Allegiant Air Anyone?

[DisneyJillian18]

Hi all,

Looking at flights for our upcoming September trip. We aren't "frequent flyers" by any means, so it's a little new to me.

I have been looking at rates on and off on sites like Expedia. I came across a deal today that seemed to be to good to pass up. Flights from New Orleans to Tamps for $59 a person on Allegiant Air(Haven't heard of them before, but since we don't fly often, this isn't surprising)! That was way cheaper than flights I had been looking at, so I decided to price out a trip to Orlando. Our dates are not available yet, so I picked a similar time frame and dates to when we're going(a guesstimate, you could say)

So here's the breakdown:

You can only fly out on a Thursday or Sunday for now, so I may have to tweak a little, but what's wrong with a few extra Disney days
All of the flights leave at 7:20 P.M. and arrive for 9:55 P.M.- (assuming no stops?) These are odd times, but maybe we could stay at a hotel close to Disney the first night? And officially start our vacation the next morning? Or a hotel by the airport(we don't want to rent a car) So I guess we couldn't really stay off grounds the first night with ME??
The return times doesn't matter to me as much, but they are all in the evening as well.
You can select your seats(I LOVE THIS) No worrying about getting to the gate toooo early to get a spot in line, you have a seat there for you. I have the option to choose a seat with extra leg room by an exit ramp. Is this a good option? I like the leg room idea(not that I need it, I'm 5'0, but still)
This is an extra $16.00 per person per way, not sure if it is worth it for the two of us.
Next up is bags, you can have one free personal item(purse, backpack)
Carry-On bags $30 each person
Checked bags $40 each person for the first bag.
I put us each a carry on and a checked bag, this may be too much, I would rather be safe than sorry when checking prices, then remove if we need to.
Priority Access-$10 per person, I feel this might not be completely necessary, with the seat selection. But I threw it in, just in case.
Trip Insurance- You can change your flights up to one hour before departure, with us going during hurricane season I feel it's a smart idea, so $27 per person.

Flights-$124.28
Taxes-$116.72
Trip Insurance-$54.00
Seat Selection-$64.00
Priority Access-$20.00
Carry On Bags-$60.00
Checked Bags-$80.00
For a total of-$519.00 for everything!

With all of this, this is still the cheapest air fare I've found!
So, help me out here, is it worth it? What are your thoughts?

Should I maybe still price out other airlines and compare with bags/insurance etc..?
Sorry this was ridiculously long!!!

 

[tinka-belle]

Be aware that Allegiant flies into Orlando Sanford Airport, NOT Orlando International Airport (MCO), it's about an hour away. ME does not pick up or drop off there, rental car is really the best transportation option as a shuttle can be pricey with that distance.

 

[DisneyJillian18]

Be aware that Allegiant flies into Orlando Sanford Airport, NOT Orlando International Airport (MCO), it's about an hour away. ME does not pick up or drop off there, rental car is really the best transportation option as a shuttle can be pricey with that distance.

Glad you mentioned that!

We really don't want to have to rent a car, I think by the time we did that, and a hotel stay for the night.

We might as well book a more expensive flight.

 

[tinka-belle]

Glad to help! Best to ask the ? now than to find out after you purchased the flights.

 

[Quellman]

Allegiant is a true budget carrier. As you priced out there could have been a lot of unexpected fees associated with the flight. The reason they only have a few flights a week is that they typically to Orlando one night, the next day they fly back from orlando. The risk you take is if there is a mechanical problem, it isn't like you can just hop on the next flight. They would either have to fly in a new plane for you, or they would have to put you on the next flight 2 days later. Also, @DisneyJillian18 has a good point about it not being to MCO. Still doable at the other airport, but not exactly the ease of magical express. Hope you find a good deal.

 

[AngiTN]

Allegiant has never been cheaper when we start to look at all the added costs.
Even considering we can fly out of right here in town instead of Atlanta.
We did try them back when we were going to FL but not Disney.
All in all it wasn't bad but I'll gladly pay a bit more for Southwest myself.
Most of the time, we pay way less on Southwest than we would Allegiant
$52 and $49 flights from ATL to MCO, no added costs for bags, seats, etc and we get ME

 

[DisneyJillian18]

Allegiant is a true budget carrier. As you priced out there could have been a lot of unexpected fees associated with the flight. The reason they only have a few flights a week is that they typically to Orlando one night, the next day they fly back from orlando. The risk you take is if there is a mechanical problem, it isn't like you can just hop on the next flight. They would either have to fly in a new plane for you, or they would have to put you on the next flight 2 days later. Also, @DisneyJillian18 has a good point about it not being to MCO. Still doable at the other airport, but not exactly the ease of magical express. Hope you find a good deal.

Thank you! I truly never even thought of that. I really think we will just go with a more popular carrier.

 

[ZellyB]

For us, Allegiant is often cheaper even with the add-ons, but we live in a relatively small market, so flights on the big carriers for us are often really expensive. We've always had good luck with Allegiant though and we like the non-stop option (something that isn't even an option from most other carriers for us). I think everyone else has already mentioned all the caveats you need to consider (add-on costs and Sanford vs MCO) and so this time might not be a good choice for you, but we've always been pleased when choosing Allegiant for ourselves as long as you know exactly what you are getting and the true cost.

 

[DisneyJillian18]

Allegiant has never been cheaper when we start to look at all the added costs.
Even considering we can fly out of right here in town instead of Atlanta.
We did try them back when we were going to FL but not Disney.
All in all it wasn't bad but I'll gladly pay a bit more for Southwest myself.
Most of the time, we pay way less on Southwest than we would Allegiant
$52 and $49 flights from ATL to MCO, no added costs for bags, seats, etc and we get ME

My flights for Southwest are up to $316 one way.
How are you getting such cheap flights with Southwest?
Am I suppose to book early for flights are later?

 

[DisneyJillian18]

For us, Allegiant is often cheaper even with the add-ons, but we live in a relatively small market, so flights on the big carriers for us are often really expensive. We've always had good luck with Allegiant though and we like the non-stop option (something that isn't even an option from most other carriers for us). I think everyone else has already mentioned all the caveats you need to consider (add-on costs and Sanford vs MCO) and so this time might not be a good choice for you, but we've always been pleased when choosing Allegiant for ourselves as long as you know exactly what you are getting and the true cost.

That is the one thing that really stuck out to me with Allegiant. We have no other options for Non stop!

 

[AngiTN]

My flights for Southwest are up to $316 one way.
How are you getting such cheap flights with Southwest?
Am I suppose to book early for flights are later?

Well, I'm pricing flights out of Atlanta so I'm sure that has a lot to do with it.
Southwest flights change all the time, often several times a day.
We are in the unique position that we can drive or fly, almost equal in time, door to door, all things considered.
So I plan a Disney trip and then start stalking the Southwest site and watch for flights to be a price I like. '
If they never are, we drive. I prefer to fly because it avoids being the car for the entire time but we can and have done it. Flying saves us about 1 hour or so, not much.

 

[AngiTN]

For us, Allegiant is often cheaper even with the add-ons, but we live in a relatively small market, so flights on the big carriers for us are often really expensive. We've always had good luck with Allegiant though and we like the non-stop option (something that isn't even an option from most other carriers for us). I think everyone else has already mentioned all the caveats you need to consider (add-on costs and Sanford vs MCO) and so this time might not be a good choice for you, but we've always been pleased when choosing Allegiant for ourselves as long as you know exactly what you are getting and the true cost.

Oh, if we were to fly out of the town we live in it would be the same. No one else is direct from here.
But I'm wiling to drive 2 hours to Atlanta to avoid them. Even counting in that, we fly cheaper on Southwest than Allegiant here.
Plus, ME is a HUGE factor for me. That and the only flight back to here is at 6:00 AM
Who wants to leave Disney at 6 AM

 

[DisneyJillian18]

Well, I'm pricing flights out of Atlanta so I'm sure that has a lot to do with it.
Southwest flights change all the time, often several times a day.
We are in the unique position that we can drive or fly, almost equal in time, door to door, all things considered.
So I plan a Disney trip and then start stalking the Southwest site and watch for flights to be a price I like. '
If they never are, we drive. I prefer to fly because it avoids being the car for the entire time but we can and have done it. Flying saves us about 1 hour or so, not much.

We aren't a far drive, about 12 hours total with stops. We've done it many times, but normally we do a trip with my parents, and this trip is just my boyfriend and I. We're a little nervous to drive just us, and flying seems faster, not sure if it will be. I'll have to watch the flight prices.

 

[AngiTN]

We aren't a far drive, about 12 hours total with stops. We've done it many times, but normally we do a trip with my parents, and this trip is just my boyfriend and I. We're a little nervous to drive just us, and flying seems faster, not sure if it will be. I'll have to watch the flight prices.

The only reason it's almost a wash for us is the time it takes to check in at the airport and the time it takes to ride ME
It's about 8.5 hours our door to Disney's door (without stopping, so hard to do but we can do just drive thru meals)
Flying from Atlanta is
2 hour drive
2 hour at airport
1.5 hour flight
2 hour to Disney (roughly)
so that's 7.5 hours door to door.

 

[DisneyJillian18]

The only reason it's almost a wash for us is the time it takes to check in at the airport and the time it takes to ride ME
It's about 8.5 hours our door to Disney's door (without stopping, so hard to do but we can do just drive thru meals)
Flying from Atlanta is
2 hour drive
2 hour at airport
1.5 hour flight
2 hour to Disney (roughly)
so that's 7.5 hours door to door.

Yeah I could see just driving by the time all of that takes place.
We're about 45 minutes from New Orleans
I assume 2 hours at the airport, that's what I would plan for anyway.
Total travel time for flight depends, with the layover at Atlanta.
Then flight time to Disney.
Guess it's about the same as yours!
And they say it's faster

 

[Belle0101]

One other thing about Allegiant, at least this was my experience in December, they do not serve a complimentary snack or beverage. You are welcome to bring on snacks and beverages though.

 

[KrazeeK120]

For us, Allegiant is often cheaper even with the add-ons, but we live in a relatively small market, so flights on the big carriers for us are often really expensive. We've always had good luck with Allegiant though and we like the non-stop option (something that isn't even an option from most other carriers for us). I think everyone else has already mentioned all the caveats you need to consider (add-on costs and Sanford vs MCO) and so this time might not be a good choice for you, but we've always been pleased when choosing Allegiant for ourselves as long as you know exactly what you are getting and the true cost.

Same for me. I have no other way to get to Orlando non-stop from my local airport. I would otherwise have to connect at O'Hare or Heartsfield-Jackson. It's definitely the fastest and least expensive way for me to get to Disney, even factoring in a rental car and a longer drive. I've flown to Orlando twice on Allegiant from my local regional airport, and to Las Vegas from the regional airport 40 miles away. We were delayed about an hour and a half taking off from Vegas, but that's the worst that's happened. All of the other flights have been on time. It's a budget carrier, but as long as you know what to expect, your expectations should be met.