US ultra low cost carrier Breeze Airways, which was founded by David Neeleman (also the founder of JetBlue), is celebrating its second anniversary. The airline has just announced that it’s rebranding its first class seating option, though there aren’t many implications beyond a new name.
In this post:
The basics of Breeze Airways first class seating
Breeze Airways is an ultra low cost carrier that primarily operates point-to-point routes that aren’t served by other airlines. The carrier’s business model is based around taking advantage of the amazing economics of the Airbus A220-300, given the plane’s great fuel economy, range, and capacity.
Breeze has a different configuration than most other ultra low cost carriers. Specifically, Breeze has a large cabin of first class seats at the front of the plane, where seats feature 39″ of pitch and 20.5″ of width, and are in a 2-2 configuration. The seats also feature footrests, and in-seat AC and USB-C power outlets.
Those seated in the cabin also receive complimentary snacks and drinks (including alcohol), but don’t receive proper meals.
So this isn’t quite as elevated of an experience as you might otherwise get in first class, but it’s an exceptional value, given that these seats often cost a fraction of what you’d pay with other airlines. These seats are either included if you purchase the “Nicest” bundle, or can be purchased a la carte when buying a “Nice” or “Nicer” fare.
The size of the cabin varies, with some A220s having 36 first class seats, while other planes have 12 first class seats. One of the reasons that Breeze has gone all-in on the first class concept is because the opportunity cost of this cabin is lower on the A220 than other mainline jets.
That’s because you’re losing just one seat per row (due to economy being in a 2-3 configuration), rather than losing two seats per row (since A320s and 737s have a 3-3 configuration in economy).
Breeze first class seating rebranded as Breeze Ascent
Historically Breeze Airways has simply marketed its forward cabin as first class seating. That will be changing. Breeze has announced that it’s rebranding these seats as “Breeze Ascent.”
Here’s how Breeze President Tom Doxey describes the rebranding:
“Our logo features a checkmark known as the ‘ascent’ and is a depiction of a plane ascending into the sky, so it made sense for us to name our most elevated onboard experience ‘Breeze Ascent.’ We are creating a new standard for what it means to ‘fly up front’ with comfortable, premium seating and complimentary snacks and beverages at an affordable price.”
I think this change is pretty sensible. It was always a bit odd how the airline referred to this as “first class seating,” and not “first class” or any other branded name. That made it almost sound like Spirit’s “Big Front Seat,” where you don’t get anything extra included. I think this new branding makes a lot of sense.
Below you can see a video that has been published about the Breeze Ascent cabin.
Bottom line
Breeze Airways’ forward cabin on the Airbus A220 is now known as Breeze Ascent. Previously it was simply known as first class seating. It seems logical that the airline would try to brand this cabin in some way, and I like the new name. Breeze Ascent represents a great value, and I’d really like to try this product soon. Breeze just doesn’t fly in many markets I need to travel to.
What do you make of the Breeze Ascent branding?
I usually pay thousands for Delta First Class when I fly, and it's all about the space, and open bar! We were gate delayed at LAX recently with a wing light problem, that took 1.5 hrs. To fix. My first class ticket was worth it, as the Jack Daniel's kept flowing, and those poor suckers in Coach, got NOTHING!
Complete waste of money rebranding. How about give the money you spent on that to the employees who work on your airlines. Or use it on advertising your airline on fb or Instagram. No one I talk to has ever heard of you. I do enjoy your flights. Wonderful employees.
It bothers my in the commercial when they say ,” locally sourced.” You are an airline. Where is local? And when you fly it across the country, it is no longer local.
Consistency and reliability in delivery of the product, service etc is essential for success. This is far from what Breeze has done in its first two years, very disappointing. They need to become reliable and consistent quickly or they will fail. Offering P2P service in mid size markets which now require changes at a big 3 hub will work if it is reliable. Currently, I'm reluctant to try Breeze because of the inconsistency in the delivery of reliable service.
I find it ridiculous how much the term "ultra low cost carrier" is slathered lately onto every airline in the USA other than the big three. Some writers even use it for JetBlue! It is an inappropriate use of the term. Perhaps you could rightly call Breeze "low cost", but please get the word "ultra" out of there! It should be obvious that any airline selling a "first class" cabin can't possibly be "ultra low...
I find it ridiculous how much the term "ultra low cost carrier" is slathered lately onto every airline in the USA other than the big three. Some writers even use it for JetBlue! It is an inappropriate use of the term. Perhaps you could rightly call Breeze "low cost", but please get the word "ultra" out of there! It should be obvious that any airline selling a "first class" cabin can't possibly be "ultra low cost". The only airlines in the USA which should be called "ultra low cost" are Spirit and Frontier, and probably Allegiant.
As a private company, no financials issued by Breeze. I wonder if it’s making money yet?
That'd be the shock of all shocks, seeing as they've dropped nearly half the routes they've ever launched, completely dropped multiple markets, changed their route strategy twice (p2p from focus cities, to p2p independent of base, to 1stop "breeze-thru" operations), and have major difficulty establishing brand awareness due to the combination of zero consistency (they've added and dropped entire route systems in less than 30days) and utter lack of traditional advertising.
No freakin' way they're...
That'd be the shock of all shocks, seeing as they've dropped nearly half the routes they've ever launched, completely dropped multiple markets, changed their route strategy twice (p2p from focus cities, to p2p independent of base, to 1stop "breeze-thru" operations), and have major difficulty establishing brand awareness due to the combination of zero consistency (they've added and dropped entire route systems in less than 30days) and utter lack of traditional advertising.
No freakin' way they're making money IMO, but they're also by far the best-financed startup in N.American history. So they have that going for them.
True, lots of cash at startup. However, the Board of Directors will grow impatient with each passing quarter.
Would not take it until the introduction of Breeze Aspire.
Hey Ben not sure if you saw but UA had a big deval of transatlantic partner awards, for example Swiss JFK-ZRH on 3/12/24 is 97.1k UA miles, vs still 60k with AC.
Thanks for the heads up Alan.
Lost without you.
The included food and beverages with Nicest fare vary based on length of flight. I have gotten as little as a water and a Kind bar. To a snack and an alcoholic beverage. Unlike other first class products, the food and drinks are not unlimited. You get 1 after that you pay.
I have flown the Breeze "Nicest" seats/fare twice. Not a great impression... absolutely filthy cabin and seats (so many crumbs and pieces of wrappers and stuff down in all the storage areas I refused to use them). Did get the free snack... though the first three items I asked for, they were out of them. I don't drink but the person across the aisle found his preference of alcohol was out as well.
I wish we had something like this in Europe rather than just empty middle seats.
You have Ukraine, Putin, World War 2.
Don't be greedy, be happy with what you have.
Either your seat map is wrong or there are multiple types, because I'm looking at the Ascent cabin from RDU-LAX and there are only 3 rows of "F" on the A220-300, not the 15 or whatever you're seeing on yours
Yes, it looks like there are 2 versions of A220; one with 36 and another with 12 F-seats.
There are different types. Only the first few A220s delivered had the seat map shown.
Maybe they were too ambitious with the 36 F layout. I'm also seeing fares for F-seats on the 36 F config planes are much cheaper than ones with 12 seats (naturally) for comparable transcontinental routes.