Top 8 Tips for Flying With Allegiant Air

Let’s be real: Travel is expensive. However, did you know that flying with Allegiant Air can make travel more affordable?

If you’ve never heard of Allegiant, it’s becoming a more well-known American low-cost airline. They provide budget-friendly fares and a no-thrills flying experience. Allegiant connects smaller airports to popular vacation destinations. This makes it an attractive choice if you’re seeking affordable getaways.

However, it’s important to be aware that Allegiant operates differently from other airlines. Before you get mesmerized by their low prices, allow us to share our personal experience.

With these tips, allow us to guide you through a seamless and enjoyable flying experience!

Top 8 Tips for Flying With Allegiant Air

Be Flexible

Allegiant Airlines operate on a point-to-point basis. This means there are no layovers and no connecting flights. They fly from one small airport directly to another.

Due to their focus on smaller airports, the flight options with Allegiant are more limited compared to larger airlines. They may not always fly daily and the time choices are limited. Having infrequent flights can be an issue if you have strict travel dates or your flight is canceled and you need to rebook.

However, if you have flexibility with your travel dates, flying with Allegiant can be a cost-effective option to consider. Their affordable fares make it possible to reach your desired destination while staying within your budget.

Just keep in mind the limitations and plan accordingly to ensure a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.

Understand The Pricing

Allegiant Air is known for its à la carte pricing model. With this model, additional fees apply for services that may have been included in the base fare on other airlines.

Some items that are an additional fee include roomier seat selection, checked baggage, full-size carry-on, priority boarding, snacks/drinks, and printing boarding passes at the airport.

Some of the extra add-ons are as follows:

• Priority Access: $4-$12
• Food & Beverage: $2-$7
• Call Center Booking Fee: $14.99 >>> (Don’t book over the phone)
• Boarding Pass Printing: $5
• Carry-On Bag: $10-$75
• Seat Selection: $0-$80

So just know that the low price you see initially will most likely end up being higher at checkout.

Book in Advance

Allegiant Air often offers lower fares when you book well in advance. Keep an eye on their website for deals and promotions.

If you book in advance, we like to educate ourselves on the cancellation policies. Allegiant offers Trip Flex Protection. By purchasing this protection, you can avoid most change and cancellation fees.

• Allegiant Trip Flex: $29-$43

Some credit cards also provide trip interruption insurance. Know what your credit card offers prior to booking your flight. You should be able to look up your travel benefits on the credit card’s website/online portal.

For example, Chase Sapphire Preferred offers Trip Cancellation / Interruption Insurance. If your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for your pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses.

Pack Light

Confession: I’m still working on ways to pack light (even with all my tips & tricks!)

When flying Allegiant, you’ll want to minimize the number of bags you take. While a personal item is free, any other bags require an additional fee.

Unfortunately, my favorite under-seat bag (as reviewed here) is no longer available #sadface.

Nevertheless, there’s another bag that my dad has found and recommends. We both love bags that are versatile and expandable. This bag (see it here) qualifies as a personal item, but when expanded can be purchased as an additional carry-on bag.

Consider Seat Selection

Allegiant airline is very basic. The seats are basic. The service is basic. Comfort is basic.

However, based on our personal experience, we believe it’s worth considering the additional fee for extra legroom. Taking the plunge and splurging on extra legroom can greatly enhance your flying experience, and you’ll thank us later for the added comfort.

If seat selection isn’t important to you, be prepared for a standard place to sit for your short flight. To pass the time and improve my comfort level, I enjoy listening to music and dozing off.

These headphones are my FAVORITE and tune out the buzz of the plane. In addition, this travel blanket is perfect for cold plane rides while being versatile while on vacay mode! As you can see, I like to make myself feel at home!

Bring Your Own Snacks

Unlike other major airlines, snacks (and drinks) are not complimentary onboard.

To save money, we pack our own snacks for the flight. We also bring an empty water bottle through security. This is a trick we do for all airlines. Why pay for a water bottle, when you can fill up for free once through security?

Recently, I started carrying this collapsible water bottle on all our trips. Not only does it save space, but it has proven to be quite handy during trips, concerts, and outings where limited packaging space is a concern! Initially, I had reservations about its durability due to its collapsible nature, but it has exceeded my expectations. If you’re interested, you can check it out here)

Pay for Extras At Booking

To save money, you will absolutely want to pay for any add-ons at the time of your booking.

• Allegiant charges far more for bags paid at the airport than online. Paying for a checked or carry-on bag at the airport usually costs between $50-$75. This would total $200-$225 for a round-trip ticket if you had one of each!!
• As mentioned earlier, it is cheapest to print boarding passes at home or to get a mobile boarding pass. Allegiant charges $5 for you to print your boarding pass at the airport.
• If you forget to pay for extras at the time of boarding, you can pay for add-ons on your Allegiant online portal. The fees will be slightly higher than at booking, but still less than if paying at the airport.

Prepare for the Suburbs

Because Allegiant flies into smaller airports, you may have to get creative with your travel destinations. For example, Charlotte Douglas International is a major airport in North Carolina and a big travel destination. Allegiant doesn’t fly into the city of Charlotte but into the suburb of Concord.

Depending on your travel destination, you may have to prepare for a commute into your city of choice via Uber, Lyft, or a rental car.

Do We Recommend Allegiant?

Yes and no.

• We recommend Allegiant if you’re looking for a quick plane ride and are content with basic amenities. If you are satisfied with a no-thrills flying experience and have no plans to pay for upgrades, you could save some serious money.
• We don’t recommend Allegiant if you’re a flier who is used to luxurious accommodations, complimentary snacks, and carrying many bags. If this is something you’re unable to compromise on, you may come out ahead in purchasing a plane ticket from a competitor. The add-ons quickly increase your total price.

In the end, determining whether Allegiant is the best choice for your travel depends on your personal preferences and the needs of your family. Based on our experience, we found that for our quick 2-hour flight from Concord to Orlando, the reduced price tag of Allegiant was worth it. However, for longer flights, we would have preferred more comfortable accommodations.

Therefore, If you prioritize cost savings and have a shorter flight duration, Allegiant can be a suitable option. However, if you value enhanced comfort and are embarking on a longer journey, you may find other airlines with more comfortable amenities to be a better fit for your needs.