Allegiant Air is an airline owned by Allegiant Travel Co. that was founded in 1997 and began operations in 1998. The airline is headquartered in Summerlin, Nevada and operates at over 100 airports in the United States. It is known for its extremely cheap flights and proximity to Las Vegas, as Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is about a 10-minute drive from the strip.
The company’s website also serves as a one-stop shop for budget travel. There, travelers will find flight, hotel and car options that are just a click away. The package deals that Allegiant offers have made the company very popular with budget travelers. Allegiant is the fourteenth largest commercial airline, so it’s technically a major air carrier. This airline flies to some of the most popular domestic destinations in the United States. The airline also offers charter services to Canada and Mexico.
Allegiant claims that passengers can get to the best vacation destinations in the United States without problems. However, amid the company’s relatively poor reputation, some passengers doubt the airline’s claim. Travelers should, of course, do their own research before making a judgment call on an airline to determine if it’s right for them. Learn more about whether Allegiant is a good airline for travelers and what they can expect from the budget airline.
Is Allegiant considered a good airline?
Allegiant Air is an option in the budget market, but travelers tend to know less about it than other well-known budget airlines. It’s true that airlines like Spirit and Frontier are more publicly known than Allegiant Air, but that doesn’t mean Allegiant isn’t a viable option. In terms of reputation, Allegiant doesn’t have the highest rating for accommodations, but not many budget airlines do. But it has its strengths that make it a good airline.
Allegiant’s reputation
In fact, one of the reasons Allegiant has been getting more buzz lately is because of its business ventures. Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas hosted the Super Bowl in 2024. The airline even continues to offer a package for football fans that includes flights, hotels and tickets. To be more specific, the package includes game-day tickets at Allegiant Stadium, round-trip airfare and two nights at a 3+ star hotel. For sports fans and backpackers everywhere, this package might sound like the deal of a lifetime. Deals like these and the anticipation of Super Bowl LVIII in February have certainly had a positive impact for Allegiant.
Despite the company’s Super Bowl successes, it’s not necessarily a flagship airline. Allegiant disappoints passengers with its on-time performance. It is not the most reliable airline due to various delays. In fact, between July 2021 and 2022, the airline was on time just 61.96 percent of the time, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. That might not sound too bad, but compared to the major airlines, which were on time about 80% of the time during that period, Allegiant’s stats paled in comparison. While Allegiant’s performance has gradually improved in recent years, this can be a cause for concern for travelers. But here’s the breakdown of Allegiant Air’s experience.
Safety
Allegiant is generally considered a safe airline to fly. But the airline has dealt with safety issues in the past. These cases were minor mechanical problems that led to many aborted takeoffs and unplanned landings. The frequency of these problems has caused Allegiant’s safety record to be considered questionable by the public.
In recent years, the airline has even received unwanted attention from the FAA over safety concerns. Things like the quality of Allegiant’s fleet have been called into question. The average age of their aircraft is about 19.8 years. About 51% of Allegiant’s fleet had an average age of 27.5 years, which certainly saved the company money due to the lower cost of older aircraft. But this business decision backfired somewhat as the company had to switch to an Airbus fleet in an attempt to reduce safety issues.
Customer Service
The quality of Allegiant’s customer service has some travelers questioning whether or not Allegiant is a good airline. The least popular aspects of their customer service are online and phone interactions. Making changes, canceling or inquiring about flights through these modes of communication can be quite difficult for passengers. Some passengers even noted that the airline was unresponsive. This can cause major problems for travelers who may need assistance while trying to book or make changes to their travel plans.
Amenities
Food and beverages are available for purchase on Allegiant flights. There is a range of suggestions. Travelers can enjoy water, soda, Dunkin Donuts iced coffee, beer and even hard water for less than $10 each. There are many options for snacks as well. Travelers who prefer the convenience of specially packaged snacks will enjoy the airline’s snack packs, which typically cost around $11-$14 each. Other small bites such as applesauce, chips and fruit snacks can be purchased a la carte.
For seats, the consensus depends on the traveler’s travel preferences. With a minimum and maximum seat pitch (which is the distance between the back of the seat and the one behind it) of 30-34 inches, Allegiant has average legroom for economy class. The airline does not offer seats in business or first class. That means the 34-inch (legroom) seats are pretty much all passengers will get. Travelers can add extra legroom (34 inches) on select aircraft as well as certain seats.
Entertainment
Allegiant Air does not have any in-flight entertainment. Travelers will not find magazines, TV, music or movies on board their flight. Wifi is also not available on Allegiant flights. So passengers flying for an extended period of time are advised to bring their own old-fashioned entertainment such as books and word puzzles. But the lack of entertainment may be worth it for some travelers. Although some of the most popular options that are considered a good airline have a lot of entertainment. With the average price of Allegiant flights around $58 between 2011 and 2021, passengers can make big savings.
So is Allegiant a good airline?
For the average air traveler, Allegiant may not be the best option. But for budget travelers who don’t care about frills when they travel, it’s a different story. The lack of amenities may turn some airline travelers off, but it’s a solid option for quick domestic travel. Ultimately, passengers must use their judgment when deciding whether or not flying with the airline is for them.
