- The only direct flight from Portland, Maine, to Pittsburgh I could find was with Breeze Airways.
- I was worried about flying with the low-cost airline because online reviews I read weren't great.
- My family of five had no issues with the airline, and I've added it to our list of go-to options.
As a family of five who travels a lot, I'm always looking for the best deal because air travel can get expensive very quickly.
When we planned a recent trip from Portland, Maine, to Pittsburgh over the holiday break, low-cost flights from Breeze Airways caught my eye.
They were also the only direct routes available, yet I was hesitant to book with the low-budget airline after reading negative online reviews that mentioned frustrations about delayed flights and hidden fees.
I was already skeptical about traveling with my kids during peak travel season, but, left with no other option that fit our budget, I decided to give Breeze Airways a try. I'm glad I did.
Tickets were cheaper but not cheap, and we packed light
Though our tickets with Breeze Airways weren't cheap — we paid $1,790 for the five tickets plus two carry-ons — they were significantly cheaper than those of other airlines.
Our options with other airlines had at least one stop (which I try to avoid when traveling with kids), and five tickets started at over $2,000.
I purchased our tickets in July and chose the cheapest seats, which also had the most restrictions — no checked luggage, no carry-ons, a fee to select certain seats, and only one personal item allowed per person.
Each carry-on costs us an extra $70 to fly with, so we only brought two — one for each adult.
All of us were allowed to bring a personal item for free, and for the kids, it was a small backpack filled with entertainment, such as stuffed animals and coloring books.
Because we were staying with family, I knew I could do laundry during our trip, which allowed us to travel with minimal luggage.
I chose seats in row 24, the first row where you didn't have to pay to choose your seat, and within the "family seating" section to ensure that we could sit together at no additional cost.
I was able to grab an entire row — two window seats, two aisles, and one middle. If I had wanted anything closer to the front, seats would've cost an extra $25 (or more) each.
We had no issues with our flight — and even landed early
When we arrived at the airport for our outbound flight, I panicked because Breeze Airways was not showing on any of the departure screens, and my app said our gate was "TBD."
Luckily, an airport employee helped guide us to a specific gate, where Breeze usually operates. There we found our flight, which was listed as being on time.
Boarding started soon after, and it was far more organized than other airlines I've flown with.
Though families with kids were welcomed to board first, we stuck with our group so the kids could get as many wiggles out as possible before having to be seated for the flight.
Luckily, we had no issues finding overhead space for our bags when boarding in group three.
Once on board, I was surprised at how new the plane felt. It had smooth leather seats, and the entire cabin appeared to be free from dings and dents.
Our seats were comfortable for a short flight, though they barely reclined at all. We still had small tray tables that came in handy for my kids to color and play on.
The legroom was fine for me as a 5-foot-6-inch adult, and I was able to fit everyone's backpacks comfortably on the floor by our feet.
Though there were no seatback screens for entertainment, I was prepared with sticker books and stuffed toys to keep our kids happy.
During both flights, we were only served cups of water, and the snack cart didn't come out because there was significant turbulence.
Since we were in the cheapest section, we would've had to purchase other drinks and any snacks. We weren't particularly bothered by this since our flights were only 1 hour and 20 minutes long.
We just packed snacks in the kids' backpacks and grabbed food at the airport before boarding, so everyone would be content.
I've grown accustomed to flight delays in recent years, but both of our flights landed a little ahead of time, which was a pleasant surprise.
I'm adding Breeze Airways to our options when flying from Maine
My family has flown with low-cost carriers before, trying both Frontier Airlines and Spirit.
I've had good experiences with Frontier, though its flights often depart at odd hours from our closest airport. Looking back, taking a 5 a.m. flight to Miami with kids was not the best choice.
On one Spirit flight to Mexico, my husband and I experienced several delays and almost missed our connection, barely making it to the plane on time.
Though I can't say with certainty that Breeze Airways is the best of the three, our one experience was significantly better than previous ones with budget airlines.
The company only flies from our local airport to about a dozen cities in the US, but I'm happy to consider Breeze Airways for future family travel.
The low-cost airline will be especially helpful during the holiday season, when we're bound to see our extended family in Pittsburgh.
