Paisano baggage comparator — 14 airlines head-to-head
Updated May 2026. By FlightsMX Editorial Team · 8 min read · Verified with AFAC + carrier official policy pages May 2026.
Bottom line: For paisanos with 2 bags + carry-on, Aeromexico (AM) wins on total value: 25 kg free + 2nd bag $US 60. For 0-1 bag: Volaris Plus ($US 320-360 total with bag vs. $US 400+ AM). Worst deal: Spirit (Ultra-LCC) — pays for EVERYTHING including carry-on. Best 23+ kg free: Southwest (2 bags 23 kg each FREE — unique in USA carriers).
In this guide
- Master table 14 airlines
- Carry-on compared (10 kg standard)
- Checked bag — kg cost money
- Overweight 23-32 kg — real prices
- Additional bags (2nd, 3rd, 4th)
- Paisano-friendly ranking
- FAQs
Master table 14 airlines {#master-table}
For international MX-USA flight economy class, May 2026:
| Airline | Type | Carry-on | 1st checked | 2nd bag | 3rd bag | Total 2 bags (ticket $US 400) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aeromexico (AM) | FSC | 10 kg ✓ | 25 kg FREE | $US 60 | $US 95 | $US 460 |
| Volaris Clean (Y4) | LCC | 10 kg ✓ | $US 45-65 | $US 80-100 | $US 100-130 | $US 545-565 |
| Volaris Plus (Y4) | LCC | 10 kg ✓ | 25 kg included | $US 90-100 | $US 100-130 | $US 490 |
| VivaAerobus Lite | uLCC | 10 kg ✓ | $US 35-55 | $US 75-95 | $US 95-125 | $US 510-550 |
| VivaAerobus Combo | uLCC | 10 kg ✓ | 25 kg included | $US 80-95 | $US 95-120 | $US 475-495 |
| American (AA) | FSC | 10 kg ✓ | 23 kg FREE | $US 100 | $US 200 | $US 500 |
| United (UA) | FSC | 10 kg ✓ | 23 kg FREE | $US 100 | $US 200 | $US 500 |
| Delta (DL) | FSC | 10 kg ✓ | 23 kg FREE | $US 100 | $US 200 | $US 500 |
| Southwest (WN) | LCC unique | 10 kg ✓ | 23 kg FREE | 23 kg FREE | $US 150 | $US 400 ⭐ |
| JetBlue (B6) | LCC | 10 kg ✓ | 23 kg FREE | $US 100 | $US 150 | $US 500 |
| Spirit (NK) | uLCC | $US 50! | $US 50-85 | $US 70-100 | $US 80-130 | $US 530-585 ❌ |
| Alaska (AS) | FSC | 10 kg ✓ | 23 kg FREE | $US 100 | $US 150 | $US 500 |
| Iberia (IB) EU long-haul | FSC | 10 kg ✓ | 23 kg FREE | $US 110 | $US 220 | $US 510 |
| Avianca (AV) LATAM | FSC | 10 kg ✓ | 23 kg FREE | $US 100 | $US 200 | $US 500 |
| LATAM (LA) | FSC | 10 kg ✓ | 23 kg FREE | $US 100 | $US 200 | $US 500 |
Important notes
- Volaris Clean: ONLY Volaris sells “without bag” package. AM/AA/UA/DL DON’T have “no bag” fare
- Spirit charges carry-on ($US 50) — unique among 14
- Southwest gives 2 free bags (23 kg each) — unique among US carriers in MX-USA
- Aeromexico is only with 25 kg free (vs. standard 23 kg)
Carry-on compared (10 kg standard) {#carry-on}
Allowed dimensions (general)
| Airline | Max dimensions | Max weight | Charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeromexico | 55 × 35 × 25 cm | 10 kg | FREE |
| Volaris | 55 × 40 × 20 cm | 10 kg | FREE |
| VivaAerobus | 55 × 40 × 20 cm | 10 kg | FREE |
| American | 56 × 36 × 23 cm | 10 kg | FREE |
| United | 56 × 35 × 23 cm | 10 kg | FREE |
| Delta | 56 × 35 × 23 cm | 10 kg | FREE |
| Southwest | 61 × 41 × 28 cm | 10 kg | FREE |
| JetBlue | 56 × 36 × 23 cm | 10 kg | FREE |
| Spirit | 56 × 46 × 25 cm | 10 kg | $US 50 ❌ |
| Iberia | 56 × 40 × 25 cm | 10 kg | FREE |
Personal item (handbag / laptop bag)
All carriers allow 1 personal item in addition to main carry-on:
- Handbag / purse
- Laptop bag
- School backpack (child)
- Tablet bag
Dimensions: ~40 × 30 × 15 cm. Not weighed.
What goes in carry-on
YES (all carriers):
- Solid cosmetics
- Chargers
- Tablet, laptop, headphones
- Books, clothing for 1-2 nights
- Solid food (sandwich, packaged fruit, etc.)
- Medications in original packaging
NO (TSA and AFAC):
- Liquids > 100 ml (creams, gels, perfumes, water)
- Knives (all), scissors > 6 cm
- Alcoholic beverages > 100 ml (except duty-free sealed)
- Weapons, ammunition
- Lighter fluid (some yes, others no — verify)
Checked bag — kg cost money {#checked}
Checked bag options
Free 25 kg international (exceptional — only Aeromexico):
- Paisano-tier equivalent
- Max dimensions: 158 cm linear (length + width + height)
Free 23 kg international (global standard):
- American, United, Delta, JetBlue, Alaska, Iberia, Avianca, LATAM
- Dimensions: ~157 cm linear
Pay per checked bag (LCC):
- Volaris Clean: $US 45-65 advance, $US 75-95 at airport
- VivaAerobus Lite: $US 35-55 advance
- Spirit: $US 50-85 (everything pays, even carry-on)
Dimension “trick”
If your bag exceeds 158 cm:
- Excess: $US 75-200 extra for “oversize”
- More than 200 cm: NOT accepted as standard piece, pay as air cargo ($US 5-10/kg)
Typical paisano bag:
- 60 × 45 × 30 cm = 135 cm linear → OK for all
- 70 × 50 × 35 cm = 155 cm linear → OK still (near limit)
- 80 × 55 × 40 cm = 175 cm linear → OVERSIZE — pay extra
Use measuring tape to measure your bag before leaving.
Overweight 23-32 kg — real prices {#overweight}
International MX-USA overweight rate
| Airline | 23-25 kg | 25-32 kg | 32+ kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeromexico | $US 30 | $US 75 | NOT accepted |
| Volaris | $US 45 | $US 95 | NOT accepted |
| VivaAerobus | $US 45 | $US 95 | NOT accepted |
| American | $US 100 | $US 100 | NOT accepted |
| United | $US 100 | $US 100 | NOT accepted |
| Delta | $US 100 | $US 100 | NOT accepted |
| Southwest | $US 75 | $US 75 | NOT accepted |
| JetBlue | $US 100 | $US 150 | NOT accepted |
| Spirit | $US 75 | $US 100 | NOT accepted |
| Iberia | $US 100 | $US 150 | NOT accepted |
| Avianca | $US 100 | $US 100 | NOT accepted |
Paisano overweight math
If your bag weighs 27 kg (typical paisano “I went over”):
- Aeromexico: 25 kg free + 2 kg overweight = $US 75 → good deal
- American: 23 kg free + 4 kg overweight = $US 100 → more expensive
- Volaris Clean: $US 60 bag + $US 95 overweight = $US 155 → expensive
Experienced paisano tip
If your bag goes 25+ kg at counter weighing:
- Don’t panic — Aeromexico/Volaris sometimes let you pass 25.5-26 kg without charge (counter agent discretion)
- If 26-27 kg: accept overweight, not worth re-packing
- If >28 kg: consider moving 2-3 kg to carry-on (not TSA-recommended but some do it successfully)
Additional bags (2nd, 3rd, 4th) {#additional}
2nd bag (most common paisano)
| Airline | 2nd bag MX-USA cost |
|---|---|
| Aeromexico | $US 60 ⭐ |
| Volaris Plus | $US 90 |
| Volaris Clean | $US 80-100 |
| VivaAerobus | $US 80-95 |
| American | $US 100 |
| United | $US 100 |
| Delta | $US 100 |
| Southwest | FREE (2nd included) ⭐⭐ |
| JetBlue | $US 100 |
| Spirit | $US 70-100 |
| Iberia | $US 110 |
| Avianca | $US 100 |
Best 2nd bag option: Southwest (free) > Aeromexico ($60).
3rd and 4th bag
| Airline | 3rd | 4th |
|---|---|---|
| Aeromexico | $US 95 | $US 130 |
| Volaris | $US 100-130 | $US 130-160 |
| American | $US 200 | $US 250+ |
| Southwest | $US 150 | $US 200 |
| Delta | $US 200 | $US 250 |
For paisano with 3 bags
- Aeromexico still wins: 25kg free + $US 60 + $US 95 = $US 155 extras
- Southwest: 2 free + $US 150 (3rd) = $US 150
- American: 23kg free + $US 100 + $US 200 = $US 300
Paisano-friendly ranking {#ranking}
2026 master ranking (assumed MX-USA flight with 2 bags family-Christmas)
| Position | Airline | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 | Southwest | 2 bags free, unique among US carriers |
| 🥈 | Aeromexico | 25 kg free + 2nd $60, dedicated paisano counter |
| 🥉 | Volaris Plus | 25 kg included + LCC pricing |
| 4 | American | 23 kg free + DFW paisano hub |
| 5 | Delta | 23 kg + ATL hub |
| 6 | United | 23 kg + IAH hub |
| 7 | JetBlue | 23 kg + NYC paisano hub |
| 8 | VivaAerobus | Good price, 25 kg baggage if Combo |
| 9 | Volaris Clean | No bag = cheaper 0-1 bag |
| 10 | Iberia (EU) | 23 kg, only Europe MX-MAD carrier |
| 11 | Avianca | LATAM, Star Alliance points |
| 12 | LATAM | South America |
| 13 | Alaska | Only Pacific coast |
| 14 | Spirit | Pays EVERYTHING, even carry-on ❌ |
By paisano situation
Family 4 people + Christmas + 3 bags/person:
- Southwest (if you fly to Houston/Dallas) — math wins big
- Aeromexico (other routes) — reliability + 25 kg
Solo traveler + 1 bag:
- Volaris Clean (cheapest)
- VivaAerobus Lite (similar)
Single + 0 bags (carry-on only):
- Volaris Clean
- VivaAerobus Lite
Want RELIABILITY in Christmas peak:
- Aeromexico (92% on-time)
- American (91%)
- Delta (90%)
FAQs {#faq}
Does Aeromexico Premier have free extra bag?
Yes. Aeromexico Premier Silver: 2 bags 25 kg free. Premier Gold/Platinum: 3 bags + 32 kg max. Substantial benefit for frequent paisanos.
Does my Aeromexico credit card give free bag?
Yes. American Express Aeromexico card (any tier): 1 checked bag FREE on ALL Aeromexico flights. Useful if you buy AM tickets frequently.
Does Volaris pay bag if I buy Plus Fare?
Yes. Volaris Plus Fare includes 1 checked bag 25 kg free + carry-on. 2nd bag pays $US 90-100.
If I bring child’s school backpack + carry-on, does it count as 2 carry-ons?
No. Child’s school backpack = “personal item” (doesn’t count as main carry-on). All carriers allow:
- Main carry-on (55 × 35 × 25 cm, 10 kg)
- Personal item (school backpack, laptop bag, handbag)
Is Spirit Airlines worth it for paisanos?
NO for 99% of paisanos. Spirit pays for EVERYTHING (carry-on, seat, checked bag). Only good if you fly WITHOUT bags AND WITHOUT main carry-on (rare situation).
Worth buying extra bag at airport vs. online?
ALWAYS online in advance — 30-50% cheaper:
- Volaris online: $US 45 vs. airport $US 80
- Viva online: $US 35 vs. airport $US 75
- AM online: similar price online vs. counter
For Aeromexico: similar price online vs. counter. For Volaris/Viva: always anticipate online.
Can my bag pass through TSA with locks?
TSA-approved locks (with TSA logo): YES. Regular locks: TSA will cut them if they want to inspect your bag. Use TSA-approved.
Do laptop/charger batteries go in checked or carry-on?
Carry-on only. Lithium batteries NOT allowed in checked (fire risk). Bring all chargers + laptops + power banks in main carry-on.
Cost to exceed 32 kg on any MX-USA carrier?
NOT accepted as standard piece. Must send as air cargo:
- Aeromexico Cargo: $US 5-8/kg
- DHL/FedEx: $US 7-12/kg
For a 35 kg bag = ~$US 280-350 extra. Better split into 2 bags of 18 kg each.
Baggage discount for children/babies?
- Babies (0-23 months): baggage similar to adult with typical 10% off
- Children 2-11 years: full baggage, same price
- Teenagers 12+: adult baggage
Do bags with cushioned wheels count differently in dimension?
Not officially. But some counter agents are flexible if your bag slightly exceeds dimensions due to wheels. If clearly within limits, no problem.
Sources
- AFAC — Civil aviation baggage rules (May 2026)
- Aeromexico — Baggage policy (May 2026)
- Volaris — Baggage (May 2026)
- VivaAerobus — Baggage (May 2026)
- American Airlines, United, Delta — International baggage policy Mexico (May 2026)
- Southwest Airlines — Bags Fly Free (May 2026)
- Spirit Airlines — Bag fees (May 2026)
- [Iberia, Avianca, LATAM — International policies](https://www.iberia.com/, https://www.avianca.com/, https://www.latam.com/) (May 2026)
Related reading
- Paisano baggage CBP complete guide
- Volaris vs Aeromexico vs Viva: comparator
- AFAC compensation delayed/cancelled flight
Edited by FlightsMX Editorial Team. Baggage policies change. Verify with airline before traveling.