Allegiant Packing Strategies

[jsantini]

My family will be flying Allegiant to Sanford in late Nov, and I'm trying to figure out how to best pack because my husband and I only paid to check one bag between us. We usually do a lot of Christmas shopping at WDW. I figure we'll also have a bit more clothes packed than usual because of the variance in weather in Orlando at that time of year--need layers. The carry on size regulation for Allegiant looks like you can only use a very small carry on bag--smaller than a carry on suitcase. Has anyone flown Allegiant to Sanford that can tell me how they made the most of the carry on allowance? Does it work to carry on folded garment bags? Is a small carry on duffel or suitcase ok? We did not pay for priority boarding either, so we may be going on after others who are stowing plenty of carry on. TIA!

 

[jbdisneymom13]

It's been awhile since we flew Allegiant to Sanford, but at that time you could add extra bags and pay for them at the airport if you needed to. So if you're at Disney and buy more than planned (like we have done in the past) then you can just buy an extra Disney bag (we bought the rolling duffle on special at DTD with the purchase $$ of merchadise) and checked that as well on the way home. Or there's always the option of shipping it home although I prefer to bring it with me. I believe the carry on size is fairly small, but we always made use of the carry on plus one personal item - my "purse" is really a very large bag so along with my duffle I can fit a lot of things!

 

[duffy]

I'm also flying with Allegiant in late November. We're not using any checked luggage-nothing but carry-ons! I figure we will probably end up doing at least one load of laundry late in the trip.

We will also WEAR a lot of clothing on the flight! I plan to probably wear a tank, covered with a tee shirt, covered with a button-up blouse, and topped with a hoodie. As long as I don't spill anything, the outer layers should stay clean. We will wear our bulkiest shoes and pack the flatter sandals.

I also am planning to do what we've never done before: mail myself a box down to the resort about a week before. I'm going to pack all the little things in it, and will probably mail it back home too. A flat-rate box is a lot cheaper than the $30 for one suitcase that Allegiant charges!

As far as the luggage goes, we have legal carry-ons, and I will probably use backpacks for our "personal items". I'll stick my purse for carrying into the parks inside my backpack.

 

[jsantini]

Thanks! These are great suggestions. I think we'll definitely utilize backpacks as carry on and layer for the flight as well.

 

[4evr@dzny]

I fly Allegiant quite often and their dimensions for carry-ons are the same as most other airlines. Allegiant = 9 x 14 x 22; United = 9 x 14 x 22; American = 45 inches total. I try to err on the smaller side of these dimensions. Wearing a jacket instead of filling the suitcase with it isn't a bad idea anyway. It gives you a pillow or extra warmth when the planes are freezing.
One time the lady at the ticket counter thought my bag was too big, so I put it in the rack they have to check dimensions. She still thought it was too big, so she came from behind the counter and put it in the rack with the wheels on the top. Made no sense to me, but she seemed to think it somehow got smaller when it was upside down and she OK'd it.
I usually take a bag of the above dimensions and a backpack (school size not a 'going all over Europe for the summer' size.).

 

[Anal Annie]

You need to start using packing cubes!! You will be AMAZED at how much you can get into them! The only thing is that you'll have to watch the weight limit on your checked bag 'cuz you'll fit so much into it with them!!

Check this out:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5248194_pack-light-avoid-airline-fees.html

 

[jsantini]

I fly Allegiant quite often and their dimensions for carry-ons are the same as most other airlines. Allegiant = 9 x 14 x 22; United = 9 x 14 x 22; American = 45 inches total. I try to err on the smaller side of these dimensions. Wearing a jacket instead of filling the suitcase with it isn't a bad idea anyway. It gives you a pillow or extra warmth when the planes are freezing.
One time the lady at the ticket counter thought my bag was too big, so I put it in the rack they have to check dimensions. She still thought it was too big, so she came from behind the counter and put it in the rack with the wheels on the top. Made no sense to me, but she seemed to think it somehow got smaller when it was upside down and she OK'd it.
I usually take a bag of the above dimensions and a backpack (school size not a 'going all over Europe for the summer' size.).

Thanks! I don't know why the dimensions sounded smaller to me. I've been shopping for carryon luggage onlilne today and noticed that many of the options cleared for carry-on have similar dimensions to what you listed, but ordered differently so I suppose it all works out.

 

[jsantini]

You need to start using packing cubes!! You will be AMAZED at how much you can get into them! The only thing is that you'll have to watch the weight limit on your checked bag 'cuz you'll fit so much into it with them!!

Check this out:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5248194_pack-light-avoid-airline-fees.html

I'm going to have to try these! I'm actually thinking about ordering a large wheeled duffle for this trip's carryon, so they'd be extra-handy. I also think I have some of those zipped covers sheets come in somewhere around our house, which may work for some things too.