The whole premise of a low-cost carrier is to offer a low fare and then charge handsomely for everything else, especially any extra items needing to be checked in that an unwary traveler brings to a flight. So it is a little surprising that Avelo Airlines is happy to carry one case of wine per passenger for free and now to expand the program to cover the entire Western United States.

It must be working for Avelo and Guests

Avelo Airlines (Avelo) launched its ‘Wine Travels Free’ program on May 25, 2024, which just happened to be National Wine Day. The program started for passengers traveling from the Bay Area’s Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS), who were invited to check a case of wine free of charge as a memento of their visit to California Wine Country.

Avelo Airlines Boeing 737

Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock

The program must be working well for Avelo and the airline’s customers, as today, the low-cost carrier announced the expansion of the ‘Wine Travels Free’ program. Starting September 16, Avelo customers can transport a case of their favorite wines for free across the entire Western United States as part of their checked baggage allowance.

Avelo Sept. 2024 West Coast Destinations

Map: Avelo

Avelo flies to 14 destinations across the Western United States, from California’s Palm Springs to Salt Lake City in Utah to Pasco Tri-Cities in Washington. As part of their checked baggage allowance, customers 21 years of age or older can transport one case of wine per person at no additional cost. Avelo defines a case of wine as a single box or case containing up to 12 bottles, weighing 50 lbs or less.

Must be packed properly

Before departure, customers must present each properly packed case of wine to an Avelo crew member at the airport ticket counter. Today, Avelo Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said the Wine Travels Free program has been a success and was valued by customers, adding:

“Now, wine lovers throughout the Western US – from the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma to wineries in Oregon, Washington and beyond – can take advantage of our program. We’re making it easier than ever to share your love for wine with family and friends or to simply bring a taste of your favorite Avelo West Coast destination home.”

Without some set guidelines, one can only imagine how many different ways customers would package their wine, which must be packed in a certain way to survive the flight unscathed. Avelo stresses that to ensure the safety of the cherished cargo, customers must adhere to the packaging guidelines.

Avelo Airlines Boeing 737

Photo: Angel DiBilio | Shutterstock

According to the Avelo guidelines, customers must securely encase their wine in a protective case or cardboard box with suitable packaging materials such as Styrofoam, bubble wrap or cardboard liners. The airline also wants to ensure customers know it is not responsible for providing packaging materials at the airport. So it is best not to turn up with 12 bottles of expensive wine and think all will be sorted at the check-in desk.

Avelo launched in April 2021, and since then, it has carried more than 5.2 million customers on more than 40,000 flights. It has a fleet of 19 Boeing 737 single-aisle jets, including eight 737-700s and eleven 737-800s, that operate to 49 destinations spanning 23 US states, Puerto Rico and two international destinations: Jamaica and Mexico.

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