What is the cheapest airline to fly to Mexico?

Volaris and VivaAerobus are consistently the cheapest, with one-way fares starting as low as $30-$80. Both are Mexican ultra-low-cost carriers flying from 20+ US cities. You'll pay extra for bags and seat selection, but even with add-ons, they beat US carriers by $100-$200 on most routes.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Mexico?

September is the cheapest month, with fares 30-40% below peak season pricing. October and November are also affordable. January through February (after New Year's, before spring break) is the best value when you factor in both price and weather.

How far in advance should I book flights to Mexico?

Book 4-8 weeks ahead for the best prices. Mexico flights are short-haul, so airlines adjust pricing frequently. For peak periods like Christmas, spring break, and summer, book 2-3 months out to lock in reasonable fares before they spike.

What is the cheapest Mexican airport to fly into?

Cancun has the most airline competition and typically the lowest fares, with round trips under $200 common from the East Coast. Mexico City is a close second, with strong budget carrier competition keeping fares at $150-$300. Guadalajara is the cheapest from West Coast and Texas cities.

What is the Cross Border Xpress (CBX) and can it save me money?

CBX is a pedestrian bridge connecting San Diego to Tijuana's airport for about $16 each way. You walk across the border directly into the airport terminal and fly on domestic Mexican airlines at much lower prices. Flying domestically from Tijuana to Cancun can save $100-$200 compared to an international flight from San Diego.

How to Find Cheap Flights to Mexico

The Quick Answer

Cheap flights to Mexico are everywhere if you know where to look. Round trips from US border states run $100-$250. From elsewhere, expect $200-$400. The keys: fly Volaris or VivaAerobus (Mexico's budget carriers), book 4-8 weeks ahead, travel in September-November or January-February, and be flexible on which Mexican airport you fly into. Cancun, Mexico City, and Guadalajara have the most competition and the lowest fares.

Mexico's Budget Airlines

The biggest advantage for flying to Mexico cheaply is that two major ultra-low-cost carriers operate routes from dozens of US cities. These airlines are the reason Mexico is so much cheaper to reach than the Caribbean or Central America.

Volaris

Volaris is Mexico's largest ultra-low-cost carrier, and they've been aggressively expanding US routes. They now fly from over 20 US cities to destinations throughout Mexico.

Fares: One-way tickets start as low as $40-$80 on many routes. Round trips for $100-$200 are common.
Routes: Los Angeles, Oakland, San Jose, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami, and many more. They recently announced 33 new routes with service to Detroit and Salt Lake City.
The catch: Bare-bones experience. You'll pay for bags ($25-$40 each way for a checked bag), seat selection ($5-$20), and food. But even with add-ons, the total cost usually beats legacy carriers by $100-$200.
V.Club membership: For about $50/year, you get access to members-only fares that are 20-40% cheaper than standard pricing. Worth it if you fly to Mexico more than once a year.

VivaAerobus

Mexico's other budget powerhouse, often even cheaper than Volaris on the routes they compete on.

Fares: Base fares from $30-$60 one-way on some routes. They regularly run flash sales with fares under $50.
Routes: Houston, Dallas, Austin, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other US cities with large Mexican-American communities.
Fleet: Airbus A320/A321 aircraft. Comfortable enough for flights under 4 hours.
VivaSmart: Their bundle package ($15-$30 extra) includes a checked bag and seat selection, which is usually worth it over buying separately.

How to Book Budget Mexican Airlines

Both Volaris and VivaAerobus are best booked directly on their websites (volaris.com and vivaaerobus.com). They sometimes appear on Google Flights and Skyscanner, but the direct sites often have exclusive promotions and member pricing that don't show up elsewhere.

Both airlines run flash sales regularly, typically on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Follow them on social media or sign up for email alerts to catch these.

US Airlines That Compete on Mexico Routes

Don't ignore US carriers. When they compete with Volaris and VivaAerobus, prices drop for everyone.

Southwest Airlines: Flies to Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, and Mexico City from several US cities. Two free checked bags and no change fees make Southwest's total cost very competitive with the budget carriers. Fares from $150-$300 round trip.
Spirit Airlines: Serves Cancun, Mexico City, and a few other Mexican cities from Fort Lauderdale, Houston, and other hubs. Base fares from $60-$100 one-way.
Frontier Airlines: Similar to Spirit with service to Cancun and Mexico City. Flash sales regularly drop fares below $100 round trip.
American Airlines: Massive Mexico network from Dallas and Miami hubs. Not the cheapest, but sales bring fares to $200-$350 round trip. Best for smaller Mexican cities that budget carriers don't serve.
United Airlines: Strong from Houston (its biggest hub) with connections throughout Mexico. Competitive on routes where Volaris also flies.
Delta: Serves Mexico from Atlanta and other hubs. Less competitive on price but occasionally runs good sales.

Cheapest Mexican Airports to Fly Into

Airline competition varies dramatically by airport. Here's where you'll find the best deals.

Cancun (CUN): The most airline competition of any Mexican airport. Every US carrier plus both Mexican budget airlines serve Cancun. Round trips under $200 from the East Coast are common. This is the cheapest airport overall.
Mexico City (MEX): Heavy competition from Volaris, VivaAerobus, Aeromexico, and US carriers. Round trips from $150-$300 from most US cities. Mexico City is also a great hub for cheap connections to other Mexican destinations.
Guadalajara (GDL): Strong budget carrier competition keeps fares low, especially from West Coast and Texas cities. Round trips from $130-$250.
Los Cabos (SJD): Popular resort destination with good competition. Slightly pricier than Cancun and Mexico City but still affordable at $200-$400 round trip from the West Coast.
Puerto Vallarta (PVR): Good mix of budget and full-service carriers. Round trips from the West Coast from $200-$350.

When to Fly for the Cheapest Fares

Cheapest Months

September: The cheapest month to fly to Mexico, period. It's the tail end of rainy season (afternoon showers, not all-day rain) and tourism is at its lowest. Fares drop 30-40% compared to peak season.
October-November: Still cheap with improving weather. Great time for both beach and city destinations.
January-February (excluding holidays): After New Year's and before spring break, there's a pricing lull. Weather is perfect across most of Mexico.
May-June: Shoulder season before summer tourism picks up. Fares are reasonable and weather is hot but manageable.

Most Expensive Months

December: Holiday travel spikes demand. Book 3+ months out if you must travel over Christmas or New Year's.
March-April: Spring break drives Cancun and beach resort fares through the roof. Mexico City stays more reasonable since it's not a spring break destination.
July-August: Summer family travel pushes fares up, especially to resort cities.

Best Days

Tuesday and Wednesday departures are cheapest. Avoid Friday departures and Sunday returns, which carry a $30-$80 premium. Early morning and late night flights are also cheaper than midday departures.

Booking Strategies

Best Booking Window

Book 4-8 weeks before departure for the best fares. Mexico flights are short enough that airlines adjust prices frequently, so there's no need to book far in advance unless you're traveling during peak periods. For Christmas, spring break, and summer, push that to 2-3 months ahead.

Search Tools

Google Flights: Best for comparing dates and airlines. The calendar view shows you the cheapest days at a glance.
Volaris.com and VivaAerobus.com: Check directly since their lowest member fares don't always appear on aggregators.
Southwest.com: Check separately since Southwest fares aren't on most search engines.
Skyscanner: Good for finding the cheapest Mexican destination from your airport. Use the "Explore" feature.
Hopper: Their price prediction is solid for Mexico routes. It'll tell you whether to buy now or wait for a drop.

The Border Crossing Hack

If you live near the US-Mexico border, you can save significantly by crossing into Mexico and flying domestically on Volaris or VivaAerobus. Domestic Mexican flights are much cheaper than international ones. For example, crossing from San Diego to Tijuana (via the Cross Border Xpress pedestrian bridge directly into Tijuana's airport) and flying domestically to Cancun can save $100-$200 compared to flying internationally from San Diego.

The Cross Border Xpress (CBX) costs about $16 each way and takes you directly from the US side into Tijuana airport. It's legitimate, easy, and used by thousands of travelers daily.

Points and Miles for Mexico

Since flights to Mexico are already cheap, your points go far.

Southwest Rapid Rewards: 4,000-10,000 points one-way to Mexican destinations during sales. The Companion Pass makes every flight a two-for-one deal.
Aeromexico Club Premier: Transfer from Amex or Capital One. 12,500 miles one-way from the US.
Chase Ultimate Rewards: Book through the portal at 1.25-1.5 cents per point, or transfer to United for 10,000-15,000 miles one-way to Mexico.

All-Inclusive Package Deals

For beach destinations like Cancun, Cabo, or Puerto Vallarta, all-inclusive packages that bundle flights and hotels can beat booking separately. Check Costco Travel, Apple Vacations, and Funjet for package pricing. These operators buy hotel inventory and airline seats in bulk and pass along savings. Compare the package price against your best flight + hotel total before committing. The savings are often $100-$300 per person for a week-long trip.