Summary
Don’t fly without understanding the basics first.
Ever consider flying with Allegiant Air? The airline currently operates within the U.S. and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. Allegiant frequently adds new routes at impressively low fares (think: $39 tickets). The drawback, however, is that you have to pay for every extra imaginable, from water on the plane to a full-size carry-on bag. Therefore, if you’re pondering whether or not to take an Allegiant Air flight, it’s essential to know what you’re getting into.
We have gathered all the latest information on Allegiant Air and reviewed customer feedback to discover what passengers have to say about the airline. Here’s everything you need to know before you fly.
Fare Classes
Ticketing with Allegiant Air is straightforward. If you purchase a ticket without any extras, you do not receive an assigned seat; instead, the airline will randomly assign a seat to you. If you prefer a specific seat before your flight, you will incur an additional charge. Although this option costs more, you can choose your preferred spot on the aircraft, which is beneficial if traveling with friends, partners, or family members. Lastly, you can purchase seats with extra legroom on select airplanes. This is referred to as Allegiance Extra, providing an additional six inches of legroom.
Allegiant offers a bundle system to facilitate the process of purchasing flight extras, but you also have the option to forego a bundle and fly minimally with just one personal item and an unassigned seat. There are three classes of Allegiant bundles: Basic, Bonus, and Total.
- Allegiant Basic: Seat selection, one personal item, and a carry-on bag
- Allegiant Bonus: Seat selection, priority boarding, one personal item, and a checked bag
- Allegiant Total: Seat selection, priority boarding, one personal item, a carry-on bag, a checked bag, and priority boarding
All bundle classes include Trip Flex, permitting changes or cancellations to your flights without incurring additional fees.
Flight Change and Cancellation Policies
If you do not have Trip Flex and need to change or cancel your flight with Allegiant, the fee is $25. This fee applies to each leg of your itinerary (i.e., for round-trip flights, you’ll be charged the fee twice). You will incur this charge each time you change or cancel your flight, and you will be responsible for paying any fare difference. Any changes or cancellations must occur at least seven days before your scheduled departure.
Note that Allegiant’s relatively low change fee of $25 was initially implemented as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic when the airline reduced the fee from $75. It may not be a permanent reduction, so the price could increase in the future. If you buy Trip Flex for your ticket, you can change or cancel your flight without any fees up to an hour before your departure time. However, if you purchase a bundle, Trip Flex will be included automatically.
Baggage Policies and Fees
Every passenger, with a standard ticket, is allowed to carry one personal item free of charge. Allegiant recommends using a purse, briefcase, or small backpack, provided it fits under the seat in front of you and measures no larger than 8 x 14 x 18 inches. It’s unlikely that a suitcase or weekend bag would qualify as your free personal item. However, passengers can pay for one carry-on bag that can be stowed in the overhead bins, with dimensions larger than the personal item (10 x 16 x 22 inches). Also, checked bags can be purchased, with a limit of four per passenger. These bags must weigh no more than 50 pounds and not exceed 80 linear inches.
Fees for each baggage option fluctuate—if you pay at the time of booking, the fee will be lower than if you pay at the airport. Carry-on fees range from $10 to $75. For checked bags, you’re generally looking at $20 to $35 if purchased at the time of booking, $45 if purchased shortly before departure, and $50 at the airport.
Moreover, additional fees apply if your checked bag exceeds 80 linear inches or is over 50 pounds, adding $50 or $75 to the fee for an overweight or oversized bag. If you check your bag at the gate, you may incur a fee of up to $75, although this does not apply to car seats, strollers, mobility aids, or other assistance devices.
Boarding Order
Allegiant Air has four pre-boarding zones, followed by six general boarding zones. The pre-boarding procedure includes:
- Pre-boarding: Passengers who require additional time or assistance
- Priority boarding: Passengers who purchased Priority Access in advance or have an Allegiant World Mastercard
- Military boarding: Reserved for active military personnel
- Family boarding: Specifically for passengers traveling with young children, including accessories like car seats and strollers
After these zones, Allegiant will proceed to general boarding with six zones. The first zone is for the exit row, followed by the subsequent five zones associated with the airplane’s numbered rows.
Seats and Legroom
The standard seats on Allegiant offer less than 30 inches of seat pitch, which minimizes legroom for passengers. However, larger seats provide an additional six inches of legroom, increasing the spacing between seats to 34 inches. To obtain the extra legroom seats, you must select an Allegiant Extra seat during booking. According to Scott of Sanspotter, the width of Allegiant Air seats is approximately 17 inches. He notes that “legroom is increased to 34 inches in a ‘Legroom +’ row located towards the front of the aircraft,” concluding with, “the bottom line is, if you want a more comfortable seat, consider airlines like Delta, American, or United instead.”
Amenities and Entertainment
Food and Beverage Service
Food and beverages are available for purchase on Allegiant Air flights. Waters and sodas cost $3, while beers and hard seltzers range from $4 to $9. You can also enjoy La Colombe and Dunkin Donuts iced coffees for $5. In addition to individual snacks and drinks, a variety of snack packs starting at $11 can be purchased.
Customer Service
Opinions on Allegiant Air’s customer service vary among reviews. While the planes are adequately staffed, some reviewers highlight that reaching support staff by phone or online prior to a flight (for changes, cancellations, or special requests) can be quite challenging. One reviewer stated, “I have been trying to contact customer service for weeks now to obtain information about a return flight. It has been impossible.” Consequently, some passengers might consider booking with another airline based on their customer service experiences.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is not currently available on Allegiant Air flights.
In-flight Programming
There is no in-flight entertainment available on Allegiant. Passengers will not find magazines or in-flight movies, TV, or music onboard.
Allegiant Air Credit Card
Allegiant Air offers a credit card option in partnership with Bank of America, known as the Allegiant World Mastercard. With this card, holders can earn points applicable towards Allegiant Air flights, in addition to enjoying priority boarding and one complimentary beverage per flight. The annual fee amounts to $59, and upon approval, cardholders receive 15,000 points (equivalent to $150 when redeemed with Allegiant).
