Anyone ever fly Allegiant? I don't understand how this airline works

[Siwsan]

They fly out of Flint, but the ONLY places that come up on the 'destination' side are a few locations in Florida. So, they don't "do" connecting flights? I have family in several cities they serve, and have the time to put up with their flight delays, but that doesn't even appear to be possible. It seems if I wanted to go to Asheville, I'd have to book a round trip from Flint to Tampa and sandwich in a round trip to From Tampa to Asheville. That's crazy.

Seems like an odd way to run an airline.

[FBaggins]

1. Deep discount - all direct flights

They don't do "connecting flights" (though if you happen to want to go to the right places you could structure that yourself). They've picked a small number of high-volume destinations and concentrate on getting people there and back home again. So you can quickly/cheaply get from Flint or Grand Rapids or Toledo to Orlando... but you can't fly between those cities unless you want to stop in Florida on your way. Try playing around with their route map and you'll quickly get the idea.

https://www.allegiantair.com/interactive-routemap

[Siwsan]

6. That is a useful little map

It would be nice if they flew from Flint to SOMEWHERE other than Florida. Even Grand Rapids has better variety (but nowhere I'd be going).

We're flying on United to Springfield, IL, via O'Hare, tomorrow, with less than an hour between flights. I'm already stressing that connection. If we should miss it, it appears we will be stuck because I don't see another flight, on United, to Springfield. I was really surprised that there are so few flights from Chicago to the state capital. It will be a toss up - rent a car or maybe take the train.

We're heading to a memorial service for my uncle, at Camp Butler National Cemetery, on Saturday morning and we want to be able to spend as much time with my cousins, as possible.

[beachbum bob]

2. they run the airline to provide specific air service. It works for them

We have alliegent flying direct from our smaller Illinois airports to just a couple on non-stop destinations in Florida. The flights are typically 100% full and you have to make your reservations well ahead of time. But for a couple hundred for a roundtrip, no one is complaining

[genxlib]

3. I flew them a few months back

Although I was flying direct so connections were not a question.

I looked on their website and damned if they don’t flat out say that they do not offer connecting flights. I had no idea. I didn’t even know that was a thing. I don’t see how they could afford to even run flights with so few options.

Aside from that they are a really barebones operator that charges ala cart for everything. You are basically buying the seat and the space under the chair in front of you. Everything else is extra; luggage, carryons, food, drinks, oxygen ( ok that last one might be an exaggeration)

[IADEMO2004]

4. Family members saved money but lost baggage maintenance emergency landings not worth it.

St Petersburg FL-Omaha NE
Bag traveled around east coast for several days and Allegiant told her it would be at baggage claim when she returned home to Florida.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Correct. They fly to 2 places from my airport and only run on

certain days.

[exboyfil]

7. Fly to Sanford Orlando to see my mom

In Ormond Beach out of Cedar Rapids. $200 roundtrip with ticket bought three weeks before trip.

I love them. I highly recommend Sanford over Orlando which is a mad house.

[Nay]

8. Yes -- I use it to get from VA to FL because it's the only direct flight among all

the airlines. I think that's Allegiant's strategy -- all direct flights to places that lots of people go to.

[Siwsan]

9. Apparently they think people in Flint only want to fly to Florida.

Grand Rapids gets Tennessee, Nevada and Arizona. The drive from Flint to Grand Rapids, to catch a flight, wouldn't be too bad. The drive home, after a flight, would be pretty exhausting.

I'll be flying on United, tomorrow, for the first time since they "lost" my luggage for 3 days. It wasn't actually lost, though. It was locked up in someone's office, over the New Year's holiday. As if that wasn't bad enough, they kept calling to reassure me, every time I called for an update, flat out lying that it was in route to my home. It's taken me several decades to move pas that and book another flight with United.

Since this is only a 2 day trip, I'm bringing just one very small, soft sided carry on that can be squeezed to fit in ANY overhead compartment.

[Nay]

11. I think the theory is that Allegiant only serves certain cities in which a large

number of people reliably go to a select few vacation destinations. Destinations are mostly holiday destinations -- Orlando, St Pete, sunbelt states. I'm assuming TN is a destination because of its country music history -- lots of ppl go there for Elvis, Grand Ole Opry, Branson, Dollywood, Nashville.

[Coventina]

10. I hate them with a purple passion.

Super uncomfortable seats. No seat pocket in front of you.

You have to pay for EVERYTHING.

It's misery, pure and simple.

Oh, and their safety record sucks as well.

[Siwsan]

12. Kind of sounds like the amenities on Spirit Airline

I had a friend who booked a "cheap" fare, with Spirit, but by the time all of the extras were added in, it was no deal, at all. And she had to drive from Flint to Detroit Metro Airport, which is a pain in the ass drive.

She would have been better off flying on any airline flying out of Flint's Bishop Airport (which is a really, really convenient, user friendly airport).