It was a dizzying 6 a.m., and I was slowly waking up in a dark and gloomy Wilmington, Delaware, freshly covered with a light layer of snow dust.
I was in town to pay for the ultra-low-cost airline Avelo Airlines‘ first flight from Wilmington to Orlando, which also marks the return of commercial air service to Delaware for the first time in nearly seven months.
As part of the story, I’m also taking a flight — my first flight on a true low-cost airline.
Growing up near Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), I mostly fly with United Airlines, which operates a large hub there.
With that experience, I know what to expect from a full-service airline like United. For a budget carrier like Avelo, I was wary. I’ve heard mixed reviews and the idea of paying a bunch of extra fees for hand baggage, checked baggage and seat selection doesn’t sound very appealing.
Related: 6 ways to improve your cheap flight experience
That was exactly the experience I expected to have with Avelo’s mission to cover the Wilmington opening ceremony.
First, though, let’s talk a little bit about the inaugural flights. Many of my colleagues at TPG have covered them for other airlines, so I know a little bit about what to expect. However, getting one for yourself is a unique experience.
Opening flights are usually celebrated with fanfare, and that was the case with my flight. University of Delaware and Delaware State University mascots paraded around Little Wilmington Airport (ILG) while airport staff handed out souvenir bags to passengers.
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Avelo CEO Andrew Levy spoke at the event. Although Delaware Governor John Carney was scheduled to appear, he had tested positive for COVID-19 just days before and had to cancel.
For all the balloons, noises and gift bags at the airport, Avelo’s first flight from Wilmington is more of a standard flight than an inaugural flight.
With that in mind, here’s what I think about my flight experience.
Booking is seamless. Just go to the Avelo website and choose the date you want to fly.
However, because Avelo is a much smaller airline and routes are infrequent, flights to Orlando are mostly limited to Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
For a one-way flight booked seven days in advance, my base fare is $96. Avelo also offers seating options ranging from $12 to $54. The more expensive chairs have more legroom, but I decided not to pick a seat when I made my purchase.
However, since I was there on a mission, Avelo arranged for me to sit in the window seat towards the front of the plane.
Although I didn’t spend extra on seat selection, I decided to pay $40 one way for hand luggage because I didn’t want to be limited to my work bag as my personal belongings. Checked baggage also costs $40 each way.
I spent a total of $169 on a one-way flight to Orlando, which seemed way too high for what I expected from the type of airline that offered one-way fares as low as $59 or less. It’s also more in line with what I’d pay for a full-service airline like American, Delta, or United.
However, I booked tickets relatively close — just seven days in advance — which probably resulted in a higher base fare before adding the extra services I wanted.
When I boarded my flight, I was disappointed to find that there was barely any headroom left, even though I wasn’t one of the last groups to board.
I assume the upper luggage compartment is almost full as this is the first flight and many passengers in the area are excited to be able to fly out of Wilmington.
I made my way to my seat, which was surprisingly comfortable. It feels no different than flying economy class with a larger airline like United or Delta. Legroom is standard and I didn’t feel cramped.
While the service is bare bones, the staff are very friendly. Similar to other low-cost carriers like Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, Avelo only serves water on board, which doesn’t bother me as the flight only lasts 2 and a half hours.
Despite a simple inaugural flight and no frills, we were greeted with a water cannon upon landing at Orlando International Airport (MCO).
In the end, we arrived on time, and even though I booked for the price, I would definitely book the flight again if I lived in Wilmington. It’s convenient to have the option to fly directly to Florida instead of having to drive to other major airports in the area, like Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) or Baltimore/Washington’s Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI).
As for other airports with Avelo – places like New Haven, Connecticut; Burbank, California; and Raleigh, North Carolina — it’s a great advantage that can make up for some of the downsides of an airline like Avelo.
Will I do it again? The answer is not black and white. If I happened to live near an airport with Avelo flights, I probably would.
Although I felt as if I had spent a lot of money on a one-way flight, it felt like a standard economy class flight and I appreciated the convenience.
The biggest advantage for me is the comfortable seats for economy class. I’ve certainly sat in an economy class seat in the past where all I could think about was, “When are we going to land? I want to get out of here.” I don’t have that feeling with this Avelo flight because the seats are a little more comfortable.
Although the service is sketchy, I think flying with Avelo or any other low-cost airline could be an option worth considering, especially if that airline offers the most convenient route and time. or the lowest fare.
