Allegiant and not purchasing seats

[Starshine]

DH and I just found an awesome $52 each way airfare on Allegiant and booked a 4 day weekend trip for next month. Yep, we're probably crazy for taking such a whirlwind trip, but we knew that already!

We've never flown Allegiant before and to keep the cost down I didn't purchase assigned seats. (I asked DH if he would rather sit with me or have an extra $56 to spend at the Rose & Crown, and the pints won, go figure.)

So the question is, looking at the Allegiant FAQ it says, "If you check in online, you will be able to view your assigned seats and upgrade if desired." I'm assuming if I wanted to "upgrade" (meaning change) our seats they would charge me then? I won't bother trying if that's the case, I'm just curious.

 

[n2mm]

I'm guessing you are flying out of Hagerstown? I looked into Alliegant and the nickel and diming was too much for us. Some folks around us love it, but they fly as singles, so it doesn't bother them. I didn't like that you had to pay for your luggage whether it's checked or carryon, so watch that too. I think the price is cheaper if you pay in advance. I know they charge for folks who want to get on before others do. Not sure about the seat thing. (Remember there is no free Disney shuttle out of Sandford airport). Of course no parking fee at the airport is a plus, but when we checked into all of the extra costs it was cheaper for us to fly Jetblue out of Reagan or even United out of Dulles (just a hassle to get to both for us). If you're not flying out of Hagerstown, MD, disregard.

 

[Starshine]

You called it exactly right, we're flying out of Hagerstown! And I totally agree on the fees, that's why we didn't pay for seats. It worked out for us only because we needed a car anyway (DVC is booked up that weekend so we're staying with a friend in Celebration), and since it's only a weekend we can get away with sharing one bag. For a long trip where we each need a bag + at least one carryon it would definitely end up costing more than Southwest or JetBlue.

I had a free day coming from Alamo from my birthday so we got the rental car for $64. And we have annual passes so tickets are covered too!

 

[n2mm]

You called it exactly right, we're flying out of Hagerstown! And I totally agree on the fees, that's why we didn't pay for seats. It worked out for us only because we needed a car anyway (DVC is booked up that weekend so we're staying with a friend in Celebration), and since it's only a weekend we can get away with sharing one bag. For a long trip where we each need a bag + at least one carryon it would definitely end up costing more than Southwest or JetBlue.

I had a free day coming from Alamo from my birthday so we got the rental car for $64. And we have annual passes so tickets are covered too!

I'm always checking them out, but still keep going to Jetblue (which I love). Getting to Reagan is horrible. We have to get someone to drive us to Shady Grove Metro (which is a 1 hour drive on a good day) and then the 1 hour on the metro to get there. We use to fly Jetblue out of Dulles, but the Florida flights left about a year ago and we miss them ALOT. Yes, DVC and AP holder too and have done the quick last minute trip too, but we just got back last week and head back in January. Let me know how your experience with Alleigant goes....

 

[nacho113]

So the question is, looking at the Allegiant FAQ it says, "If you check in online, you will be able to view your assigned seats and upgrade if desired." I'm assuming if I wanted to "upgrade" (meaning change) our seats they would charge me then? I won't bother trying if that's the case, I'm just curious.

DW and I always show up 2 hours before flight time with Allegiant and we always get seats together and usually in rows 12-20. On one trip I made the mistake of logging into the Allegiant site and checking my seats. The system had assigned us the very rear most seats on the plane and offered to upgrade our seats for a fee. I exited the site at this point. When we arrived at the Allegiant desk 2 hours before our flight, we expected to get decent seats as we had on past flights but found that we had been assigned the very last row of seats on the plane.
Since then, I don't login to check seats and we always get decent seats together.

 

[Starshine]

When we arrived at the Allegiant desk 2 hours before our flight, we expected to get decent seats as we had on past flights but found that we had been assigned the very last row of seats on the plane.
Since then, I don't login to check seats and we always get decent seats together.

Thank you!! That's good to know! Sounds like it's probably better not to do the online checkin then, and just wait. Since it's such a small airport I don't think we have to worry about long lines.

 

[nacho113]

Thank you!! That's good to know! Sounds like it's probably better not to do the online checkin then, and just wait. Since it's such a small airport I don't think we have to worry about long lines.

Seems if you attempt online checkin, you get cr@ppy seats by default, which I am sure is the airlines or systems attempt to scare you into paying for seat assignment.
And unless you purchase a seat assignment at the online checkin, then you cannot proceed with the online checkin and print your boarding passes anyway.

Take your chances and be sure to arrive at the checkin desk 1.5-2 hours before flight time. I'd rather spend the extra money on fun.
That having been said, I have only had experience with their system as a couple, wouldn't want to extrapolate this wisdom to a family of 4 or more and expect decent seats together (but it may work also).

The only time that I have purchased seats on Allegiant was on a whirlwind 4 day trip with my DD to see WWoHP. Our return flight was at 5:55AM which meant we would need to be at the airport at 3:55AM for decent seats ... which meant leaving our hotel near Universal at approx 3:00AM ... which meant that the alarm clock was going to go off at 2:00AM!
the extra hour of sleep was worth the $14/seat to book

 

[Starshine]

Seems if you attempt online checkin, you get cr@ppy seats by default, which I am sure is the airlines or systems attempt to scare you into paying for seat assignment.
And unless you purchase a seat assignment at the online checkin, then you cannot proceed with the online checkin and print your boarding passes anyway.

That makes perfect sense. It's just the two of us, and DH already decided he'd rather have the extra money than sit with me (he loves me so ). Great to know we can't print the boarding passes anyway, so we'll just wait and see. We always get to the airport early, and I always take a good book along so I'm ok either way.