The Most Common Traveler Complaints About Allegiant Air

Allegiant Air is an ultra-low-cost airline carrier that is built on connecting smaller, underserved airports with popular vacation spots, typically at incredibly low base fares. While this concept is often appealing to people who live outside of major markets, almost all budget airlines have their fair share of passenger problems. For example, Allegiant competitor Frontier Airlines has a laundry list of common complaints from travelers. Nonetheless, Allegiant — somewhat surprisingly — has the best budget airline frequent flier program of 2026, so some vacationers turn to this carrier repeatedly.

One of the keys of budget airline travel is managing your own expectations for the experience. This isn't Delta One, after all. Here, we'll take a look at the most common traveler complaints about Allegiant Air while helping passengers like you understand exactly what is in store for you on your next Allegiant journey. We'll also provide helpful solutions to these potential low-cost air travel problems when possible.

To compile this article, we turned to Allegiant's official policies as well as sites like NerdWallet and Cranky Flier. Additionally, we used firsthand accounts from travelers on Reddit, Facebook, and Tripadvisor. I've also personally flown Allegiant multiple times, so my experiences informed several sections.

One of Allegiant Air's biggest draws can also be one of its major disadvantages. One of the things this brand is known for is serving smaller airports that major mainstream carriers often overlook. This includes extremely small airports like Elmira, New York (ELM) and Kalispell, Montana (FCA). This is undeniably convenient for travelers who live outside major metro areas and don't want to drive hours to a hub. It's also great for those visiting highly specific destinations. Kalispell, for example, is the jumping-off point for many tourists who want to experience the beauty of Glacier National Park.

At the destination, however, Allegiant's business model of flying into underserved markets can actually create a problem. The airport you land at might be farther than expected from the city or attractions named in marketing materials. For example, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA), which Allegiant serves, is about 30 miles from the city's main airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX). Depending on where your final destination is, flying Allegiant could force you to pay additional rideshare or transportation fees compared to landing at a main hub.

The Cranky Flier blog noted that there is no direct competition for 85% of Allegiant's itineraries because it tends to prioritize smaller regional airports. In the comments on the post, people debated the airline's model of serving tiny airports, with one person complaining the brand "shot itself in the foot badly by buying Sun Country." If you have plans to fly Allegiant, make sure you look up the address of the airport to see how close it is to your accommodations and other activities you plan to do.

As with all ultra-low-cost carriers, Allegiant's shockingly low base fares are immediately enticing to travelers. Unfortunately, though, the advertised price that people initially see is rarely what they end up paying in total. A standard ticket on Allegiant Air covers one's seat and a personal item that is no larger than 8 inches x 14 inches x 18 inches. Nearly everything else comes at an added fee, including advance seat selection, carry-on suitcases, checked bags, and snacks onboard.

Although most people understand that budget airlines operate using an à la carte pricing model, paying extra money for things that are included on mainstream carriers can still be frustrating. One person on Facebook said an advertised rate of "$38 per flight, end[ed] up being closer to $200" by the time they purchased necessary add-ons. Some people also claimed they've noticed an increase in Allegiant's pricing overall, with one Facebook commenter noting they never pay for a pre-selected seat or baggage, and "fly every two months from PIE to SDF and never pay over $100 round trip ... My April [2026] trip is $352 round trip."

If you are on a tight budget for your next flight, the best thing to do is go all the way through the Allegiant Air booking process online to see your final cost with all add-ons included. Then, compare that price to how much it would cost to book with Delta, United, American, or another major carrier. This is the easiest way to see if the low-cost option is actually the cheapest after you've added a pre-assigned seat, luggage, a pet carrier, or anything else you need for your trip.

Allegiant's baggage policies are a frequent source of frustration for travelers. As we previously noted, a personal item is included with a base ticket, but all other bags cost extra. Several major carriers have raised their checked luggage prices in recent years, but Allegiant Air even charges for a carry-on — something that is included with economy fares on Delta, United, Southwest, and other mainstream airlines. It's also worth noting that Allegiant doesn't have standard luggage pricing. It varies by route. One person on Facebook learned this the hard way when it cost them "$39 there and $68 back" for each of two carry-ons, for a total of $214.

It's also more expensive to add luggage to an Allegiant itinerary after your initial booking, and the price goes up again at the airport. Plus, in some cases, personal items can be deemed too large at the gate. One Redditor cautioned other Allegiant fliers about this after their own experience. They warned, "if your personal item was too big to fit in the sizer, they would charge you right there for the price of a carry on. I saw several people having to pay at the gate." When you measure your bag at home, make sure you include straps, handles, wheels, side pockets, and any other features in the total dimensions so you're not caught by surprise.

Checked luggage also has restrictions you should be aware of if you don't want to pay oversize fees. Allegiant allows checked suitcases to weigh a maximum of 50 pounds and measure 80 total inches when length, width, and height are combined. The smart move is to plan ahead and know exactly what baggage your party needs when you book your flight. This will help you save the most possible money on added fees.

Allegiant passengers should be especially aware of hidden warning signs that can signal flight delays, as this is, unfortunately, a common occurrence on this airline. Per a 2026 study, 26.27% of Allegiant Air's flights experience delays. That means one in four of its planes does not adhere to its original schedule. One frustrated Reddit user wrote that her spouse had flown "every other week for the past 3 month[s] and I kid you not his flight was delayed EVERY.SINGLE.TIME."

Another Redditor said they were "done" with Allegiant following "a 15 hour delay 3 hours before boarding," on top of other lengthy recent delays for them and their family members who had also chosen the budget airline. For some passengers, arriving late to their destination could mean missing a wedding rehearsal, cruise departure, work conference, or other event that cannot be rescheduled. If you plan to fly Allegiant for an inflexible occasion, it's wise to schedule your arrival at least one day ahead of the event.

If you have flexibility, remember that while lengthy flight delays can be frustrating, you can make the most of your time. Consider sightseeing during your long delay rather than wandering around the airport. You can also stay on top of alerts about your Allegiant flight by downloading the airline's official app.

While cancelled flights are frustrating on any airline, stress levels can be heightened on budget carriers like Allegiant Air. This is because these brands don't operate all of their routes on a daily basis, so the next available flight out of your departure airport might not leave until several days later. Furthermore, Allegiant's policy does not allow passengers to be rebooked on other airlines, which means that fliers have little choice but to wait until the Allegiant flight.

There have been multiple instances of travelers complaining online about Allegiant flight cancellations. CBS News even covered one situation in which a three-day trip to Las Vegas was deeply disrupted. Passengers who were flying home to South Bend, Indiana received a notification that their return flight had been cancelled upon landing in Vegas. Some people spent nearly their entire getaway trying to figure out how they were going to get back. On Reddit, another passenger found their party stranded due to an Allegiant cancellation, noting, "Next flight out was on Thursday, that was on Sunday. They gave us a $50 meal voucher, nothing for hotel." 

Before booking an Allegiant flight, check how frequently that specific route operates, and be prepared with a backup option for a hotel just in case. You might even get lucky enough to be near one of the US airport hotels that will actually make you want an overnight layover!

Allegiant passengers often note that they've experienced problems reaching customer service when they need assistance from the low-cost carrier. On Facebook, one traveler wrote in real time that they "have been on hold for almost an hour. Is this normal?" Commenters responded that, unfortunately, this is not atypical for Allegiant Air's customer relations phone line. One person shared that they usually experience low hold times when they "call about 3:00 AM," but that might not be an option for everyone.

In another Facebook conversation, an Allegiant customer stated they had been attempting to "reach an agent for almost 48 hrs. States 5 hr waits-11 hr waits." All hope may not be lost, though. Some passengers share that they've had more luck with Allegiant's email system than with the customer service phone number. Since it can be tough to reach someone, it's a good idea to keep a paper trail of all the ways you tried to contact Allegiant's team, and what various agents promised you as a resolution. This will be helpful if your case is escalated.

Additionally, airline passengers have recourse with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection. If Allegiant — or any other airline, for that matter — doesn't provide you with a satisfactory solution to your problem, you can file a formal federal complaint. You should include as much detail as possible with your submission, including your contact information, flight number, and a statement of what happened. Federal guidelines require airlines to confirm receipt of complaints within 30 days and to send consumers written responses by the 60-day mark.

Allegiant provides a bare-bones in-flight experience. The airline explicitly states that WiFi access and in-flight entertainment options are not available on any of its planes. This means that passengers are unable to text friends and family members, stream movies and television shows, or even do work that requires an internet connection. And, with the exception of its 737 MAX planes, Allegiant's fleet is not even equipped with charging ports, so make sure any devices you do plan to use during your trip are fully charged ahead of time. The best course of action is to make sure that you download any music, movies, or shows you want to have access to before you get to the airport. This way, you can use your devices without worrying about WiFi. 

As far as food and drink go, Allegiant offers one small perk: a selection of complimentary sodas, juices, and bottled water, such as Seagram's Ginger Ale, various Coca-Cola products, Dasani, and several types of Minute Maid juice. Additional beverages, including beer, cocktails,and snacks, are available for purchase at an additional fee.

Allegiant's no-frills in-flight experience is part of how the brand offers low base fares, but it can be frustrating for passengers, especially when they don't properly manage their expectations. A review of the airline at Bookish Wayfarer said, "If I were to hand out an award for the most uncomfortable airline that I have flown on, Allegiant would be the uncontested winner." Given this opinion, it may also be wise to travel with a pillow or donut to sit on if you choose Allegiant Air.

Travelers often don't realize how stringent Allegiant's airport check-in deadlines are until they're dealing with them on departure day. Online, mobile, and in-person airport check-in all close 45 minutes before a flight leaves. Passengers can begin checking in online and in the app 24 hours prior to liftoff. Allegiant fliers who are checking baggage have an even tighter timeline to adhere to. Agents are only at the counter for 60 minutes to accept luggage, between one and two hours before departure.

The airline takes checking in on time seriously. In one situation shared on Reddit, a passenger failed to check in before her flight and was ultimately denied boarding as a result. She was charged "an additional $250 to fly out on a different plane" the next day. Another traveler on Facebook expressed extreme frustration with the two-hour-before-departure bag drop policy. They shared that after you get through the line at the Allegiant counter and tackle TSA, "if you are lucky...you will make your flight. I have missed several flights because of this 2 hours prior rule."

Allegiant itself urges passengers to get to the airport a minimum of two hours early, regardless of whether they are checking baggage. This way, they can ideally arrive at their gate an hour or more ahead of their scheduled departure time, per airline policy. These tight windows can be incredibly stressful for travelers who may already be dealing with travel-day anxiety. The best course of action if you have checked luggage is to arrive at the airport with plenty of time, and strive to be in the line for bag drop right at, or even slightly before, the hour-long window opens.

Although Allegiant has a provision that allows passengers to receive a complete refund if they cancel within 24 hours of booking a flight that is at least seven days away, the majority of this brand's tickets are nonrefundable. There is also a $25 change fee per passenger, each way. Additionally, passengers are responsible for fare changes they may incur by altering their travel plans.

On a Reddit thread about change fees, one poster was frustrated about their plans falling through, and a commenter noted that if the original trip is "less than 7 days they basically charge you new fare. You don't get a credit." Others, however, said that the experience largely depends on the Allegiant customer service agent you get, and they will occasionally waive fees if you ask politely as long as the system allows them to. Remember, though, that this is certainly not a guarantee.

Allegiant does offer some protection for travelers who purchase their TripFlex product. Passengers who buy this add-on can make alterations without change fees up to one hour prior to departure. However, they will have to pay increased fare costs. It is also important to be aware that TripFlex still doesn't typically provide refunds. Rather, customers who have to cancel are given Allegiant credit to use on future bookings.