As a result of recent regulatory changes, most airlines no longer recognize emotional support animals. Volaris Airlines is one of the rare exceptions: they are still welcoming ESA owners onboard free of charge as long as ESA owners provide an ESA letter.
Volaris will also accept psychiatric service dogs in the cabin without charge. A psychiatric service dog is a dog that performs a job or task relating to the handler’s mental or emotional health disability.
In this article, we will discuss what you need to know if you are planning to board a Volaris flight with an emotional support animal or psychiatric service dog.
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(Disclaimer: The information below is for educational purposes and should be confirmed directly with the airline. ESADoctors.com is not associated or affiliated with this airline or any of their subsidiaries.)
Volaris Airlines Policy for Emotional Support Animals
To travel with an emotional support animal on Volaris, you need an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker, counselor, doctor, or registered nurse.
The ESA letter should be dated within one year of the departure date. The ESA letter should be on the licensed professional’s letterhead and also contain their license number. If you are able to provide Volaris with a valid ESA letter, your animal may board the cabin free of charge.
If you are interested in obtaining an ESA letter online from a licensed professional, ESA Doctors can help. ESA Doctors will connect you to a licensed professional that specializes in emotional support animal recommendations. If you qualify, you will be given a signed ESA letter on their letterhead. To get started today, click on the link below.
Volaris Airline Service Dog Requirements
Volaris Service Dog Form Requirements
You can also board the cabin with a service dog (which includes psychiatric service dogs) on Volaris without any additional charge. If you are traveling to/from the United States, you must submit the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Service Animal Air Transportation Form before departure. For flights within Mexico and to/from Central America, you must sign a pet transportation form that Volaris will give you at the airport.
If you are looking to adopt or train a psychiatric service dog, a PSD letter is a good place to start. A PSD letter is a letter from a licensed mental health professional that helps establish whether you have a qualifying condition to own a psychiatric service dog. ESA Doctors can connect you online to a licensed professional that can evaluate whether a PSD letter is right for you.
How to Get your Psychiatric Service Dog Letter from ESA Doctors
Volaris Animal Health Requirements
In addition to providing the appropriate forms, you must also present to Volaris vaccination records that include the first administration of a rabies vaccine or current booster dose. If your animal is receiving the rabies vaccine for the first time, it must be administered at least 30 days before the date of departure. If your animal is 15 months of age or older, it must have a current booster dose of rabies vaccine. Your animal must also have completed deworming treatment no more than six months before the date of return.
Health Certificate
If you are flying from the U.S. to Mexico, you do not need to present a health certificate. For other flights, you must obtain an animal health certificate from your veterinarian. The health certificate should indicate that your animal has been subject to prior inspection and is clinically healthy. The animal health certificate must be on the veterinarian’s letterhead with their license number and be dated no more than 5 days before your initial flight date. If your return flight is more than 5 days after the issuance of the animal health certificate, you will need to present another more up-to-date certificate for your return.
Flying with a Pet on Volaris
If your animal does not qualify as a pet or a service dog, it may still be able to board Volaris as a normal pet. Be aware, however, that pets are subject to a substantial number of rules and restrictions. You must also pay a fee if you want to travel with a pet on Volaris.
Your pet must fit into a carrier, and the total weight cannot exceed 22lbs if you want to board the cabin. The pet carrier must be fully enclosed and be a maximum of 17.5 x 12 x 7.5 inches in dimension. You must also have a valid vaccination certificate for your pet as well as an animal health certificate. Only dogs and cats that are at least 4 months old are accepted on Volaris. There is also a lengthy list of breed restrictions for pets on Volaris. For example, certain Terriers, Boxers, Bulldogs, English Toy Spaniels, Pugs, Pit Bulls, and many other breeds are not permitted as pets on Volaris flights. Certain cats, such as Burmese and Persian, are also not permitted on flights. If you plan to fly with a normal pet on Volaris, you should check up on their latest rules to make certain your pet will actually be allowed to board.
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