Allegiant March 2014 prices through the roof

[Ladygoldenhair]

Ugh! I can't believe the entire month of March every airport worth a drive to had more the double to a lot of triple rates! I am guessing it is the Spring break time. But the day they had March flights open I am seeing $149 to $186 one way with only 5 seats left?

That is just crazy! If we fly them multiple trips at their advertised low rate how do they get away with the increase. They couldn't have sold out in all markets down to 5 seats when flights were available. Seems odd they all have only 5 seats left.

We were planning a trip to a convention. Now I am not sure what plan B is except the train. So much for a family trip.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not five seats left. Five seats available at that fare. Maybe you'll have to drive to a more distant airport to find a more affordable fare.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Sorry, meant to go back and read it because i was thinking that is only five seats at that rate, the rest is going to be even higher!

They only go up after that rate is gone, they advertise he lower rates why escalate them for Spring break? I can see the major carriers based on demand, but Allegiant is marketing low rates starting a xyz. I've already had $55.00. Guess we're taking he train.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't have experience with Allegiant but I've seen other airlines fares go down after the initial release of fares. If they aren't selling, they usually drop. I would keep watching.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

I don't have experience with Allegiant but I've seen other airlines fares go down after the initial release of fares. If they aren't selling, they usually drop. I would keep watching.

Thanks, I never found any rates this high with them.
I've been stalking the release to take dd to a convention. This was an un expected find. the first trip out of our local market release date was $55 with fees. I checked airports for 100 miles and they are all the same excessive rate.

 

[nacho113]

If its a popular time to fly (ie: spring break), you may find that prices continue to rise until the flight is sold out.
Conversely, if the sales start to lag against the projected sales, then prices may drop to stimulate sales of seats.
Ideally Allegiant wants every seat to be filled on every flight. It doesn't always happen but from my experience, the software they use to predict and adjust pricing to reach the goal of a full plane does a pretty darn good job of achieving this.

Something that we have noticed about Allegiants pricing is to sign up for there emails and check pricing as soon they announce specials. It seems that they usually load some of the entry level pricing into the mix to stimulate sales at these times.
We have also seen some great prices come out late on Thursday or Friday evenings or early Saturday mornings.
And finally some of the best pricing can usually be found if you have a lot of flexibility in your itinerary.
For example; if flights are on Fridays and Mondays, quite often the Friday outbound flights can get filled and therefore more expensive (higher demand) while the Friday return flights stay relatively low in price since most people would rather stay for the extra days and return on the Monday.
The same is also true the other way around; Monday outbound flights tend to have lower costs than Friday outbound flights since most people would rather have the extra days by departing on Friday rather than Monday.

The plane has to fly both ways anyway so if you have flexibility to leave on a Monday and return on a Friday (as in this example), You could take 11 days (mon-FRi) and save some big $$ .
If you HAVE to fly Fri-Fri or Fri-Mon due to time constraints, you will invariably be paying higher fares (per the example above)
Also any high demand periods will always garner premium prices (ie; Christmas, Spring Break, Summer vacation periods etc)

Wow that took way longer to say than I thought it would.
Sorry if it sounded like a rant, just trying to share some of my observations of Allegiants pricing. I have noticed similar pricing models with other budget airlines also.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

It just feels like gouging to me due to Spring break. They advertised in the market low $77 rates, which I found a few seats even lower our previous trip, why not still provide the same number of $77 seats, as usual, with the normal increase?

$177, Geez, that is an extra $100 each leg added on from any of our previous or current flights to start, even if they added $50 but $100?

Unless they drop to fill the plane I am not paying it. As there is a convention for dd we may do the train, or pass on the convention.

 

[Traveliz]

It just feels like gouging to me due to Spring break. They advertised in the market low $77 rates, which I found a few seats even lower our previous trip, why not still provide the same number of $77 seats, as usual, with the normal increase?

$177, Geez, that is an extra $100 each leg added on from any of our previous or current flights to start, even if they added $50 but $100?

Unless they drop to fill the plane I am not paying it. As there is a convention for dd we may do the train, or pass on the convention.

If its Spring Break its highly unlikely they will need to drop prices to fill the plane.

Liz

 

[dansyr2514]

We've used Allegiant a bunch of times. I can almost guarantee you'll see that price drop. I can't guarantee how long it will stay like that though. My advice is to keep checking daily. My flight in December was $100 including bags and other fees one way. After I booked it went way up. Then it came way down again. Good luck! I'm also still looking for a return flight. Southwest is ridiculous right now. I will continue to play the waiting game and hope for the best.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

I have found with Allegiant that we are better of buying one ticket at a time. If traveling with children, if possible, we have separated and put one child with each adult. when we put a second child I have seen the price go up. I always check fares one adult at a time.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

I have found with Allegiant that we are better of buying one ticket at a time. If traveling with children, if possible, we have separated and put one child with each adult. when we put a second child I have seen the price go up. I always check fares one adult at a time.

I agree, I have found tickets for $55 booking one at a time. Going to the airport also and using a debit card has saved fees.
But, this tarting price is crazy high. I hope it goes own, but not holding my breath.