At a time when most airlines, budget or otherwise, are determined to make you pay through the nose for any piece of luggage you want to bring with you on a flight, Avelo Airlines, is going against the grain. Since May 25, 2024, Avelo, a US-based budget airline, lets adult passengers departing from Sonoma County Airport (STS) fly with one case of wine for free. As of September 16, 2024, however, the airline will be expanding its Wine Travel Free program to and from all its routes in the Western US.
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This US Budget Airline Lets You Fly With One Case of Wine for Free
Somona being in the heart of California Wine Country, the airline’s move was a smart one. Anyone visiting the Somona Valley and its wineries would be thrilled to be able to bring back some liquid souvenirs at no extra charge.
But with the expansion of the program, Avelo Airlines is now allowing all adults flying to and from any of its 14 destinations in the Western US to travel with one case of wine for free. The destinations include:
- Bay Area / Sonoma, CA
- Bend / Redmond, OR
- Boise, ID
- Eugene, OR
- Eureka / Arcata, CA
- Kalispell, MT
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles / Burbank, CA
- Medford / Rogue Valley, OR
- Ontario, CA
- Palm Springs, CA
- Pasco Tri-Cities, WA
- Portland / Salem, OR
- Salt Lake City, UT
Many of the destinations serviced by Avelo in the Western US have a wine focus, including Boise, Idaho, and its thriving wine scene; Eugene, Oregon, located south of the Willamette Valley and its 600-plus wineries; and Pasco Ti-Cities, just east of the Walla Walla Valley and its 120 wineries and 2,800 acres of vineyards.
As the holidays approach, Avelo Wine Travel Free program is an opportunity for travelers to bring wine to the Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year table, without having to worry about the extravagant fees that would normally incur. And, of course, local wine makes for a great gift, for the holidays or any other occasions.
Avelo Airlines’ Wine Travel Free program is only available to travelers over the age of 21 and is limited to one case of 12 bottles of wine per person. The case must not exceed 50 lbs and the bottles must be packaged carefully according to the instructions featured on the airline’s website. Avelo does not takes responsibility for any damage that might occur to your wine so make sure you don’t cheap out on the bubble wrap. You can also consult Matador Network‘s guide to prevent bottles from breaking during your travels to be extra safe.
Note that the free checked case of wine cannot be added to your booking online, you must visit the ticket counter at the airport. If you have already paid the checked luggage fee to bring a case of wine with you, you can get a credit from the airline. 