Allegiant Airlines - Many Questions

[rlduvall]

Allegiant Airlines is getting ready to come into the Tulsa market with 2 non-stops a week to Orlando/Sanford. At first, I was so excited and couldn't believe the extremely low one way price. Now, I am trying to research all of the fees they add on, but am not getting clear answers.

Could some of the Allegiant Airline experts let me know all of the fees I could expect to pay based on a solo adult ticket, i.e. booking, credit card v. debit card, baggage, carry on, seat preference, etc.

When I look at the substandard schedule/times, going into Sanford, potential of plane break down with no back up, weight of luggage at 40 lbs v. 50 lbs., I'm not convinced they are worth the hassle.

Thanks to all who answer!

 

[firstwdw]

I am wondering the same as They just opened up the same type of service near me. However they fly into Sanford, not MCO so no Magical Express service. Seem to have lots of hidden fees as well.

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

We used them in June. You've got it in one, my friend. Nothing but fees, fees and more fees. We still got a great deal on our flight, we have to rent a car since we stay offsite so that wasn't a big deal, and our local regional airport is soooo close to us that it was very convenient.

If you don't rent a car and pay for transportation, once you add in all those fees, it gets expensive. Now, we did have a delay on our flight home. Not saying we haven't had them with other airlines, but if there is no other plane near by to pull in the event of mechanical issues, you are looking at possibly a delay of DAYS! The schedule is so tight, only a couple of days a week and only one flight that day...

Would we do it again? Maybe if it was the only option. I would also head over to the airport to buy the ticket at the counter..only a short time to do that since they are only open when there is a flight. But it would save on some fees.

Hope that helps? Any other questions, just let me know.

Oh, and the plane was older, smaller and a bit cramped...not too bad, but not great either.

 

[rlduvall]

Any other questions, just let me know.

Thanks for responding. What was the exact cost of the booking, baggage, carryon and seating preference fee, if you remember?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Thanks for responding. What was the exact cost of the booking, baggage, carryon and seating preference fee, if you remember?

Why not check their website, where all of these questions are answered?

http://www2.allegiantair.com/popup/optional-services-fees

 

[rlduvall]

Why not check their website, where all of these questions are answered?

http://www2.allegiantair.com/popup/optional-services-fees

Well, of course I tried that, but their fees are in generality, i.e. baggage fees if paid online $14.99 - $35.; that's a pretty big difference. It didn't list the booking fee [actually it did, it's $10. per segment - my bad] and I couldn't find the seat preference fee without going through with the booking; it's listed as 0.00 to $75. But thanks for your help.

 

[Lewisc]

Well, of course I tried that, but their fees are in generality, i.e. baggage fees if paid online $14.99 - $35.; that's a pretty big difference. It didn't list the booking fee [actually it did, it's $10. per segment - my bad] and I couldn't find the seat preference fee without going through with the booking; it's listed as 0.00 to $75. But thanks for your help.

A poster can tell you they fee they paid. Airlines like Allegiant make their profit with fees. Most fees are "locked" in when you make your reservation. A poster who flew 2 months ago might have made their reservation 6-12 months ago. Fees could have gone up since then. Information posted might be misleading.

Allegiant seems to base their baggage fees on the distance flown. You can make a test reservation and see the fees. You have to supply a name, sex and DOB but you can see the fees before you have to enter credit card information.

I did a "test" reservation (John and Jane Doe) ATW-SFB December 2013. A "bin bag", maximum weight of 25lbs, is $25 (each way) if you pay when you make your reservation. A checked bag is $50. Looks like Allegiant increased the baggage fees without updating the summary information. Older rolller bags can weight 15-20 lbs empty. That's close to half your 40 lb allowance. Carry on roller bags can weight 8 lbs. You might need to purchase new luggage. A new, lightweight bag, might save you the $50 charge for an overweight bag (41-70lbs). I won't double that fee. I assume you'd buy a replacement bag at WDW if you had to pay the fee going down.

edited to add The test reservation will also tell you the amount of your booking fee, credit card fee, seat selection fees..... Looks like the seat selection fee is $13.

 

[rlduvall]

A poster can tell you they fee they paid. Airlines like Allegiant make their profit with fees. Most fees are "locked" in when you make your reservation. A poster who flew 2 months ago might have made their reservation 6-12 months ago. Fees could have gone up since then. Information posted might be misleading.

edited to add The test reservation will also tell you the amount of your booking fee, credit card fee, seat selection fees..... Looks like the seat selection fee is $13.

Valid points regarding fees can change, I was just wanting a general consensus. And thanks for doing that test reservation. When I was on the website this morning for the first time ever and started to book a dummy reservation, I had to give my name, address, etc., and I didn't want to go that far.

At this point, Allegiant Airlines doesn't interest me that much.

 

[firstwdw]

and since this morning the rates just keep going up, up, and up since they first released them. At $41 one way-it intrigued me but now the prices are right up there with the other airlines plus you have to add in all the fees. I think we'll stick to Southwest.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Allegiant Airlines is getting ready to come into the Tulsa market with 2 non-stops a week to Orlando/Sanford. At first, I was so excited and couldn't believe the extremely low one way price. Now, I am trying to research all of the fees they add on, but am not getting clear answers.

Could some of the Allegiant Airline experts let me know all of the fees I could expect to pay based on a solo adult ticket, i.e. booking, credit card v. debit card, baggage, carry on, seat preference, etc.

When I look at the substandard schedule/times, going into Sanford, potential of plane break down with no back up, weight of luggage at 40 lbs v. 50 lbs., I'm not convinced they are worth the hassle.

Thanks to all who answer!

They came to our area and I was able to go to the counter avoiding some booking fees. One ticket was $55 four others $77. I paid two Check bags @ $20 online ($40 if counter check), $16 for two carry on's in the overhead bin. Back packs at feet free. On the way back I put both bags for overhead in one checked duffel.

Glass of water free, soda, bottle water $2 if I recall, some cracker type snacks $$. But it was less then 2 hrs to Sanford. Minivan was $303 from Alamo which I watched the rates. An hr away instead of half hour, that's approx time.

It was a nice flight and the smoothest landing EVER, I was impressed. But, yes there are fees. Use debit instead of credit or go to he airport.

 

[Donna M]

I just booked them today since they are starting service from Pease in NH which is only 20 min away and free parking for $99 r/t. The seats' price changed depending on where the seats were in the plane; they were more expensive up front, $18.00. Since we're only bopping down for a long weekend, we are going to use free backpacks.

One big concern I have is the limited flights. We have one flight down on Fridays and one back on Monday-that's it. I hope they have a plan that doesn't include waiting for the next flight which is a week later! But then again, we are going the WDW

 

[Lewisc]

Valid points regarding fees can change, I was just wanting a general consensus. And thanks for doing that test reservation. When I was on the website this morning for the first time ever and started to book a dummy reservation, I had to give my name, address, etc., and I didn't want to go that far.

At this point, Allegiant Airlines doesn't interest me that much.

You can give a "dummy" name BUT if you like the fare, and can live with the fees, you'll have to cancel your "test" reservation and start over. The fares you saw a few minutes ago might not be available.

The cost for bags depends on your flight lenght. Almost treating your bags as cargo.

 

[Fairyjen1]

I had a friend fly them in to visit me. He mentioned that there were lots of fees. That I can't answer to so much because I didn't pay attention to all of the fees he mentioned.

Now I know many people who have flown Allegiant and have had great experiences (except for all the fees). It seems if everything goes right, they are pretty good, it's when something goes wrong, that you have the problems.

My friend flew in late November to Stockton CA from Las Vegas. On his return flight back to Vegas it was extremely foggy. Like the worst fog we had in years, and we have pretty bad fog. His flight got delayed until 10AM the next morning. I get it, Allegiant can't control the weather and I want the flight to be safe. Problem is, Allegiant is the only airline out of the airport, except for some cargo planes and it closes at 10 pm. Allegiant told everyone the airport closes, everyone has to leave. They made arrangements for people to stay at the Hampton Inn that was 5 miles away for 70$ a night if they so chose, but were not providing any transportation to the hotel for those that didn't have any. This airport is in a very rural area and it's a long dark, deserted walk to the hotel. No problem, I went back and got my friend and he stayed with me one more night.

Next day we all come back for the 10am flight, well, it keeps getting delayed (although the fog was gone by now). Not a big deal for my friend who works for his family, but I was helping a young mother with her two kids while she talked to the ticket agent (I guess I looked trustworthy), who had to meet a connecting flight in Vegas to get to her final destination. They told her if she missed there was nothing they could do and she would have to stay in Vegas until the next available flight going to her home. That next flight was a week away, so they pretty much told her she'd have to spend a week in Vegas unexpectedly with two children under 5 until that flight or look for another airline. They said they couldn't offer her a refund , only credit for a future flight, since they didn't cancel her flight and would put her on the next one, never mind it was a week away. She asked if they would help her with her hotel and they told her they would not. by law they didn't have to as they were offering to put her on their next flight.

The flight kept getting delayed. Finally at 3pm they announced that the flight wasn't cancelled, just delayed indefinitely (their words) and they were not able to tell us when another flight might be available. They said if anyone wanted to opt out of the flight, they could issue them a credit for a future flight, but didn't have to refund since the flight was not cancelled, only delayed. I ended up having to take my friend up to Sacramento (about 45 mins away) to buy a flight on Southwest.

I think their big problem is that they service smaller regional airports, which can be good, but if your flight gets delayed, there isn't another one, or in some cases, even another airline, you can switch to if they have to cancel (or delay indefinitely as it were). It wasn't so much the flight got delayed due to weather, Allegiant can't control the weather, but it's how they handled it after the delay I have a problem with. YMMV

I know my friend swears he will never fly them again, even if he does have a credit for another flight. Says it's not worth the hassle.

BTW this was a few years ago

 

[kydisneyfans]

I looked at flying from Lexington, KY to Orlando for a conference back in April.

The flight was 37.99 there, and 58.99 back......
after fees and rental car(much higher from Sanford than Orlando), the cost surged to over $600.

I drove.

 

[rlduvall]

The more I hear about them, the less interested I am. I would prefer to pay more and know there won't be any unusual issues with potential delays.