Breeze Airways a major upgrade from Elite Airways out of Vero Beach Municipal Airport

When my family considered spring break destinations, the northeast was not high on our list.

That is until Breeze Airways announced in late 2022 its plans to bring commercial flights back to Vero Beach Regional Airport.

Admittedly, we were hesitant in December to book Breeze for our March trip. The airline hadn’t yet touched down at the local city airport, and Elite Airways continued to cancel all flights since October.

Knowing the short time commercial airlines historically spend in Vero Beach, combined with the low introductory rates, we gave it a try.

We’re glad we did.

Poll: Where else would you like Breeze Airways to fly from Vero Beach?

Although we experienced the snowball effect of multiple delays when one thing goes wrong with a new airline and small airport, which exposed several issues I detailed in a separate column, the overall experience also showed us the potential of this market for years to come.

The anticipated perks met our expectations: 10-minute drive to the airport vs. 90 minutes to Orlando; ample, free parking; short walk to the terminal and quick check-in and baggage drop-off processes.

The plane was very nice and modern, too. All staff — from Transportation Security Administration and airport workers to the flight attendants and pilots — were amazing.

Booking process

Of the three cities Breeze services from Vero Beach, we booked Hartford, Connecticut, because of its proximity between New York City and Boston.

Like most airlines, Breeze’s online booking portal was easy to navigate. Breeze offers seats together for families, which we appreciated as we have twin 11-year-olds and a 4-year-old.

Breeze brags about being “built with a tech-first approach to booking, managing and flying” with “nearly all the tools you need” on the airline’s app, according to its website. Being tech-savvy, I appreciated that approach.

There were no hidden fees or charges, nor surprises when we booked. The process was straightforward.

We booked five round-trip tickets with three checked bags and carry-ons for a total of less than $1,000. Anyone who has looked at recent commercial flight ticket prices knows $200 for a direct, round-trip flight anywhere is very good.

Preparation

Getting ready for our Breeze flight from Vero Beach started like dozens of other trips, but without the worry of traffic delays to Orlando, airport parking woes and being shuttled to the terminal on time.

In fact, hours before our flight we saw a news alert that Orlando International Airport shut down its on-site parking after it reached full capacity amid record travel. My wife, Michelle, and I were relieved we booked Breeze.

We were notified via text of a 20-minute delay three hours before our flight, which allowed us to simply delay a bit longer before heading to the local airport. If we were in Orlando, we would have sat in the terminal.

Plane was jumbo upgrade

When we flew Elite Airways from Vero Beach more than seven years ago, I knew its aircraft were small. The one we flew was older and only had 50 seats. I remember it felt even tighter than expected — including the short cabin and compact seats.

Breeze’s quiet, 132-seat Airbus A220 dwarfed Elite’s rather loud aircraft. In an exaggeration, it was like upgrading from a puddle-jumper charter plane to the Bahamas to a large, cross-country commercial jumbo jet.

We walked out of the small terminal to the tarmac and climbed the boarding stairs to get on the plane. The aircraft was spacious and had plenty of overhead storage that closed into the ceiling.

The leather seats were comfortable and wide enough for an average adult. My only complaint was the headrest did not adjust high enough for anyone taller than about 5’10”. My shoulders — as well those of other taller passengers — hit the headrest throughout the flight.

Once seated, I spent several minutes figuring out what the small, eye-level tray was above the normal tray table on the seatback in front of me. My daughter, Kaley, 11, knew right away and grabbed my phone.

It is a stand to prop up a phone or tablet while watching media. Genius. All seats had USB chargers for portable devices, too.

Wifi was not offered on either flight we took, but Breeze’s website said some of its aircraft are equipped with internet access. I hope Breeze prioritizes this basic modern technology for all flights, especially for business travelers.

The flight

Aside from delays, both flights were uneventful.

Many passengers and people on social media complained of delays in the short two months Breeze has operated in Vero Beach. Breeze declined to release on-time percentages like large airlines do through the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, but said it canceled only 1.5% of flights here.

However, during a recent Vero Beach Aiport commission meeting, officials reported 90% of Breeze flights here have been within 20-30 minutes of schedule. They also said flights were 89% full — higher than expected.

If accurate, Breeze should proudly publicize these stats — not keep them quiet.

I was surprised to hear routine announcements automated, including the initial safety instructions and seatbelt warnings. Most airlines still have flight attendants make the same manual announcements over and over.

Automating these features just makes sense and is in line with Breeze’s tech-first mentality.

On the return flight, I enjoyed seeing from the sky the community in which I’ve lived for more than 18 years. As I looked over vast swaths of trees and fields — especially west of Interstate 95 — it reminded me how much undeveloped land Indian River County still has despite the exponential growth I’ve seen over the last two decades.

The lack of light pollution was noticeable, too.

Once on the ground in Vero Beach, our bags were unloaded outside in a secure area in front of C.J. Cannon’s restaurant.

The best parts of the experience were the short walk to our vehicle and the quick drive home following a long week of travel.

Adam L. Neal is the editor and news director of TCPalm.com and Treasure Coast Newspapers, including the Indian River Press Journal, St. Lucie News Tribune and Stuart News. Connect with him at @TCPalmAdamNeal on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Snapchat.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach airport sees upgrade with Breeze Airways from Elite Airways