Allegiant Airlines

[zoo2tycoon]

We just returned from a trip flying Allegiant for the first time. We flew from Ft Wayne to Phoenix RT. First the cost including purchasing seats and checking 2 bags was half the cost of SW. We read about them and knew there could be issues but we were informed. We had no problems in FW leaving. I was impressed with how the boarding went and how they wouldn't allow people on before it was their turn. We has emergency exit row so we boarded early, had to get through those pushed up trying to get on early. Seats awfully uncomfortable! For return flight I purchased small pillow to sit on. Return today just as easy. No issues. Every employee we encountered was friendly, polite and professional. Takeoff and landings both smooth.

We prefer SW but they were so much more. We'd fly Allegiant again. Like I said seats not padded much, don't recline and are not as deep as most. We purchased drinks prior to take off in FW. In Phoenix there were no vending machines so we did $2 can of soda on plane. Not too bad.

 

[kjw42]

We've always Southwest but it doesn't service the airport were we live now, it's about a two hour drive away vs 10min for our local airport. The cost of the flights are pretty similar but it's tempting to eliminate all the driving. I'm guessing they're a lot like Frontier? While not the best flight, glad to hear it was acceptable. May be worth it for us.

 

[DebbieB]

The biggest thing if you are going to Orlando is they fly into Sanford airport. No magical express.

 

[AngiTN]

Yep, airports serviced are the biggest drawback for me. We tried Sanford once and it was not good. Plus, the single day of a week flights. It's not as easy to fit our trips in to their days.
That and all the dang fees. I've priced them out several times but by the time I pay for all their fees I found their costs right there with SW. While SW doesn't fly here, we are also 2 hours from an airport with SW (vs. 10 for Allegiant) it still makes SW a better deal in the end. We have a shuttle service that takes you to ATL or Nashville, if we didn't want to drive ourselves (we usually do)

 

[Laz]

I have flown Allegiant out of Fort Wayne numerous times. One thing that disappoints me is the number of mechanical issues they have. I also do not like that they only fly on certain days of the week and only one flight per day. If the flight is cancelled your options are very limited.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

I have flown Allegiant out of Fort Wayne numerous times. One thing that disappoints me is the number of mechanical issues they have. I also do not like that they only fly on certain days of the week and only one flight per day. If the flight is cancelled your options are very limited.

I had read about the mechanical issues they have too and that scared me! Thankfully we avoided them. SW is still our first pick. To do a quick inexpensive trip to see family it worked. Hopefully next time our regular SW out of Indy works. We did like the cookies they gave welcoming you to FW.

 

[DebbieB]

I had read about the mechanical issues they have too and that scared me! Thankfully we avoided them. SW is still our first pick. To do a quick inexpensive trip to see family it worked. Hopefully next time our regular SW out of Indy works. We did like the cookies they gave welcoming you to FW.

My neighbors had a trip to Mexico earlier this year on Allegiant. Not long before the trip, there were a couple publicized emergency landings. She spoke to a pilot friend and he said he would never fly his family on Allegiant. She ended up cancelling the tickets and eating the cost and booked on American.

 

[DVC-Don]

Two many aborted flights for mechanical issues for me to fly them.

 

[xlxo]

Luggage fees is a big reason why I don't fly Allegiant much any more.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I've flown Allegiant 3 times - 2 times to Orlando and once to Vegas. The price just couldn't be beat, even adding in the luggage fee. Plus, they fly to Orlando out of my local, regional airport and to Vegas from the regional airport 45 miles away. There was a mechanical issue on our return from Vegas (it was with the lavatory of all things). Otherwise, no problems.

I actually prefer flying into Sanford. It's much smaller and easier to navigate than MCO.

That said, I'm leery of flying them now in light of all of the recent issues they've been experiencing. I don't plan to fly anywhere for at least a couple of years, but will definitely be exploring other options in the future (driving the 2.5 hours to Chicago and flying out of Midway seems like it might be a better option).

 

[csjordan]

My family of 8 was suppose to fly into PIE (Tampa) on Allegiant 6/24. My DH emailed me some articles regarding mechanical issues, emergency landings, etc... into/out of this airport and I started getting worried. I ended up booking all 8 of us on SW. A friend suggested that I email Allegiant with my concerns and demand my money back, LOL! I thought it was a useless idea, but ended up saying what the heck! At least they will know how we feel (like they care). Within 2 hours of sending the email, I received a phone call from the PR lady at Allegiant. She wanted to speak to me regarding my concerns, etc... Long story short, we played phone tag several times, but finally ended up speaking. She blamed the media for the bad press, LOL. I told her I did not feel good about putting my entire family on an aircraft that I did not feel was reliable, yada yada yada. She was very nice. She refunded the airfare, but not the luggage fees or seat fees. Some is better than none! The funny thing about it was when we landed at MCO, I had received a text from Allegiant saying our flight was delayed an hour. Apparently, she refunded but did not cancel the flights. I continued to receive texts that the flight was delayed until well after 1am! The flight was suppose to leave at 8:50pm! We were so happy we had switched!!

 

[LadyBeBop]

Allegiant flies into our airport (Cincinnati/CVG) and Southwest does not. I'm extremely nervous about flying Allegiant for our cruise next year, and I think my husband is on board with that. I want to fly SW out of either Louisville, Indianapolis or Columbus (all three about two hours away), but my husband wants to fly out of CVG. We will probably end up biting the bullet and flying Delta.

 

[Laz]

Allegiant flies into our airport (Cincinnati/CVG) and Southwest does not. I'm extremely nervous about flying Allegiant for our cruise next year, and I think my husband is on board with that. I want to fly SW out of either Louisville, Indianapolis or Columbus (all three about two hours away), but my husband wants to fly out of CVG. We will probably end up biting the bullet and flying Delta.

The problem with flying Allegiant for a cruise is that your options are very limited if there is a big delay or cancellation. Have you looked at flying Southwest out of Dayton (if you are near Dayton Airport)?

 

[wollydoodle]

The problem with flying Allegiant for a cruise is that your options are very limited if there is a big delay or cancellation. Have you looked at flying Southwest out of Dayton (if you are near Dayton Airport)?

Or Louisville? I live in Lexington and I always check Lexington, Louisville and Cincinnati. I'm wary of Allegiant too. They fly out of Lexington to Sanford and the price IS appealing but I have opted for the Delta nonstop out of CVG several times now and it's been good. Paying more and driving a ways but I've heard too many stories of cancellations and then the safety thing... And then there's the fact that I LOVE taking the magical express!! Lol..

 

[LadyBeBop]

Or Louisville? I live in Lexington and I always check Lexington, Louisville and Cincinnati. I'm wary of Allegiant too. They fly out of Lexington to Sanford and the price IS appealing but I have opted for the Delta nonstop out of CVG several times now and it's been good. Paying more and driving a ways but I've heard too many stories of cancellations and then the safety thing... And then there's the fact that I LOVE taking the magical express!! Lol..

I have no problems with driving to a nearby airport. But my husband doesn't want to make the drive. That means either getting up very early to drive down, or spending the night near the airport. Then the drive back from the airport; probably when we're dead tired and want to sleep. We live very close to CVG...about 15 minutes.

 

[wollydoodle]

I have no problems with driving to a nearby airport. But my husband doesn't want to make the drive. That means either getting up very early to drive down, or spending the night near the airport. Then the drive back from the airport; probably when we're dead tired and want to sleep. We live very close to CVG...about 15 minutes.

That's the drawback for me too. And if hubby doesn't want to make the drive, I understand completely! Cost, safety, MagicalExpress, drive time, connections, convenience...decisions, decisions.... It'll all work out! Have a good trip!!!

 

[drmark]

I have flown Allegiant a few times from Portsmouth, NH to Sanford, FL. Basically you get what you pay for. The schedule is limited to specific days, nothing is included in the ticket price (suitcases and backpacks cost extra) and you will need to find transportation to your report as DME does not run out of Sanford. Having said all of that, I fly into Sandford whenever the prices and dates align with my travel. I have flown from NH to FL for as little as 59 dollars. Even with the cost of each additional bag and a rental car upon arrival that still kicks butt on the 200 to 300 dollar flights offered by the bigger airlines into MCO. Now do I fly Allegiant every time? Absolutely not. Sometimes the fares fluctuate and the costs/savings aren’t enough to justify not having a bigger seat, wifi, free drinks and of course Disney Magical Express! But if you bargain shop and have a flexible schedule its worth looking into.

 

[KrazeeK120]

nothing is included in the ticket price (suitcases and backpacks cost extra)

Not true. You are allowed to bring one "personal item" for free on Allegiant. A standard size backpack could be a "personal item."

When I fly on Allegiant, my DH and I pack one suitcase together and then we each take as large of a personal item as we can, so we just pay for the one suitcase.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

Agree you get a free personal item. My husband and sons took backpacks and weren't charged for them. I took a small Vera Bradley backpack as my personal item.

 

[drmark]

I didn't know that, that's great info