Following in the footsteps of U.S. airline Frontier, Mexican discount carrier Volaris is introducing an all-you-can-fly annual subscription (Pase Anual), offering customers unlimited flights per year, paying only applicable taxes and/or charges for add-ons such as reserved seats, checked baggage, etcetera.
The pass went on sale June 7 at an introductory price of 3,999 pesos, or about $US230. The program kicks in on August 16.
While on the surface Volaris’ “fly for free” pass seems too good to be true, there are many caveats. Subscribers can only book tickets within 24 hours of the departure of the flight for domestic routes, and three days for international destinations. Also, flights and seats are subject to availability. This means the offer is only good for travelers with highly flexible schedules, willing to make last-minute travel decisions. Also, unlike Frontier’s pass, Volaris’s subscribers can only book one-way tickets.
Holger Blankenstein, executive vice president of Volaris, said the “innovative” pass “revolutionizes the way of traveling,” adding that the new company is always looking to better serve travelers in emerging segments of the market, mentioning “digital nomads, millennials, retirees and people looking for new options.”