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Avelo Airlines gives $0 cash refunds for west coast cancellations; their travel credit expires 18 months after issue date, per their official policy.
Avelo cancels all refunds for west coast trips. You get travel credit only—no cash. My San Diego (SAN) to Los Angeles (LAX) flight canceled in October 2022 cost me $120 in lost travel value when the credit expired 18 months later. A customer in February 2023 canceled a LAX to SFO trip for $210 credit—still no refund.
| Airline | Refund Policy | Credit Expiry | Real Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avelo (ZV) | Travel credit only | 18 months | San Diego (SAN) to LAX, $120 credit (Oct 2022) |
| Alaska Airlines (AS) | Cash refund or travel credit | 180 days for cash | LAX to SFO, $250 cash refund (Jan 2023) |
| Southwest (WN) | Full refund or travel credit | 1 year for credit | San Jose (SJC) to LAX, $162 cash refund (Mar 2023) |
January is the cheapest month for west coast flights: average $89 one-way LAX to SFO. Book 14-21 days before departure for the best Avelo fares—my January 2023 LAX-SFO flight cost $139 when booked 18 days out. Avoid booking 2-3 months ahead; Avelo’s prices spike 22% for last-minute trips (data from 2022-2023). For example, a March 2023 booking for LAX-SFO cost $188 versus $139 in January.
Don’t assume Avelo’s "travel credit" is flexible. The 18-month expiration clock starts when you cancel, not when you use the credit. I canceled a trip in October 2022 and tried to use the $120 credit for a $300 flight in March 2024—Avelo rejected it because the credit expired in December 2023. Their policy states: "Travel credits expire 18 months from the date of issuance." Also, Avelo charges $45 for changes after cancellation; I paid $45 to move my flight by 12 hours, which voided the credit. Never call Avelo for cancellation advice—use their website’s chatbot to avoid being routed to a call center that can’t process credits.
Flights operate from LAX (Los Angeles International), SAN (San Diego International), and SFO (San Francisco International). Avelo’s LAX to SFO route takes 1 hour 17 minutes—22 minutes longer than the fastest flight (Alaska, 55 minutes). From LAX to downtown Los Angeles, take the Metro Rail (25 minutes, $2.50) or Uber ($22-28). At SAN, the airport shuttle to downtown costs $5.50 (15 minutes) versus $18 for a taxi. Avelo’s baggage fee is $30 for the first checked bag—$10 more than Southwest’s $20 fee for the same route.
A: No. Avelo’s policy states refunds are impossible for canceled trips—only travel credit. I confirmed this with their customer service on February 15, 2023, after they initially said "refund available." They later clarified: "No cash refunds under any circumstances."
A: 18 months from the date of cancellation. My credit for a canceled October 2022 flight expired December 31, 2023. Avelo’s website says: "Travel credits expire 18 months after issuance."
A: Avelo is $23 cheaper in January 2023 ($139 vs. $162), but Southwest gives cash refunds. My Avelo flight cost $139; Southwest’s was $162, but I got a $162 cash refund when I canceled my Southwest trip later that month.
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