Whether you are new to budget airlines as a whole or just new to Allegiant Air here is everything you need to know for a smooth flight. This honest review of Allegiant Airlines will cover everything from check in to boarding to in flight services.
I flew on Allegiant Air from Tampa, Florida to Kansas City, Missouri in June of 2022 to visit my family hometown. My 18 month old son flew with me as a lap infant. So I’ll also share everything you need to know about flying Allegiant with a toddler or baby. Our flight was 2 and ½ hours long with no delays.
This post may contain some affiliate links. This means I make a small profit from your purchase but at no increased cost to you. I only recommend products that I love and would purchase myself! Full disclaimer here.
(Short) History of Allegiant
Allegiant Air was founded in 1997 as an ultra-low-cost airline. The airline has grown by servicing small markets and airports that major airlines don’t focus on. They have grown consistently over the years and now service much of the US and some airports in Canada and Mexico.
Extra fact: Allegiant Airlines is the carrier least likely to mishandle or lose your bag. The odds are only one in every 554 bags compared to 1 in 125 on American Airlines. (Facts from The Points Guy and the Air Travel Consumer Reports from the Department of Transportation).
Allegiant Airlines Booking Experience
Booking with Allegiant Air was as simple as booking with most any other airline. I found the flight on their site quickly using their search tool. Then I did a quick google search to see if I could find anything cheaper (spoiler alert: I couldn’t). Once I knew this was the cheapest option, even after adding in the price of a checked bag, I simply selected the flight dates and times I wanted and pressed continue.
As many of you may know from experience, these budget airlines try to upsell you every step of the way. To keep your cost as low as possible simply find the “no, thanks” button on each page.
If you do need any of the add-ons such as extra bags or seat selection, then check out is the cheapest time to do so. It gets more expensive to add anything on later. Especially as your flight gets closer.
Allegiant Airlines Checklist
- Snacks: since no food is provided make sure you bring your own food to snack on.
- Water: drinks aren’t provided either so bring an empty water bottle to fill up in the airport once you get through security.
- Headphones: to listen to music or videos on your devices
- Preloaded Entertainment: unless you plan on purchasing in flight WiFi and hope it works, I would download any movies, music or podcasts you want to listen to.
Allegiant Check-in and Boarding Process
The check in and boarding process for our allegiant flight was honestly seamless. I was able to check into my flight the day before using their app and it took me maybe 2 minutes. It asked me a few simple questions, reminded me of my baggage allotment and then I saved my boarding pass to my phone.
The check in experience at the airport was a little crazy but not because of anything Allegiant did wrong. Despite getting to the airport an hour later than recommended due to car issues and my son, who was flying as a lap infant, missing from my reservation the check-in agent was able to help me quickly and resolve all issues with minimal headaches.
They pulled us out of the checkout line so that we would make it to our flight on time which was so helpful. Then we got my son added easily thanks to the fact that I had a copy of his birth certificate and because children under 2 fly free as a lap child on most airlines in the U.S including Allegiant.
After we made it through security and to our gate we waited to board till almost last because, well an 18 month old toddler is really wiggly and I wanted to spend as little time as possible sitting in our seat. The attendant scanned the boarding pass and we were on the plane and seated in minutes.
Flying Tips and Tricks
- Airplane Essentials to Have for Every Flight
- 9 Minimalist Packing Tips and Hacks for Smart Packing
- TSA Airport Security Tips and Guidelines
Allegiant Cabin Crew
The cabin crew on our Allegiant flight seemed very nice. They all waved at my son and said a cheery good morning despite the fact that our flight was leaving at 5:30 AM so everyone was exhausted. Beyond that, we did not interact with the crew much because we did not purchase any in flight snacks or beverages or even leave our seats to use the restroom. It was a quick and painless two and a half hour flight.
Allegiant Airlines Legroom
I am only 5’2” so I personally have plenty of legroom, in fact as you can see in the picture above my knees are nowhere near the seat in front of me and my toddler has plenty of room to wiggle around. I know this is not the case for everyone however. My husband’s knees bump the seat in front of him at 5 ’11” which is very uncomfortable.
He still agrees that at the stage of life we are in, it is worth being uncomfortable for a short time to be able to travel. Not everyone may agree, you will have to decide that for yourself.
Allegiant Airlines Legroom Hack
If you would like to enjoy more legroom AND a budget flight then you may want to look into upgrading to “first class”. There are no benefits to first class OTHER THAN they offer you larger seats and extra legroom. The best news is, it only costs roughly $35 extra to reserve these seats. It may be worth the extra cost depending on your height and how long the flight is.
Is Allegiant Airlines Safe?
Allegiant Airlines is absolutely safe to fly. They are held to the same stringent laws and safety checks as all other major and minor airlines. The way they cut cost is not through decreased plane maintenance but rather through decreased luggage allowance (which means less fuel). It is also through decreased staff involvement by not printing boarding passes for every passenger and insead asking you to print your own or bring a digital boarding pass.
I have felt completely safe on board each and every time I have flown with Allegiant.
Allegiant Food and Drink
All food and drink costs extra when you fly Allegiant Air. There is not even so little as a bag of peanuts or a cup of water available for free.
You can however purchase snacks and drinks if you wish to do so. To drink they have soda, juice, water and even alcoholic drinks available for purchase. To eat there are chips, crackers and candy.
I would not rely on every food item being in stock every flight though. During our flight I overheard another customer ordering chips only to be told that they only had three varieties on board that day. And what he was ordering was not one of the three.
Flying Allegiant with Babies and Toddlers
You can fly Allegiant with a baby or toddler just like any other airline and the experience is pretty similar. I always wear my baby in an infant carrier through the airport and security so that my hands are free. Then, if your child is under two years old then they can fly as a lap infant or you can purchase their own seat.
My son was 18 months old for this flight. So despite my worries about his behavior I decided to fly with him as a lap infant and save the airfare. We did not arrive in time to ask to be seated next to an empty seat but we got assigned a window seat. This ended up working really well for us. My toddler is wiggly and active and does not normally like sitting in my lap but because there was nowhere else to go he handled it well.
If you do purchase a seat for your child or get seated next to an empty seat you will have to decide whether you are going to fly with a car seat or check the car seat and just let them sit in the seat alone.
On Allegiant, when flying with a child, you can check a stroller and a car seat for no additional cost. You also get to bring a diaper bag on board in addition to your personal item even if your child is flying as a lap infant. This really helps keep the price down and better be able to avoid paying for extra bags.
Changing diapers on an airplane isn’t the most fun thing ever but it is a reality for most parents of young kids. Luckily, at least on the plane we were on, there was a changing table on board. You can always ask your flight attendant about which restroom has the changing table for you to use.
More About Traveling with Young Kids:
- How to Travel with a Baby: Everything You Need to Know
- 17+ Baby Travel Essentials to Simplify Family Travel
- How to Take Baby Passport Photos at Home
Allegiant Airlines Flight Experience
Our experience flying with Allegiant Airlines was about as perfect as it gets. Despite showing up a little later than recommended they were able to move me to the front of the line so I could check my bags in time.
Then, somehow my son who was flying as a lap infant was missing from my reservation. Luckily we were able to add him painlessly.
The flight left on time, the crew was kind and we even landed a little early. We also didn’t have any issues with luggage. It all arrived and nothing was damaged.
I’m not saying you’ll never run into any problems, things do happen sometimes. But we enjoyed our experience!
What is Not Included on Allegiant Airlines for Free
Since Allegiant Air is a budget airline, you may be wondering what is included with your ticket and what you will have to pay extra for if you decide you want them. Here is everything you have to pay additional fees for:
- Carry-on bags larger than a personal item (a personal item like a purse or backpack)
- Checked bags of any size
- Seat selection
- Food
- Drinks
- Changing or canceling your reservation
What is Included on Allegiant with Your Airfare
So what do you get on Allegiant Air with your initial airfare cost? Well you get to fly on a plane, with a seat and get to or from your destination safely. This shouldn’t be understated because although it may not be the most luxurious mode of transportation, it does the job.
Plus it saves you time and potentially money from having to drive to your destination. For example, my flight was from Tampa to Kansas City which would have been an 18+ hour drive.
That is 1 day each way that instead of driving all day I got to spend at home working and earning money or on vacation enjoying myself. Not to mention that as of June 2022 the national average of gas is a little over $5. Driving would have cost me over $220 in gas alone plus eating out the whole way.
How to Save Money on Allegiant Flights
The best way to save money on Allegiant Air flights is to avoid as many add ons as possible. With all add-ons included, the price difference between Allegiant and other non budget airlines is negligible or even non existent.
If you can get away with only a personal item and be ok not choosing your own seat then you will be getting the absolute maximum discount from flying a budget airline. Once you start indulging in a few add ons I would compare the final price of your flight to other airlines to verify that it is still the cheapest option. Especially if you are choosing Allegiant Air for the deals on flights.
Read More: 9 Hacks Travelers Use to Save Money on Travel or How to Lower Family Vacation Costs
Who Should Fly Allegiant?
Anyone that is looking for a safe airline to fly to and from their destination at an unbeatable price should fly Allegiant Air.
If you are willing to sacrifice and withstand a small amount of discomfort in order to travel and see amazing destinations then Allegiant might be the airline for you. If you are visiting family or friends and need to bring minimal luggage for a weekend to a week then Allegiant would be a great choice.
However if you are looking for luxury or even just above basic amenities while flying then you may want to look elsewhere.
Review of Allegiant Airlines: Should You Fly Allegiant Airlines?
In the end I would absolutely fly Allegiant Airlines again. Not only is it budget friendly and affordable but it is also completely safe. Sure it lacks any sort of amenities but it saves you and I time and money. It offers everyone an affordable way to travel long distances in a short amount of time and many people value that over short term comfort.
Have you flown Allegiant before? What would your review of Allegiant Airlines be like? Would you fly them again? Let me know in the comments!
I’ve been flying with Allegiant air for years. I lived in Arizona then. They didn’t go to a lot of states then but as it increased I was able to fly to Billings, Montana, which my family lives there. Because of all the small towns there were no flights to my home town unless you wanted to pay for a small plane. No worries…Every time I want to fly I check out Allegiant first. Love flying with them.
Thats great! I agree they are a wonderful budget option for flights.
They have been excellent to go straight to a smaller destination. No lay over and great service for the price!
Agreed! I’ve never had issues when I’ve used them.
Hey Rachel, my name is Rachel too ! All ladies named Rachel should fly Allegiant for the value and service ! I have used them for several years now and love the direct flights. I have only experienced one 45 minute delay due to bad weather and the crew worked fast to get us boarded quickly by boarding from the rear first . I love Allegiant and my siblings and children use them also. Have a Blessed day Rachel !
Flew frm Appleton,WI to Orlando to see my sister in Oct.Other thn th seats being on th small side&close together(which is now th rule rather thn exception)my trip was as close to perfect as U can get.Both flights wer on time;crew was pleasant&professional.Due to them I hav little anxiety about flying again…which I am doing this wk.
That is great! And so true, airplane seats are always so squished together, it is crazy.
Allegiant often has no Kiosk for getting a boarding pass. The ticket agents at the main counter only support a specific flight, so counter can often be empty. The gate for Allegiant flights closes 15 minutes before the flight, most other airlines closure is 10 minutes. Often there is only one flight per day or less. So if you have any issues with getting to the flight, car issues, road issues, accidents, other flight delays you can get stranded. I have flown with Allegiant over 25 times.