Allegiant Air's whole pitch is connecting small-city airports with holiday destinations at eye-catchingly low fares. For travellers outside the big hubs, that's genuinely useful — but a wave of complaints on Reddit, Facebook and Tripadvisor suggests you need to know what you're signing up for. Here's what trips people up, and how to avoid it.
The airport isn't always where you think. Allegiant flies from tiny fields like Elmira, New York and Kalispell, Montana — handy if you live there, less so if you're counting on being near your actual destination. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway, for instance, sits roughly 30 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor, so rideshare costs can quietly eat your savings. Check the airport's location against your hotel before booking.
The advertised fare is a starting point. A base ticket gets you a seat and one personal item (max 8 x 14 x 18 inches). Seat selection, carry-ons, checked bags and snacks are all extra, and one Facebook user watched a $38 fare balloon to nearly $200. Others report prices creeping up overall on routes they fly regularly. The fix: complete the whole booking flow with every add-on you need, then compare that total against a mainstream carrier like Delta or United before deciding.
Baggage fees are where budgets die. Allegiant even charges for carry-ons, prices vary by route and direction (one traveller paid $39 out, $68 back per bag), and fees rise if you add bags later or at the airport. Gate agents will size-check personal items too — straps, wheels and side pockets count towards dimensions. Checked bags max out at 50 pounds and 80 combined inches before oversize charges kick in. Decide your luggage situation at booking time, not at the gate.
Delays are common. A 2026 study found 26.27% of Allegiant flights run late — roughly one in four. Travellers report everything from repeated weekly delays to a 15-hour pushback announced three hours before boarding. If you're flying for something unmoveable like a cruise or wedding, arrive a day early. Downloading the airline's app helps you track alerts.
Cancellations can strand you. Allegiant doesn't run most routes daily, so the next flight might be days away — and the airline won't rebook you on another carrier. One group got a $50 meal voucher and nothing for a hotel after a four-day wait. Before booking, check how often your specific route operates, and scout a backup hotel.
Expect service friction. Hold times on the phone line can stretch for hours, though some travellers report success calling around 3 AM or using email instead — keep a written record of everything in case you escalate to the US Department of Transportation's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, which requires airlines to respond within 60 days.
Onboard, bring your own entertainment: no WiFi, no entertainment, and — outside the 737 MAX fleet — no charging ports. Complimentary soft drinks and water are about the only perk.
None of this makes Allegiant a bad deal — it won recognition as the best budget airline frequent flier programme of 2026 — but the maths only works if you price the whole trip, not the headline fare.
