Avelo Airlines: New Flights vs. Route Cancellations

Alright, let's talk Avelo. Another discount airline promising the moon and delivering… well, let's just say I've seen more reliable weather forecasts.

New Routes, Same Old Song?

So, Avelo's expanding again. Wilmington to Atlanta and Chicago, Lakeland to Atlanta and Detroit, Concord to Chicago and Nashville. Sounds great on paper. Thirty-five dollar flights? Sign me up! Except, wait a minute. Didn't they just pull out of Redmond, Oregon way earlier than expected? Where’s the consistency? (Avelo Airlines ending Redmond–Burbank flights earlier than expected)

They're slinging flights like they're going out of style, but are they actually capable of keeping these routes afloat? I mean, remember when everyone was hyping up Breeze Airways as the next big thing? Now look at 'em.

And don't even get me started on the "convenience" factor. Yeah, flying nonstop from Wilmington, Delaware sounds amazing if you live in, uh, Wilmington, Delaware. But for the rest of us in the Philly metro area, is it really worth the trek to some tiny regional airport when I could just hop on American Airlines at PHL? I’m not convinced.

Andrew Levy, Avelo's CEO, spouts the usual PR nonsense about "inspiring more travel" and "connecting with friends and family." Give me a break. He inspires more travel for himself, probably racking up those frequent flyer miles on someone else's dime. And connecting with friends and family? That's what Zoom is for – cheaper too, and less chance of getting stranded at some random airport.

The Fine Print (and the Hidden Fees)

Let's be real: those $35 fares ain't the whole story. By the time you add a carry-on bag, an assigned seat (because who wants to end up in the middle seat next to a screaming toddler?), and the "convenience fee" (which should honestly be called a "we need to make money somehow" fee), you're looking at something closer to a real airline price.

And what about customer service? I haven't personally dealt with Avelo Airlines customer service, but I’ve read the horror stories online. Route cancellations, baggage policy nightmares, check in fiascos… sounds like a party. Maybe.

Look, I get it. People want cheap flights. We're all trying to save a buck. But at what cost? Are we sacrificing reliability, convenience, and basic human decency for a slightly lower fare? I'm not so sure it's worth it.

The Lakeland Gamble

Avelo introducing service from Lakeland in June 2024 and then suspending routes seasonally in September and October? What kind of business model is that? It’s like they’re throwing darts at a map and seeing what sticks. Announcing a third weekly flight between Grand Rapids and Rochester to Lakeland, then pulling it back? It’s all over the place.

Then again, maybe I'm just being cynical. Maybe Avelo really is revolutionizing air travel, one $35 flight at a time. Maybe they’ll become the next Southwest.

Offcourse, stranger things have happened.

So, What's the Catch?

This whole Avelo thing feels like a house of cards built on the promise of cheap fares. It works... until it doesn't. And when it doesn't, good luck getting anyone on the phone to help you out. I ain't holding my breath for Avelo to become the next aviation superpower.