Breeze Airways - Is The Budget Airline Worth It?

Reliable or "Roll of the Dice?"

This past week, I found myself booking a trip I never wanted to take. After learning that my father had passed away, I needed to get from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Rhode Island as quickly as possible.

Photo courtesy of Breeze Airways

Normally, I would have flown Delta into Boston. As a Delta loyalist, it’s my default choice. But Boston still leaves you with another hour or more in the car before reaching Warwick (with traffic that can be horribly unpredictable). I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Breeze Airways offers a nonstop flight from Raleigh-Durham directly into Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick. (RDU - PVD).

As a child, I lived just one block from that airport. It was somewhat surreal landing at an airport so close to the house I once lived in (and staying at the Crowne Plaza Hotel not far away). That was a less than stellar experience.

The catch? I’ve never flown Breeze Airways.

A little research eased some of my concerns. Breeze was founded by David Neeleman, the entrepreneur behind JetBlue. The airline launched service in 2021 with a business model focused on connecting under-served city pairs with nonstop flights. Rather than funneling passengers through major hubs, Breeze has built its network around routes that often don’t exist on the larger airlines. The airline also operates one of the youngest fleets in the United States, centered around the Airbus A220,. This aircraft apparently is known to combine passenger comfort with fuel efficiency.

After considering the opportunity to fly on a reasonably priced nonstop flight into Warwick instead of connecting through another airport, I decided that it seemed worth rolling the dice.

Like most ultra-low-cost carriers, Breeze follows an à la carte pricing model. Your ticket gets you from Point A to Point B, and everything else is optional. Personal items are included, but I paid $35 each for our carry-on bags when booking. Checked bags were also $35 if purchased in advance, although those fees jump significantly if you wait until arriving at the airport. Wi-Fi is available on most aircraft, though it’s complimentary only for certain fare classes or loyalty members. Otherwise, it’s available for a small fee or by redeeming BreezePoints. Complimentary beverages are limited to water, coffee, and tea on equipped aircraft, while sodas and other drinks are available for purchase.

Our outbound flight came with an unexpected twist.

The previous evening’s Breeze flight had been delayed by weather, so the airline found itself juggling aircraft the following morning. Instead of boarding a standard Breeze-painted airplane, we boarded an all-white aircraft affectionately nicknamed “Caspar.” We were advised that this substitute aircraft didn’t have Wi-Fi or hot water, meaning complimentary beverages were limited to bottled water. While that might disappoint some travelers, it wasn’t a major issue for me. I probably wouldn’t have had coffee on the flight anyway.

The aircraft itself made a favorable impression. Everything looked clean and well maintained, and the seats were comfortable for the relatively short trip. One unexpected benefit of Breeze’s baggage policy was the abundance of overhead bin space. Because fewer passengers were traveling with large carry-on bags, finding room for luggage wasn’t the usual competitive sport it has become on many airlines.

The flight attendants also stood out. Throughout both flights, they consistently projected an upbeat, positive attitude that honestly reminded me of Chick-fil-A. Even when delivering bad news, they remained cheerful and approachable, something that’s becoming increasingly rare in commercial aviation. I almost expected them to say “have a blessed flight…”

Our return trip was a bit more eventful.

After everyone had boarded and the aircraft door was closed, we were informed of a mechanical issue that required us to deplane. We waited in the terminal while the crew evaluated the problem and received periodic updates from the captain. Unfortunately, many of those announcements were difficult to hear because they weren’t made over the public address system. After roughly two hours, we boarded...Caspar again.

Once again, there was no Wi-Fi or hot water, but beyond the delay the flight itself was uneventful. One humorous announcement from the flight attendants did stick with me. They made a point of mentioning that the lavatory featured a window, assuring us that it was “kind of a big deal.” I never ventured back to investigate, but it certainly got everyone’s attention.

Mechanical delays naturally give travelers pause, especially when trying a new airline. In fairness, though, every airline experiences weather disruptions and maintenance issues. In this case, Breeze delayed the flight to address a mechanical concern rather than pushing ahead, and while I certainly would have preferred an on-time departure, I’d much rather arrive late than question whether the aircraft should have been flying at all.

So, would I fly Breeze Airways again? Absolutely (if it means avoiding a layover).

The nonstop service between Raleigh and Warwick was convenient. Even with the delay, we arrived in a shorter total flight time than if we had traveled to Warwick with a layover. Avoiding connections also eliminates one of the biggest sources of travel headaches: missed connections, additional delays, and the uncertainty that comes with changing planes. Even with the weather-related equipment substitution on the outbound trip and the mechanical delay on the return, Breeze still got us where we needed to go safely and at a competitive price.

If you’re expecting the full-service experience of a legacy carrier, Breeze probably isn’t the right comparison. It’s a budget airline, and it embraces that identity. But if your priorities are an affordable fare, a comfortable aircraft, friendly employees, and, perhaps most importantly, a nonstop route that larger airlines don’t offer, Breeze makes a compelling case. In spite of the issues, my overall experience with Breeze was positive enough that (given the right circumstances) I would definitely fly them again.