Budget Travel - VivaAerobus: AUS-CUN, $9+ each way

New Mexican low cost carrier start-up VivaAerobus (http://www.vivaaerobus.com/?lng=2e8356f8-1dae-4cb3-9387-8b89101a0cb5) is offering $9 base fares each way on its nonstop flights between AUS (Austin) and Cancun (CUN) with a five-week advance purchase and, of course, subject to availability.

The taxes from AUS-CUN run $45.00 and taxes from CUN-AUS are $73.99. There is also a $8 credit card booking fee per reservation (not per person).

VB #920 from AUS-CUN departs at 8:45 a.m. and arrive at 11:00 a.m. VB #921 from CUN-AUS departs at 11:25 a.m. and arrives at 1:45 p.m.

Fair warning: VivaAerobus is partially owned by the founder of RyanAir. So expect the RyanAir travel experience, minus the hassle of a bus ride to a remote airport and minus the inability to talk to a human being, as VivaAerobus actually maintains a toll free number in the U.S., although I was on hold so long when I called that I gave up before talking to a human being. The flights are operated by 737-300 aircraft and feature open seating and drinks and snacks for sale.

Trip Reports here (http://www.airliners.net/discussions/trip_reports/read.main/96555/) and here (http://www.airliners.net/discussions/trip_reports/read.main/95041/).

Moving this to Budget Travel, at the request of the OP and Budget Travel Mod.

-AZ

Service to start later this year, contingent on the airport building a customs and immigration arrival checkpoint.

http://www.post-trib.com/business/835657,gairport.article

From AFWD blog (http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/AirfareWatchBlog/tabid/54/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/901/Its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-a-bus.aspx):

AUS-MTY $160 all in
AUS-CUN <$200 all in

Click (http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/FareoftheDay/tabid/59/Default.aspx) Fare of the Day to see screen shot of the booking page.

Vivaaerobus is basic, budget travel, but can't beat the prices, and the airline generally "works".

I'm booked from Austin to Puerto Vallarta in March on Vivo Aerobus. Amazing price ($217 RT), and another great benefit of living in Austin, TX! However, I'm a bit nervous after reading some forum posts that say the airline changes their schedule routinely--as in, a scheduled Sunday flight has been rescheduled to Tuesday. Anyone here flown Aerobus from Austin? Any tips?

Anyone here flown Aerobus from Austin? Any tips?

We flew with 'em in July. Our flight times changed by 20 minutes or so, but that was about it as far as schedule changes.

VivaAerobus is a basic, no frills carrier. You'll have to buy beverages and food on board if you are thirsty or hungry, but the prices are very reasonable. Boarding is by groups, with assignments based upon check-in time. Having a young child, as we did, allowed us to board first and grab the bulkhead row, which had tons of legroom. VivaAerobus flies out of the South Terminal at AUS so make sure you head for the right parking lot. Parking is $10/day for the first three days and $7/day thereafter.