✓ Policy web-verified 2026-06-20
Book the cheapest Viva Aerobus fare and you get exactly one thing in the hold: nothing. The base “Zero” fare carries a single personal item only — 45 x 35 x 20 cm, the bag that slides under the seat in front of you. No overhead carry-on, no checked bag. If your deal price looked too good, this is why: Viva is a Mexican ultra-low-cost carrier and it unbundles everything, so the sticker fare is just the seat and the personal item.
Step up and the picture changes. The Light fare adds an overhead carry-on (55 x 40 x 25 cm, up to 10 kg) but still no checked bag. Smart, the top bundle, includes the carry-on at a heftier 15 kg plus one 25 kg checked bag, priority boarding and a few loyalty perks. Everything else — a bag in the hold on a Zero or Light ticket, extra weight, sports gear — is bought à la carte, and the fee is dynamic: it moves with the route, the date and how late you buy it.
Quick facts
| Free personal item | 45 x 35 x 20 cm, under the seat, every fare |
| Carry-on bag | 55 x 40 x 25 cm; included only on Light & Smart |
| Carry-on weight | 10 kg (Light) / 15 kg (Smart) |
| Cheapest (Zero) fare | Personal item only — no carry-on, no checked |
| Checked bag included | Only on Smart fare (1 x 25 kg) |
| Checked weight tiers | 15–25 kg, expandable to 32 kg per piece |
| Checked bag fee (intl) | ~US$30–$55 online, more at airport/gate |
| Checked bag fee (Mexico) | ~MXN 371–1,149 by weight tier |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal item (all fares) | 45 x 35 x 20 cm, must fit under the seat; no weight stated but kept light |
| Carry-on / overhead bag | 55 x 40 x 25 cm; 10 kg on Light, 15 kg on Smart; NOT included on the base Zero fare |
Checked baggage & fees
| Included on Zero / Light | None — buy separately |
| Included on Smart | 1 x 25 kg piece |
| Weight tiers sold | 15, 20, 25 kg; expandable to 32 kg max per piece |
| Max size | 158 linear cm (62 in) per piece |
| Added fee, intl routes | ~US$30–$55 online (varies by route/date), higher at airport or gate |
| Added fee, Mexico domestic | ~MXN 371–1,149 depending on weight tier |
| Oversize fee | ~MXN 522 domestic / ~US$34–$39 international |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero (base) | ✓ 45x35x20 cm | ✗ not included | ✗ not included |
| Light | ✓ 45x35x20 cm | ✓ 55x40x25, 10 kg | ✗ not included |
| Smart | ✓ 45x35x20 cm | ✓ 55x40x25, 15 kg | ✓ 1 x 25 kg |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
On a cheap Viva Aerobus deal fare you get a seat and a backpack — that’s it. The headline price is almost always the Zero base fare, which means one 45 x 35 x 20 cm personal item under the seat and zero overhead space. If all you carry is a small backpack or a laptop bag, you’ve paid for nothing extra and that cheap fare is genuinely cheap.
The moment you need a roller bag, budget for it. A Light fare (or paying for an overhead carry-on) is the cheapest way to get a 10 kg cabin bag; a checked bag on a Zero/Light ticket runs roughly US$30–$55 online on US routes, or MXN 371–1,149 on Mexican routes, and climbs the closer you get to departure — buy it during booking, never at the gate. If you’ll definitely check a bag, price out the Smart bundle (carry-on at 15 kg plus a 25 kg checked piece) against base-fare-plus-bag-fees; on a heavy-luggage trip Smart often wins.
Oversize, sports & special items
Checked pieces top out at 158 linear cm (62 in) and 32 kg expandable; anything over the standard weight or size triggers an oversize/overweight charge — roughly MXN 522 domestic or US$34–$39 international. Sports equipment (golf, bikes, dive gear, skis) and musical instruments are accepted as special baggage on their own fee schedule and should be added at booking, not improvised at the counter.
2025–2026 note: Viva has been tidying up its fare names — the older Zero / Light / Smart labels increasingly surface as a base fare plus VivaSmart / VivaExtra-style bundles, and exact contents can shift by route and channel. The underlying logic hasn’t changed: base fare = personal item only, mid fare = carry-on, top fare = carry-on plus a checked bag. Always read what the specific fare actually includes before you book, because the bundle name alone won’t tell you.
Frequently asked questions
Does the cheapest Viva Aerobus fare include a carry-on bag?
No. The base Zero fare includes only one personal item (45 x 35 x 20 cm) that fits under the seat. An overhead carry-on is included only on the Light and Smart fares, or it can be added for a fee.
What is the free personal item size on Viva Aerobus?
45 x 35 x 20 cm (about 18 x 14 x 8 in), and it must fit under the seat in front of you. Every fare, including the cheapest, gets one free.
How heavy can my Viva Aerobus carry-on be?
The overhead carry-on is 55 x 40 x 25 cm and is capped at 10 kg on Light fares and 15 kg on Smart fares.
How much does a checked bag cost on Viva Aerobus?
It varies by route, weight and when you buy. On US/international routes expect roughly US$30–$55 online; on Mexican domestic routes roughly MXN 371–1,149 by weight tier. Fees rise sharply at the airport and gate, so add bags during booking.
Which Viva Aerobus fare includes a checked bag?
Only the Smart fare, which bundles one 25 kg checked piece along with a 15 kg carry-on. Zero and Light fares include no checked baggage.
What are the checked baggage weight limits?
Bags are sold in tiers from about 15 kg up to 25 kg, expandable to a maximum of 32 kg per piece, and may not exceed 158 linear cm (62 in).
Is it cheaper to buy a bag online or at the airport?
Online, by a wide margin. Viva’s baggage fees are dynamic and the airport and gate prices are significantly higher. Add any bag during booking or at least a couple of hours before departure.
Can I bring sports equipment or a musical instrument?
Yes, as special baggage on a separate fee schedule. Oversize items run roughly MXN 522 domestic or US$34–$39 international. Declare and pay for them at booking rather than at the counter.