Find cheap Breeze Airways flights

Breeze is a relatively new player in the US aviation world, but the airline’s founder is anything certainly not a rookie. Launched in 2021 by the founder of JetBlue Airways, Breeze is a low-cost carrier with a focus on convenience and underserved destinations. Here’s everything that you need to know about this newcomer on the scene from David Neeleman.

How Breeze differentiates itself

Breeze’s whole model is different than most of the major airlines, at least the ones that use a hub and spoke system. The airline primarily focuses on connecting underserved cities, like Richmond, VA, or Albany, NY. This model bypasses large hub airports. Instead of requiring passengers to connect through hubs, Breeze offers direct service to make travel quicker and more convenient.

It’s important to distinguish “nonstop” from “direct.” While the vast majority of Breeze flights are “nonstop” routes, the airline debuted its unique “BreezeThru” service in 2023. BreezeThru is a one-stop routing that allows passengers and their bags to stay onboard as the flight picks up the next set of travelers.

Since its launch, the airline has emphasized low fares, flexible booking policies, and customer-centric service, promising travelers a “Seriously Nice” experience. (That’s the tagline for Breeze.) What’s also unique is that while Breeze is considered low cost, they still offer two distinct classes of service, including standard economy and domestic first-class at the front of the plane with wider seats, greater recline, and more legroom.

Another differentiator? Additional fees are fairly reasonably priced. Checked bags and in-cabin pets are extra but aren’t exorbitant in cost. Of course, as a low-cost airline, expect starting fares to also be low. Founder David Neeleman has said Breeze is here to shake up the idea of what it means to be a low-cost airline.

Where the airline flies

In a world of cookie-cutter carriers, I appreciate that Breeze is trying to break that mold and provide cost-effective convenience to travelers who don’t live in major metropolitan areas. The airline operates a growing number of routes across the US, with a majority being secondary destinations like Tampa to Tulsa or Charleston to Hartford.

Breeze is also quite nimble and is fast to add or reduce service, based on demand and seasonality. While that is great for new destinations, the airline has tended to abandon routes rather quickly, which is something to keep in mind if you need a consistent carrier to take you from Point A to Point B.

In addition, unlike traditional airlines, Breeze doesn’t usually offer flights every single day of the week. With its point-to-point model, some routes may only operate on a once-weekly or twice-weekly basis. It’s important to check the schedule before assuming that Breeze flies to a certain place with regularity.

Types of aircraft

Initially, Breeze launched with only a fleet of small Embraer E190 and E195 aircraft. These regional planes are ideal for short- to medium-haul flights, and the airline still uses these planes on shorter routes where capacity and lower operating costs make them a good fit. However, in recent years, Breeze has added in the more modern Airbus A220, and will continue to ramp up service with this particular plane type.

The Airbus A220

The A220 is a game-changer for the airline, offering longer range and greater seating capacity while still being highly fuel-efficient. It’s also pretty customer-friendly too, with a 2-3 configuration in economy (which means no middle seats on one side of the plane). This plane also offers wider seats, larger windows, and a quieter cabin than other planes in its category, providing a more comfortable flying experience.

Fare classes

Here’s a brief look at the different fare classes for Breeze.

“Nicest” fare

Offered only on the Airbus A220, “Nicest” is Breeze’s most expensive fare class that includes seating at the front of the aircraft with a roomy 20.5-inch wide seat and a whopping 39 inches of legroom. Nicest fares also include two pieces of checked luggage, one personal item, and one carry-on. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the flight, and all snacks and drinks, including alcoholic beverages, are free. This is similar to a domestic first class you’d see on other airlines

“Nicer” and “Nice” fare classes

With the “Nice” fare, travelers get a standard seat assignment, one personal item, and one carry-on. There are no change or cancelation fees with this bundle, and if you need to change your travel plans, you will be given a full flight credit valid for two years. Meanwhile, “Nicer” fares gets you all of that plus a seat with extra legroom (up to 34 inches of leg space), a free checked bag, and priority check in and boarding privileges.

Basic economy (“No Flex Fare”)

Breeze’s cheapest fare is called the “No Flex Fare,” which essentially is like basic economy on other airlines. You’ll only get to bring a personal item and everything else is extra, from a seat assignment to a full-size carry-on and more. It’s the most cost effective ticket but comes with a variety of restrictions.

Ground experience

Here’s what you should know about the Breeze pre-flight experience at airports in the US.

Checked baggage policy

Like most other airlines, Breeze has several fare types and the baggage policy corresponds to each respective fare. “Nicer” and “Nicest” fares include checked baggage while those with all other fare bundles can pay for checked bags at an additional cost.

Other fees to consider

Seat reservations are available for a fee on No Flex Fares and Nice fares while priority boarding is only available if you purchase the Nicer or Nicest bundle. Soft drinks, bottled water, beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages cost money, except for Nicest fares. Water is free for everyone.

Onboard experience

Here's more of what you can expect when onboard a Breeze flight.

Amenities and features

Breeze travelers can expect the most comfortable experience on the Airbus A220. While the seats have no monitors, the A220 has WiFi available on board (free for the Nicer and Nicest bundles) to stream entertainment to your personal device. Every seat comes with charging ports and a stand for electronic devices. The other planes that Breeze operates, including the E-190 and E-195, do not offer WiFi.

Food and drink

Travelers in the Nicer and Nicest class get a complimentary snack and drink, while everyone else can buy something from the onboard menu. The menu includes candy, chips, and a snack box as well as several soft drinks, beer, hard liquor, and wine choices. Unfortunately, there isn’t an option for a full meal service, even for longer transcontinental flights. (However, that’s pretty normal for a low-cost airline.)

Service

The airline prides itself on friendly and efficient service, but this can be hit or miss based on the specific flight. Truth be told, this isn’t a luxury carrier so don’t have expectations set too high. At the end of the day, you are unlikely to find a cheaper price on the routes Breeze serves, and in many cases, the airline may be the only nonstop option for that route.

Airline partners, earning and redeeming miles

Breeze is an independent carrier and is not currently part of any major airline alliances such as SkyTeam, Star Alliance, or Oneworld. As the carrier expands, Breeze may pursue partnerships, particularly those outside the U.S. and ones that are looking for domestic airlines to connect international travelers to smaller cities.

However, the airline does have its own straightforward and flexible loyalty program, called BreezePoints. Passengers earn BreezePoints on every flight, with points awarded based on the fare class and the price of the ticket. They’re earned as a percentage of the ticket price, with higher fare classes earning more points.

To redeem BreezePoints, travelers can use them to cover the cost of base fares, taxes, and fees. There are no expiration dates and no elite tiers with the program. Finally, the airline also has a credit card: the Breeze Easy Visa Signature Credit Card from Barclays. This card likely only makes sense for diehard Breeze travelers, and even then, it’s a tough sell due its annual fee and the airline’s limited network.