Allegiant is Leaving HSV

[clkelley]

Well, another low cost carrier bites the dust in Huntsville.

First Airtran tried direct flights into Orlando out of Huntsville, and left again.

Independence Air tried for awhile and totally went under

Now Allegiant tried for just under a year and is leaving again.

Now once again, we're down to really only one choice to get to MCO from Huntsville and that's Delta.

 

[DebbieB]

To be honest, I'd be very careful booking these small airlines. They could go bankrupt and close at a moment's notice, similiar to ATA did this week. With fuel prices through the roof, they may not have enough equity to keep going.

 

[DisFlan]

Bummer! I hope they don't pull out of Springfield, Mo. It's our ONLY direct flight to Orlando. Any other direct flight is 3-5 hrs. away.

DisFlan

 

[Ham Ham]

Is driving an option?

Only seems like about a 9 or 10 hour drive.
Our drive is 24 hours.

Your home to the hotel is at least 5 hours of flying and TSA time.

 

[MScott1851]

That sucks....

I remember being so excited when Delta started the non-stop from HSV to MCO a few years ago. I HATED having to fly to Atlanta and change planes whenever we went to Disney.

I guess the best option now would be to drive to Birmingham and go Southwest, right? Or Nashville, if the price/itinerary is better on SWA.

 

[bicker]

To be honest, I'd be very careful booking these small airlines. They could go bankrupt and close at a moment's notice, similiar to ATA did this week.

And Champion, and Aloha, and Skybus.

 

[tennvalgirl]

When does it end?

 

[clkelley]

Is driving an option?

Only seems like about a 9 or 10 hour drive.
Our drive is 24 hours.

Your home to the hotel is at least 5 hours of flying and TSA time.

Yep, we drive most of the time, especially when we take the camper. However, sometimes we like to go for a quick weekend, and flying is the only way to do that and having some competition to a location helps the flight prices.

I guess the main reason I was bummed is for our next trip in October, I was going to drive down with the camper, and DH was going to fly down on Allegient. Since I would have the truck and could pick him up AND take his luggage, his flight would be really cheap. We broke down and used a FF ticket on the Delta flight.

 

[clkelley]

That sucks....

I remember being so excited when Delta started the non-stop from HSV to MCO a few years ago. I HATED having to fly to Atlanta and change planes whenever we went to Disney.

I guess the best option now would be to drive to Birmingham and go Southwest, right? Or Nashville, if the price/itinerary is better on SWA.

Yep, we use the Nashville SW flights quite often (Great schedule, late night flight to WDW, and late night flight home), but DH really prefers to fly out of HSV if possible.

 

[bicker]

When does it end?

Well, business cycles themselves never end... I suppose that's why they're called cycles. However, the amount of volatility we see now in the domestic airline industry won't end until it is making money (currently 2.2% net profit margin) like the domestic communications industry is making money (currently 10.5% net profit margin).

If you're investing your hard-earned income to save for a comfortable retirement, would you prefer to make 2.2% interest, or 10.5% interest?

 

[tennvalgirl]

You're right clkelley.

I phrased my question wrong however, last week I went on Allegiant's booking site and you could book for Sept.

I looked again this morning and service ends Thursday May 29.

 

[SkcMom]

You mean service ends from your airport or all of their service ends? We use Allegiant to fly out of our home airport in Missouri and I am waiting to book for September. My computer was down last week but other than that I check everyday for them to include September flights.

 

[clkelley]

Service ends from our airport.

 

[SkcMom]

Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

Be sure to book with a credit card, not a debit card. If they stop service, it will be easier to get your money back.

 

[bicker]

And book within 60 days of your flight; most credit cards promise to refund your money if your supplier doesn't perform (i.e., your airline goes under) as long as you made your purchase within 60 days of contesting the charge.