Flying on Breeze’s A220 in Economy — I’d Easily Book Again: Review
The company, which was founded by airline entrepreneur David Neeleman, started with all-economy Embraer 190/195 jets.
Breeze Airways
Neeleman’s business plan is to fly between medium-sized markets that do not currently have nonstop service but have enough demand to be profitable, like Huntsville, Alabama, to Charleston.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
The CEO has coined “We can get you there twice as fast for half the price” as the airline’s slogan.
Breeze Airways
Since its inaugural flight, Breeze has expanded its network with new routes, hubs, and planes.
Breeze Airways
My journey started at Las Vegas airport at 11 a.m. for my 12:10 p.m. departure. Breeze flies out of Terminal 3 and has its own check-in area.
Taylor Rains/Insider
The flight was headed to Charleston via Syracuse, New York, which is what the company calls a “BreezeThru.” This is a layover where continuing passengers do not have to deplane before taking off for the final destination.
Taylor Rains/Insider
Unfortunately, at the airport, I found out the flight was delayed five hours due to staffing issues on the inbound leg from Syracuse. Breeze owned the delay without making excuses and remained transparent with passengers throughout the entire wait.
Taylor Rains/Insider
At the gate, customers were told they could get reimbursed up to $20 for food by submitting the receipt to Breeze online. The agent said this was to make sure people could eat where they wanted instead of at a specific restaurant.
Taylor Rains/Insider
I was frustrated with the delay but appreciated Breeze’s response. The carrier comped meals and was constantly updating us on the status of the flight.
Taylor Rains/Insider
Finally, after hours of waiting, the plane arrived in Las Vegas. However, the ramp was so hot that mechanics could not fix a maintenance issue that occurred on the inbound flight, so they had to wait until evening when it was cooler.
Taylor Rains/Insider
Standard economy, or “Nice,” is Breeze’s most basic seat, offering 30 inches of pitch, which is more than Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant, which only offer 28-29 inches.
Thomas Pallini/Insider
…adequate padding, though the seat was still slim compared with some mainline carriers…
Taylor Rains/Insider
Overall, I was very happy with Breeze’s economy product, despite the long delay in Las Vegas. It felt more like flying on a mainline carrier than a bare-bones low-cost airline, which is perfect for budget travelers who want a little extra space and comfort.
Taylor Rains/Insider
