Ever since its arrival on the scene, discount carrier Allegiant Air has managed to navigate the crowded U.S. skies and provide low cost airfare to travelers. One reason is the price, yes, but another is that it services a lot of airports that the major airlines do not.
But as with any form of transportation, flying with Allegiant Air has its good and bad points. Here's what every traveler needs to know about flying with this airline.
Great Fares with Allegiant Air
Allegiant can usually be counted on for some great air fare deals. Occasionally fares have dipped as low as $29 for a one-way flight segment (before taxes and fees).
The airline also services many regional airports that are either not serviced by the major airlines or at much lower prices. This gives budget travelers alternate ways of getting to popular vacation destinations such as Las Vegas and Orlando, without having to go to a major nearby city in search of low airfare.
The Flipside of Alternate and Regional Airports
Speaking of those alternate and smaller airports, while it's great that it helps travelers obtain low air fares, they are sometimes not all that convenient.
For instance, Allegiant flies from several destinations to Orlando/Sanford Airport in Florida. While the prices are usually lower than most airlines, the Orlando/Sanford airport is on the northern edge of the city, about 50 miles from the tourist and theme park areas. To get to these areas, one must rent a car or pay for an expensive taxi ride, which could eat up any savings obtained with the flight.
It's important to factor in these costs with the low cost of the flight to determine if a cheap airfare is really all that cheap after all.
Fees, Fees and More Fees
Another reason that Allegiant can offer such low fares is that their advertised prices are just for a seat on the plane.
It should be noted that all online or phone bookings will incur an additional per transaction fee of about $15. Booking in person at an Allegiant Air counter is the only way to avoid this fee.
Allegiant also charges additional fees for options such as selecting a seat in advance of the flight (about $15 each flight segment) and for priority boarding (about $7 each flight segment). Be careful to deselect these options when booking online to avoid paying for options not wanted.
Checked baggage also incurs a per bag fee. Pay in advance, and the fees are between $15 and $20 for the first bag and $25 for the second bag. Additional bags, up to five per passenger, will have even higher fees.
Paying for checked baggage at the airport will raise the fees to $35 for the first two bags, and higher fees for additional bags.
This means a great sale fare could be twice that once the fees are added in, and that's not even counting the normal airport fees and taxes that come with every ticket.
Booking With Allegiant Air
Flying with Allegiant can produce some really great low rates on tickets, but it's important to also factor in the possible added costs from the airline's additional fees for booking, luggage and more. It's also important to factor in any costs that might be incurred from the use of alternate and regional airports.
For more information on the airline, including an interactive route of all airports serviced by the carrier, or to book a flight, visit the Allegiant Air website.
Michelle Snow - Michelle Snow been a freelance journalist and photographer for over twenty years, specializing in travel and entertainment. She got her ...
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