Our (mis)adventures with Allegiant

[diswedwish]

Oh happy day, we're going to Disney!!! We board the plane, we sit, we sit, we sit, we sit..... 20 min. pass, 30 min. pass, the captain comes on board. "Folks, our cargo door is malfunctioning, so just sit tight, it may be more comfortable to wait in the terminal, but just hang on for a few minutes."

20 min. later we disembark the plane. No one knows how long it will take. Yep, I am what you call the commando traveler. This was the beginning of the "I learn how to be flexible" trip

We left from Allentown, PA. Eventually. We were picked up by Bob from SunRay who I will write a glowing review about in a few minutes. I called him and said "what do I do? I have no idea when we're landing." We were supposed to get in around 9 pm. He said "no worries, no extra charge, just call when you know for sure."

Everyone else was in a panic. We were landing in Sanford. Alamo and Enterprise were the rental car agencies of choice. Enterprise told them tough noogies, we're here until 11pm too bad if you're not. Alamo said "we'll stay until you get here".

Allegiant put out soda for us. I took a can of Diet Coke. It expired in October of 2006. Good stuff. They ordered 45 pizzas. From the same Dominos. They arrived at 11:45 pm. Guess you can guess how fresh and hot they tasted

Allentown airport is small. They only establishment open was the bar. People were upset so of course some started to drink. Right before the pizzas arrived, an 82 year old man passed out and hit the floor. He was drunk. Response was quick and they took him to the hospital.

They moved us to another terminal a bit further from the bar and shut it down. Our flight left around 1:30 am. Why? Allegiant is based in FL and they needed to fly a mechanic from St. Petersburg, FL, to fix our plane of course

So Bob picked us up, our luggage arrived very quickly and we were on our way. I knew the half marathon was that day and I hoped that we wouldn't run into an road closures. Which of course we did But no worries, we got to POFQ, checked in, got 3 hours of sleep and were on our way to Epcot.

The flight home was much less eventful. 2 pieces of our luggage were torn - the outside pockets - but honestly that could have been a defect in the luggage.

And for our delay we were given 2 $60 vouchers to use on future travel, but it must be completed before our prior reservation was booked - so for us (because I am super planner) that would be August 17, 2007. So basically it would be an almost free one-way flight. If we want to take a chance

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Truthfully, that sounds like Allegiant did more then what most airlines would do in this type of event. Ive had such delays with NWA and there answer was, wait. It was nice that Allegiant ordered pizza and soda (even though it was cold) to accomidate the lack of restaurants in the terminal. To me, it sounds like Allegiant went over and beyond simply "dealing" with the issue...

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Sounds like a rocky start...hope your trip was good!

 

[CarolA]

The big risk with this airline was IF they couldn't fix the plane they actually have the VERY real option of giving you your cash back and they are DONE! They don't even have to try to put you on a flight tomorrow etc and of course they have NO agreements with other airlines. On other airlines there are some safeguards on mechanicals of this lenght. (You can ask to be written over for example to another airline or they can start sticking as many of you as possible on thier other flights. As a Charter airline your risk is the "one plane" will break (as you saw!)

 

[seashoreCM]

For charter flights and international flights, it is really a good idea to be at the airport extra early so you don't miss the plane all by yourself. If you are using Disney's Magical Express, specifically requesting a bus time more than 3 hours in advance is a good idea.

Just about any airline, under some conditions, has the right to refund your money and be done with you if a flight is cancelled. But the contract of carriage may say that the airline must endeavor or must use its best efforts to transport you and that has some effect too. For example if they have another suitable available flight, not honoring your ticket might be considered not endeavoring.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

More (highly off topic): Click here, hold the mouse button down, and pull the mouse towards you.


>>> Our cargo door... or ... Count your blessings

Oh happy day, correction, what a sad day since their vacation in Hawaii was ending.

They board and the plane takes off on time and normally.

As the plane is halfway to cruising altitude there is a tremendous wrenching sound. The cargo door has malfunctioned! No one knew it earlier so the captain had not announced "Folks, our cargo door ..." and remained on the ground.

There is now a tremendous roaring sound heard by all from just in front of the wings as a gaping hole has been torn in the fuselage. One row of seats with its hapless occupants together with various baggage has fallen through and overboard. The folks in the next row are hanging on for dear life seeing the ocean far down below.

The captain radios an SOS. The plane turns around and, oh happy day, it lands safely back in Honolulu. Everyone claps as the runway is seen, white stripes racing by, through the hole.

They conclude that the cargo door, now missing, probably had not been latched properly.

The news article I read did not say what kind of vouchers the passengers received for the big scare and the inconvenience that followed.

Did those passengers leave on the next plane? I suppose so; they did take a chance.

To this day neither the cargo door nor the row of seats and its passengers has been recovered.

 

[diswedwish]

Geez, I wasn't asking to be slammed; yes I sure am glad we got there safely and of course I didn't want them to take off too soon. We were not among the many screaming people in the airport terminal that night. We just sat there quietly awaiting events. I thought it was a funny story. I'd never had anything like that happen to me before...

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Geez, I wasn't asking to be slammed; yes I sure am glad we got there safely and of course I didn't want them to take off too soon. We were not among the many screaming people in the airport terminal that night. We just sat there quietly awaiting events. I thought it was a funny story. I'd never had anything like that happen to me before...

No, im sorry if i came off that way What I meant was that I think Allegiant made the right decision and did everything they could to help you guys out. Im happy that you made it to Orlando just fine....Sorry for the confusion

 

[diswedwish]

That's okay. We just got back last night and I'm starting to think that 14 days waiting patiently in line and on the bus and so forth has made me a tad too sensitive. Sorry...

 

[CarolA]

Geez, I wasn't asking to be slammed; yes I sure am glad we got there safely and of course I didn't want them to take off too soon. We were not among the many screaming people in the airport terminal that night. We just sat there quietly awaiting events. I thought it was a funny story. I'd never had anything like that happen to me before...

I hope you didn't think I was slamming you! If it was me please know I didn't mean to come across that way (Slamming the airline maybe, you NO, it's not like you broke the plane. and I think you showed much more patience then I am known to have LOL! That's one of the reasons I choose not to fly charters, but I know the price is right!)

 

[Yosemite Mice]

As a Charter airline your risk is the "one plane" will break (as you saw!)

Just to correct this information, Allegiant is not a charter airline. They hold the same type of operator certificate as Delta, United, and the others.

Allegiant currently owns 24 aircraft and will be adding 10 to 15 more this year.

Also FYI their stock went public in December at $18 a share and closed Friday at $29.51. Wish I had bought some a few weeks ago.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Just to correct this information, Allegiant is not a charter airline. They hold the same type of operator certificate as Delta, United, and the others.

Allegiant currently owns 24 aircraft and will be adding 10 to 15 more this year.

Also FYI their stock went public in December at $18 a share and closed Friday at $29.51. Wish I had bought some a few weeks ago.

Yep, Allegiant had/has one of the most aggressive business plans in the industry. They went to all the smaller airports and captured people with consistantly low fares, nonstop flights and no frills all economy cabins. There are rumors that Allegiant might go into an all Boeing fleet (I believe the 737-5 is what the speculation was).

 

[DebbieB]

I've found it's kind of risky to take an airline that only has 1 or 2 flights out of a small airport. Years ago I was in Atlantic City waiting to fly home on Spirit. They needed a part for the plane and we had to wait hours for the part to arrive on a flight from Florida. It's not like when you are at a hub where they can pull an extra plane out of the hanger or they can put you on another airline. Just a factor to consider when selecting flights.

 

[seashoreCM]

I've found it's kind of risky to take an airline that only has 1 or 2 flights out of a small airport. Years ago I was in Atlantic City waiting to fly home on Spirit. They needed a part for the plane and we had to wait hours for the part to arrive on a flight from Florida. It's not like when you are at a hub where they can pull an extra plane out of the hanger or they can put you on another airline. Just a factor to consider when selecting flights.

When you are the new kid on the block you need to bend over backwards to attract a following even if the results stick in your throat for a long long time.

When long established airlines started having financial trouble and threatened bankruptcy, they, too, started to get shunned. It took legislation (for example mandating that other major carriers honor a bankrupt airline's tickets for at most a nominal fee) that prevented rapid mass defection of passengers.

 

[Yosemite Mice]

Many of the small cities that Allegiant flies to see only a few flights a day on small prop or regional jet planes even on the larger airlines. That is one reason Allegiant with its larger jets is becoming popular.

The other is avoiding missing connections at a larger airport. There is nothing I hate more than sleeping in an airport because I missed a connecting flight because of a problem. Few of the cities that Allegiant serves have non-stops to Orlando or Las Vegas.

 

[Mskanga]

Jamie I was on that flight too with my family, while I understand that planes break and all that I think the big problem here was that people were not being updated with what was going on unless we asked and even with that we were told "we don't know"
I was greatful that at least they provided food and drinks , personally I called national car rental in sanford and found out from them that our flight was not supposed to arrive there till 3:30 am and they would wait for us.
I was lucky to have my laptop with me and with the free wireless internet service at the airport , I plugged it in the electrical outlet and I was getting more information that way. It also kept us entertained.
I have to say the little kids going on that flight behaved wonderfully and most of us took it in stride , what else could we do right ?
I still wonder what happened to the old man that collapsed in the hallway though , I hope he's ok.
BTW , this has also happened to me with big airline companies in international airports and they have not been able to put us on another flight so it happens to big and small companies in big and small airports.

 

[diswedwish]

The only reason we had some sort of idea was because of my mom, the smoker (one time I was glad she smokes!). Every time she went out she had to go through security. They had to stay late too, so she asked them if they knew what was going on - if they got overtime, if they wanted her to bring them some pizza, that type of thing. So she would get filtered down information. I think that they didn't want to tell us exactly what was going on because then people would get even more upset. When we were still sitting on the plane we were behind one guy in his 20s who was talking on his cell phone about the stupid *insert numerous expletives*airline, then said "Bye Mom!" My mom and I just couldn't help laughing... He wasn't on the plane once we finally got going...

We were sitting on the floor by an outlet (my cell phone's battery was almost dead) and 2 of the people we were talking to were volunteering for the Marathon. One was a firefighter, and he heard and saw the old man go down and was the first to run towards him/respond. That's how I know he was probably just drunk - we all thought for sure he had a heart attack, but he did regain consciousness. He hit his head fairly hard and might have had a concussion and didn't seem lucid; I think they took him away in an ambulance. The firefighter didn't seem too concerned when he came back, so I don't think it was anything too serious.

How funny that 2 Disers were on the same flight?

 

[Mskanga]

OMG Jamie......I was sitting like 3 rows behind the guy you described on the phone......were you sitting infront of me???? ROFL
My husband also went to the rescue of the man that collapsed and said the same thing , that his breath smelled like alcohol big time. And you are right I did not see him on the flight down....I wonder if he took the refund.

 

[CarolA]

Just to correct this information, Allegiant is not a charter airline. They hold the same type of operator certificate as Delta, United, and the others.

Allegiant currently owns 24 aircraft and will be adding 10 to 15 more this year.

Also FYI their stock went public in December at $18 a share and closed Friday at $29.51. Wish I had bought some a few weeks ago.

In that case my suggestion is to read the rules on thier website and see if they say what they will do. They probably have "excluded" writing you over to another airline which makes things much more difficult (It's also one of my issues with SW, but they tend to have more flights and more planes!) If the airline tells you "they don't know", a few suggestions. 1. Ask for a supervisor. 2 Call the 800 number and ask them. (I once asked Delta WHERE the plane was because the idiot gate agent told me " we lost it" WHAT???)
3. When you get home after a LACK of information write the airline and ask for an explanation and compensation. (If they can't tell you the facts they should have to pay, they probably won't but it's worth asking! LOL! Delta has given me frequent flyer miles. AA didn't even bother to respond!)

Personally under NO circumstances would I buy this stock. Airline stock is a very risky proposition and the fact that the airline is taking on 15 more planes would scare me. What if fuel shoots back up with that debt load?

If the ai

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Personally under NO circumstances would I buy this stock. Airline stock is a very risky proposition and the fact that the airline is taking on 15 more planes would scare me. What if fuel shoots back up with that debt load?

Yep, the former CEO of American Airlines would NOT buy airline stock at all, even in his own company. I forget his name at the time, but you can see the special on American Airlines on CNBC. I believe his words were "an airline is a great place to work, but an airline is a horible investment and always will be."

 

[Mskanga]

Actually on that specific flight they gave two options , people could cancel the reservation and get a full refund or get a $60 credit per passenger and still make the flight. Most people took the second.
To be honest with you they did more than TWA did for me for the same kind of situation years ago , TWA did not even offer food money , nothing.
Allegiant gave us as much drinks as we wanted and bought 45 domino's pizza pies . Yes there was lack of information on their part but we have to give them credit where is due too.
I'm not going to say that I was happy that this happened but I was happy that at least allegiant did something to help out , the food situation would have been a real problem because the airport's cafeteria would not have been able to handle the volume of requests for so many people.