Find cheap Allegiant Air flights

Based in Las Vegas, Allegiant flies to over 110 small and medium cities across America. Being based in California, and also New York, I have learned to rely on Allegiant for a no-fuss, less expensive option to get to some of the best American small towns. If you haven’t tried the airline yet, this will give you a good overview of what to expect and what to look out for: like the charged fees for all the extras. Since I am often hopping on one of their short flights (with no bags), to me, it feels hassle-free.

Fare classes and seats

Allegiant makes it very simple – unless you buy a specific seat, the airline will assign one to you. And they mostly operate an all-coach/economy configuration. However, they do have various options for extra seating comfort available to purchase on some of their select flights: Allegiant Extra (only available on some routes) and Legroom+ seating options.

With Extra you get an extra six inches of legroom space in the front of the plane at the bulkhead. Legroom+ includes both the exit rows and the front of the plane (again, only on select routes). When I get the chance, I always select the Legroom+ option because it gives me extra space and allows me to deplane a bit faster, all while staying within my budget.

Note that on some flights the extra space seats are on the exit rows, which means you need to be willing and able to operate emergency procedures if necessary. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has various mandated rules on who is allowed to sit in an exit row (and most airlines also have their own sets of rules). For example, nobody under the age of 15 can sit on an exit row.

Bundles

Bundling is a special offer that Allegiant presents to their flyers when booking. It’s a smart way of taking all their most popular services (usually associated with a fee) and putting them together to save money. With Allegiant there are three options when booking your bundle – Basic, Bonus and Total. (Spoiler alert: I always prefer the Bonus option.)

Each comes with its own set of extras and all of the services are also available individually. Simply add the individual service you want to purchase when booking your flight, but be careful, they cannot be added afterward. I had to learn the hard way.

Here, I break down each option: Basic only includes a personal item. Bonus includes a personal item plus a carry-on, as well as seat selection and some flexibility for ticket changes. The total comes with a personal item, a carry-on and a checked bag. You also get seat selection, priority access (to the ticket counter and during boarding) and more flexibility for ticket changes.

Being able to board early with just a carry-on, ensuring I get a spot in the overhead compartment, definitely makes it worth bundling. Additionally, since I often change my travel plans, that flexibility is a game-changer for me. If I need a checked bag, I prefer Total, but I still think Bonus is the best option out of the three.

Changes and cancellations

Allegiant has an option called Trip Flex, which can be applied during the booking process. Trip Flex does come at a fee, but offers the ability to change or postpone your flight once without a fee. If you cancel with Trip Flex it’s free, but without it, there is an extra cost per passenger per segment.

I really like Trip Flex, as it allows me to stay flexible, even if I have to pay a bit extra. I think it balances my expenses. That being said, if you don’t travel often and don’t need to change your plans, they do offer a standard option to cancel or change your flight within 24 hours, which is free for all tickets.

Check-in

Allegiant offers online check-in 24 hours before the flight (and at the latest 45 minutes before departure). At the airport – depending on the destination – they provide a check-in desk that has a priority area for anyone with a Total bundle. At the desk there’s an extra charge to print a boarding pass, so I recommend downloading the Allegiant app and using a mobile boarding pass instead.

Allegiant doesn’t offer self-service desks or bag drops, so you have to go to the ticket counter. I’m an on-the-phone-only kind of traveler who rarely prints things out – luckily, Allegiant’s app is easy to navigate and they accept in-app boarding passes at all their destinations. If you are like me, you will love this option.

Boarding

Allegiant has various boarding zones and I find them better organised than many other airlines. They start with pre-boarding, followed by general boarding. Pre-boarding includes passengers who need additional assistance, followed by priority access passengers. This option is for those who purchase priority access in advance or have the Allegiant credit card.

Next are active military personnel, and finally families with children. Once they have done pre-boarding, they move to the first zone, which includes passengers in exit rows, and then they operate by row number.

Onboard

You’ll find food and beverages for sale on most of their flights, though some of the very short routes might not always offer them. Your choices include snacks like chips, nuts, cookies and chocolate. When it comes to non-alcoholic drinks they offer the usual sodas, water, tea and coffee, plus some interesting zero proof cocktails like their grapefruit squeeze.

In terms of alcohol, you’ll find everything from spirits to wine and beer. They also offer fun signature cocktails. From time to time, I enjoy their espresso martini. Since I am always after a good deal, I choose from all kinds of box combos and snack packs that are priced lower.

Wi-Fi and in-flight entertainment are not available on Allegiant flights, so remember to download whatever you need onto your phone or tablet (and fully charge them) before you get on board. The seats also don’t recline, so I prefer to fly with them for short-haul flights.

The official Allegiant credit card

The Allegiant credit card is a great option as it has no blackout dates, no restrictions on destination or even minimum point redemption. It comes with multiple benefits, starting with a free drink, a special priority check-in line at the airport, and priority boarding for you and everyone on your itinerary.

If you’re a frequent Allegiant flier, these perks are absolutely worth it. They often have special deals for credit card holders, whether for hotel stays, car rentals, or specific destination offers. I advise always checking the destination offers, as they have saved me a lot over the years.

Allegiant Air loyalty program

Allegiant has a great loyalty program called ‘Allways reward’, which uses Allways Rewards Points. It’s free to join and they’ve partnered with Sunseeker resorts to offer extra perks and deals. Though it doesn’t offer much – unless partnered with their credit card – they’ve kept the process fairly simple.

If you spend under a specific amount on flights you get one point for each dollar; spend over that sum and you’ll earn two points per dollar. Again, if you’re a frequent flyer, it might be worth joining – plus, the points don’t expire, as long as you have had some activity on your account in the last two years.

Pet policy

I was very happy when I found out that with Allegiant, you can bring your dog or cat with you in the cabin. Keep in mind that you should keep them in a hard or soft carrier. They charge extra for this service, and since I sometimes like to fly with my pup, I often take advantage of it. Note that this service only includes the 48 contiguous states.