Salt Lake City travelers will soon be able to bring their “flights” back with them after a visit to California’s Sonoma County — their wine flights, that is.
Starting on Oct. 24, Avelo Airlines will offer nonstop flights from Salt Lake City to California’s wine country twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays. And if travelers check a bag, they can check a case of wine with no extra fees.
“Now, wine lovers throughout the western U.S. — from the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma to wineries in Oregon, Washington and beyond — can take advantage of our program,” Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy said in a news release. “We’re making it easier than ever to share your love for wine with family and friends or to simply bring a taste of your favorite Avelo West Coast destination home.”
Each passenger ages 21 or older can transport a case of wine as part of their checked bag allowance, according to a release from the airline. Cases are defined as a single box or case containing up to 12 wine bottles or less, weighing a maximum of 50 pounds.
Utah liquor laws allow travelers to bring a maximum of 9 liters of liquor purchased from outside the state, which is about the equivalent of a case of wine.
To qualify for the airline’s “Wine Travels Free” program, passengers must adhere to packaging guidelines — including a protective case for the bottles and suitable packing materials like Styrofoam or bubble wrap. Passengers must also present their case of wine to an Avelo employee at the airport ticket counter.
Avelo flights will take off at Salt Lake City International Airport starting Oct. 24. The Houston-based carrier, launched in April 2021, says it has flown more than 5 million passengers on 40,000 flights across 54 destinations.