Allegiant Air out of Allentown, PA

[spima3]

I don't like to fly, BUT, with the kids in school in Sept, I am seriously considering flying to WDW.

DH isn't going and doesn't want to drive to Philly, so Allentown is our best bet. I see they have AirTran and Allegiant to FL.

Can anyone offer advice regarding these airlines?

A friend "booked" us a flight in Sept, and it came to about $1100 for the 4 of us, including a rental car. Is this a good deal? The price before "confirming" doesn't have any other hidden fees to it, does it?
Airtran had horrible times, and I think the return flight was quite high.


My friend said her father flies this airline all the time and never has any problems. Since I wlll be alone w/ 3 kids, none of whom have ever flown (I've only flown twice), I don't want any hassles or surprises.

Our other option is the auto train, which we enjoyed, but more of a time factor with that. Price is cheaper, but requires some driving. It is still a consideration.

TIA, lori

 

[TinaElmerRh]

I don't like to fly, BUT, with the kids in school in Sept, I am seriously considering flying to WDW.

DH isn't going and doesn't want to drive to Philly, so Allentown is our best bet. I see they have AirTran and Allegiant to FL.

Can anyone offer advice regarding these airlines?

A friend "booked" us a flight in Sept, and it came to about $1100 for the 4 of us, including a rental car. Is this a good deal? The price before "confirming" doesn't have any other hidden fees to it, does it?
Airtran had horrible times, and I think the return flight was quite high.


My friend said her father flies this airline all the time and never has any problems. Since I wlll be alone w/ 3 kids, none of whom have ever flown (I've only flown twice), I don't want any hassles or surprises.

Our other option is the auto train, which we enjoyed, but more of a time factor with that. Price is cheaper, but requires some driving. It is still a consideration.

TIA, lori

You may be able to find some information in this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2433593

 

[stncldlager]

We flew Allegiant out of Allentown last May. No problems going down, but we had an hour delay on the way home since the plane was late coming in from out west somewhere. For the rates and non stop service, you really can't go wrong. For us, we bought a motorhome, so flying is kind of a thing of the past now. We are heading to the Fort in December.Boscov's offer non stop from AVP, but your going to pay $$ plenty more. Make the drive to allentown, well worth it.

 

[DISaholic's]

We flew Allegiant out of Allentown back in 2006 and had no problems. Esp. liked the direct flight. The pilot was great, came on the intercom and was joking with everyone.

For our trip in June we are flying Airtran out of the Allentown. I got tickets for $175 each, but I booked in February. Airtrain tkts tend to go up the longer you wait to book. We flew Airtran from Buffalo last year and had no problems either.

One big thing to note is the Allegiant has many many hidden fees. Fee to choose your seat, fee for priority boarding, fee for bags, etc. These all come AFTER you do the estimate. That isn't saying I wouldn't fly with them again, just be prepared.

Both Airtran and Allegiant tend to have much cheaper flights than the major airlines and they both offer direct flights from Allentown to Orlando.

If I can find a direct flight to Orlando from Allentown for under $200 a person (all fees included) I think that it's worth booking.

 

[TaraPA]

How much is the rental car portion of that $1100? Allegiant often has $19.99 and $39.99 one-way fares to Orlando from ABE...so I think your price quote of $1100 sounds high, unless it's the rental car portion adding it up. I flew Allegiant in February from ABE (alone with kids like you)- only paid $19.99 for the tickets and I got what I paid for. Service was lousy but I'd fly them again for $19.99! We've also flown Airtran from ABE - better service but they rarely go below $59 one-way. Both airlines have extremely limited service - one flight per day, and only 4-5 days a week.


There are many hidden fees on Allegiant & Airtran. With Allegiant you have to be sure to DE-select the fees when booking, it's tricky if you're not familiar with it. Unless you want to pay extra for the seat assignments, priority boarding, etc. You also pay a $15 convenience fee per ticket for booking anywhere but at the airport. I hate the fees, but AT & AL are the onyl non-stops from ABE to MCO. The major carriers are almost always over $200 round trip, with a stop.

 

[spima3]

There are many hidden fees on Allegiant & Airtran. With Allegiant you have to be sure to DE-select the fees when booking, it's tricky if you're not familiar with it. Unless you want to pay extra for the seat assignments, priority boarding, etc. You also pay a $15 convenience fee per ticket for booking anywhere but at the airport. I hate the fees, but AT & AL are the onyl non-stops from ABE to MCO. The major carriers are almost always over $200 round trip, with a stop.

Well, I re-did Airtran myself and come up with:

Departing (Coach)
Airfare / passenger 57.67
Taxes / passenger (details) $15.03
Subtotal / passenger $72.70
x 4 passenger(s) $290.80


Returning (Coach)
Airfare / passenger 82.79
Taxes / passenger (details) $16.91
Subtotal / passenger $99.70
x 4 passenger(s) $398.80


Departing (Coach)
V Fare Class
Coach Class Fare
Non-refundable
Changes may be made for a fee of $75 per person plus any applicable increase in fare.
Advance seat assignment is available for a small fee, or you may select your seats upon check-in at no cost.
Reservations may be obtained or changed through an AirTran Airways Telephone Reservations Center for an additional $15.00 per person
Additional baggage fees may apply.

So, besides the costs above, I am also looking at:

1. baggage fees if $15 for 1st checked. (4 bags = $60)
2. $15.00 fee/person for booking on line??? (4 seats + $60)
3. Fee for seat assignment? With the kids I would do this, avg cost?

So add minimum of $120 to above to both departure and return?
This brings me to at least $929.60 before rental car. Compared to Allegiant it is probably a little more expensive

Not having flown much, I just don't understand where everyone always says how much cheaper it is to fly? The times aren't really convenient either. We won't be gaining any more time by flying than we would have taking the train. Plus I don't have the hassle of picking up a rental car. Would going to Philly be cheaper or better flight times? DH hates the Philly airport though, so.......

 

[helenk]

Air Tran does not charge $15 per person for booking on line.
Do you really need a checked bag per person?? I never do when I travel with family. I've gone with 2 children and put both of their clothes in one bag with no problem. Can you fit your items and the smaller childs items in your bag and the other 2 children's clothes in another bag?
The fee to chose your seats can be as low as $6 per person if you do not want to be in Zone 1, so for the round trip the cost for 4 of you would be $48

 

[TaraPA]

The $15 per person online booking "conveniece fee" is on Allegiant only, not Airtran. I should have been more specific earlier. You can go to the airport & book with AL to avoid the fee - but they are only there to book for you when a flight is arriving or departing - and there's no guarantee that the fare you see online will be the same when you get there. I sucked it up & paid the extra $45 for the 3 of us to book it online.

I also agree on bags - no need to check that many bags unless you have a long stay, or other circumstances. When I travel we do ONLY carry-ons - never check a bag. You can each take a roll-behind carry-on bag plus a personal item - we each had a small roll-behind and the boys each had a backpack, I had a tote. We easily fit in everything we needed for 6 days.

Another trick with both AT & AL is fare watching. Both airlines, especially AL change their fares more than I change my underwear! There were days that I was watching certain dates & AL changed the fare 3 times in 24 hours. It can make you insane. But that's how I found the $19.99 fares. They had been around $69.99 for my dates & I checked 3-4 times a day - then snagged them when they were at their lowest.

 

[TaraPA]

I forgot you asked about flying from Philly - the group I travel with flies from Philly & AT does have more flights per day (they fly 7 days a week from Philly too) but the fare has never been cheaper (for us). In fact, for our next trip they're driving up to ABE to leave, fare was $59 one-way, from Philly was $89 one way. Living 20 min. from ABE makes it just too convenient - even if the fare was more I'd leave from ABE rather than driving 75-90 min. to PHL.

I agree though, the limited days/times for AT & AL from ABE stink sometimes!

 

[leeseem]

Hi TaraPA-
I know we've both been checking Allegiant out of Allentown for a little while now. I am still waiting for cheaper fares for August....I get nervous that they haven't gone down, but I'm trying to be brave and wait it out. I saw how low the fares went for the end of May and they were high at one time. Are you still waiting it out?

 

[TaraPA]

Hi leeseem! I'm watching Allegiant for October - the flights are out but the time just doesn't work for me. I already have my $59 flight down to MCO booked on Airtran - but AT doens't fly back to ABE on a Thursday, so if I want to go non-stop I have to choose Allegiant. BUT they leave MCO at 8am - and I refuse to get up & get on ME at 5am! So I'm leaning towards a flight on USAir with a connection for $131 one-way. UGH! But I could stay in WDW until noon, rather than leaving at 5am. I know, nuts to spend $50+ more AND have a layover just to get 7 more hours in WDW...but I'm just about that crazy!


I really think the flights for August will start moving in a few weeks, but that's just based on my own experience watching them daily (ok, several times a day) in January & February.

 

[leeseem]

Hi leeseem! I'm watching Allegiant for October - the flights are out but the time just doesn't work for me. I already have my $59 flight down to MCO booked on Airtran - but AT doens't fly back to ABE on a Thursday, so if I want to go non-stop I have to choose Allegiant. BUT they leave MCO at 8am - and I refuse to get up & get on ME at 5am! So I'm leaning towards a flight on USAir with a connection for $131 one-way. UGH! But I could stay in WDW until noon, rather than leaving at 5am. I know, nuts to spend $50+ more AND have a layover just to get 7 more hours in WDW...but I'm just about that crazy!


I really think the flights for August will start moving in a few weeks, but that's just based on my own experience watching them daily (ok, several times a day) in January & February.

7 hours in WDW is 7 hrs, I would do the same! The day we leave you can be sure that I will be running over to EPCOT as soon as I wake up, whether the rest of the family agrees or not! Well, hope we get the flights we need!

 

[TaraPA]

Sitting her it seems silly, but on that last day in WDW time will be PRICELESS! I've already not taken ME back to MCO just to gain an extra 90 min. in the parks - to the tune of a $65 taxi ride! And taken the risk of not getting to the airport in time. I only travel with a carry-on so I took it with me to MK & stashed it in a locker - then grabbed a cab at the 11th hour! I'm nuts I tell ya when I get to WDW! There's something in the air that last day that just says "stay Tara, you must stay!"

 

[spima3]

Lot of good information, lots I didn't know.

Still don't know which way to go, I hate that! But I need to decide soon or I'm going to make myself nuts.

Maybe it would be easier if it wasn't so expensive to fly, plus the times aren't the greatest. Does everyone fly because of money? or convenience?

 

[loveysbydesign]

Don't forget to check prices out of Newark too...we much prefer to drive to Newark than Philly if we can't find the flights we want out of LVIA/ABE

 

[TaraPA]

We fly for convenience. It could cost $1000 more to fly & we'd still do it, no WAY am I driving with my kids for almost 24 hours.....plus the time...you can be door to door home to WDW in a few hours flying direct.

 

[helenk]

Hi leeseem! I'm watching Allegiant for October - the flights are out but the time just doesn't work for me. I already have my $59 flight down to MCO booked on Airtran - but AT doens't fly back to ABE on a Thursday, so if I want to go non-stop I have to choose Allegiant. BUT they leave MCO at 8am - and I refuse to get up & get on ME at 5am! So I'm leaning towards a flight on USAir with a connection for $131 one-way. UGH! But I could stay in WDW until noon, rather than leaving at 5am. I know, nuts to spend $50+ more AND have a layover just to get 7 more hours in WDW...but I'm just about that crazy!


I really think the flights for August will start moving in a few weeks, but that's just based on my own experience watching them daily (ok, several times a day) in January & February.

For the cost difference of coming back on Thursday with USAir and coming back on a Friday with Airtran you could book a night at a value resort and stay an extra night. When I go in September I arrive on Sunday and wanted to come back on Thursday, but no flights. So figured what the heck it's an extra day in WDW. I'm staying at the BVC with points, and had enough for the extra night so I went with it.

 

[1Prince3Princesses]

I watch airfare from ABE on Allegiant & Airtran too. I have to tell you something that I just found out that might really help you with avoiding the "OnLine Booking Fee" for Allegiant. If you go to the Lehigh Valley Mall, right in front of Ruby Tuesday's (actually the Chinese Food joint next door-inside the Mall) there is a Lehigh Valley (ABE) Airport counter/podium thing there. The lady there books for both Allegiant & Airtran (I think ALL LV airlines) without the booking fees AND she is there from 10-6 almost every day, I think. So, No 1 hour window and she does it right on the spot. I just found this out and it is great. I leave ABE on 6/15 Airtran $62 and back on the PM flight on 6/26 Allegiant for $59. WhooHoo! I just found her card: Lehigh*Northampton Airport Authority. Her name is Maryellen Iobst and the # there is 610-231-3131 just in case you want to ask her any questions. I hope this helps someone!!!

 

[TaraPA]

For the cost difference of coming back on Thursday with USAir and coming back on a Friday with Airtran you could book a night at a value resort and stay an extra night. When I go in September I arrive on Sunday and wanted to come back on Thursday, but no flights. So figured what the heck it's an extra day in WDW. I'm staying at the BVC with points, and had enough for the extra night so I went with it.

That would be ideal but I absolutely must be back Thursday evening. We leave on another trip Friday afternoon, so I can't come home on Friday. Actually the rest of the ladies I'm going to WDW with are coming home on the AT flight on Friday. They got it for $59! We all go down Sunday 10/24 for $59, then they return Friday, sadly I must leave on Thursday. Just one of those things when you have small kids at home yet! Gotta do what I gotta do!

 

[TaraPA]

I watch airfare from ABE on Allegiant & Airtran too. I have to tell you something that I just found out that might really help you with avoiding the "OnLine Booking Fee" for Allegiant. If you go to the Lehigh Valley Mall, right in front of Ruby Tuesday's (actually the Chinese Food joint next door-inside the Mall) there is a Lehigh Valley (ABE) Airport counter/podium thing there. The lady there books for both Allegiant & Airtran (I think ALL LV airlines) without the booking fees AND she is there from 10-6 almost every day, I think. So, No 1 hour window and she does it right on the spot. I just found this out and it is great. I leave ABE on 6/15 Airtran $62 and back on the PM flight on 6/26 Allegiant for $59. WhooHoo! I just found her card: Lehigh*Northampton Airport Authority. Her name is Maryellen Iobst and the # there is 610-264-0115 just in case you want to ask her any questions. I hope this helps someone!!!

Thanks for the info! I had heard that last year & someone on here said the booth was closed, glad to know it's up & running. The mall is actually farther for me than the airport itself, but not being locked into the 2-hour time window for Allegiant to save the $15 pp is good to know.