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Why does Allegiant Air need two hours of my life?
Today I'm flying to Las Vegas out of our small, national airport in Springfield, Missouri on low-fair airline Allegiant Air.Allegiant, like most other budget airlines, charges extra for virtually everything beyond the ticket price, including (for two passengers) a $44 "seat selection fee," and a $17 "convenience fee" for booking online. I feel convenienced already. Even with all the extra fees, the round trip tickets to Las Vegas are still very much affordable and on par with other carriers. But one thing that's really got my goat is their check-in policy.
You see, Allegiant doesn't offer the ability to check-in online. (Tell me, what's my "convenience fee" going towards again?) Further, the confirmation email they sent says one "must check in 2 hours prior to departure, [and] be in the gate area 30 minutes prior to departure to avoid forfeiting their reservation and all associated amenities." This means that if I don't show up at the airport two hours before departure, the $44 I spent guaranteeing my seat goes down the drain, and I may be bumped off the flight entirely.
Now I know what you're thinking: "Shouldn't you be at the airport two hours before departing anyway?" In most airports, you would be correct. But, like I said earlier, Springfield's airport (SGF) is tiny, and showing up anything more than 45 minutes before departure ensures that you'll be doing a lot of standing around, or -- in my case -- drinking overpriced beers in the bar.
The airport's minimal load means check-in and security lines are never long, and I can walk from one end of the solo concourse to the other in a few minutes. Plus, the airport's policy says you can't even pass security and enter the concourse until an hour before your departure. This means I'll be spending at least an hour waiting in the check-in area, and then another hour in the concourse at my gate. So why make me show up two hours in advance?
Allegiant: get rid of this policy in smaller airports, or get with the times and offer online check-in. Hell, charge me for the ability to check-in online if necessary; I'd rather spend a few bucks for the privilege of showing up when I want rather than sitting around the airport for two hours.
Oh well, at least I'm going to Vegas!
The airport's minimal load means check-in and security lines are never long, and I can walk from one end of the solo concourse to the other in a few minutes. Plus, the airport's policy says you can't even pass security and enter the concourse until an hour before your departure. This means I'll be spending at least an hour waiting in the check-in area, and then another hour in the concourse at my gate. So why make me show up two hours in advance?
Allegiant: get rid of this policy in smaller airports, or get with the times and offer online check-in. Hell, charge me for the ability to check-in online if necessary; I'd rather spend a few bucks for the privilege of showing up when I want rather than sitting around the airport for two hours.
Oh well, at least I'm going to Vegas!
Filed under: Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
Lydia Feb 27th 2011 11:37AM
ok im using allegiant air to fly to florida. this is my first time flying and im really nervous about the security process. does anyone know if allegiant just uses medal detectors or do they use the body scanners that can practically see you naked??????
Joe Jan 7th 2008 2:57PM
This is a free country, and if you don't like the charges and policies then feel free to drive to St. Louis, Kansas City, Tulsa or Little Rock and catch a flight there. You are the first person who would whine and complain if you showed up 45 minutes before the flight and missed. I have taken Allegiant twice out of Springfield and I am happy to pay less for the short drive to the airport and not have to deal with big airport security and hassles. Big deal if you sit in the airport for a while instead of the car. So what if they charge for extras? They give you a CHOICE, and it's great that I don't have to pay for someone else's bags or bottled water.
Connie Fay Jan 12th 2009 11:27AM
Wow ... Have you ever been to some of the little airports? Have you had to be at one of the little airports two hours prior to? I have flown in many large airports (international) and it takes that time to stand in line to check in baggage and to get through the security, and then the walk to the terminal. In the little airports (some are closed miliatary bases), you park, stand in line, check in baggage, go through security and it is ... 25 minutes. Okay.... That is great to pay extra to SAVE A SEAT that is going to be forfeited if I don't sit here for another 90 minutes. They charge extra for baggage, extra for actually saving a seat (if I wanted to be sure to sit next to my little child), extra for everything you can possibly imagine ... and then they are always late. Makes sense!
Justin Glow Jan 7th 2008 3:01PM
OK, Joe. Thanks.
Angelica Knight Dec 19th 2008 12:26PM
Hey pal, I'm totally with you. Allegient is one of the worst airlines I've ever encountered. Incompetent, self-serving, cheap and inconsiderate to customers. I say keep whining about these pricks, because if anyone deserves it THEY do. You actually got off easy with your set of inconveniences compared to me. I went through hell and back with these incompetent imbeciles. Customer service? Customer what? I've travelled all over the world never having baggage problems. After deciding to use allegiant to fly from Bellingham, WA --> San Diego,California.I too was astounded at all those little ridiculous add on fees, but they were things I tried to forget about. But then when I was charged $50 for a 'check-in baggage fee' whilst at the counter on top of my original ticket I was speechless. One thing you would expect from paying such an extortionate fee is that they take proper care of your luggage right?? 3 of us sat around a turnstile dumfounded that our luggage hadn't come up. Turns out they had sent it off to las vegas instead !! GENIUS. So after turning up at my hotel and all the shops closed I slept in my stinking clothes and was not even able to wash my face or deodorise. They turn around and say that they are not liable to refund my baggage fee of $50. They what..?? Excuse me, what exactly did I pay it for? so that you could be incompetent with it and sent if off to another destination leaving me extremely inconvenienced? But it gets worse, after placing me on hold forever, the moody reservations centre man reads through their own disclaimer in silence and tells me after 15 mins that he has 'no authority' to refund and they are not obligated to do it. When they finally ring me the following day to tell me the great news that my luggage went on a holiday to las vegas he then makes up this bullshit story that despite the fact my luggage will be returning to the airport on a friday morning that they would not be able to get it to me until sat evening! A total penny-pinching tactic. Knowing fully well that I would need my luggage before then they give me the 'option' of going to the airport (which happens to be out of my way) and collect it myself. Gee thanks. Thankyou allegiant air for charging me all your ridiculous add-ons, for your huge delay in the airport on my time, for charging me $50 'baggage fee' only to be sending my luggage onto somewhere else, inconveniencing me no-end, not refunding me for your mistake, and then having the nerve to tell me I must collect it myself directly from the airport if I want it. There is a lesson to learn here people. Do not fly with this airline, even if your life depended on it. They charge you ridiculous fees but don't hold themselves accountable to your custom and care. They are the worst airline experience I have ever come across, and obviously have no desire to keep customers happy. I will never fly with them again, but this is a word of warning to all those out there who are considering it. Don't.
Ash Jan 17th 2008 2:32PM
As someone who used to WORK at a tiny Allegiant airport, there are just as many preparations needed before a flight as any other airport. That includes hauling your overstuffed junk into the bins after unloading from the flight that just came in. The sooner you're there with your crap, the faster we can get the plane off the ground. Trust me, there's no idle reason we have you waiting around whining and drinking beer.
Justin Glow Jan 17th 2008 4:01PM
That may be true, Ash, but why do other airlines at the same airport have no sort of "you must be here by then" requirement? Like i mentioned in the article, I routinely show up at the same airport less than 20 minutes before takeoff when flying American Airlines.
What's different about Allegiant?
Joey Jan 17th 2008 6:57PM
To Ash:
I find your comment... interesting, to say the least.
Its rediculous for you to say that. You're loading/unloading an MD80.
I've been on flights with MUCH larger aircraft [a-la 757, 767 even A330] which close the check-in desks 30 minutes prior to departure. Now, I'm not saying its good to check-in 2 minutes before closing, but an hour is MORE than sufficient to turn an aircraft like the MD80 around. You're unloading/loading bags. If a flight crew can clean, restrap seatbelts, restock galley's and such, then you can take off and load a few bags no sweat.