Houston-based low cost carrier Avelo Airlines is the latest to introduce premium seating options, following the industry trend. In reality, though, this is partly about changing the marketing surrounding existing products.
In this post:
Avelo Airlines introduces extra legroom & blocked seating
Avelo Airlines operates a fleet of just over 20 Boeing 737s, including 149-seat 737-700s, and 189-seat 737-800s. For flights as of September 3, 2025, Avelo is introducing two new seating products:
- Avelo will offer Stretch seating, featuring 32-36″ of pitch
- Avelo will offer Stretch+ seating, offering extra legroom, as well as an empty middle seat
These new products are already on sale for flights as of September. When you go to make a booking, you’ll see the option to select one of these premium seating options when you get to the seat map page. For what it’s worth, Avelo’s standard seats have a minimum pitch of 29″.
Here’s how Avelo Chief Commercial Officer Brian Davis describes this new seating option:
“Stretch and Stretch+ reflects our commitment to giving travelers more choice and comfort while staying true to what sets us apart: convenient, reliable, and affordable service. We know comfort matters and this new option offers a better experience for those who want it, without changing the value our Customers expect from us.”
In recent years, we’ve seen a huge increase in premium leisure demand, and Avelo is obviously trying to tap into that with this change. On a vast majority of flights, not every single seat is occupied, so the question becomes how airlines can generate additional revenue without carrying more travelers. Premium seating options are a great way to accomplish that.
While Avelo had surprisingly impressive financial results following launch, the industry has become even more difficult in recent times, especially with the current weakness in domestic demand. This has even caused Avelo to (controversially) get into the deportation flight business.
Avelo Airlines isn’t actually reconfiguring planes
Avelo Airlines has revealed that Stretch and Stretch+ seating will make up roughly one-third of the seat count throughout the fleet. What’s interesting is that Avelo isn’t actually reconfiguring any planes. These aircraft already have some extra legroom seats, but the airline just hasn’t marketed those premium seats very well. Meanwhile the concept of fully blocking middle seats is new.
It is interesting to see how the airline is adding these new products. On the 737-700, Stretch+ seating is in the first several rows on the left and at the exit rows on the left, while Stretch seating is in the first several rows on the right, and at the exit rows on the right.
On the 737-800, Stretch+ seating is in the first several rows on the right and at the exit rows on the left and right, while Stretch seating is in the first several rows on the left.
Bottom line
Avelo Airlines is introducing new premium seating options for flights as of September 2025. This includes Stretch seating, featuring an extra three to seven inches of legroom, and it also includes Stretch+ seating, featuring extra legroom and a blocked middle seat.
The airline is doing this without actually reconfiguring planes, as some seats already have extra legroom. The seat blocking is a new concept for the airline, though.
What do you make of Avelo introducing premium seating?
Will make those flights to a Salvadoran prison a little more comfortable.
$24, $26 flights to ... where? Surcharges for not using the rope to climb on-board?
https://www.npr.org/2025/04/30/g-s1-63572/avelo-airlines-deportation-flights-backlash
One more reason to love Avelo!
Nothing is changing on the seat count and the seats are not being moved. They're just bringing more awareness to the fact that all seats are not standard allowing people to make better options when choosing their seat. The blocked middle seat makes sense because there's plenty of people who would pay for it. Myself being one
@ DB -- Good catch, thank you! Updated the post to reflect that.