Keeping my fingers crossed

[soar2014]

I checked on airfare with all major carriers,,it's around $4000 for a family of five to fly from Charlotte. Allegiant flies to Sanford airport at $800 for a family of five so duh, I took it. Now that we're locked in to the tickets I'm just now seeing all the nightmare stories about Allegiant.
It's not little things either, they will not give recompense for problems that arise even though they say on their website that they will. Some folks complain about little things they should have read in their contract when booking like charging for drinks, and charging for carry-ons, but I'm concerned with flights not even showing up!
Tell me about your story with Allegiant

 

[Carriemel]

I'd like to know how it would cost 4K to fly 5 people from Charlotte to Orlando???

I looked for a spring break week - March 14-21, and came up with 295 round trip per person on USAir, and in my book, that's under 1500.

I honestly don't think I would have jumped to Allegiant. Not only do you have all the fees with checked/carry on bags, but you've got an added expense of renting a car and driving to your hotel, since there's no shuttle service.

Allegiant generally offers only one flight a day per destination, so if the flight you're scheduled on cancels for any reason, you may not be able to get out the same day (or even within 2 or 3 days).

 

[csjordan]

I live in Greensboro (actually High Point, but same difference) and flew Sanford to GSO last Spring. Flight was great. No delays. I had also heard about bad ratings and such, and was a little nervous, but it turned out great! Airport is easy to get to and around. Nice employees. We are flying them again Sanford to GSO 4/12 after our long Spring Break weekend. Flying SW down on points. Now, we are going back to WDW for Christmas week and I've been looking over flights. Of course SW and Allegiant don't have their schedules out yet, but the prices on Delta, US Air, etc... are CRAZY HIGH! I mean crazy! One way down out of Charlotte over $300!! One way! It is a little less expensive to fly out of GSO and RDU, with GSO being the cheapest, so far! If prices stay this high, I will definitely be on SW or Allegiant!

 

[csjordan]

I checked on airfare with all major carriers,,it's around $4000 for a family of five to fly from Charlotte. Allegiant flies to Sanford airport at $800 for a family of five so duh, I took it. Now that we're locked in to the tickets I'm just now seeing all the nightmare stories about Allegiant.
It's not little things either, they will not give recompense for problems that arise even though they say on their website that they will. Some folks complain about little things they should have read in their contract when booking like charging for drinks, and charging for carry-ons, but I'm concerned with flights not even showing up!
Tell me about your story with Allegiant

P.S. to my prior message...yes, you do pay for snacks, drinks, but it is less than a 2 hour flight. We did not have anything to drink while on the plane. By the time you are at cruising altitude, you are headed back down. One other note...purchase your luggage BEFORE the flight. It is a lot less expensive! Something like $15 per bag versus double or more that at the airport. Reasonable for luggage, I think.

 

[soar2014]

Thanks for your messages. I guess it's up to fate now anyway!
Yes, a fare from CLT to MCO isn't usually that high but when I searched for the first week of June I found one quote at $4500.00, no joke. Makes little sense to me as well but there you have it.

 

[Carriemel]

Here's the problem, and why you found a quote at 4500.00. I think the quote you may have seen might have been first class. I'm now looking - just fyi - at May 31 to June 7, and finding rates of 147 going and 149 coming per person. There are rates of up to 1400 per person each way, but that is in first class.

I hope you have no issues with Allegiant.

 

[nacho113]

We have used Allegiantair several times and find them to have decent flights and prices. Flight crews have always been pleasant and courteous.
Flights can run from right on time to 30-60 minutes delayed (kind of like a lot of other airlines)
Their flights are nonstop within the Continental US and less than 3 hours so I can usually go without a "free" drink for that long. If not, it's only a couple of bucks for a Coke.
We love that they fly in/out of the smaller airports (easier to navigate, short lines at security etc)
Did I mention non-stop flights.
On board entertainment is up to you so bring a book or tablet. (Our last United flight had an OB entertainment system but they wanted an CC and $5.99/person to use it)
Need a adult drink on board? That's $5-$8 (same as almost every other airline unless you're flying First Class)
Baggage fees? Big money maker for the industry. SW doesn't service our local airport so I can't use them to get the free checked bags which means United, Delta etc. and Baggage fees.
Pack light to minimize these fees (whichever airline you choose). DW and I did 9 days in Orlando with just 2 carry-ons and 2 personal items (pack smart/light and plan to do a load of laundry mid vacation. Also wear heavier clothing (jeans, jacket, hoodie, shoes, etc) on the plane.
Never had a cancelled flight with Allegiant but some friends of ours did (mechanical issues) and the airline brought in another plane later that day. Instead of arriving mid afternoon, they arrived at almost midnight (an inconvenience I know, but the airline took care of the problem). We had a United flight cancelled on us at 6am in Orlando and we ended up squeezed onto a later flight through Denver which was delayed and missed our connect so we didn't get home till middle of the next day (poop happens at almost any airline)

 

[whitneypb85]

We booked flights last week from CLT to MCO on US Air for $300 R/T for June 10-15. I havent flown Allegiant before and I won't as long as I can get decent airfare with US or American. Are you sure you weren't looking at first class? That just seems to be way too much!