{
  "response": {
    "Key": "HOU-PVR",
    "orig": {
      "code": "HOU",
      "type": "airport",
      "city": "Houston",
      "fullCity": "Houston, Texas",
      "airport": "William P Hobby Airport"
    },
    "dest": {
      "code": "PVR",
      "type": "airport",
      "city": "Puerto Vallarta",
      "fullCity": "Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco",
      "airport": "Gustavo Díaz Ordaz Intl Airport"
    },
    "faq": {
      "q0": {
        "question": "What is the typical flight duration from Houston to Puerto Vallarta?",
        "answer": "The flight from Houston (HOU) to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) is about 880 miles and typically takes 2 hours and 25 minutes nonstop. The return leg is slightly shorter at around 2 hours and 20 minutes. Southwest operates the route daily with multiple departures.",
        "methodology": "Flight times and distances come from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time across all carriers on the route, computed the same way in both directions so the difference reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in method. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two airports, so the actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "flight_schedule"
        ]
      },
      "q1": {
        "question": "Are there any direct flights from Houston to Puerto Vallarta?",
        "answer": "Yes, Southwest flies nonstop from Houston Hobby to Puerto Vallarta daily, with up to 28 weekly departures spread throughout the morning and early afternoon — typical flight time is about 2 hours 25 minutes. Southwest is the only carrier operating the nonstop, and the median fare on the route runs around $634. If you need to connect, American through Dallas/Fort Worth and Aeromexico via Mexico City are the most common one-stop options, adding roughly 2½ to 4 hours of total travel time.",
        "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours. Carrier service, flight times and distances for this route come from our flight-schedule database, which draws on published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data, and observed operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We report the days of the week and the departure times each carrier operates. The typical flight time is the median scheduled block time, given both per carrier and across all carriers on the route; where a schedule does not publish an elapsed time, it is derived from the scheduled departure and arrival times converted to UTC. Outbound and return times are computed by the same method, so the difference between them is directly comparable and reflects prevailing winds rather than any change in derivation. Distance is the great-circle distance between the two specific airports named, so an actual flown track is typically 2-5% longer. Where shown, on-time departure and arrival rates and cancellation rates come from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) Airline On-Time Performance dataset, which covers U.S. domestic routes only; where a typical fare is shown, it comes from the U.S. DOT Airline Origin and Destination Survey (DB1B), a quarterly 10% sample of tickets sold. Red-eye flights are identified from scheduled local departure and arrival times in our flight-schedule database — built from published airline timetables and official schedule data, including U.S. Department of Transportation records for domestic routes — flagging services that depart late at night and arrive the following morning; for connecting itineraries the red-eye is based on the timing of the overnight long-haul leg. Aircraft types are taken from the equipment each operating carrier schedules on this route, drawn from published airline timetables and airline equipment schedules in our flight-schedule database. They describe typical scheduled aircraft and can vary with seasonal or day-of-week assignments and last-minute equipment swaps.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "route_airlines",
          "flight_schedule",
          "redeye_flights",
          "route_aircraft"
        ]
      },
      "q3": {
        "question": "What are the ground transportation options in Puerto Vallarta?",
        "answer": "Puerto Vallarta airport (PVR) sits within the urban area, just north of Marina Vallarta, so the ride to the city center is short. Taxis are available at official stands and are the most-used option; Uber and other ride-share apps also operate, though pickup points may be a short walk from the terminal. Public buses run from the main road outside the airport and are the cheapest choice, while car rentals are offered at the arrivals hall for those wanting their own vehicle. There is no rail or metro link.",
        "toolsUsed": [],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licenciado_Gustavo_D%C3%ADaz_Ordaz_International_Airport",
            "title": "Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport",
            "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png",
            "time_published": "2026-07-27T07:42:13Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licenciado%20Gustavo%20D%C3%ADaz%20Ordaz%20International%20Airport",
            "title": "Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-04-30T22:37:32Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baj%C3%ADo%20International%20Airport",
            "title": "Bajío International Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-04-23T00:09:04Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavo_Rojas_Pinilla_International_Airport",
            "title": "Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport",
            "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png",
            "time_published": "2026-07-12T13:53:09Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%20of%20Viva%20destinations",
            "title": "List of Viva destinations",
            "time_published": "2026-03-24T15:16:32Z"
          }
        ],
        "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed."
      },
      "q4": {
        "question": "When is the cheapest time to fly from Houston to Puerto Vallarta?",
        "answer": "Flights from Houston to Puerto Vallarta are cheapest in early February, when average fares bottom out around $358. The cheapest months overall are February (averaging $365), September ($369), and January ($375), while the most expensive period is late December, when averages climb to about $476. June and December are the priciest months overall, averaging $458 and $451 respectively.",
        "methodology": "Seasonal fares come from Priceline's own air booking-summary archive, analysed in-house and refreshed monthly. For each day of the year we take a representative round-trip fare, a blend of the 25th-percentile and average ticket price over the route's bookings, and smooth the series into a seasonal curve; the half-month low and high and the monthly figures quoted here are averages of that curve. Thin and international routes borrow their seasonal shape from the nearest busy routes, with the price level anchored to the route's own bookings.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "seasonal_prices"
        ]
      },
      "q5": {
        "question": "How far in advance should I book tickets from Houston to Puerto Vallarta?",
        "answer": "For Houston to Puerto Vallarta, the best fares are typically found booking about 4 to 6 weeks before departure, with an average price around $355 in that window. The single cheapest day to book is roughly 30 days out at about $352, while booking far in advance (180 days) can cost as much as $615. For summer or holiday periods when demand rises, aim closer to the 6-week mark or even slightly earlier to avoid peak prices.",
        "methodology": "Booking-window guidance comes from the same monthly in-house analysis of Priceline's own air booking-summary archive. We aggregate the route's bookings by how many days before departure they were made, from about 180 days out to the day of travel, smooth the curve, and highlight the stretch of lead times with the lowest average fare. Thin and international routes borrow the curve shape from the nearest busy routes, anchored to the route's own price level. It reflects current fares and is refreshed monthly.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "booking_timing"
        ]
      },
      "q6": {
        "question": "Are overnight (red‑eye) flights available from Houston to Puerto Vallarta?",
        "answer": "No overnight red‑eye flights operate from Houston (HOU) to Puerto Vallarta (PVR) — there are neither nonstop red‑eyes nor connecting itineraries whose long leg is a red‑eye on this route.",
        "methodology": "Red-eye flights are identified from scheduled local departure and arrival times in our flight-schedule database — built from published airline timetables and official schedule data, including U.S. Department of Transportation records for domestic routes — flagging services that depart late at night and arrive the following morning; for connecting itineraries the red-eye is based on the timing of the overnight long-haul leg.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "redeye_flights"
        ]
      },
      "q7": {
        "question": "Which airlines usually operate this route from Houston to Puerto Vallarta?",
        "answer": "Southwest Airlines operates non‑stop flights from Houston Hobby to Puerto Vallarta with 28 weekly departures, offering daily service. The median fare on this route is around $634.",
        "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies come from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a typical fare is shown for a carrier, it is the median of the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "route_airlines"
        ]
      },
      "q8": {
        "question": "If I need a connection, what are common layover cities between Houston and Puerto Vallarta?",
        "answer": "Common layovers include Dallas/Fort Worth, Mexico City and Atlanta, all offering frequent connections and efficient transfers on this route."
      },
      "q10": {
        "question": "Which months have the best weather for traveling to Puerto Vallarta?",
        "answer": "November to April is best, with dry, sunny days and comfortable humidity, avoiding the summer rain and crowds."
      },
      "q11": {
        "question": "What documents should I bring with me to the airport when flying from Houston to Puerto Vallarta?",
        "answer": "Bring a passport valid for the duration of your stay, a completed FMM form, proof of onward or return travel, a payment method for baggage, and any required vaccination certificates."
      },
      "q12": {
        "question": "Which airport should I use in Puerto Vallarta?",
        "answer": "Puerto Vallarta has one airport, Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, located about 10 km north of downtown and the hotel zone."
      },
      "q13": {
        "question": "How do I get to William P Hobby Airport from the city center?",
        "answer": "Public transit is available via METRO bus route 40, which connects Hobby Airport to downtown Houston, though it takes longer than other options. Ride‑share services like Uber and Lyft and taxis offer direct door‑to‑terminal service and are the most popular choice, with a trip from downtown taking about 20–30 minutes in light traffic. Driving yourself is an option with on‑airport parking garages and economy lots, but parking fees add to the cost. There are also shared‑ride shuttle vans that provide a middle ground between public transit and a private car.",
        "toolsUsed": [],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou/ground-transportation",
            "title": "HOU Ground Transportation | Airport Shuttle, Taxi, Uber, Lyft & Rent Car Houston"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou",
            "title": "HOU Houston Airport | William P. Hobby",
            "time_published": "2026-06-09T05:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_P._Hobby_Airport",
            "title": "William P. Hobby Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-07-06T09:58:05Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William%20P.%20Hobby%20Airport",
            "title": "William P. Hobby Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-04-21T04:20:29Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://faa.gov/flight_deck/hef",
            "title": "Manassas Regional Airport/Harry P. Davis Field (HEF) | Federal Aviation Administration",
            "time_published": "2026-03-10T00:00:00Z"
          }
        ],
        "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed."
      },
      "q14": {
        "question": "Are there hotels or sleeping facilities at Puerto Vallarta airport?",
        "answer": "Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) has no on-site hotels, capsule hotels, or sleeping pods, and seating is limited with no dedicated rest zones. Nearby hotels are a short drive or shuttle ride away in Marina Vallarta, just one kilometer from the terminal.",
        "toolsUsed": [],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licenciado_Gustavo_D%C3%ADaz_Ordaz_International_Airport",
            "title": "Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport",
            "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png",
            "time_published": "2026-07-27T07:42:13Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://sleepinginairports.net/guides/puerto-vallarta-airport-guide.htm",
            "title": "Puerto Vallarta Airport Guide (PVR) - Sleeping in Airports",
            "favicon": "https://www.sleepinginairports.net/nitropack_static/oBWrHkPujHTPIaVWqdDSDhClXUyrYhhb/assets/images/optimized/rev-b853180/www.sleepinginairports.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/cropped-sia-logo-180x180.png",
            "time_published": "2018-08-08T20:56:57Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licenciado%20Gustavo%20D%C3%ADaz%20Ordaz%20International%20Airport",
            "title": "Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-04-30T22:37:32Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://activities.marriott.com/north-america/mexico/mexico-state/mexico-city/activities/transfer_airport_hotel_or_vice_versa-XGPOXZ?property=MEXXZ",
            "title": "Transfer Airport - Hotel or vice versa",
            "time_published": "2026-04-06T00:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.sleepinginairports.net/guides/puerto-ordaz-airport-guide.htm",
            "title": "Puerto Ordaz Airport Guide",
            "time_published": "2024-08-26T00:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.sleepinginairports.net/lounges/puerto-vallarta-airport-lounges.htm",
            "title": "Puerto Vallarta Airport Lounges (PVR)",
            "time_published": "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z"
          }
        ],
        "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed."
      },
      "q15": {
        "question": "Are there currency exchange offices, prayer rooms and Wi‑Fi at Gustavo Díaz Ordaz Intl Airport?",
        "answer": "Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR) offers currency exchange services in the arrivals area of the main terminal, and there is a chapel located on the upper floor of the terminal building. Free Wi‑Fi is available throughout the airport. Specific terminal locations for currency exchange and the chapel are not detailed, but they are situated within the passenger terminal.",
        "toolsUsed": [],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licenciado_Gustavo_D%C3%ADaz_Ordaz_International_Airport",
            "title": "Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport",
            "favicon": "https://en.wikipedia.org/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png",
            "time_published": "2026-07-27T07:42:13Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licenciado%20Gustavo%20D%C3%ADaz%20Ordaz%20International%20Airport",
            "title": "Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-04-30T22:37:32Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baj%C3%ADo%20International%20Airport",
            "title": "Bajío International Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-04-23T00:09:04Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar%20de%20Cort%C3%A9s%20International%20Airport",
            "title": "Mar de Cortés International Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-02-13T18:48:04Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tijuana%20International%20Airport",
            "title": "Tijuana International Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-04-18T00:53:05Z"
          }
        ],
        "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed."
      },
      "q17": {
        "question": "What aircraft are typically used on flights from Houston to Puerto Vallarta?",
        "answer": "On the nonstop service from Houston (HOU) to Puerto Vallarta, the most commonly scheduled aircraft is the Boeing 737-800, flown by United, while Southwest also operates the route but does not publicly specify its aircraft type — it is typically a 737 variant. Connecting itineraries often use a Boeing 737-800 or 737 MAX 8 on the longer leg, with regional jets like the Embraer 175 or Canadair Regional Jet on shorter feeder segments. Wi-Fi and seatback entertainment are widely available on many of these aircraft, though specific amenities vary by airline and day.",
        "methodology": "Aircraft types are taken from the equipment each operating carrier schedules on this route, drawn from published airline timetables and airline equipment schedules in our flight-schedule database. They describe typical scheduled aircraft and can vary with seasonal or day-of-week assignments and last-minute equipment swaps.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "route_aircraft"
        ]
      },
      "q18": {
        "question": "Which airline alliances serve flights from Houston to Puerto Vallarta?",
        "answer": "Nonstop flights between Houston (HOU) and Puerto Vallarta (PVR) are operated solely by Southwest Airlines, which does not belong to any major global airline alliance. Other alliances, such as oneworld, Star Alliance, or SkyTeam, do not have a member operating nonstop on this route, though they may offer connecting itineraries via their hubs.",
        "methodology": "Airlines and weekly frequencies are compiled from our flight-schedule database, which combines published airline timetables, U.S. government schedule data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), and observed flight operations from the EUROCONTROL/OpenSky Open Performance Data Initiative (OPDI). We count each operating carrier's scheduled weekly departures and the days it flies; where there is no nonstop service, connecting carriers are identified by linking scheduled nonstop segments through common hub airports. Where a median fare is shown for a carrier, it reflects the real fares Priceline users found on this route in the last 72 hours. Red-eye flights are identified from scheduled local departure and arrival times in our flight-schedule database — built from published airline timetables and official schedule data, including U.S. Department of Transportation records for domestic routes — flagging services that depart late at night and arrive the following morning; for connecting itineraries the red-eye is based on the timing of the overnight long-haul leg.",
        "toolsUsed": [
          "route_airlines",
          "redeye_flights"
        ]
      },
      "q20": {
        "question": "What are the best airport lounge options when departing from Houston?",
        "answer": "At William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), there are no traditional airline-branded lounges like a United Club or Delta Sky Club, as Southwest Airlines dominates the airport and does not operate lounges. The only lounge-like option is an XpresSpa (XWELL) location near Gate 45 in the Central Concourse, accessible to Priority Pass members for a 25-minute session on massage chairs or similar amenities in lieu of a lounge visit. Travelers without Priority Pass can pay for spa services directly, but this is not a full-service lounge with complimentary food and drinks.",
        "toolsUsed": [],
        "references": [
          {
            "url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou/related-content/hou-tips-for-first-time-travelers",
            "title": "Navigating William P. Hobby Airport (HOU): Tips for First-Time Travelers",
            "time_published": "2026-01-23T00:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.prioritypass.com/pt-PT/lounges/usa/houston-tx-william-p-hobby/hou2s-xpresspa",
            "title": "XWELL HOU AIRPORT Houston TX William P. Hobby | Priority Pass",
            "time_published": "2024-11-05T00:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_P._Hobby_Airport",
            "title": "William P. Hobby Airport",
            "time_published": "2026-07-06T09:58:05Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/united-states-of-america/william-p-hobby",
            "title": "William P. Hobby Airport HOU Lounges - HOU Airport Guide and lounges.  | Priority Pass",
            "time_published": "2024-11-05T00:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://fly2houston.com/hou",
            "title": "HOU Houston Airport | William P. Hobby",
            "time_published": "2026-06-09T05:00:00Z"
          }
        ],
        "methodology": "Airport details are drawn from the sources listed with this answer, primarily the airport operator's official website along with airline, lounge-operator and transit-authority pages, collected by our research process and refreshed periodically. Only information found in those sources is used; where a source does not cover a topic it is left out rather than guessed."
      },
      "q21": {
        "question": "What is the baggage allowance on this route from Houston to Puerto Vallarta?",
        "answer": "Baggage allowance on Houston–Puerto Vallarta flights depends on the airline and fare type. Basic economy tickets are restrictive and may not include a checked bag. Standard economy usually includes one checked bag and a carry‑on, while premium cabins offer more generous allowances."
      },
      "q22": {
        "question": "What cabin and seat options are typical from Houston to Puerto Vallarta?",
        "answer": "Flights from Houston to Puerto Vallarta usually offer Economy and Business class, with some airlines providing flat-bed seats in Business; Premium Economy is uncommon on this route."
      },
      "q23": {
        "question": "Are same‑day changes or standby possible on this route?",
        "answer": "Policies vary by airline and fare; flexible and premium tickets often allow same‑day changes or standby, while Basic Economy typically does not."
      }
    }
  }
}