Should You Buy That Cheap Allegiant Air Ticket? (Video)

[MULTIZ321]

Should You Buy That Cheap Allegiant Air Ticket? (Video)
By Maya Kachroo-Levine/ T&L/ Airlines/ Airports/ U.S./ Travel & Leisure/ travelandleisure.com

"When deciding whether or not to grab that Allegiant Air flight deal, you first need to ask: Is it safe to fly Allegiant Air?

In April, 60 Minutes aired a special about the airline’s not-so-hot safety record, reporting that 25 of their planes experienced some sort of mechanical issue in the last two years. (They also reported that Allegiant only has 99 planes, meaning nearly 25 percent of them have experienced an issue that could correlate to a passenger’s safety.) However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the airline is less safe, but rather means that Allegiant reports more events than competitors because their aircrafts tend to be older, and therefore need maintenance checks more often.

On the plus side, Allegiant is actually updating their fleet to include newer airbuses. The only problem is while bringing in new aircrafts, Allegiant has had to cancel flights because their new planes are arriving behind schedule.

While, admittedly, the first half of 2018 was a bit rough to Allegiant Air, it’s still a U.S. Department of Transportation certified airline that’s been operating since 1997. Allegiant currently flies within the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Their direct flights can be super affordable, and they’re even branching out and opening a hotel in Florida in 2019. If you’re wondering whether or not to hop on an Allegiant Air flight, you first want to know what you’re getting into. Are you actually more likely to be delayed because they’re looking into an engine issue? We looked through what passengers had to say about flying Allegiant, and here’s what you need to know before booking that ticket....."

Richard

 

[PigsDad]

and they’re even branching out and opening a hotel in Florida in 2019.

I can only imagine what an Allegiant hotel experience would be like...

• There's a "convenience fee" for booking your room online
• A fee for paying with a credit card
• The room rate includes a room. Want a bed? Extra. Bedding? Extra. Pillows? Extra. Bath towel? Extra. Bath mat? Extra. Toilet paper? Extra. Soap and shampoo? Go down to the lobby and purchase them from the vending machine.
• To operate the shower, you must put quarters into the slot. There's also a dollar bill slot for hot water.
• The check-in desk is only staffed starting 2 hours before bed time, and closes at lights-out.
• Beds are 17" wide and 50" long.
• No TV; no phones -- provide your own.
• Only 1 in 3 rooms have a window, and of course there is an extra charge for a window room.
• $150 change fee for any change in dates or people

Kurt

 

[Blues]

• The check-in desk is only staffed starting 2 hours before bed time, and closes at lights-out.

My most "memorable" trip on Allegiant was supposed to be a quick down-and-back from Monterey to San Diego for a business meeting.

Outbound - plane left 2 hours late. OK, it happens, but it really screwed up the timing for the meeting.

Return - plane was 3 hours late. More to the point, when we returned to Monterey, the Allegiant desk was closed. There were dozens of frantic, screaming people waiting for their loved ones. No one at Allegiant had contacted anyone about the delay, and there was no information on their board or website. As far as those waiting knew, the plane had crashed. They were frantic; and then they were extremely p*ssed.

(long ago, before ubiquitous cell phones and web access).

 

[Paumavista]

We've actually started flying Allegiant pretty frequently (the price can be 1/4 of other airlines and flies to/from the closest small airports). I think my daughter had one significant delay once....but flying into St Petersburg FL and catching an Uber home is quick & easy for her and the baby. As a veteran we also get free bags.....we usually don't pick seats unless we're flying with kids; and we don't need food or drink (it's an hour flight).

 

[pedro47]

Sounds liked the majority of posters have spoken and the final answer is “. .”

 

[RNCollins]

Allegiant faces fine for allegedly improper engine maintenance
https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel...nt-faces-fine-for-improper-engine-maintenance

By Robert Silk / Aviation / Travel Weekly / travelweekly.com / June 13, 2019
“The FAA is proposing to fine Allegiant Air $715,000 for allegedly operating an aircraft on more than two dozen flights in April 2018 following improper engine maintenance....”

Photo Credit: Markus Mainka/Shutterstock / Travel Weekly

 

[OldGuy]

Ally-giant, the airline people love to kick.

Our airline of choice.

Frankly, they are much better at screwing up than they used to be. In the old days they would show up really late, or not at all, and, oh well! Now they order pizza and soda in, and give you a voucher so you can come back to florida next Winter for next to nothing, if $24 RT is next to nothing.

(YMMV)

They are building a destination resort in Punta Gorda, or, as my buddy would say, Poonta Gorda, with heavy emphasis on the Poo. He likes the heavy Spanish accent because they own (owned) timeshares at Pueblo Bonito, or whatever it's called. Of course, that was before we moved to Florida, so they did, too.

Ah, buddies, something else you to kick.



Actually, I say it is in Poonta Gorda, because Poonta Gorda is more recognizable than Charlotte Harbor, FL, which is where it is being built. It is where US 41 (Tamiami Trail) meets the water on the southbound side, near the Charlotte Bay Resort and Club, one of the few SW FL timeshares we never stayed at, or had a desire to:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/C...f8497c603930cd!8m2!3d26.9583387!4d-82.0670128

I just had the thought that All-Giant sorta has dumb luck. They have always had older planes, something they are doing something about, but they never had the resources, or desire, to buy brand new planes, the kind that kill people. I guess all those people that have been killed on other airlines have the consolation that those airlines did not have any maintenance violations, if that is the case.

(knocking on wood)

 

[OldGuy]

(Play the theme from the Twilight Zone, you know, the do do do do do do do do one)

I posted about Ally-Giant and Exit Strategy, then when I just checked my in box I had an email from Ally-Giant and an Exit Team.

 

[silentg]

We stayed at Charlotte Bay and Resort Club, it is a nice Timeshare. Not sure why you are knocking it.
I wrote a review too.
Don’t like Fishermen’s Village we owned a week briefly there. But that is another thread.
Silentg

 

[OldGuy]

We stayed at Charlotte Bay and Resort Club, it is a nice Timeshare. Not sure why you are knocking it.

I did not realize that saying that we never had a desire to stay there was knocking it.

We never had a desire to stay at Fishermen's Village either.

 

[sjsharkie]

The good thing about Allegiant is that they generally serve smaller airports that might not get any service otherwise.

The bad thing is that when things go wrong, they don't have the planes, people (pilots and flight attendants time out if the delay is too long), or mechanics/parts to move around like other larger airlines do -- and that can cause huge delays. I'm glad they are around serving smaller markets and keeping big carriers fare competitive, but I'm glad I have several major airports near me and don't need to fly them.

-ryan

 

[OldGuy]

The good thing about Allegiant is that they generally serve smaller airports that might not get any service otherwise.

Their biz model: Many regional airports to a handful of very popular tourist destinations, twice a week.

It concerns me to see them adding more destinations, but they seem to be doing it smart(ly), like some regional airports connect to Clearwater/St. Pete, and other regional airports to Punta Gorda, but no regional airports connect to both.

I/we don't fly it any more, but when I/we did, the plane was always full.

 

[x3 skier]

I’ve been in the Airplane business over 50 years and I sometimes think some of Allegiant equipment has been in operation longer than me.

A girlfriend of mine loves them but you couldn’t get me on one of their planes at gunpoint.

To each their own

Cheers

 

[OldGuy]

Allegiant equipment has been in operation.

I fixed it.