Allegiant Air from Lehigh Valley

[cindy17]

Has anyone recently used Allegiant Air from Lehigh Valley to Orlando/Sanford? How was it? We would normally would fly from Newark to Orlando, but we have a special needs son and both of those airports are just so nutty lately. Thought maybe these 2 airports are a little less hectic. Any thoughts out there about Allegiant or these 2 airports? Thanks!

 

[karliebug]

I have done this before. be aware that the sanford airport is about 45 to 60 minutes away from WDW. You have to rent a car or pay for transport to WDW, renting a car would probably be your best option. the pros are leaving and arriving at a smaller, more user friendly airport and a direct flight closer from where you live. the cons are that there is typically only one flight per day so that if it is cancelled for some reason you are out of luck and you can't use magical express.

 

[Edd]

Sanford is a small airport and much easier to navigate than Orlando. The distance from plane to ground transportation in Sanford is approximately 300 feet and one escalator or elevator. In Orlando 2000 - 3000 feet. I have also been told by one family of 6 they saved over $1000.00 on their flight to Sanford.

The airline is a very dependable airline. It makes it schedules as well a any airline arriving in Orlando. Allegiant was chartered as an commercial passenger airline 3 years before Jet Blue and has chose to operate direct flights into cheaper airports to survive. They along with SW were were reported to be the only airlines to make a profit last year.

Ground transportation in Sanford is rental cars, taxi and car service. Disney Magical Express does not operate out of the Sanford Airport, as it is exclusive only to the Orlando International airport. Taxi prices are expensive. One way to Disney runs $125.00 so schedule ground transportation prior to arriving Sanford. Car service, round trip transportation, runs from $160.00 to $220.00.

The airport lists the car service companies that are permitted at the airport. Choosing car service not permitted there could cost you more. Rental car runs you about the same, probably more, as car service and many let the car sit at Disney until you are headed back to the airport.

 

[theterms]

Did you know AirTran now flies out of Allentown non-stop to Orlando (MCO)? We've flown Allegiant before and it just seems to take forever to get from Sanford to Universal or Disney.

Also, if you search Kayak.com for the flights and go to the AirTran site from there, you pay no seat fees! That saves $12 per person! You didn't say when you're planning to go, but even if AirTran is a little more, you have to figure in the seat fee savings (I think Allegiant charges for that as well), the cost to get to WDW from Sanford, whereas you can use ME from Orlando.

I live in Warren Co., are you nearby?

 

[rotlex]

When we fly from the Lehigh Valley to Disney, we always use Alligiant. Good, friendly, cheap service.

As far as flying into Sanford, we actually prefer it. No, you don't get to use the ME, but the airport is nice and small, easy to navigate, much like ABE\Lehigh Valley, and frankly, it makes it worth the extra few dollars to get a ride to Disney, or rent a car.

My only complaint is sometime late last year, they changed their flight times. They used to leave Allentown at like 7am, now it seems it is much later, and also, an earlier return from Sanford. Kind of cuts your first and last days short. (It's actually one of the reasons, along with some others, that we drove for the first time this year).

Other than that, we have zero complaints with Allegiant.

 

[cindy17]

Thank you so much for your quick replies!

You were all very helpful. We are just researching options for the trip and do not have specific dates in mind yet. Possibly fall. My son cannot tolerate the Florida heat very well !

Thanks again!

 

[LisaRN97]

I live in Warren Co., are you nearby?

We live in Warren Co. too! Sept. will be the first time we fly out of ABE, we have always gone to Newark or JFK (when we fly international). Happy that they added the AirTran with direct flights to MCO....