BEWARE if Allegiant Air....

[nasmith]

I posted this on the transportation board, but thought it might be useful here, as I only booked thru Allegiant because I was on a "budget".... Now I really wish I hadn't been so cheap....

I was booked to fly from PHF to Orlando (Sanford) on Allegiant Air from Nov. 2 to Nov. 7th.
I had prebooked a car via priceline (nonrefundable) and a hotel (nonrefundable) as well as a F & W dinner (nonrefundable)......Today, Allegiant notified me that the Nov. 7th flight had been changed to Nov. 9th!
I Cannot return two days later, and I think it irresponsible that the airline believes that a 2 day change wouldn't impact me.
I have now booked a US airways flight that will get me back on the 7th (at an out-of-pocket expense of $400, however I still need to figure out how to get from Sanford (where we are arriving and picking up the rental car) to MCO ( where we are departing) (I'm sure that will be an additional expense).

When I called Allegiant to request a refund for the portion of a flight they cancelled, I asked that they give me two carry-on bags (the fees, not the bags) for my return flight to compensate me for my time in fixing this fiasco---- and I was told "NO" (this was a total of $26 credit). It is against their policy - moreover, there isn't a supervisor I could speak to...I was told to write a letter to their customer relations department. There isn't even an e-mail to contact anybody - only snail mail. Unbelieavble. I am so upset about this I am sick to my stomach. My "budget" vacation is no longer so budget.

If anyone has had to deal with anything like this and has any suggestions - I would appreciated it......

Thanks for listening!

 

[scanmom]

is WOW!!! I can't believe that in todays world they have such awful customer service!! I DO believe YOU... I'm in shock. Sorry I cannot be of help, I have never had a problem like this, we don't have Allegiant in my area.... Hope they step up and make this right, financially!

 

[Caseheidi]

We once had our departing flight canceled and pushed back a day, when I had a single night booked non-refundable at a high end hotel. And I only found out because I decided to check our reservation. This was with Alaska. The trouble ended up being our first leg from PDX to SEA had been canceled, but our lone 6 hr flight was available. As it is only a 3 hour drive to SEA for us, we opted to drive it and drop our connecting flights. The airline did not refund us anything as it is stated in the paperwork that it is our responsibility to watch the schedule and it is subject to change. As long as they reschedule you they have kept their obligation. Just another way to make our life more difficult!

 

[maxiesmom]

That is the problem with airlines like Allegiant, who have few planes and limited schedules. When something happens to equipment or with the weather it can take days before you are on another flight.

Sorry you had to find this out the hard way.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

is WOW!!! I can't believe that in todays world they have such awful customer service!! I DO believe YOU... I'm in shock. Sorry I cannot be of help, I have never had a problem like this, we don't have Allegiant in my area.... Hope they step up and make this right, financially!

This isn't "awful customer service" or "shocking." As I already pointed out on OP's duplicate thread, airlines make changes to their schedules all the time. You aren't due any financial compensation if this means you have to change hotel, car rental, or other plans.

 

[DisLis]

Jet Blue cancelled our direct flight and we had to re-book. They gave a $50 credit (not a refund) for the inconvenience. We had several months notification, but I know the flight was cancelled for others without notice. I think that since they would charge me $100 to change my flight, I should have received $100 when they made the change.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

. I think that since they would charge me $100 to change my flight, I should have received $100 when they made the change.

That is ridiculous.

 

[ZehnJahren]

That is ridiculous.

What is TRULY ridiculous is the way the airline industry works. I can't think of a single other business that can take your money and give you nothing in return, legally (like if you have to cancel a flight, and can't travel again in a year). I also can't think of another business where the item you buy can change drastically and without notice, but you have no recourse. It's like saying "oh, I want to buy this $500 pair of red shoes" and when your package arrives, there is a mismatched pair of socks and NO shoes, and the business owner says "oh sorry, we had to change it. But you agreed to our no-refund policy, so enjoy your socks." It's "buyer beware" but it's also "oh COME ON."

I have no idea how an airline can get away with changing a flight for two days later and not having to refund or offer another solution. We had a flight change on United by four hours that was completely covered by United even though it was more expensive. I have had flights cancelled that did not have another flight available until the next day, and we were offered that flight or a refund on our total ticket (on American).

Allegient should be very careful; airlines have a way of going under!

 

[allison443]

I posted this on the transportation board, but thought it might be useful here, as I only booked thru Allegiant because I was on a "budget".... Now I really wish I hadn't been so cheap....

I was booked to fly from PHF to Orlando (Sanford) on Allegiant Air from Nov. 2 to Nov. 7th.
I had prebooked a car via priceline (nonrefundable) and a hotel (nonrefundable) as well as a F & W dinner (nonrefundable)......Today, Allegiant notified me that the Nov. 7th flight had been changed to Nov. 9th!
I Cannot return two days later, and I think it irresponsible that the airline believes that a 2 day change wouldn't impact me.
I have now booked a US airways flight that will get me back on the 7th (at an out-of-pocket expense of $400, however I still need to figure out how to get from Sanford (where we are arriving and picking up the rental car) to MCO ( where we are departing) (I'm sure that will be an additional expense).

When I called Allegiant to request a refund for the portion of a flight they cancelled, I asked that they give me two carry-on bags (the fees, not the bags) for my return flight to compensate me for my time in fixing this fiasco---- and I was told "NO" (this was a total of $26 credit). It is against their policy - moreover, there isn't a supervisor I could speak to...I was told to write a letter to their customer relations department. There isn't even an e-mail to contact anybody - only snail mail. Unbelieavble. I am so upset about this I am sick to my stomach. My "budget" vacation is no longer so budget.

If anyone has had to deal with anything like this and has any suggestions - I would appreciated it......

Thanks for listening!

I hope they refunded your return flight without any problem!! Re: the bolded, not sure I understand, were you asking for an additional $26 refund for what the carry ons will cost you on USAir, and Allegiant wouldn't give you that extra refund?
I'm sorry about your flight being cancelled. That's aggravating, especially when you're on a budget.

 

[maxiesmom]

What is TRULY ridiculous is the way the airline industry works. I can't think of a single other business that can take your money and give you nothing in return, legally (like if you have to cancel a flight, and can't travel again in a year). I also can't think of another business where the item you buy can change drastically and without notice, but you have no recourse. It's like saying "oh, I want to buy this $500 pair of red shoes" and when your package arrives, there is a mismatched pair of socks and NO shoes, and the business owner says "oh sorry, we had to change it. But you agreed to our no-refund policy, so enjoy your socks." It's "buyer beware" but it's also "oh COME ON."

You do have other options than buying the cheapest flights available. You comparison would make more sense if you were comparing socks you purchased at a garage sale with socks you had purchased at Neiman Marcus. You purchase the cheapest thing out there and you can't expect to be treated as if you spent $$$$$$.

Many airlines sell tickets that are refundable. But they are not selling them for their bottom of the barrel price. It is buyer beware. Don't like the rules that govern the ticket, don't buy it. Don't buy non-refundable fares. And don't buy them from an airline with only a few planes that run a limited schedule.

 

[ZehnJahren]

You do have other options than buying the cheapest flights available. You comparison would make more sense if you were comparing socks you purchased at a garage sale with socks you had purchased at Neiman Marcus. You purchase the cheapest thing out there and you can't expect to be treated as if you spent $$$$$$.

Many airlines sell tickets that are refundable. But they are not selling them for their bottom of the barrel price. It is buyer beware. Don't like the rules that govern the ticket, don't buy it. Don't buy non-refundable fares. And don't buy them from an airline with only a few planes that run a limited schedule.

Not everyone who flies can choose to drive for 10 or 20 or 30 hours to their destination instead. Try driving to Europe, or Brazil! Just because you're buying the cheapest ticket shouldn't necessarily mean you get shafted, honestly - are you actually agreeing that it's fair to screw over people if they get something inexpensive and better within their budget? Really?

I'm not comparing socks purchased at Neiman Marcus vs. a garage sale - I'm saying that an airline booking a flight and then cancelling the flight without the possibility of reimbursement is very very much akin to buying something expensive (which every flight is) and getting something completely different than what you purchased but still being told "that's too bad." I think it's insane, and am surprised there hasn't been some sort of regulation on this type of airline behavior.

 

[maxiesmom]

Not everyone who flies can choose to drive for 10 or 20 or 30 hours to their destination instead. Try driving to Europe, or Brazil! Just because you're buying the cheapest ticket shouldn't necessarily mean you get shafted, honestly - are you actually agreeing that it's fair to screw over people if they get something inexpensive and better within their budget? Really?

I'm not comparing socks purchased at Neiman Marcus vs. a garage sale - I'm saying that an airline booking a flight and then cancelling the flight without the possibility of reimbursement is very very much akin to buying something expensive (which every flight is) and getting something completely different than what you purchased but still being told "that's too bad." I think it's insane, and am surprised there hasn't been some sort of regulation on this type of airline behavior.

If you buy a non-refundable fare, that is exactly what it is. Non-refundable. Allegiant states on their web site that all fares are non-refundable. You can't buy a non-refundable ticket and then complain because it is non-refundable. And that is why it is legal for airlines to take money and not have to refund it to you if you change your mind. Which is what you mentioned in your post that I quoted.

The fact is that Allegiant is not a major airline. They do not have numerous flights every day to any destination. Most destinations they don't fly to every day! If they have issues, it is not as simple as booking you on another flight that day. There may not be one! And as unfortunate as that is, that is what has happened to the OP.

If you book a flight on an airline with few flights, and a very limited schedule, you are in a bad place if something happens and the schedule changes. It is a gamble. Looking at it from Allegiant's perspective they didn't cancel the flight. They changed it to another day.

If you book on a small airline, it is indeed buyer beware. Does it stink for the OP? Yes. But they should have had some idea of what they were buying and who they were buying it from.

 

[DeltaDiamond001]

OP, I'm so sorry to hear this!

It sounds like they should have really done something more, or something at all! I'd keep calling and writing until they did something about it. But...

This is why I loveeeeee Delta!

I recently got an e-mail regarding one of my upcoming flights. It was now scheduled to depart two hours before the original time, and because I would not be able to make that flight (prior engagement) I called them up and, without any questions, they switched me to the latest flight that day. JSYK, this was on a non-refundable fare.

I travel quite a bit, and will always fly with Delta!

 

[DisLis]

That is ridiculous.

What can I say? I'm a Libra. Scales of justice and all. Just seemed fair.

 

[lvillotta1]

This is exactly why I only fly Southwest. If Southwest does not fly to where we want to go we do not go.

 

[nasmith]

I didn't post this "Beware...." thread to start an argument......or to have salt rubbed in my wounds regarding a lesson I have already learned. I posted it solely so that others would benefit from my experience and maybe they wouldn't have to learn the hard way. If I had read this review prior to booking that flight, I would have spent a few more dollars and flown with someone else.

BTW- The $26 credit I asked for was for the portion of the flight I was still flying with them.....in other words, it would have cost them nothing except to allow me to bring two carry-ons on board without charging me.....

In defense of my decision to book with a budget airline......I love Disney (and taking vacations) - but vacations are not at the top of my list of financial obligations, therefore, I try to save a few dollars here and there. Instead of booking fully refundable flights, I have prepaid my childrens college funds, paid off our cars, purchased a home, and saved a considerable chunk of money for retirement (hopefully an early one). I assume that everyone on this board is in the same boat as I am, being financially responsible and enjoying a Disney vacation without breaking the bank. However, I have now learned that sometimes it's better to just spend more...if only for the peace of mind......

 

[kaytieeldr]

Caveat emptor. I wouldn't fly Allegiant because it's not jetBlue; sometimes value beats cheap.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not everyone who flies can choose to drive for 10 or 20 or 30 hours to their destination instead. Try driving to Europe, or Brazil! Just because you're buying the cheapest ticket shouldn't necessarily mean you get shafted, honestly - are you actually agreeing that it's fair to screw over people if they get something inexpensive and better within their budget? Really?

I'm not comparing socks purchased at Neiman Marcus vs. a garage sale - I'm saying that an airline booking a flight and then cancelling the flight without the possibility of reimbursement is very very much akin to buying something expensive (which every flight is) and getting something completely different than what you purchased but still being told "that's too bad." I think it's insane, and am surprised there hasn't been some sort of regulation on this type of airline behavior.

I'm not sure if you're not understanding what happened, or if I'm not understanding you.

Nobody was shafted. Nonrefundable airfare means if the passenger makes any changes, or cancels completely, they get no money back and the airline (except Southwest) charges a fee of up to $150 per passenger/ticket to apply the value of the unused ticket toward the purchase of a new one.

When the airline cancels the flight (or, frequently, changes the itinerary dramatically, they will refund even nonrefundable fares.

It's like any consumer product or good: you buy something and choose not to use it for any reason, that's not the seller's responsibility or within their control. You buy something that subsequently the seller can't deliver, barring bankruptcy you're 100% entitled to a refund. eta: okay, even when a company files for reorganization, customers are still entitled to refunds - just that, as unsecured creditors, they're among the last to be ordered to be paid; aka, they probably don't .

 

[mousey]

This is exactly how Direct Air was operating before they ceased operations for good! Hope all works out for you!

 

[kaytieeldr]

They're very different companies operated differently. Allegiant isn't going out of business or into Chapter 11.