Flying Avelo Airlines

Updated: October 24, 2025

Background

At the time of writing this, I hold Delta Diamond Status, their highest earned status. I have flown just about 650,000 miles with Delta alone, but I’ve flown Avelo three times this year. Why? They are an amazing value, and they flew right where I needed to go, and a few more things worth writing this entire article about.

According to a few different searches, I’ve determined there are five ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs) in the US. They are Allegiant Air, Avelo Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Sun Country Airlines. Some put Breeze Airways in that category, but I disagree.

Avelo Airlines At A Glance:

✈️ Fleet: 21 Boeing 737s
📍 Network: 50+ destinations across US
💰 Base Fare: $39-$79 average
🎒 Personal Item: FREE
🧳 Carry-On: $44 | Checked Bag: $45
⭐ On-Time Performance: #1 in US
🏆 Best For: Budget travelers, short flights, point-to-point routes

H2: Avelo vs Other Budget Airlines

Feature	Avelo	Spirit	Frontier
Base Fare	$39-79+	$29-99+	$29-89+
Personal Item	FREE	FREE	FREE
Carry-On	$44	$55-65	$60-99
Customer Service Rating	4.5/5	2/5	2.5/5
On-Time Performance	#1	Below average	Below average

Booking

Booking on Avelo is straightforward and similar to other ULCCs. Once you choose your departing city, you are given a list of destinations they fly to from there. For example, when entering RSW (Fort Myers, FL) in the “from” box, you receive four destinations.

Unlike larger airlines, most ULCCs don’t offer connections. They simply fly from point A to B on certain days. Looking at the RSW example, if I select ILM (Wilmington, NC), they operate on Friday and Monday. This allows the airline to use that same plane for other routes on other days.

In the end, they serve a somewhat large network with only 21 aircraft (all Boeing 737s). Like most smaller airlines, they focus on smaller airports like ILM because of the cost. Big, major airports cost more to operate out of. Small airports have cheaper landing fees and fuel prices. They can also turn the plane around quicker because there’s less traffic. This often leads to fewer delays. Avelo is currently the number one on-time airline in the US. Flying between two small airports is a major factor in that.

Keep in mind, smaller airports are often referred to as secondary airports. For example, MHT (Manchester, NH) is just about an hour north of Boston and makes a great alternative. ISP (Long Island MacArthur Airport) in Islip, NY is a good alternative to the big three NYC airports (JFK, LGA, EWR).

Back to booking. Once the cities are selected, the next page shows fares. The prices listed are per passenger and don’t include extras. However, extras may not be needed for the average traveler, or at least a traveler who follows my suggestions.

This fare shows $47, which is about average. I’ve seen routes cost $59, and I’ve paid $39 twice.

Selecting a seat does cost extra, but not as much as you might think. Often, a window or aisle seat is less than $20. You can also not pay for a seat and take your chances at check-in. I’ve done this twice and ended up with an aisle seat both times, which is my preference. I will say, I think I lucked out. However, for $39 for a two-hour flight, I’ll deal with the middle seat.

Bags

A checked bag is $45, and a carry-on is $44. A small backpack that fits under the seat costs $0.00 (aka free). This is what I’ve done each time.

For reference, on my last trip I traveled from MHT to ILM with a Yeti 35 backpack, and it fit just fine. It measures:

• Width: 13.4″ (34.0 cm)
• Height: 20.5″ (52.1 cm)
• Depth: 8.5″ (21.6 cm)

Avelo states that personal items must be 17″ L x 13″ H x 9″ W or smaller. I checked, and it fit in their measuring box at the airport. Maybe my bag squished down a bit? Avelo also seems to be somewhat lenient here. I’ve heard them say, “just roll it up a bit” or “make it fit.” They aren’t out to charge you at the gate. Just don’t bring something clearly too big.

After that, you can add options like priority boarding, which isn’t needed, or flying with a pet.

For my last flight, the fare shown was $39 and that’s all I paid. I added no extras. Everything you read below is based on that experience.

Avelo Plus

In late 2025, Avelo announced a membership program called Avelo Plus. The cost is $99 per year but is currently listed on their site for $49 for the first year. I signed up during my last booking and paid the $49. The program saves money on each fare and provides free priority boarding, a $15 value per passenger.

According to the program rules, the benefit applies to you and up to nine other travelers. If you plan to fly with them a few times, especially with others on your reservation, this is a good deal.

Priority boarding was once a guaranteed benefit for those who held a Capital One Venture credit card, but I can no longer find that to be the case. The New Haven Register stated back in March that additional changes are coming to the program, including a branded credit card. The article continues on to say:

 The credit card, to be introduced this summer, “will be the core” of the new loyalty program, although there will be an option for people to  join without obtaining one, he said.

Although as of October 2025, I have not yet seen one.

Customer Service

The flight booked was from MHT to ILM, departing Thursday evening and returning late afternoon Monday. It gave us a full long weekend.

Not long after booking, I received an email from Avelo letting me know they had changed the return time to leave much earlier. I had the option to keep the new time, choose a new flight, or switch to a different airport. No matter what I chose, I received a $25 voucher for the inconvenience.

Airlines big and small change schedules. What matters is how they handle it. I saw there was a late-night flight out of Myrtle Beach, which is about an hour and a half from ILM. It worked great. We’d still get all of Monday in Wilmington.

The only drawback was that I had to call to make the change. I’ve learned that part of how discount airlines save money is by not having top-tier apps or websites. I called and was told the hold time was over two hours, so I hung up. I tried again a few days later and was told it would be about an hour wait, but they could call me back. I chose that option and went about my day.

My wife and I were enjoying a glass of wine in the backyard when my phone rang. It said “Houston, Texas.” I said, “Who is that?” and she reminded me it was probably Avelo, since they’re based in Houston. I answered and sure enough, it was. Here’s how the conversation went (paraphrased, but accurate):

Agent: Hello. This is Ashley, calling from Avelo based on your callback request.
Me: Yes, hi Ashley. My flight time changed and I’d like to pick a new flight.
Ashley: Of course. May I have your name and confirmation number?
Me: [Provided info]
Ashley: What flight would you like to change to?
Me: The same day, but out of Myrtle Beach at 6:45 PM.
Ashley: Give me one moment…
10–15 seconds pass
Ashley: I’ve made the change. Is there anything else I can help with?
Me: Nope, that’s all.

My app updated instantly. The whole call took less than 90 seconds. That is a massive win over any other ULCC and my number one reason for flying Avelo (or not avoiding them at least).

Airport Experience

First off, MHT is one of the best small airports in the country, which makes this experience even better. Again though, this is part of the business model.

Avelo boards in zones like most airlines. Zones 1 and 2 are for those who purchased priority or have overhead bin bags.

We weren’t asked to show our bags, and I had both a small personal item and a backpack, as did my wife. I think boarding with priority helped, and Avelo doesn’t seem as strict about bags as others. Once on board, the bag policy doesn’t matter. If you get past the gate agent, you’re good. Overhead or under the seat, go for it.

We stuck to our tickets and kept bags under the seat, but it didn’t seem to matter. Again, this may be thanks to the credit card.

Flight

The seats are a bit tighter than most. Again, it’s a ULCC. I’m 6’0″ and didn’t feel cramped. My sister-in-law’s boyfriend is 6’6″ and said it’s tight but not terrible for under two hours.

The flight attendants were a 10 out of 10 on every flight. There’s no entertainment, no snacks, and no Wi-Fi. But for $39, that’s expected. Airlines pay upwards of $500,000 per aircraft to add Wi-Fi. I love being connected, but for 120 minutes, I’m fine without it.

Overall

Sometimes travel is about the journey. Sometimes it’s just about getting where you want to go and having fun once you’re there.

The US is big and there’s a lot to see. For me, a quick flight from New England to North Carolina isn’t about luxury. It’s about family, culture, beach, and food once I get there. This is where Avelo and other ULCCs shine. Point A to B with no frills.

It’s like hopping on a bus. Pop in some headphones and suddenly you’ve arrived. Traveling like this is a mindset. Avelo, in my opinion, is the best at it. Customer service is amazing, flights are cheap and stay cheap, and they’re on time and clean.

If you can, take advantage. Maybe they don’t fit your schedule perfectly, so you only fly them one way and take someone else back. Google Flights can help map that out for you.

Either way, Avelo is a tool in your travel toolbox that you need.

2026 Update

Avelo Airlines is “Simplifying its network”

Frequently Asked Questions: Avelo Airlines Review