SWA v Allegiant

Ok we r looking at 5-7 days over Xmas w/ our YA kids as one lives in CA & can only get a couple days off. SO 4 of us flying out, he drives to meet us.
SWA: points cover 1 flight, companion pass covers 1 flight. So about $500 total. We can choose 5-6-7 days.
Allegiant $528 for 4 & we have a $225 credit.
Checked bags r $58@RT carry on $44. DH & I can share 1 checked bag; possibly the other 2 could. We r locked in for 7 days. (I’m fine but DS 20 would prefer 5, not surprisingly—don’t worry, we r focusing our trip on NON-gambling activities)

Here is my concern: clearly Allegiant will save us a few hundred. But there are 10-12 seats currently sold on those 2 flights. Allegiant is infamous (esp recently) for cancelling—then we r out of luck.
My gut says screw the credit (it’s good for another 18 mos) & book SWA cuz even if they cancel SOME flights, they won’t cancel all.
Thoughts?

 

SWA. They don’t owe money on an empty stadium signage and your bags have a better chance to arrive with you. Plus you have room for all the crap you pick up in non gaming activities.
Now if you check and there are package deals available for suites at the stadium with your flight, I’d reconsider. Have fun either way.

 

SW by a landslide. I wouldn't trust Allegiant to get you there if the flight is cancelled. SW just has better service all around.

 

If actually getting to your final destination during the months with inclement weather is important, then this isn't remotely close. Southwest has excellent service and will get you there, whereas there's a chance with Allegient you may not leave the tarmac that day nor get your money back if Allegient cancels.

I heard an apt analogy once - Southwest is like a Civic or Camry, not fancy but gets you there and when things hit the fan, they have good solutions. Allegient is like a (former) East German Trabant where.. well... good luck. You get what you pay for.

 

Thx all--I knew it was the right decision...just needed a little more convincing.

 

Hope you all have a blast over there during the Holidays! As an aside, which I forgot to mention earlier, SW is keeping middle seats open through end of November, perhaps they'll extend it through December as well so that's an added bonus if so.

 

I’m probably in the minority, but I have had a few very bad experiences with SW and absolutely nothing but perfect on time experiences with Allegiant. Probably 15 flights on each to Vegas. I understand SW overall has better customer service and record, but I wouldn’t be afraid to fly Allegiant if it saves you a good chunk of money.

 

SWA has scheduled flights from STL-LAS seven days a week, whereas Allegiant only flies from a joint use AFB in Illinois on Mondays and Fridays only. SWA wins game, set and match!

 

If getting somewhere matters it is SW. Neither has any reciprocals with other airlines but SW has a lot of flights if one goes down they can rebook you. I had a friend save some money on a flight for vacation and went with Allegiant the flight had a mechanical problem (Which can happen to any airline) They offered to rebook him on a flight 3 days later into his 4-day vacation. Southwest would have had him on a flight that day or at worst the next. Just my thought

 

We have flown Allegiant for years w/o issue.
THAT BEING SAID, I know they have to reciprocity wth other airlines; they only fly 2x/wk out of GI, so cancellation would not be good.
SWA may cancel our flight but there are plenty of others, so we will get there either way.
SWA for the win.

 

Allegiant left us in a bad way 1 trip and I was over their “cheap flights” all said and done the hassle for us to fly allegiant isn’t worth it but that’s just because the direct flights places we want to go require us to drive 2.5 hours to fly direct with allegiant.

There is nothing wrong with their flights, or planes or staff. The one time we got stranded all day was when a flight attendant got sick. They ended up flying another plane up from Orlando to Elmira. NY... but only after it finished its first flight. Our flight was for like 8am, we took off at 8pm. They weren’t honest about how long of a delay and we sat in an airport that had nothing but a vending machine.

honesty is best for me as a customer. I have never flown SWA but will be in a few days and I am excited to see how it goes. I have heard so much good stuff about swa. We usually fly delta.

 

This overrides any past "good experience". One hickup and you are screwed big time. That really makes it a no brainer. I would leave by gambling to the casino.

 

I have flown Allegiant a few times no problems. I much prefer SWA. Pre Covid flights kept getting more expensive with worse flights. NON STOP when I could find them were premium priced and their sale priced flights had scheduled layovers making travel 12hours plus instead of 4.5 hours. It had gotten to the point std rt price for Vegas was $600 I had been use to $300.

I have flown SWA twice post Covid great prices, schedules and empty seats.

 

Allegiant vs. SW?

That’s like asking “herpes vs. a day at the spa”

Not a hard choice.

 

IMHO, Allegiant only makes sense if they're operating out of an airport that is much closer to home or your destination. Otherwise, I would choose Southwest any day unless the difference in airfare isn't too significant.

 

I'll slightly zig here and say that should be a pretty busy time for travel, making cancelations less likely, and saving $150 is not to be discounted. Just curious, how do you know only 10-12 seats are sold on the flights? Lots of people who buy allegiant tickets aren't pre-buying seat assignments.

 

True--but in this era, I'm not hopeful many more have been sold...

 

Southwest without a doubt