The official start to summer begins on June 21st, but the warm weather and sunshine makes it feel like we are already in it. Summer means kids out of school, pleasant weather and vacations. Vacationing during the summer months has become a staple of many families across the U.S. Whether you are travelling to visit family, going to the beach, or trekking through a national park, summer presents many individuals the opportunity to get out and about. Nowadays, people are electing to fly more than ever. Airlines have become more competitive with their fares in an effort to boost travel by air. One of these airlines who is known for having great deals on flights is Allegiant Air.
Allegiant Air, or just Allegiant as it is more commonly known, is a budget airline based out of Las Vegas, NV. Founded in the late 90’s as WestJet Express, Allegiant has rapidly gained popularity among passengers looking for cheap fares throughout the U.S. With nearly 100 aircraft serving approximately 150 destinations, Allegiant has expanded its reach from coast to coast. In this Allegiant Air review, I will discuss the positives and negatives of the airline along with some pertinent information you need to know before you book your summertime travel.
Allegiant Air Review: Positives
Probably the biggest positive in terms of Allegiant is the price of their fares. I know of people who have booked round trip tickets for less than $100 on many occasions. The earlier you plan and book your trip, the better the price. Like most flights these days, Allegiant flights aren’t always booked to capacity. This means that if there is an open seat you would feel more comfortable in you may go ahead and switch. They also tend to fly into smaller airports. The benefit of this is you have less crowds and TSA lines to deal with, and you can sometimes find flights into airports that the likes of Delta and American won’t touch. Finally, their smartphone app and website make it easy to book and manage your flights just like the big airlines, so you don’t have to sacrifice convenience.
Allegiant Air Review: Negatives
Of course there are also negatives to flying Allegiant Air. First and foremost, when you book your flight, you need to stick with it. Changing your flight or cancelling it results in lost money for you the customer. Secondly, their customer service isn’t the greatest. I’ve found myself calling before about a simple question only to find myself waiting for 45 minutes on the phone with no answer. Lastly, as is the case with many budget airlines, they charge for the extras. This means you have to pay extra for a carry-on or checked bag. It also means that you don’t get any free refreshments. Drinks, including soft drinks and snacks, are extra.
Conclusion:
If you are a planner and enjoy planning trips months in advance, Allegiant is definitely an airline to look at. Even with paying for an extra bag or two, they are often times still cheaper than larger airlines. The planes offer standard comfort, and Allegiant oftentimes has direct flights that few other airlines can offer to varying destinations.
James Hendrickson is an internet entrepreneur, blogging junky, hunter and personal finance geek. When he’s not lurking in coffee shops in Portland, Oregon, you’ll find him in the Pacific Northwest’s great outdoors. James has a masters degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland at College Park and a Bachelors degree on Sociology from Earlham College. He loves individual stocks, bonds and precious metals.