Avelo Airlines Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Fees & More

Updated: November 7, 2023, 10:11am CST

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Avelo Airlines Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Fees & More

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Avelo Airlines, the start-up budget carrier that first spread its wings in April 2021, has since grown to offer nearly 40 destinations across the nation.

Connecting smaller, underserved airports to popular destinations is the name of the game with Avelo. Thanks to its point-to-point network, Avelo can get travelers to their destinations without having to fly through a hub first, as you normally might have to with a legacy carrier.

With fares as low as $19 one-way, you may be intrigued by the airline’s offerings. However, as an ultra-low-cost airline, it’s important to know that you’ll pay extra fees for items like baggage and your seat assignment. You may be pleasantly surprised that the carrier provides a fairly flexible change and cancellation policy.

In this guide, we’ll go over the Avelo experience — from takeoff to touchdown — detailing the ticketing options, seat specs, inflight amenities, and more!

Basic Info

Airline: Avelo Airlines
Alliance: None
Category: Ultra-low-cost carrier
Frequent Flyer Program: None
Tag Line: “Flying is affordable with Avelo — Book, relax, and you’re there.”
About/Mission Statement: “We help you fly for less so you can fly more. That means more opportunities for you to connect with family and friends while exploring new places and revisiting old favorites. But we don’t just save you money. We fly out of smaller, more convenient airports, so we also save you time and hassle.”¹
Fleet: 15 planes (all Boeing 737-700 or Boeing 737-800)
Headquarters: Houston, Texas
Primary Airports: Fort Myers Airport (RSW), Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN), and Wilmington Airport (ILG)
Destinations: 35+ (in the continental U.S.)

Avelo Ticketing Options

The carrier makes things simple by offering 1 base fare that includes your seat and 1 personal item. From there, anything additional you want to add will cost you extra.

Avelo Airlines Boeing 737 at Boise Idaho — Image Credit: Avelo

Avelo Frequent Flyer Program

Currently, Avelo does not offer a frequent flyer program where you can earn and redeem miles for flights. However, Avelo says it plans to build a loyalty program in the future.

In the meantime, Avelo maintains a unique partnership with Capital One to offer priority boarding to those who carry the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, or Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

If you have any of these cards, you can join the first boarding group by presenting your boarding pass and Capital One card at the gate.

Hot Tip: Can’t decide between the premium Capital One Venture X card or the Capital One VentureOne card? Read through our comparison of the 2 Capital One travel cards here.

Avelo Baggage and Other Fees

Avelo Check In — Image Credit: Stella Shon

Avelo falls under the likes of low-cost carriers like Allegiant, Frontier, or Spirit, meaning there are ancillary charges for pretty much everything else besides your ticket. This unbundled fare can potentially save you a great deal compared to flying legacy carriers if you travel light and don’t have a seating preference.

Baggage Fees

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	Before Booking	Post Booking/Before Online Check-in	Airport Reservations Desk	At the Airport
Carry-on Bag	$40	$45	$45	$50
Checked Bag (up to 10 bags)	$40	$45	$45	$50

All travelers are entitled to 1 free personal item, such as a purse or small backpack, which must fit under your seat. Keep in mind that your personal item must fall within the 14 x 9 x 9.5-inch (35 x 22 x 24 cm) specifications.

Furthermore, travelers can bring on 1 carry on-bag — for a $40 to $50 fee one-way — and it’s cheapest to pay for your carry-on during the booking process. While Avelo does not publish weight restrictions on carry-on bags, they must fit into the overhead bin and be smaller than 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 35 x 22 cm).

If you’d like to check a larger bag, it will cost the same fee as a carry-on bag. Your checked bag must weigh under 50 pounds (22 kilograms) and be no larger than 62 inches in combined length, width, and height, including the handles and wheels.

Any checked bags over this size and weight restriction (51 to 70 pounds) will incur additional fees. An overweight bag will cost you $50, while an oversized bag will cost you $50. If it’s both overweight and oversized, expect to pay an additional $100 fee.

The only exception to this rule is for active duty military members, who may check 2 bags for no charge, with no weight or size restrictions to worry about.

Other Fees

Reservation Center Booking: Avelo allows you to book flights or modify your booking online or through the Avelo app (iOS, Android). You can choose to call Avelo’s Customer Support Center at 346-616-9500, but all bookings, changes, or cancellations to your reservation will result in a non-refundable $20 processing fee per traveler.

Seat Assignment: Starting at $11, you can select your seat preference or have one assigned to you at check-in. If sitting in the window or aisle is important, or if you’d like to stick together with your family and friends, paying for a seat assignment can be a good idea.

Avelo does not offer premium economy, business, or first-class seats, but the carrier provides extra legroom seats where you can get up to 8 additional inches of legroom. It can cost up to $59 to pick one of these seats, which can sometimes be more than the cost of the ticket itself!

Refreshments Onboard: Avelo does not offer an onboard menu for snacks and drinks. While some travelers have reported receiving a complimentary bottle of water and snack, this will highly depend on the route. We recommend that you come prepared with your own snacks and drinks when flying Avelo, as your plane may not offer catering.

Modification Fees: Despite being an ultra-low-cost carrier, Avelo offers a generous policy if you need to modify your flight. It’s free to change or cancel your Avelo flight online until 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time. If you call Avelo’s Customer Support Center at 346-616-9500 to modify your booking, you’ll be charged a $20 fee per traveler.

You’ll receive a full refund to the original payment method if you cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking and at least 7 days (168 hours) before departure. After this window, you’ll still receive a travel credit to your Avelo Travel Funds, which can be used for future bookings.

Priority Boarding: You can be the first to board the plane, but it’ll cost you $15 per flight. However, if you carry an eligible Capital One card, you can enjoy complimentary priority boarding when flying Avelo.

Infant (Lap Child) Fee: There’s no charge for lap infants older than 14 days old or under 2 years of age. Avelo reserves the right to ask for a birth certificate or passport upon travel.

Unaccompanied Minor Fee: Avelo does not accept reservations for unaccompanied minors 14 years of age or younger. If your child is at least 15 years old, they’ll be considered as an adult ticket and can book their ticket online at Avelo — with no additional charge.

Pet Transport Fee: $125 per pet that must fit in a hard or soft-shell carrier no larger than 14 x 9 x 9.5 inches (35 x 22 x 24 cm) that must fit under the seat in front of you. If you’re bringing a pet, you cannot sit in an exit row or bulkhead seat.

Bottom Line: Avelo offers relatively reasonable fees, even allowing travelers to cancel or change their bookings for free (unless they call the reservation center to modify their booking).

How To Avoid Excess Fees

When you’re flying Avelo, you can avoid paying additional fees by carrying the right credit card.

By using an eligible Capital One travel credit card, you can redeem Capital One miles for 1 cent each as a statement credit for eligible fees (baggage, seat assignments, etc.) purchased within 90 days. For example, an $11 seat assignment will only require 1,100 Capital One miles.

TOP PICK

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome OfferEarn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Excellent (740-840)

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

Pros

10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
Add authorized users for no additional annual fee (rates & fees)
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

Cons

$395 annual fee (rates & fees)
Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome OfferEnjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros

5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
Access to Capital One transfer partners

Cons

$95 annual fee (rates & fees)
Limited elite benefits

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Welcome OfferEarn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.
20,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$360

Annual Fee

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

Pros

No annual fee (rates & fees)
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
Ability to use transfer partners
Fraud coverage

Cons

Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
No luxury travel or elite benefits

$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Avelo Inflight Amenities and Seat Specs

Inflight Amenities: Avelo is focused on getting you from Point A to Point B. As such, you can expect a bare-bones experience once you’re in the cabin.

The airline does not provide inflight Wi-Fi, video streaming capabilities, or onboard entertainment. Nor does Avelo provide official information on its website about food or drink. Depending on the flight, you may get a complimentary small bottle of water and a snack. But on others, there’s no food or drink available — even for purchase.

Bottom Line: As the vast majority of Avelo’s routes clocks in around 2 hours of flying time, you’ll be set for the short hop if you bring snacks and download entertainment in advance.

Seat Specs: With an all-Boeing 737 fleet, you can expect a consistent experience no matter which Avelo route you’re flying. To pack as many seats as possible, you can expect minimal legroom and narrow seats onboard. It’s worth noting, however, that roughly a third of the cabin boasts extra legroom seats.

Standard economy — 29-inch pitch, 17-inch width
Extra legroom (up to 8 additional inches) — 31- to 37-inch pitch, 17-inch width

Avelo’s Boeing 737-700 has 147 seats, while the airline’s larger 737-800 has 189 seats.

Avelo Customer Satisfaction

As a relatively new carrier, there isn’t much data just yet on Avelo’s performance statistics. For instance, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ latest data set from November 2022 doesn’t have any information from Avelo.

Performance

Despite the lack of government data, Avelo claims that “[it] has canceled less than 1% of its flights and consistently delivers industry-leading on-time performance and baggage handling metrics.” Avelo does not require travelers to connect through a larger hub, and it seems to have worked in the carrier’s favor across several metrics thus far.

Consumer Rankings, Ratings, Etc.

From Airline Quality Rankings (AQR), Avelo has received a 3/10 from consumers. While this may seem like a low rating, it seems to rank close to the current ratings of some domestic carriers:

Final Thoughts

While it can feel like budget carriers nickel-and-dime you for every charge possible, Avelo does come out ahead on 1 aspect. The carrier offers a surprisingly uncomplicated modification policy that falls in line with some of the legacy domestic airlines. You can easily change or cancel your flight online, up to 15 minutes before departure, for no cost — and you’ll receive an Avelo Travel Fund credit for future bookings.

Where the fees will start to add up is with your carry-on and checked bags, as well as any seat assignment fees. If the base fare is low, it may be worth it to splurge on Avelo’s extra legroom seats, which offer up to 37 inches of pitch!

The inflight experience is nothing fancy, as expected with such low fares. With no in-seat power, seatback screens, and no food or drink menu, it can feel like you’re transported back to the early 2000s with a flight on Avelo. However, the check-in and gate agents and inflight crew are all friendly, delivering solid service as you can expect from any other carrier.

Finally, Avelo does not boast a frequent flyer program just yet. As the carrier undergoes explosive growth with new destinations, it’ll only be a matter of time before you can earn and redeem rewards for future flights!

Featured Image Credit: Stella Shon

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Avelo Airlines so cheap?

Avelo offers unbundled fares, which means that your ticket includes a seat (but not a seat assignment) and 1 personal item. Any other additions, from priority boarding to carry-on bags to checked luggage, will come at an additional cost.

How old are Avelo Airlines planes?

Avelo Airlines acquired its Boeing 737-700 planes from Southwest Airlines, and its average fleet age is around 15 years old.

Do you have to pay for a carry-on with Avelo?

Yes. While all travelers can bring 1 personal item for free, a carry-on bag will cost you $40 one-way.

Does Avelo have bathrooms?

Yes. If you’re flying on Avelo’s smaller 737-700, there are 2 bathrooms. On Avelo’s larger 737-800, you’ll find 3 lavatories.

Can I choose my seat on Avelo?

You must pay a seat assignment fee, which will range anywhere from $11 to $59. If you don’t pay to choose your seat, you’ll receive an automatic seat assignment at check-in.

Does Avelo serve food?

Avelo does not offer a food or drink menu, even for purchase. Although some flyers have reported receiving a complimentary small bottle of water and a small snack, you may not get anything (unless you ask).

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About Stella Shon

With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in The New York Times, USA Today, and more.

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