Avelo Airlines Review [2024]: Safe & Reliable Flight to Book?

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Avelo Airlines Review [2024]: Safe & Reliable Flight to Book?
You were probably looking for a budget flight in the US when you came across Avelo. Flights are cheap, but you may have doubts and I don't blame you. Let me help you make a better informed decision with my full review of Avelo Airlines!
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If you're looking to travel domestically within the US, chances are, you'll see Avelo Airlines as a budget option you've probably never heard of.

While traveling domestically in the U.S., you might've heard of the big names like Delta, American Airlines, or United, what about the smaller, more budget-friendly airlines? Some of these include established budget airlines like Spirit or SouthWest Airlines.

So where did Avelo pop up and does the newly established low-cost carrier match up and surpass its predecessors?

Most importantly, are they reliable to book? I've done all the research for you so you wouldn't need to. Let's find out what Avelo's really all about now!

I screenshotted Avelo Airlines logo on a purple background
Image Courtesy of Avelo Airlines

What is Avelo Airlines?

Taking its first flight in 2021, Avelo Airlines flies out of smaller airports so you can save time and money.

That's right! The reason why you've probably never heard of Avelo is because they're relatively new. In fact, they were previously a chartered flights company called Casino Express Airlines and Xtra Airways.

That is, until they rebranded to Avelo Airlines on April 8, 2021, in the middle of the pandemic.

With the purpose of inspiring travel, they aim to provide customers with affordable, low-cost fares on their flights.

Avelo Airlines was founded and owned by Andrew Levy. Avelo CEO Andrew Levy was the co-founder and President of Allegiant Air and the former CFO of United Airlines.

An Avelo-branded airplane taking off from a runway
Image Courtesy of Avelo Airlines

Where does Avelo fly?

As a newer airline, Avelo only flies to a few cities, but they are spread out across the US. Being a domestic airline, its destinations for passengers are limited to the contiguous United States.

Avelo's goal is to fly to smaller, more convenient airports, so while they don't fly into LAX in california, they do still fly into LA via Los Angeles/Hollywood Burbank (BUR) airport where Avelo is based in.

Their big hubs are based in Los Angeles/Hollywood Burbank, CA (BUR), New Haven, CT (HVN), and Orlando, Fl (MCO). From Avelo's hubs, you'll be able to fly to 26 (and expanding) other routes like Las Vegas, Boise, Sonoma County, Nashville, and more.

While Avelo usually offers short-haul flights on both coasts, they don't currently provide cross-country routes. The longest route they currently offer is the 3 hour flight from New Haven Connecticut to Orlando Florida.

Screenshot I took of a map showing all of Avelo airlines' destinations
Image Courtesy of Avelo Airlines

Book the cheapest Avelo flights

If you're still looking at cheap Avelo Airlines flights, make sure you're booking the cheapest flights available on the market with SkyScanner!

SkyScanner helps you find the cheapest flights available so that you wouldn't have to pay more for flight tickets and save that money for more things to do or food to eat!

I'll also recommend you to check out the prices of other budget airlines before making the purchase, just in case there are better rates out there.

Here's a short guide on finding cheap flights online.

Avelo Airlines Baggage Restrictions

When you fly, it's always a good idea to know baggage limitations and any additional costs you may incur.

What does Avelo charge for their baggage? Customers flying with Avelo are allowed one personal item and one carry-on on board. The personal item must not be over 14″L x 9″W x 9.5″H (35 cm x 22 cm x 24 cm) as it needs to be able to be stowed away under the seat.

The personal item is free, but your carry-on will come at an additional fee. Your carry-on must weigh under 35lbs and measure less than 22" L x 9" W x 14" H. As of February 2022, the carry-on bag will cost you $40 when booked online and $50 at the airport.

If you want to check a bag, you can pre-purchase the bag online when you buy your ticket.

The weight limit for a checked bag is 50lbs, and the size limit is 62 inches overall. Checked bags will cost you $35 online and $45 at the airport.

I experienced luggage restrictions and took a picture here of Avelo's bag size checker in the airport
Image Courtesy of Avelo Airlines

Services, Add-ons, & Costs Summarized.

As a budget airline, in addition to baggage, there are other services that you can to pay for an upgrade with Avelo Airlines. Here's a brief rundown on what these "upgrades" actually entail so you know where your money is going.

Avelo flights are all operated by the Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Up to 189 seats is offered on the aircraft, with options to upgrade.

This includes selecting your seat if you don't like the one you're assigned ($11 and up) or bringing a pet in the cabin ($125). Note that these charges are all one-way, so if you book a round trip, you'll be charged with twice the price listed below.

Let's dig into what these upgrades are!

Avelo Extra Legroom Seats

While Avelo Airlines is an ultra low-cost carrier, Avelo offer variations of extra legroom upgrades.

I personally like the way Avelo chooses to do seat upgrades, as tier upgrades such as business vs. economy on an budget airline doesn't really tell you much about what to expect.

Avelo standard seats come with 29 inches of pitch and around 17 inches of width. Extra Legroom seats are as follows:

  • Standard seat pitch: 29'' Total Pitch
  • 2'' Extra Legroom: 31'' Total Pitch
  • 5'' Extra Legroom: 34'' Total Pitch
  • 8'' Extra Legroom: 38'' Total Pitch

Avelo Priority Boarding

Avelo offers priority boarding for $15 each way for those that'd like to get ahead of the crowded and get seated first.

While I personally would not recommend getting this, this upgrade is pretty straightforward and operates very similarly to how other airlines operates.

Avelo Pet Cabin

Avelo Airlines allows you to travel with your companions for an additional charge of $125 each way.

Avelo pet policy only accepts small-sized dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds in soft or hard-sided carriers stowed under the seat in front of you. Dimensions can not exceed 14''x9.5''.

Avelo Airlines Cancellation Policy

While I hope you can make your Avelo flight, sometimes unexpected things come up, and life happens.

Here's Avelo's cancellations policy, summarized.

With Avelo, you can cancel a flight up to 15 minutes before your scheduled departure. All canceled reservations receive Avelo Travel Funds that can be redeemed for future Avelo flights.

Be aware that any cancelations through Avelo's Customer Support Center will incur a $20 fee.

Reservations canceled within 24 hours of purchasing and within seven days of the scheduled departure may be refunded to the original purchasing method, but this must be done via the Customer Support Center.

If you have to change your flight, Avelo doesn't charge any additional fees, but you will have to pay any difference in fare if your new flight costs more than your old one.

If the new flight costs less, the difference will be returned to you in Avelo Travel Funds, which can be used within one year from the date you canceled the flight.

As with cancellations, you can make changes to your flight reservation up to 15 minutes before your scheduled departure.

Avelo Flight Status

Since Avelo flies into a smaller number of airports than larger airlines, checking flight status can be done via departure airport or flight number.

You can use their flight status webpage to check your flight status or even a friend's.

If you're looking for a third-party flight status tracker, we recommend using FlightAware!

I went on their website and screen grabbed the Avelo flight status section
Image Courtesy of Avelo Airlines

Avelo Air's Contact Information

As a smaller airline, Avelo doesn't have extensive methods with which you can contact them.

You can email them at support@aveloair.com, or give them a call on (346) 616-9500 if you need to get in touch!

Careers

Have you wanted to work in aviation or with an airline? Avelo has open positions for pilots but also in other sectors of their company, including in-flight roles, marketing, and more.

You'll be able to enjoy flying standby unlimited for free as a perk of working for Avelo. Head to their careers page to learn more!

Avelo Airlines Reviews: What are people saying?

So, what's the verdict? What are travelers saying about Avelo Airlines?

Based on all of the Avelo Airlines Reviews I've read and consumed over the past few days, I'd say it definitely has a much better reputation than its competitors!

While it is a newer airline and there aren't many Avelo Airlines reviews on the internet, many former travelers have been pleased with their services.

Many people on the inaugural flight felt that its experience symbolized what Avelo's all about: a true no-frills budget carrier that doesn't suck.

The main drawback of Avelo is their flight schedules, and the airports they fly out of are not necessarily the most convenient ones. This is fully dependent on where you're trying to go and departure destination, though.

Travelers have also commented on low staff numbers in airports and long wait times to speak to customer service.

Tip: When arriving at your gate, stay calm if you see the terminal void of any Avelo Airlines banner or uniformed staff! Most budget carriers outsource gate agents with local airport staffs, so they may not be wearing Avelo uniforms.

That being said, most reviews are positive of the experience and the value for money considering Avelo is a budget airline.

3D mockup of an Avelo Airlines airplane
Image Courtesy of Avelo Airlines

Is Avelo Airlines Worth It?

In short, I'd recommend you to fly with Avelo Airlines if your route aligns with Avelo's routes and if you don't mind going to a smaller airport. When it comes to options, Avelo's limited domestic routes really puts themselves at a disadvantage for travelers going from coast to coast.

Avelo Airline's rates are also frequently competitive amongst the budget airlines in the United States, so it's worth the consideration.

However, there are plenty of other more reputable budget airlines to choose from, especially those flying domestically from the United States.

Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit are among the popular choices for budget airlines in the United States, so I recommend you check the alternatives to make sure you don't miss out on other deals!

If you're flying with Avelo Airlines, you'll want to make sure you pack light due to baggage restrictions. I'd also recommend you downloading Avelo's app and getting the boarding pass on your phone for a much smoother process at check-in.

My rating: 3.3/5

Pros:

  • Affordable Fares
  • Extra-Legroom Seats
  • Flexible Cancelation Policy

Cons:

  • Limited Destinations
  • Varying Customer Service
  • Low free baggage allowance

Ready to fly? Try Pilot

Whether your next adventure is within the US, and you fly with Avelo, or you decide to head elsewhere, we want to help you make your trip as smooth as possible.

As you confirm the details of your next trip, make sure to check out Pilot for all of your travel planning needs!

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Disclosure: Pilot is supported by our community. We may earn a small commission fee with affiliate links on our website. All reviews and recommendations are independent and do not reflect the official view of Pilot.

Miriam Jaffe Blog
Written by:
Miriam Jaffe
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