Okay, so Avelo Airlines is bragging about $35 flights from Concord. Thirty-five freakin' dollars. Yeah, right. Like anyone actually gets that price. It's always "starting at," which means by the time you add a bag, choose a seat (because who wants to be crammed in the back next to the toilet?), and pay all those "convenience" fees, you're looking at closer to $200. Give me a break.
And Concord? Seriously? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for convenience, but Concord-Padgett Regional Airport? I didn't even know that existed. It’s probably some tiny little airport on the edge of nowhere where you're more likely to run into a crop duster than a 737.
Avelo calls themselves an "ultra-low-cost carrier." That’s code for "we’ll nickel and dime you for every single thing." Remember Spirit Airlines? Yeah, exactly. This is probably the same song and dance. They lure you in with the promise of cheap flights, and then they get you on the back end.
They're flying to Chicago O’Hare and Nashville. Okay, those are actual cities. But still...four flights a week? On Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays? What about Tuesdays and Wednesdays? Are they just hoping no one wants to travel mid-week? Or are they betting that the planes will be empty enough that they can save on fuel?
The article says Avelo is "building up its operational footprint in the Northeast, Midwest, and South." Translation: they're abandoning the West Coast because they couldn't make any money out there. So now they're preying on unsuspecting travelers in other parts of the country. Smart.
They even brought back some routes, like Charlotte to Nashville. Big whoop. I'm sure those routes were just screaming for a comeback, right?
Speaking of Charlotte, it's great to see they are adding flights from there, too. Chicago O'Hare and Nashville... both are pretty big cities. So, why not add more flights from Charlotte offcourse?
Avelo CEO Andrew Levy is quoted as saying, "These new routes offer travelers even more choices, making it easier and more affordable than ever for our customers to get where they want to go." Oh, Andy, you silver-tongued devil, you. What he really means is "we're giving you the illusion of choice while squeezing every last penny out of your wallet."
And another gem from Levy: "[The flights] inspire more travel as we gear up for spring break, more vacations, and connecting with friends and family." Inspire more travel? More like inspire more frustration, more delays, and more baggage fees.
Then again, maybe I'm just being cynical. Maybe these flights really are a great deal. Maybe Avelo is the airline of the future, bringing affordable travel to the masses. But let's be real, ain't nothing in this world is truly free. There's always a catch.
Look, I'm not saying don't fly Avelo. I'm just saying go in with your eyes wide open. Don't expect the $35 fare to be the actual fare. Read the fine print. Pack light. And for God's sake, bring your own snacks. Because I guarantee you, those airline pretzels are gonna cost you more than the flight itself.
