Allegiant and Sanford experiences?

[Sandi]

Our local paper reported today that Allegiant may start a direct flight from Lansing, MI to Sanford airport. That would be our only direct flight to Orlando and would be much better than having to fly through Detroit or Chicago. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has anything to report about either Allegiant or the Sanford airport.

Thanks!

 

[msr709]

We (a party of 11) flew into Sanford Airport last year in late August. It is a very small and uncomplicated airport. We had a car service pick us up and he (John from transportation2disney.com) was waiting for us and we were out of the airport in about 20 minutes. They can park right in front so there is no hassle. It is further away than MCO but if it is the only place you can get a non-stop flight to its fine. Actually we liked it better because it was so easy, although it is almost an hour away from WDW resort. HTH

 

[Tinks]

Do we live in the same town?

Our paper had the same on its front page. Round trip to Orlando/Sanford for fairly cheap! Not too sure I want to fly into Sanford, though. I wonder how Allegiant is as far an airlines go.

 

[d-r]

Honestly, I'm glad that Allegence is adding that flight from Lansing, because I hope it encourages northwest to offer a direct flight to Orlando, I believe they have one from Grand Rapids.

Having said that, if you are staying on wdw property and I think it would be easier, and certainly less expensive, to drive 45 minutes from Lansing to Flint, fly airtran to MCO, and use the free disney transportation, than it would be to park in Lansing, fly to Sanford, and then drive 45 minutes to walt disney world.

Of course in the middle of Feb. it would be nicer weather to make the drive in Florida than the drive to Flint, but most times I'd rather just drive to Flint. Or take a Lansing flight that connects.

 

[Sandi]

Thanks for the feedback. I wasn't sure where Sanford was located. It sounds like it's quite a distance.

We typically go to WDW in the winter months. I've driven to Detroit, Grand Rapids and Flint to get those direct/nonstop flights. Snowstorms have caught us more than once. We've done the Lansing - Detroit - Orlando thing the last couple of times. My 10 yo DD has ear trouble on take offs and landings and also flying at certain elevations. Anything to avoid extra take offs and landings is helpful.

If this does cause NWA to schedule a direct to MCO, that would be great!

 

[jenjersnap]

My Allegiant experience isn't too positive, I'm afraid. They fly once a day from our local airport to Vegas and return. So ONE flight per day and a nonstop. They lost our luggage for an entire week! I never did get a sense after many phone conversations with various people that they had a clue what was going on about anything. They lost two other people's luggage on the same flight and, when we returned to the airport about something else, we ran into 3 other people with lost luggage. Not a good track record.

The flights themselves were fine. No frills but fine.

But they did find our luggage and when it was finally delivered ... it arrived in a limo with a chauffeur wearing a tux. We thought that was hilarious.

I would consider them if we got a direct flight to Orlando! How exciting for you! We have to travel an hour and a half to Denver to fly to Orlando right now.

 

[gshanna]

Also from Lansing - and prefer not to drive to GR, Flint or Detroit or change planes, so I was happy to hear about the Allegiant flights! A friend used them to fly to Las Vegas and was happy with their service.

I asked the woman we're renting a vacation home from about flying into Sanford, because I could see on the map that it was much further than Orlando International. She said the time and hassle saved at the airport MORE than made up for the extra driving and she flys from Sanford whenever possible. She also recommended taking the toll road, rather than I4.

My concern with the Allegiant flights is that they gets in at 9:20 pm, but all the rental car places at Sanford close by 6 or 7. Has anyone heard if they plan to start staying open later once the Allegiant flights start at the end of May?

 

[tmeyer]

I was wondering the same thing about the rental cars, alll the places I checked were closed before the flight landed!! Oh well off to Flint I go.

 

[cranbiz]

Sanford is a very easy airport to get around at and has about the same rental rates as MCO. National is now building a new center there and will be offering Emerald Isle there , most likely by September.

Sanford is very near SR417 and is about 45 minutes to WDW using 417 (the main entrance is off of Lake Mary Blvd E). If you want to use I4, then it is about 10 minutes from I4 and then 45 minutes to WDW.

I wish it had more domectic flights as I would use it all the time if flights were available from the MA area. With my house in Deltona, Sanford would be a perfect fit.

I was there a week ago to pick up a rental from National (with a drop at MCO)

My rate was $6.00 a day less and I was upgraded to a full size, they took the ent. book coupon and honored the priceless discount.