if paid in advance
- 1320 MXN when paying at the airport