Allegiant deals?

[Lisa0620]

Since Allegiant is now flying to MCO from our airport, we're looking into flying them for our next trip which is over a year away. Does anyone have any tips or experience with getting a good deal, such as how many months in advance to book? Their prices at this point look higher than NW/Delta or AirTran but it would save us a 2-1/2 hour drive to another airport so it might be worth it. TIA!

 

[tinkermom23]

Since Allegiant is now flying to MCO from our airport, we're looking into flying them for our next trip which is over a year away. Does anyone have any tips or experience with getting a good deal, such as how many months in advance to book? Their prices at this point look higher than NW/Delta or AirTran but it would save us a 2-1/2 hour drive to another airport so it might be worth it. TIA!

We're thinking about the same thing. We are about 1 hour from a smaller airport that we'd do Allegiant (NWA/Delta are very high from here) or we drive 3 1/2 hours to use a bigger airport, and use Delta or Air Tran. Right now we're watching but I'd like to book soon. And we really prefer nonstop which is hard to find out of Fargo. Our price difference between airports is over $1,000 which is worth the drive for us!

 

[WendyinNC]

It's hard to pinpoint when Allegiant posts the best prices. Although, I have noticed that it has not been when they first open their schedule. I just check the website frequently and buy when I feel the price is good enough. I purchased our tickets for $39 each way from Greensboro to Sanford on 11/22/09 for our Easter Break trip. Also, pay attention to the fees. I don't select seats and only pay for 3 bags for the 5 of us. I do purchase the trip flex and pay the convenience fee. The fees do add up. The $39 each way for the five of us ends up costing $741 plus trasporation costs from Sanford to WDW. Also, Allegiant charges for snacks on the plane. I usually have some snacks in my carry on, but I still allow the kids to get something. They think it's a real special treat. I really like Allegiant and love being able to fly from my hometown on a direct flight. Good luck!

 

[skatingmom]

I would definitely consider flying Allegient if they flew into MCO. So far (like tinkermom23) the closest airport to me that Allegient flies to Orlando from is Fargo and the flights from there still fly into Sanford. Hoping that will change!

 

[webworm]

Since Allegiant is now flying to MCO from our airport, we're looking into flying them for our next trip which is over a year away. Does anyone have any tips or experience with getting a good deal, such as how many months in advance to book? Their prices at this point look higher than NW/Delta or AirTran but it would save us a 2-1/2 hour drive to another airport so it might be worth it. TIA!

Allegiant flies into Sandford airport only and not Orlando International Airport.

 

[skatingmom]

Allegiant flies into Sandford airport only and not Orlando International Airport.

I believe that Allegient is flying into MCO now, but only from a few of its ciites. The rest still fly into Sanford.

 

[DebbieB]

Allegiant flies into Sandford airport only and not Orlando International Airport.

http://ir.allegiantair.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=427476

MCO service:

1. Knoxville, Tenn. - flights begin Feb. 1, 2010 with fares as low as
$49.99* each way
2. Lexington, Ky. - flights begin Feb. 1, 2010 with fares as low as $57.99*
each way
3. Allentown, Penn. - flights begin Feb. 8, 2010 with fares as low as
$59.99* each way
4. Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C. - flights begin Feb. 8, 2010 with fares as
low as $45.99* each way
5. Grand Rapids, Mich. - flights begin Feb. 12, 2010 with fares as low as
$79.99* each way
6. Springfield, Mo. - flights begin Feb. 15, 2010 with fares as low as
$79.99* each way
7. Tri-Cities, Tenn. - flights begin Feb. 15, 2010 with fares as low as
$47.99* each way
8. Huntington, W.V. - flights begin Feb. 16, 2010 with fares as low as
$59.99* each way
9. Youngstown, Ohio - flights begin March 4, 2010 with fares as low as
$59.99* each way
10. Des Moines, Iowa - flights begin March 5, 2010 with fares as low as
$79.99* each way

 

[Lisa0620]

Thanks, everyone, especially WendyinNC. Great to hear positive things about Allegiant!

 

[zimaaaaah]

I have to share - I have been planning our trip for May and I went to the Allegiant site last night and there were $12.25 fares! I thought it had to be a mistake but I guess not because I booked our flight back for that price + fees! Total of $239 w/trip protection for 4 people one way.
It wasn't all days in May, but most of them. Christmas present? Thanks SANTA!

 

[NYDisneyKid]

they actually now fly to MCO,,,,just read the article

 

[Sandy Fisher]

We had no idea the $12.25 fares would be for such a short time. We fly up to Hagerstown MD from Sanford. Hagerstown is only 12 miles from our hometown and we love the convenience! We usually go up in the spring and I told DH to go ahead and book the seats. We didn't. Checked them today and the rates are back up.
We looked at the calendar and for the flights we wanted it ran from April 16th (we can only fly in and out of Hagerstown on Monday or Friday's) through the end of May.
I told him next time I suggest we book something like that, we should book it!!
We are almost as close to Sanford down here as we are to MCO. Both have their good points and not so good points. I was pleased when I saw they'd fly out of MCO, but the Hagerstown airport isn't one of the places. :-(

 

[Dawg91]

We flew Allegiant out of Chattanooga, TN 2 years ago into Sanford, and it was GREAT compared to fooling with the Atlanta airport. There was virtually no distance walking involved at Chatt or Sanford. We did rent a van to use while at WDW instead of just hiring transportation.

I would definitely consider it again. We are driving this year instead of flying.

 

[mnorton]

I purchased 4 tickets on 12/28/09 for $9.99pp each way from (GSP)Greenville,SC to (SFB)Sanford,FL on 01/09/10 to 01/11/10 for a short 2 night trip. pay attention to the fees. I don't select seats and only take a carry on the fee's add up. I have also booked a trip in April for $39 each way and its flying from GSP to MCO at that time not SFB. I just checked back to see if the price had changed and its went up to $28.99pp each way on those dates you never know when they will change the price

 

[dansyr2514]

I signed up for airfare watchdog and get e-mails everyday on the lowest fares. I saw the 12.25 fares but dbf was busy and they were gone the next day. Last year they ran sales starting in Feb for $29 each way.
Another tip, if you are close to the airport go there and book. They charge you a service fee for booking online but not at the airport.

Let's post if anyone sees sale fares!

 

[Maddie2]

We have flown Allegiant to the Sanford airport and Delta & American to MCO. Here are some things to keep in mind....

Allegiant flies in the SANFORD airport ... not MCO ... so you do not have access to the free ME bus system. You will need to either rent a car or pay for a taxi or towncar. In our experience, it was cheaper to rent a car than pay for the latter. For that trip, we still saved money with the rental car figured in ... and we ended up with a very sick kid, so it was great to have a car.

Allegiant has tons of hidden fees. Be sure you figure them in. When it has a super deal (say $39.99), in reality that is at the very least $80 - more if you don't opt out of all the add-ons. One way to avoid at least ONE of the hidden fees is to actually go to your airport and book it. They charge a fee for you to book on your own computer or over the phone. Baggage is very expensive too, as well as seating fees, etc. Also, say you are only taking 1 bag down, but may have 2 bags coming home, pay for that when you book. If you add on another bag at the airport just before you fly home, you'll pay a lot more.

It can still be cheaper than other airlines, but you need to do the research. We loved the direct flight too. As another poster mentioned, all snacks & drinks are extra on the flight. Think movie theater prices. We take along snacks and buy drinks at the airport before we board.

On another trip, we did better by driving 3 hours to another airport and flying Southwest, saving $400 over the best Allegiant deals. We also enjoyed the ME bus service and did not need a car that trip. Saved the hassles of dealing with Orlando traffic.

I watch the Allegiant deals to LV as we have family there. From what I've seen, they have their "regular" prices 5-6 months out, then rise a bit, then drop, then raise substantially the last week or two before the date. You have to watch often ... and then jump on it ... because they are just as apt to change within even minutes. Yes. Really. Been there.

Have fun planning your vacation!

 

[willoughbyclan]

We have flown Allegiant to the Sanford airport and Delta & American to MCO. Here are some things to keep in mind....

Allegiant flies in the SANFORD airport ... not MCO ... so you do not have access to the free ME bus system. You will need to either rent a car or pay for a taxi or towncar. In our experience, it was cheaper to rent a car than pay for the latter. For that trip, we still saved money with the rental car figured in ... and we ended up with a very sick kid, so it was great to have a car.

Allegiant has tons of hidden fees. Be sure you figure them in. When it has a super deal (say $39.99), in reality that is at the very least $80 - more if you don't opt out of all the add-ons. One way to avoid at least ONE of the hidden fees is to actually go to your airport and book it. They charge a fee for you to book on your own computer or over the phone. Baggage is very expensive too, as well as seating fees, etc. Also, say you are only taking 1 bag down, but may have 2 bags coming home, pay for that when you book. If you add on another bag at the airport just before you fly home, you'll pay a lot more.

It can still be cheaper than other airlines, but you need to do the research. We loved the direct flight too. As another poster mentioned, all snacks & drinks are extra on the flight. Think movie theater prices. We take along snacks and buy drinks at the airport before we board.

On another trip, we did better by driving 3 hours to another airport and flying Southwest, saving $400 over the best Allegiant deals. We also enjoyed the ME bus service and did not need a car that trip. Saved the hassles of dealing with Orlando traffic.

I watch the Allegiant deals to LV as we have family there. From what I've seen, they have their "regular" prices 5-6 months out, then rise a bit, then drop, then raise substantially the last week or two before the date. You have to watch often ... and then jump on it ... because they are just as apt to change within even minutes. Yes. Really. Been there.

Have fun planning your vacation!

Like a previous poster has stated, keep checking their website. I happened to be on the website earlier today and there was fare listed for $9.99 each way from Lexington, KY to MCO.

Fees can add up for bags, selection of seats, flex and convenience fee. My two youngest DDs and I are flying into MCO on 2/1/10 for :

AIRFARE: $59.94
SEGMENT FEES: $21.60
PFC: $27.00
911 SECURITY: $15.00
CONVENIENCE FEE: $42.00

TOTAL: $165.54

I declined bags, selection of seats and flex option. The only extra was the convenience fee of $42.00. I was concerned that the low price would have been gone by the time I drove to the airport.

Taking into consideration that I won't have to pay for parking at the airport this is a really good deal for me. We always fly out of an airport 1 1/2 hours from our home using Southwest and have to pay for parking.

I am glad to see Allegiant flying into MCO starting 2/1/10. I would have used them earlier (flying into to Sanford) but I didn't want to lose the convenience of flying into MCO.

I hope others can benefit.

 

[Maddie2]

I didn't realize that some Allegiant flights will now be flying into MCO. Lucky you! That changes things completely! Wish our airport was on that list, but alas, is not. Wish it were!