BEWARE if Allegiant Air....

[mousey]

Direct Air wasn't going out of business or in Chapter 11 when we booked our trip months beforehand. Many people including my family were affected by the actions of Direct Air. Southwest, Jet Blue, Airtran, etc...all have backup plans. These rinky dink airlines don't! What major company doing any kind of buisness doesn't have supervisors to handle problems??

 

[ZehnJahren]

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


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 .

You're not understanding me, but that's fine.

You hit the nail on the head with EXACTLY what I'm saying. If you buy something that the seller can't deliver you're entitled to a refund. The OP bought airfare on a certain day at a certain time, and the seller can't deliver because they cancelled the flight. It was my belief OP said they were NOT getting that part of the trip refunded, which is what set me off on a random airline BS rant. (Airline policy ticks me off in general, so it didn't take much.)

I get "nonrefundable", though I don't entirely agree with the idea but that's just me thinking that people get jobbed on pretty much everything they buy these days - unless they're rich. But it seemed to be worded that OP is NOT getting a refund.

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)... My "budget" vacation is no longer so budget.

From this, I'm guessing that the $26 isn't what's breaking them - it's the cost of buying a second flight and not receiving a refund from the first. If that's the case, that's nuts. If that's not the case, then clarity is the issue here.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Clarity is the issue. Allegiant refunded the fare for the cancelled flight. They wouldn't also comply with her request that they waive the carry-on fee for two bags on her outbound flight for her time / aggravation / inconvenience / et cetera relating to having to make alternate return arrangements.

 

[Friendly Frog]

Well twice I have tried to do a long reply to this thread and twice I have timed out and lost my post....

I will just quickly say. THANKS OP for the warning.

A two day delay is terrible!!!!!! Unless it was an act of God (weather related) they should have refunded your money AND gave you the free bag check with out blinking an eye. Terrible customer service.

 

[4 Ears]

Try disputing the charge with you cc company. They may not be able to do anything til the 6th passes but is needs to be on record now

 

[kaytieeldr]

The low-cost airlines, including Allegiant (generally all airlines but it changes from time to time) sell one-way fares.
The original poster purchased two one-way fares.
The flight in one direction was cancelled and she was notified (seemingly in compliance with DOT or FAA regulations) of the cancellation and her reassignment.
That reschedule doesn't fit her travel plans so she called the airline to cancel that flight and get her money refunded. Allegiant will refund her because they made a dramatic change to her itinerary.
In addition to the refund, she wants compensation in the form of exemption from the fee for carry-on luggage for the flight she's still taking. One flight has zero effect on the other, and there are apparently no exemptions from baggage fees.

The extra expense to which the original poster refers is tge higher cost of having to buy a ticket on a different airline closer to her vacation - so, likely, at a higher cost than the original ticket. Allegiant isn't keeping her return ticket fare.

 

[crashbb]

From this, I'm guessing that the $26 isn't what's breaking them - it's the cost of buying a second flight and not receiving a refund from the first. If that's the case, that's nuts. If that's not the case, then clarity is the issue here.

The OP has clarified that they ARE getting a refund for the flight that they are not taking. The $26 is something that they want in addition to the refund. You aren't understanding the situation.

ETA - I see now that the OP has two threads on this subject. In the other thread, it was clear that a refund for the unused flight was given. On this thread, this isn't as clear.

 

[tarak]

The OP has clarified that they ARE getting a refund for the flight that they are not taking. The $26 is something that they want in addition to the refund. You aren't understanding the situation.

ETA - I see now that the OP has two threads on this subject. In the other thread, it was clear that a refund for the unused flight was given. On this thread, this isn't as clear.

I haven't read the other thread, but I was under the impression she wasn't given a refund for the other flight. It might be I didn't read the original post closely enough.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Direct Air wasn't going out of business or in Chapter 11 when we booked our trip months beforehand. Many people including my family were affected by the actions of Direct Air. Southwest, Jet Blue, Airtran, etc...all have backup plans. These rinky dink airlines don't! What major company doing any kind of buisness doesn't have supervisors to handle problems??

Direct Air wasn't going out of business or in Chapter 11 when we booked our trip months beforehand. Many people including my family were affected by the actions of Direct Air. Southwest, Jet Blue, Airtran, etc...all have backup plans. These rinky dink airlines don't! What major company doing any kind of buisness doesn't have supervisors to handle problems??

Direct Air was NOT an airline. They were a charter business.

If people spent 5 minutes doing a little research before jumping on a low price, they wouldn't get burned.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Try disputing the charge with you cc company. They may not be able to do anything til the 6th passes but is needs to be on record now

Dispute what??

The OP got a refund for the flight which was changed. She is not due any other compensation, including free checked bags. If she chooses to rebook on another airline at a higher price, she absorbs the cost.

 

[disneymarie]

Could they at least get you to Allentown for the 7th? Too late now with a rebook already but thought it would be an option. I never book all three together, and get trip insurance. Went Allegiant a few weeks ago because the local, 20 mile away airport had rediculous low rates the month they started flights. But the add on cost for luggage even an overhead, plus pay for a bottle of water $2.50 was cheapo's.

Flight was smooth and only 1 hr 45 minutes direct flight for $35, $55, and , $77 plus airport fee was super cheap. Less the two hrs to Disney! Wow!
I rented a minivan from Orbitz, $300 for 8 days. It was cancelabel from Orbitz.

Hope your trip works out wonderful, for all this aggravation.

 

[sammielynn]

Last summer I booked my DS's a flight home on Allegiant and they changed the flight dates. They allowed me to change flights with no cost. We changed arrival airports and that even worked out better for me. I would call and see if you got a different answer from someone else.

 

[blessedby3]

We have flown Allegiant a couple of times...but that was years ago. They have changed so much and added fees for everything, that they arent so budget anymore. I also dont like that they only fly 2 days a week and one flight a day. Makes me nervous if something were to happen...just like what has happened to you, OP.
I prefer SWA but we have to drive 3 hrs to an airport that uses SWA. We have just given up on flying for the most part and have driven our last 3 Disney trips. 12 hours in the van, but not so much aggravation.

 

[crashbb]

Last summer I booked my DS's a flight home on Allegiant and they changed the flight dates. They allowed me to change flights with no cost. We changed arrival airports and that even worked out better for me. I would call and see if you got a different answer from someone else.

The problem is that Allegiant has no flights that work for the OP. Calling back isn't going to help.

 

[csharpwv]

OK, without getting in to the politics of it all.....

This is what an airline industry that isn't regulated by the government looks like.

The consumer is at the sole mercy of the corporation, without recourse.

In a day and age where government regulation is often painted as a 'bad' thing, we have to remember WHY things are regulated....

For the protection of the consumer.

Should the airline industry fall back under government regulation, things like this may not happen - but there really would be no such thing as a 'budget' airline, because the price controls would be regulated as well.

Your recourse at this point is through what government regulation DOES exist through the Department of Transportation Aviation Consumer Protection division.

We are indeed at the mercy of the airlines - but you aren't totally without recourse.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The consumer is at the sole mercy of the corporation, without recourse.

Corporation provides transportation at a different time or on the next closest possible date = solution.
Corporation refunds payment in full when solutions are not satisfactory to the consumer = recourse.

 

[bea2269]

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......

Thank you for your review. I was pondering booking through them for our trip to WDW in June. (yay! First time ever.) I think now l would rather spend more and fly Delta. I was wondering what the catch was, and I would have to either add or subtract a day to get home. I'm sorry your experience was so poor with them.

 

[furb & dez]

People seem to refuse to accept the lesson that being cheap can be very expensive.

 

[manning]

I showed up at the airport once to find out the 10pm and last flight of the day was cancelled. It was 18 hours drive time to the army base and I had to be back by midnight the next day. Of course everything is booked the next day. All my leave was used up and I only had 30 days before my discharge. I didn't want a 15 day article 15. That would have meant discharge would be pushed back. That was a long drive back.

It happened in the mid 60s. What's that saying? "What's changed ?"