Allegiant Air,,,,read this before booking!

[soar2014]

I am flying out of Concord NC to Sanford FL and was trying to save money but it looks like I would have had the same amount (or less) of $ spent with less headaches.
They are virtually lying to you when you see the price on the search page. There is a list of 6 different fees that MUST be paid before you even get around to paying for baggage. I have no idea what those fees stand for but here they are: Federal excise tax, segment fees, Sept 11 fees, PFC fee, carrier usage charge, and if you pay with credit card a fee for that. Then you get the baggage fee, seat selection fee, and if you don't print your boarding pass at home there's a fee for that. And because the airport is in Sanford you will either rent a car or pay for shuttle, no Magical Express. I wish I had known all these things before I booked, but lesson learned. I'm trying to help you before you make my mistake.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

A number of those fees are charged by every airline; 911 fee, federal tax, etc., although some really are outrageous. However, right under the flight search box on their web site are links to their optional fees and services and to baggage fees. Plus, they tell you the total charge before purchasing tickets. I don't understand why so many people fail to read their airline's policies before buying tickets.

 

[Best Aunt]

With the Allegiant website, you have to get pretty far into it before you see those fees. With other airline's websites, the fees are clearer at an earlier stage in the booking process. However, I think the rule is now that you have 24 hours to cancel with no penalty for every airline.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm doing a dummy booking right now.
Page one, enter flight information.
Page two, select flights: $114.50 outbound, $102.50 return.
Total before baggage, etc. $217.00
$114.50 + $102.50 = $217.00
$217.00 = $217.00

Now, there a a number of reasons I wouldn't use Allegiant: inconvenient airports, minimal flights, not finding any way to not purchase insurance... but just like all other airlines cooperating with the legal requirement to disclose all ticket fees and taxes, Allegiant isn't hiding anything.

 

[Allison]

They aren't lying to you.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I have no idea what those fees stand for but here they are:

Here you go http://bit.ly/1JJXfv6

 

[migel]

I fly Allegiant occasionally, Niagara to Sanford. While their prices can be great (especially when I fly solo with minimal baggage), the availability of flights to and from Sanford have dwindled. A couple of time a year I fly in for 5 days, Allegiant doesn't give you options here. My experience also has been that you have a 50/50 chance your flight will be delayed (usually by only 1-2 hours though). But, for a Canadian who lives close to the border, Allegiant still provides a decent option. If it wasn't for Southwest, I probably would rely more heavily on Allegiant. I also like Sanford airport, but again, depending on when you travel, Sanford can charge significantly higher car rental rates than MCO.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

I've flown Allegiant the last three years and I've had rated shown as $57, $77, $97 and that was the rate including taxes. I wonder if it's a site that is a discount and shows the lowest rate for a search then jacks up all the add on. I know it will get higher if you add early boarding, seat choice, particular seats and then the luggage. But, I have had crazy low fares, no delays, I'm sure at some point it would happen, but good so far with about eight flights round trip that's 16 flights.

 

[Best Aunt]

I'm doing a dummy booking right now.
Page one, enter flight information.
Page two, select flights: $114.50 outbound, $102.50 return.
Total before baggage, etc. $217.00
$114.50 + $102.50 = $217.00
$217.00 = $217.00

Now, there a a number of reasons I wouldn't use Allegiant: inconvenient airports, minimal flights, not finding any way to not purchase insurance... but just like all other airlines cooperating with the legal requirement to disclose all ticket fees and taxes, Allegiant isn't hiding anything.

You didn't go far enough in your dummy booking.

You choose the cities, date, number of people, hit search. It will tell you the price, which includes taxes, carrier charges and government fees.

BUT.....

You press continue.

Then you have to scroll all the way down and click on No thanks, I don't need a hotel package deal.

Then you have to scroll all the way down and click on No thanks, I don't need a deal on ground transportation.

Then you have to scroll all the way down past theme park tickets and click on Continue.

Then you have to enter your name, date of birth and phone number.

Then you choose a seat, and see how much it will cost to book that seat. You can decide that you don't care where you sit, you will let Allegiant choose a seat for you, and you will pay nothing. This is the first time you have seen that you have to pay if you want to choose where you will sit. You click on continue.

Now you will see the cost to take a carry on bag, the cost to check a bag, and the cost for priority boarding. If you want to do any of these things, you choose them. Also in this window, you see your options for getting a boarding pass (use the app, print at home, get it at the airport) and the cost for each of these. You must select which you want. This is the first time you have seen any of these fees. You click on continue.

Now you have to choose or decline Trip Flex, which sort of like flight insurance. Also in this window, you have to tell them whether you will pay by credit or debit card. You will see what the cost is if you choose to use a credit card rather than a debit card. This is the first time you have seen either of these fees.

At that point you enter your credit card number, and that's where I stopped with my dummy reservation.

The reason for my original posting was to mention that there are many fees which you do not see until you are many pages into the booking process -- and some of these are fees which you would not have been expecting if you have only flown on other airlines. I have flown many times but my recent flight on Allegiant was the first time I had to pay to choose my seat, take a carry on bag, and pay with a credit card.

 

[Tozzie]

You didn't go far enough in your dummy booking.

You choose the cities, date, number of people, hit search. It will tell you the price, which includes taxes, carrier charges and government fees.

BUT.....

You press continue.

Then you have to scroll all the way down and click on No thanks, I don't need a hotel package deal.

Then you have to scroll all the way down and click on No thanks, I don't need a deal on ground transportation.

Then you have to scroll all the way down past theme park tickets and click on Continue.

Then you have to enter your name, date of birth and phone number.

Then you choose a seat, and see how much it will cost to book that seat. You can decide that you don't care where you sit, you will let Allegiant choose a seat for you, and you will pay nothing. This is the first time you have seen that you have to pay if you want to choose where you will sit. You click on continue.

Now you will see the cost to take a carry on bag, the cost to check a bag, and the cost for priority boarding. If you want to do any of these things, you choose them. Also in this window, you see your options for getting a boarding pass (use the app, print at home, get it at the airport) and the cost for each of these. You must select which you want. This is the first time you have seen any of these fees. You click on continue.

Now you have to choose or decline Trip Flex, which sort of like flight insurance. Also in this window, you have to tell them whether you will pay by credit or debit card. You will see what the cost is if you choose to use a credit card rather than a debit card. This is the first time you have seen either of these fees.

At that point you enter your credit card number, and that's where I stopped with my dummy reservation.

The reason for my original posting was to mention that there are many fees which you do not see until you are many pages into the booking process -- and some of these are fees which you would not have been expecting if you have only flown on other airlines. I have flown many times but my recent flight on Allegiant was the first time I had to pay to choose my seat, take a carry on bag, and pay with a credit card.

Regardless where it is on the page you still know about the fees before you book and if you click on travel information before you even start looking for the flight you would find out this. The OP is upset because she thought she got some secret bargain and she didn't the airline isn't lying to anyone

 

[kaytieeldr]

You didn't go far enough in your dummy booking.

Wrong. I went through everything short of entering my payment information. That's why I emphasized total before baggage; clearly that should have stated "airline add-on/optional charges". The OP complained about the taxes and fees that are included in the total fare

They are virtually lying to you when you see the price on the search page. There is a list of 6 different fees that MUST be paid before you even get around to paying for baggage. I have no idea what those fees stand for but here they are: Federal excise tax, segment fees, Sept 11 fees, PFC fee, carrier usage charge, and if you pay with credit card a fee for that.

Except the credit card fee charged by the airline, all the taxes and fees listed were included in the fare quote kbtained at Allegiant.com
That's how a $217 airfare equals a $217 airfare - by including the government and airport fees, taxes, and surcharges.
No idea what search engine the OP used that provided incomplete pricing, but that's not Allegiant's responsibility unless they own the search engine.

 

[xlxo]

I had similar thoughts flying from the West Coast. While I love the non-reclining seats.... the luggage fees are frustrating when it needs to be predicted during booking. Over predict... no refunds. Under predict.... the fee doubles! Lots of anger at Allegient check-in by other flyers who feel blind sided.

 

[gdrj]

I am flying out of Concord NC to Sanford FL and was trying to save money but it looks like I would have had the same amount (or less) of $ spent with less headaches.
They are virtually lying to you when you see the price on the search page. There is a list of 6 different fees that MUST be paid before you even get around to paying for baggage. I have no idea what those fees stand for but here they are: Federal excise tax, segment fees, Sept 11 fees, PFC fee, carrier usage charge, and if you pay with credit card a fee for that. Then you get the baggage fee, seat selection fee, and if you don't print your boarding pass at home there's a fee for that. And because the airport is in Sanford you will either rent a car or pay for shuttle, no Magical Express. I wish I had known all these things before I booked, but lesson learned. I'm trying to help you before you make my mistake.

I think the true warning is look at the website before you book (i read this post and found the following in less than a minute). Discount airlines charge less (sometimes) but you will get less included services (seat assignment, carry-on luggage, etc. Spirit Air is one that comes to mind. If you are going to use a discount airline READ the website. The discount airlines can be a great way to save money, but for me not for vacation where I will be traveling with family and have a weeks worth of clothes.

As far as luggage it is very easy to see fees before you start to book (see copy of website page below) . Also there is a page about seating where it says the following:
Passengers may make seat selections and pre-purchase seat assignments for a nominal fee in advance of travel. The best way to ensure that passengers will be able to sit together is to pre-purchase a seat assignment.

For passengers who choose not to pre-purchase a seat assignment at the time of booking:

• When you check in for your flight, (whether online or at the airport), you will be assigned a seat by our system.
• If you check in online, you will be able to view your assigned seats and upgrade if desired.
• You can change or purchase seats on an existing reservation by logging in to Manage Travel up to 60 minutes before flight departure and as long as a boarding pass has not been printed for that reservation.
• Seat assignments cannot be changed at the airport.

 

[friend2Figment]

We are on our way home from WDW. We flew into Sanford, very easy to book cheap flights. If you require a lot of luggage or want to know what seat you will have it could add up. All air lines are required to charge set fees so not sure how Allegiant would be lying.

 

[keishashadow]

I am flying out of Concord NC to Sanford FL and was trying to save money but it looks like I would have had the same amount (or less) of $ spent with less headaches.
They are virtually lying to you when you see the price on the search page. There is a list of 6 different fees that MUST be paid before you even get around to paying for baggage. I have no idea what those fees stand for but here they are: Federal excise tax, segment fees, Sept 11 fees, PFC fee, carrier usage charge, and if you pay with credit card a fee for that. Then you get the baggage fee, seat selection fee, and if you don't print your boarding pass at home there's a fee for that. And because the airport is in Sanford you will either rent a car or pay for shuttle, no Magical Express. I wish I had known all these things before I booked, but lesson learned. I'm trying to help you before you make my mistake.

fyi: The current requirements per the US department of transportation website:

...airlines and ticket agents will be required to disclose baggage fees to consumers when they book a flight online. The first screen containing a fare quotation for a specific itinerary must show if there will be additional baggage fees, and inform consumers where they can go to see these fees. Information on baggage fees also must be included on all e-ticket confirmations, and for most trips the same baggage allowances and fees must apply throughout a passenger’s journey.