Is Allegiant a Good Airline? What To Know Before Booking

Allegiant Air is an airline owned by Allegiant Travel Co. that was founded in 1997 and started operations in 1998. The airline is headquartered in Summerlin, Nevada and operates at over 100 airports across the United States. It is known for its ultra-low-cost flights and proximity to Las Vegas since the Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is around 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 options for flights, hotels and cars which are all a mouse click away. The bundled offerings that Allegiant offers have made the company very popular amongst budget travelers. Allegiant is the fourteenth largest commercial airline, so it is technically a major air carrier. This airline flies to some of the most popular domestic destinations across the United States. The airline also offers charter services to Canada and Mexico.

Allegiant claims that travelers can get to the top leisure destinations in the United States with no hassle. However, among the company’s relatively poor reputation, some travelers doubt the airline’s claim. Travelers should of course do their own research before making a judgment on the airline to determine if it is the right fit 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 commonly know less about it than other well-known budget airlines. It’s true, airlines like Spirit and Frontier are publicly better known than Allegiant Air, but that does not mean Allegiant is not a viable option. In terms of its reputation, Allegiant is not the highest rated for its accommodations but not many budget airlines are. But it does have its strengths that make it a good airline.

Allegiant’s Reputation

In fact, one of the reasons that Allegiant has been getting more buzz lately is due to its business ventures. The Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, hosted the 2024 Super Bowl. The airline even continues to offer a football fan package which includes flights, hotels and tickets. To be more specific, the package includes game day tickets at Allegiant Stadium, roundtrip airfare and a two night hotel stay at a 3+ star hotel. For sports fans and leisure travelers everywhere, this package might sound like the deal of a lifetime. Deals like these and the anticipation of Super Bowl LVIII in February certainly made a positive impact for Allegiant.

Despite the company’s successes with the Super Bowl, it is not necessarily a leading airline. Allegiant has disappointed travelers with its timeliness. It is not the most reliable airline due to varying delays. In fact, between July of 2021 and 2022 the airline was on time only 61.96% of the time, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. That may not sound all too bad but compared to major airlines that were on time around 80% of the time during that period, Allegiant’s stats were dull in comparison. While Allegiant’s performance has gradually improved over recent years, this may be cause for concern for travelers. But here is the breakdown on the Allegiant Air experience.

Safety

Overall, Allegiant is considered a safe airline to fly. But the airline has dealt with safety issues in the past. These instances were minor mechanical issues that led to many aborted takeoffs and unscheduled landings. The frequency of these issues 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 due to safety concerns. Things like the quality of Allegiant’s fleet have been called into question. The average age of their aircraft is around 19.8 years. About 51% of Allegiant’s fleet had an average age of 27.5 years, which surely saved the company money due to the lower price of older aircraft. But that business decision has somewhat backfired since the company has had to transition to an Airbus fleet in an effort to decrease safety issues.

Customer Service

The quality of Allegiant’s customer service has led some travelers to question whether or not Allegiant is a good airline. The least popular aspects of their customer service is online and over the phone interactions. Making changes, cancellations or inquiring about flights via these modes of communication can be quite difficult for passengers. Some travelers have even noted that the airline has been unresponsive. This can create major problems for travelers that may need assistance while trying to book or make alterations to their travel plans.

Amenities

Food and beverages are available for purchase on Allegiant flights. There is an array of offerings. Travelers can enjoy water, soda, Dunkin Donuts iced coffee, beer and even hard seltzers for less than $10 each. There are many options for snacks as well. Travelers that prefer the convenience of specially packaged bites will enjoy the airline’s snack packs which generally cost around $11 – $-14 each. Other small bites like applesauce, chips and fruit snacks can be purchased a la carte.

For seating, the consensus depends on a passenger’s travel preferences. With a minimum and maximum seat pitch (which is the distance between the chair’s seat back and the one behind it) of 30-34 inches, Allegiant has an average amount of legroom for economy class. The airline offers no business or first-class seating. This means that the 34-inch (legroom) seats are about all travelers are going to get. Travelers can add on the extra legroom (34 inches) on select airplanes, as well as assigned seats.

Entertainment

Allegiant Air does not have any type of in-flight entertainment. Travelers will not find magazines, television, music or movies on board their flight. Wifi is also not offered on Allegiant flights. So, travelers that are flying for an extended period are recommended to bring their own old fashioned entertainment like books and word puzzles. But the lack of entertainment may be worth it to some travelers. Even though some of the most popular options that are considered a good airline have extensive entertainment. With the average price of Allegiant flights being around $58 dollars between 2011 and 2021, travelers can make great savings.

So, Is Allegiant a Good Airline?

For the average air traveler, Allegiant may not be the top option. But for budget travelers that do not care for frills when traveling, it is a different story. The lack of amenities may turn some travelers away from the airline but it is a solid option for quick domestic travel. At the end of the day, travelers should use their discernment when deciding if flying the airline is for them or not.